Question Can I recover my PC - can't get into BIOS

[St Ivo]

Hi folks, You might need a cup of coffee to hand! Sorry.

I built my PC a few years ago using Gigabyte Z97-HD3, i7 4900 (?)k, 2 x 8GB DDR and an Antec 550 power unit running Windows 10. The C drive is a 256 SSD and I have four additional SATA HDDs. ( I used to do a lot of semi-pro video work)

Recently, and I'm convinced it was after a Windows update, all of my SATA drives disappeared from Win explorer. Two of them were shown as 'empty' in BIOS SATA setup. A Google search suggested running Windows Memory Diagnostic whilst acknowledging the lack of logic. I did this and sure enough two drives were restored. The two shown as empty were not restored. These two are both Seagate Barracuda 2TB and have the same date code, 13135. A further google and it appeared that maybe the HDDs firmware needed updating. I followed the Seagate process, burnt the ISO update file to a DVD, changed the BIOS to boot from the DVD and then rebooted. Seagate's app reported no drives to update. I removed the DVD and rebooted but nothing happens except that all the fans start running and I assume the SSD is active. The dual monitors both stay in standby mode.

I have cleared the CMOS (shorting) without effect. Removed the CMOS battery, waited 15 minutes, cleared CMOS again, rebooted and it's still not booting even as far as BIOS.
Can anyone suggest anything else I might try to get back into BIOS please.

For what its worth, Im a 79yo OAP and I could do without trying to build a new PC!!!

Any help or suggestions would be much appreciated. Thanks.

PS: I've just realised I have never installed a system speaker. Now ordered, should arrive tomorow!

 

[Aeacus]

i7 4900 (?)k

No such desktop CPU exists. What you may have, is i7-4770 or i7-4770K. Or i7-4790/i7-4790K.

For what its worth, Im a 79yo OAP and I could do without trying to build a new PC!!!

To save the effort, which i would've otherwise suggested for younger folks (several troubleshooting steps), i suggest that you haul your PC to PC repair shop and pay them for diagnostics. Or even call PC repair technician to your home (saves the trip to and from store).

But if you think you'd be up for troubleshooting it on your own, then i can explain those steps. For what it's worth, this also includes complete disassembly of your PC. If not, call the PC technician.

 

[St Ivo]

Hi Aeacus,

My apologies; my lack of attention to detail!! You're right, it is actually a 3.6GHz i7-4790. I've just found an old Belarc Advisor report. I have also spotted another mistake! The two DDR sticks are 8MB of course, NOT 8GB.

The OAP bit, whilst very true, was more to garner a bit of sympathy. I've just been looking to see if I can buy another Z97-HD3 anywhere and just move everything onto it - so I'm not completely adverse to rebuilding. If you have the time to explain the troubleshooting steps I would be very grateful.

Thanks for your reply.

 

[USAFRet]

I have also spotted another mistake! The two DDR sticks are 8MB of course, NOT 8GB.

No, you were correct the first time...8GB each.
8MB RAM has not existed in a long long time.

 

[St Ivo]

Huh, another senior moment! Of course, 8192MB ( from my report) is 8GB.

Thank you sir.

 

[Aeacus]

If you have the time to explain the troubleshooting steps I would be very grateful.

Sure. Here goes;

To try and solve the following:

Can anyone suggest anything else I might try to get back into BIOS please.

We need to disassemble your PC (actually, you need to do that) and only keep the bare minimum needed, to power on the PC. Since if the bare minimum works, great, we can add more hardware one-by-one and look at what point system is throwing a fit. But when even bare minimum doesn't work, then one of the components within the bare minimum is toast.

Bare minimum is: CPU, MoBo and RAM. PSU too to power it, CPU cooler to cool CPU and monitor to see image.

Idea is, to breadboard your MoBo.
Meaning that you take out your MoBo from PC case and put it on any cardboard box. <- This way, it's far easier to remove/add components.

It should look similar to this:
(my Skylake build breadboarded, just after i bought it)

With breadboarding, you can install CPU, CPU cooler, RAM, connect monitor, KB and mouse and power on the build. Breadboarding is very convenient way to test if your hardware works. Since if it doesn't, it's easy to disassemble it and replace any components needed, without you needing it to pull it out from the PC case.

Without OS drive (or any other drive) connected, PC does work. Albeit it does POST and is only able to enter BIOS. But this is all we need, at current moment, to get your PC to POST and enter BIOS.
GPU is not needed since your CPU has iGPU and you can connect your monitor to MoBo, to see an image. Also, without GPU and OS drive, including all your HDDs, there are less hardware to troubleshoot. You can also connect keyboard and mouse, making navigating inside BIOS easier.

To power on the build, either:

• short the power + and - pins on MoBo with screwdriver
• or connect the front I/O cables with power button (those thin white wires as seen on my image)

To power off the build, flip the PSU switch.

Once you've verified that build works: does POST and enters BIOS, you can shut down the PC from PSU switch. When you're in BIOS, you can also exit the BIOS, PC then makes a restart, another POST and enters BIOS again. <- This can continue on forever, until you flip the PSU switch.

Note: For optimal compatibility during breadboarding, use only 1 stick of RAM on the MoBo.

If you are successful with POST and PC enters BIOS, let me know and i can explain step #2, as of how to move forward.
But if you are not successful with it and PC fails to display anything, then one of the three, or all of them are dead: CPU, MoBo, RAM.

MoBo is usually the one to die. But without 2nd set of compatible, known to work, hardware, it is impossible to tell which of the three (or even all of them) are dead.

 

[St Ivo]

Many thanks Aeacus.

I just need to free up some working space and I'll get stuck in. Will report back with results.