Can't access BIOS. PC goes straight to Windows. Fast Boot disabled.

[aegamelab93]

This morning I tried to clean install windows 10 (which had already been running windows 10). I used the feature that's embedded into Windows (Settings -> Update and Security -> Recovery -> Reset this PC). It started to work then when it got to the step of resetting, it just re-opened my windows and gave me a message saying "There was a problem resetting your PC in Windows". Tried it a couple more times, same message.

I then think about installing windows from a install media on a USB. I back up my files, install the media onto the USB. then plug it in, then reset my PC. The screen is black, although the computer lights turn, GPU (light) and fans turn on. After trying several solutions, I reset the CMOS and that does the trick. The first time the computer opens, after the reset, I was able to access the BIOS. All other times after that, the PC skips the BIOS entry part (doesn't even display the Motherboard logo) and goes straight to windows. If I try to mash the BIOS button once it open, it just stays on the black screen, which I then physically reset CMOS/CMOS battery to resolve.

Never had this issue before today.

Been using this custom built PC for 3 years now. Using a H97 Anniversary motherboard. I just recently installed an SSD (after only having an HDD) last week, that's the only change I made to my PC in the last few years. It's been working fine since, but this issue happened today.

If I try to restart the computer by any of the built in windows reset options (such as Settings -> Update and Security -> Recovery -> Advanced Startup), it gives me the black screen upon re-opening, which either a hard shut down or CMOS reset resolves). The only resets that won't give me a black screen is literally if I shut it down or reset it from the windows bar.

Been trying everything since this morning with no success. Would really appreciate some help.

A few interesting things to note:

When it's in the phase of being stuck in the Black screen phase because I attempted to access the BIOS, the hard drive/SSD light on top of the case doesn't turn on at all. Leads me to think that the issue is before the hard drives get activated.

After I reset the CMOS, I am able to access the BIOS as many times as I want as long as I don't shut off the PC. For example, once I reset the CMOS I accessed the BIOS. Then got out of it by saving and exit and so the computer reset itself and it DID show up the motherboard logo so I even went to the boot menu so I can clean install windows from the attached USB. I successfully clean installed windows and it reset itself and showed the motherboard logo.

BUT as soon I turn the PC off once, that's gone. It then goes straight to windows again.

 

[prince_xaine]

maybe try a BIOS update?

 

[SkyNetRising]

Turn off fast boot in BIOS.

 

[aegamelab93]

@prince_xaine: Just tried that now. After CMOS restarting, I installed the latest BIOS update. Still have the issue.

@SkyNetRising: Like I said in the title, Fast Boot is off.

 

[prince_xaine]

@prince_xaine: Just tried that now. After CMOS restarting, I installed the latest BIOS update. Still have the issue.

@SkyNetRising: Like I said in the title, Fast Boot is off.

Is your system set to UEFI or Legacy/BIOS?

 

[aegamelab93]

My BIOS was legacy, but this morning I attempted to change it into UEFI mode and discovered new things about my problem.

First off, I changed my BIOS from Legacy to UEFI by going into the command prompt on the "windows repair" screen (after booting up to a windows install media USB). I checked System 32, and it was successfully converted to UEFI.

I then checked my drives. My main drive (the SSD) was still MBR, while the HDD was converted to GPT in the Legacy to UEFI conversion process.

I then used the mbr2gpt.exe tool to convert my SSD to gpt. It worked. Both my drives were now GPT and my BIOS was UEFI.

I then wanted to configure the settings inside the BIOS itself so it can match up with my UEFI setup.

After trying to get into the BIOS and getting a black screen, which I had to reset the CMOS to get past. I turned off CMS (ASrock H97 doesn't have a select BIOS mode, turning off CMS is pretty much the closest thing to that), but I noticed that I had multiple boot options...namely the harddrives, "Windows boot manager" twice, and "UEFI OS". I tried putting the SSD as number 1, HDD and disabling the others but then this lead to a blue screen with the error message winload.efi. I then went back to BIOS (no CMOS resetting neccessary) and noticed that the harddrives were missing from the boot options. I just had the Windows Boot Manager (x2) and UEFI OS (x2), as you can see in this image: http://i.imgur.com/ZM7DviQ.jpg

So I put the UEFI OS as the 1st priority, and windows boot manager as 2nd. It once again led to the blue screen winload.efi erdor. I went to BIOS again, put Windows Boot Manager as my first and UEFI as 2nd, and it loaded windows fine. I noticed it was a little slower through so it must be running via my HDD although the windows is installed on my SSD.

