Windows 10 reboot loop, can't break loop to access... Anything...

[Mr Fyde]

Hi all,
Acer aspire e15, core i3-5005U, 8gb ram, HD graphics 5500 running Windows 10 updated to latest update as of 25/11/2016 (don't know when last update was issued but computer was connected and updated itself last on that date), the computer is fairly spartan as is used primarily as a media device.
Ok, computer started playing up on Saturday not wanting to boot, after a lot of attempts and checking hardware connections etc, was able to convince it to come on and eventually boot into safe mode, all on board tools to fix Windows failed so was going to use a recently acquired boot/recovery disk but took some time to copy files off. Once file transfers were compete, a total reset was attempted with the disk, it froze up, and now it just reboots continuously with no apparent way to get to bios or safe mode or anything, have tried f8 (although I don't think that is the default key in 10), f12, ctrl-alt-del, function and escape keys to no avail! Bit stuck now and I suspect a lump hammer isn't the right tool for the job...

 

[Colif]

Power on the system. As soon as the first logo screen appears, immediately press the F2 key, or the DEL key if you have a desktop, to enter the BIOS.

http://acer.custhelp.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/27103/kw/uefi

On another PC, download the Windows 10 media creation tool and use it to make a win 10 installer on USB

it sounds like you messed it up good ... since you have copied files off it already, I would suggest a fresh install of win 10
change boot order so USB is first, hdd second
boot from installer
follow this helpful guide: http://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/1950-windows-10-clean-install.html

Note: keep hammer away from laptop

 

[Mr Fyde]

Power on the system. As soon as the first logo screen appears, immediately press the F2 key, or the DEL key if you have a desktop, to enter the BIOS.

http://acer.custhelp.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/27103/kw/uefi

On another PC, download the Windows 10 media creation tool and use it to make a win 10 installer on USB

it sounds like you messed it up good ... since you have copied files off it already, I would suggest a fresh install of win 10
change boot order so USB is first, hdd second
boot from installer
follow this helpful guide: http://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/1950-windows-10-clean-install.html

Note: keep hammer away from laptop

Thanks for the speedy answer
Yeah, pretty messed up and a clean reinstall is my favoured solution, the usb is doable but I can't seem to be able to get to the bios to change boot order due to the constant rebooting, any suggestions to get to there? Any other key combinations or lump hammer-less actions I could try? Already tried unplugging (built in) battery :-/

 

[Mr Fyde]

Oh, I have tried f2, f2+del and del to no avail

 

[Colif]

i would hold down F2 before hitting power button, see video

[video="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n7o5a5v5HX4"][/video]

this is a different model but might work

On my Acer Aspire ONE AOD255 I use the F2 key. However, I must do the following:
1. PRESS power on
2. Immediately PRESS CTRL-ALT-DEL (a couple times seems to work)
3. Then PRESS F2 ( a couple times)

You will know if it is working when the screen displays a "Please wait" msg in the upper left corner

Next the BIOS screen will appear.

Hope this helps and works for you.

http://www.tomsguide.com/forum/69012-35-acer-aspire-bios

http://superuser.com/questions/868177/acer-aspire-e-15-e5-571-304m-cant-boot-from-dvd