Can't boot to Windows 8.1 or Boot Disk after Rebuild

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Karate12

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Jun 1, 2015
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So I just bought a new mobo, case, cpu cooler and an additional stick of ram and transplanted the rest into the new case
My final specs are as follows:
Corsair 780T
AMD FX8350 Black
Asus Sabertooth 990FX R2.0
Corsair Vengeance DDR3-1600 8GB x2 = 16GB total
Corsair H110 Cooler
Samsung 840EVO 250GB SSD
WD Caviar Blue 1 TB HDD
EVGA GeForce GTX 760 2GB
Corsair CX600W PSU

From my old system, I brought over the CPU, 1 stick of ram, my GPU and both hard drives (SSD has windows 8.1, HDD for extra storage)
Build went pretty smoothly as far as I could tell. I'm able to access the BIOS without a problem by pressing delete during boot, but nothing else seems to work.
If I boot to the SSD with windows on it, it gets stuck on "Preparing Automatic Repair" - the logo spins for a few seconds and then freezes
If I boot to the DVD drive with the Windows 8.1 install disk, the logo spins for a few seconds and then freezes
If I boot to a USB drive with the Windows install files, the logo spins and freezes

I'm sure that there is some issue with the change of mobo, and the windows installation on my existing SSD - I'd have no issues reformatting if necessary, but I can't even get into the Windows install menu to accomplish that. The only thing I can think of is to connect both drives to another system and try to reformat them that way, but I'm not sure. Any help would be greatly appreciated.
 
Solution
de4dd0g
Have you taken the hardware down to the bare minimum? 1 Stick of Ram, no expansions card unless u have GPU (no GPU if you have onboard)

Sounds like there might be a hardware problem. You could download UBCD or HIRENS and try diagnosing individual hardware but it more than likely will just freeze.

Try putting the old motherboard back in, or try returning the current MB and buying a new one.
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Karate12

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I believe I was booting to UEFI - the BIOS had the drives labeled as UEFI in the boot menu
 
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de4dd0g

de4dd0g

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If you load to your bios under boot you should be able to change what boot configuration you're booting too whether UEFI or Legacy, I recommend UEFI. Disable secure boot for now though, and put your media as first boot order.

Do you have a Linux OS to boot too? If you can boot to a Linux kernel that would eliminate any hardware problems. If Linux freezes too I would take the system to basics. 1 stick of ram, video card, 1 HDD, 1 CD/DVD ROM
 
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Karate12

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Thanks, I'll be sure to try disabling secure boot to see how that goes tonight. As far as Linux is concerned, I have zero experience. I wouldn't even know where to start booting to a Linux kernal.
 
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de4dd0g

de4dd0g

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I use Linux simply as a tool. For instance, if you cannot boot to windows media, but can to Linux media then it's clearly not a hardware problem. It's a problem with the windows media. That would make for a much less headache for you atm if you could eliminate any hardware problems. By your posts it appears any form of booting is causing the system to freeze, how long are you waiting for the system to resume? Have you tried waiting an hour just to ensure the system will not move any further and it is in fact frozen?
 
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Karate12

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I understand. Yes, last night I tried to boot to the USB install drive I made, and let it run overnight just to be sure. This morning - it was still stuck at the exact screen I had left it.
 
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de4dd0g

de4dd0g

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So I would try the other 2 options I laid out, remove system hardware until you're at the bare basics. No miss matched ram, no gpu (if you have onboard graphics) 1 hdd, 1 dvd/cd rom. Or try a linux OS and see if that will boot, if you have another machine here is an ISO you can download and burn to a disc. If it will successfully boot the linux ISO from CD/DVD then I would try getting replacement media. Also when you burn the ISO ensure you verify the disk image after burning it.

