Cannot boot from hard disk, usb or cd after unknow flash type error

ashik1983

Reputable
Aug 4, 2015
47
0
4,560
Hi guys,

Some days back i got an unknown flash type error while booting Windows 7. After some google research, i tried removing the CMOS battery. System started booting up properly without battery. I then inserted a new CMOS battery and all was working fine.

Couple of days back i got the unknown flash type error again. This time removing the CMOS battery did not work. I shut down the system and removed all USB peripherals and it started booting properly again.

Now today again i got this flash error. Both the above ideas did not work. I then tried to boot from CD to use my system repair disk but it says bootmgr file is missing even though its very much there in the CD. I also tried booting from a USB repair drive and also from a Windows installation USB but it does not boot no matter what.

I am not an IT guy but of course i changed the boot priority when trying using CD and USB. The USB is recognized in the BIOS. I have a system image stored in my external HD but cannot use it until i get recovery options somehow.

Does anyone have any idea what could be the issue? Could there be a problem with my motherboard? or there could be some other issue?
 
Solution

gbb0330

Reputable
Apr 28, 2015
1,498
0
5,960


is this flash type error occurring right after BIOS and before windows? any way you can take a picture / screenshot and post it here?
 

ashik1983

Reputable
Aug 4, 2015
47
0
4,560


Yes this error occurs right after BIOS and before Windows. I started the system today and it booted up fine. Did a disk check and its working fine. Though i think this is temporary and i am sure i will get the flash error again.

Also noticed that my system always freezes before i start getting this flash error. So if my system freezes again, i am sure it will show flash error when i boot again. Should i try to flash BIOS and update it?

My motherboard is Intel i945G and is a pretty old one i think
 

gbb0330

Reputable
Apr 28, 2015
1,498
0
5,960


what is the exact error message?
 

ashik1983

Reputable
Aug 4, 2015
47
0
4,560


Right after BIOS, there is a black screen like a command prompt and it says 'Unknown flash type'. Thats it. I then have to press ctrl+alt+del to restart BIOS.

Won't boot from CD or USB if i try to.
 

gbb0330

Reputable
Apr 28, 2015
1,498
0
5,960


open the computer and a unplug all hard drives, CD rom drives and front panel USB cables from motherboard.

Restart computer, go into BIOS and go back to default settings.
Shutdown PC again and plug in hard drive with windows only, leave everything else unplugged.
restart computer and go into windows a few times to confirm that system is stable.
If system is stable go ahead and flash BIOS to latest version, if its not stable, try to RMA the motherboard.
 
Solution

ashik1983

Reputable
Aug 4, 2015
47
0
4,560


Thanks for the reply mate. I am not much of a tech expert hence had to google the word RMA :)
I will do what you suggested and if the problem still persists then will probably just get a new motherboard. Can't RMA the motherboard as it was a second hand one hence no warranty.

Cheers!