I shut down the PC and when I turned it on the BIOS menu showed up. I shut it again to test and reopened, and the Bios menu showed up again.

For sake of testing I turned on CSM and left the boot order as is. Windows loaded, however, when I shut it off, the BIOS logo did not show up.

So it seems to me like CSM being enabled is what is causing the BIOS logo to not show up.

Also how do I resolve the issue of BIOS not picking up my harddrives? Windows not booting from the harddrive?

Would really appreciate anyone helping me make sense of all this info.

 

[SkyNetRising]

Windows boot manager is the only correct boot option in UEFI mode. It represents boot loader on GPT disk.
If you have 2x Windows boot manager options, this means, you have 2 UEFI bootloaders (one per drive).

Boot option with storage device name would be available in legacy mode. In pure UEFI mode it will not be available. If drive is converted to GPT, then you can boot from it only in UEFI (no longer in legacy mode).

Correct way of eliminating the confusion would be deleting the unnecessary bootloader.
Can you show screenshot from Disk Management?

 

[aegamelab93]

@SkyNetRising: Here is a screenshot: https://i.imgur.com/BnadI5G.png

The SSD is the 500 GB drive (C: ). HDD is the 1 TB drive (E: ).
Windows should be installed on the SSD as you can see here: https://i.imgur.com/6HYNzbG.png

Can you please help walk me through the process to delete that extra bootloader so I don't screw this up? I want my boot drive to be the SSD.

As I mentioned in my previous post, I currently feel like I'm running on my HDD because the PC is acting a bit slow (like my HDD used to do). But that's strange because windows is on the SSD(?)

 

[SkyNetRising]

1st - make sure your pc can boot into windows with only SSD connected.
If everything is ok, then delete EFI system partition located on HDD.

You'll have to use diskpart because Disk Management will not allow deleting EFI system partition.
Open elevated command prompt and execute following commands:

• diskpart
  list disk
  select disk 1
  list partition
  select partition x
  (You have to select EFI system partition on HDD here, X could be 3 or 4)
  delete partition override
  exit

Also remove drive letters from System Reserved partitions. There is no need for them to be accessible to user.

And windows is being loaded from C: drive on SSD. You can check that in Disk Management. "Boot" in description indicates OS location.

 

[aegamelab93]

@SkyNetRising: Thanks for the command list. Just a heads up, the HDD was Disk 0, so I wrote "select disk 0" instead of "select disk 1".

I deleted the EFI system partition, removed the drive letters from the System Reserved partitions. And expanded the HDD volume to take in the unallocated ex-EFI system partition.

Final Result: https://i.imgur.com/53KGJ3s.png

I then did a CMOS-reset to get into the BIOS. I disabled the CMS. I also set the boot order so it's:

1- Windows Boot Manager
2- UEFI OS

My HDD was a third boot option, but I set it as disabled. Also I left Secure Boot as disabled.

Image of result: https://i.imgur.com/cbejUmz.jpg

Can you please confirm that I should have disabled my HDD and put UEFI OS as second? Also should I have left secure boot disabled?

There are also these USB options: https://i.imgur.com/czTEWBj.jpg

Should I choose the UEFI only option for USB support and disable the USB 3.0 support? Or leave both enabled?


One last side question: I read somewhere that with UEFI, I won't be able to boot from any USB (like if I wanted to clean install windows using the windows media) unless the USB is compatible with UEFI. Is that true? How can I make a USB compatible?

BUT for the grand finale...I shut down my PC several times afterwards and the motherboard logo/BIOS access shows up once I start my PC (unlike before). Also I confirmed that I am able to access the UEFI via Advanced Options inside of Windows.

So everything is working PERFECTLY.

Thank you so much for your help!!!!

P.S: Do let me know your thoughts on the 3 bolded side-questions when you get a chance . Thank you!

 

[SkyNetRising]

Can you please confirm that I should have disabled my HDD and put UEFI OS as second? Also should I have left secure boot disabled?

You can disable UEFI OS boot entry also. Only Windows Boot Manager entry is necessary.

Should I choose the UEFI only option for USB support and disable the USB 3.0 support? Or leave both enabled?

Leave at default. I wouldn't disable USB 3.0.

I read somewhere that with UEFI, I won't be able to boot from any USB (like if I wanted to clean install windows using the windows media) unless the USB is compatible with UEFI. Is that true? How can I make a USB compatible?

If you set USB boot to UEFI only, then yes - you'll be able to boot from UEFI compatible media only. Use rufus, when creating install media. There are various settings available.