http://www.ubuntu.com/download/desktop
 
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Karate12

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Jun 1, 2015
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So I tried a bunch of things, none of which worked. I removed all my SATA connections and only left a brand new 850EVO SSD and my CD drive connected, no go. I removed my wireless card and anything else I could (no onboard graphics so I had to leave the GPU in). I tried each memory stick separately, and together, no go. I also made a Linux install USB and it couldn't load either.
Could it be my CPU? It was functioning fine in the computer I took it from. I've also tried everything I can think of in the BIOS settings; I disabled secureboot, I changed from AHCI to IDE, I can't get past the boot logo.
What would stop it from loading any kind of OS installer?
Completely lost and getting frustrated - next step is going to be to break down the ENTIRE thing and see if it's the motherboard
 
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Karate12

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Jun 1, 2015
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I've tried removing the heatsink and checking the CPU pins, no answer there. I tried my graphics card in a different slot, no luck. I reset the CMOS, nothing. The computer is posting, it shows that my processor is recognized, but any time that I move to load anything besides the BIOS (Windows 8.1 install CD or USB) it freezes after about 30 seconds, and the light on my keyboard shuts off. It shows the blue windows logo, and it has the little dots spinning beneath it, but only for about 5 seconds, until it freezes, and stays frozen.
I'm at such a loss with this. I'm considering breaking down the whole system and trying my old motherboard to see if that's the weak link. Any other ideas?

I tried installing Linux from a bootable USB and it restarted the system after only a couple of seconds after seeing the loading screen. This makes me feel it is a hardware issue for sure - BUT WHAT?!
 
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USAFRet

USAFRet

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So I just bought a new mobo, case, cpu cooler and an additional stick of ram and transplanted the rest into the new case
Click to expand...
From my old system, I brought over the CPU, 1 stick of ram, my GPU and both hard drives (SSD has windows 8.1, HDD for extra storage)
Click to expand...
If I boot to the SSD with windows on it, it gets stuck on "Preparing Automatic Repair"
Click to expand...

Stop right there.

It is quite often the case of an old HDD+OS and new motherboard...does not boot. Period..
Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't.

To fix? Fresh install of the OS.

Now...as far as not booting from the DVD or USB...are you 100% sure those are at the top of the boor order?
 
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Karate12

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Jun 1, 2015
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I'm now working with only a fresh SSD, bought it the other day - Samsung 850 EVO 120GB
I'm trying to install the OS but I can't even get to that point.
The computer is recognizing the CD, and recognizes that it is UEFI
I'm 100% sure of the boot order, and I'm manually choosing to boot to the Windows install media

It is trying to load from the CD, and it is spinning up, and even showing the blue windows logo. After about 20-30 seconds the white dots spin in a circle as though it is loading the installer, but after 3 seconds of this, it freezes.
This same outcome occurs if I load from CD or USB, and independent of every other thing I've tried.
 
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de4dd0g

de4dd0g

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Jan 9, 2011
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Have you taken the hardware down to the bare minimum? 1 Stick of Ram, no expansions card unless u have GPU (no GPU if you have onboard)

Sounds like there might be a hardware problem. You could download UBCD or HIRENS and try diagnosing individual hardware but it more than likely will just freeze.

Try putting the old motherboard back in, or try returning the current MB and buying a new one.
 
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Solution
K

Karate12

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Jun 1, 2015
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Based on the advice of an ASUS rep I spoke with, I tried a different set of Ram (G.Skill Sniper 1866 2x8gb CL9), still no good. I also tried the GPU from another system (EVGA GeForce GTX750ti SC), still same problem.
SO, I tried using an old ASUS M5A97 R2.0 and breadboarded the whole system, and for the first time I saw the Windows install screen!! So it looks like it was the &$#^*&(*# motherboard the whole time. I already have a replacement on the way from Amazon that should arrive this afternoon, so I will confirm that all is up and running hopefully later tonight!
 
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K

Karate12

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Jun 1, 2015
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It was the motherboard - replaced it with an ASUS M5A99FX PRO R2.0 and it booted up like a champ
I will write in my notebook "I will breadboard all new builds" 1000x
 
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