I tried to use Linux and I think I messed up.

[MoopStoop]

I tried to download Debian onto an extra HDD to generally use. After rebooting and trying to load into Debian I was stuck waiting for almost 3 hours to load up my BIOS. I eventually gave up and reset my MSI Z97M-Gaming 5 CMOS in an attempt to load into a factory BIOS and get things working. This didn't work however I am finally able to access the BIOS, which is an improvement.
I was very tired and at this point and it was 2 AM so I just shut it down and went to sleep.

Now, roughly 13 hours later I try to boot and get this message.
"Reboot and Select proper Boot device
or Insert Boot Media in selected device and press a key"

Here are some things I've tried to remedy this;

• 
  - Obviously selecting my 128GB MX100 as my boot drive
  - Removing the USB dongle for Debian
  - Disabling all other hard drives in "boot options"
  - Unplugging all other drives and media from their SATA on the motherboard
  - Re seating connections between my SSD and my motherboard
  - Changing various boot settings in the BIOS (last effort)
  

I know this error message is a common one but I've tried all the usual fixes and nothing worked, do any of you Gurus have ideas? My BIOS is full of settings so virtually anything you suggest changing could help.

 

[giantbucket]

back up. did you have Windows 7 or 8.1 running originally? and if so, do you still expect to find it running somewhere? or are you OK if it's all gone and you need to reinstall Windows?

now, what did you download, and how did you try to run it?

even if your entire machine and hard drive setup is a clusterf__k, it's generally easy to go into bios and "load failsafe defaults" or something similar, then insert the Debian (ouch) DVD into your DVD drive (or USB if you made a LiveUSB), and get BIOS to load whatever is on the DVD/USB. usually mash F12 like an idiot until you get to a menu that lets you select the boot device.

that should bypass the hard drive / SSD for now, and load up a LIVE session of Debian (ugh). from there you can play with Deb, or actually install that onto the hard drive or SSD.

why Debian? if you're just trying Linux for the first time, go Ubuntu or LinuxMint. they're all based on Deb, and they're super-easy to use. Ubuntu is based on Deb, and Mint is based on Ubuntu.

for kicks, if you are OK to completely obliterate your hard drive / SSD, download GParted and make a live USB with it (or burn a DVD). i use "Universal-USB-Installer-1.9.6.1" as the program to take an ISO image and shove it onto a USB to make it bootable.

 

[MoopStoop]

back up. did you have Windows 7 or 8.1 running originally? and if so, do you still expect to find it running somewhere? or are you OK if it's all gone and you need to reinstall Windows?

now, what did you download, and how did you try to run it?

even if your entire machine and hard drive setup is a clusterf__k, it's generally easy to go into bios and "load failsafe defaults" or something similar, then insert the Debian (ouch) DVD into your DVD drive (or USB if you made a LiveUSB), and get BIOS to load whatever is on the DVD/USB. usually mash F12 like an idiot until you get to a menu that lets you select the boot device.

that should bypass the hard drive / SSD for now, and load up a LIVE session of Debian (ugh). from there you can play with Deb, or actually install that onto the hard drive or SSD.

why Debian? if you're just trying Linux for the first time, go Ubuntu or LinuxMint. they're all based on Deb, and they're super-easy to use. Ubuntu is based on Deb, and Mint is based on Ubuntu.

for kicks, if you are OK to completely obliterate your hard drive / SSD, download GParted and make a live USB with it (or burn a DVD). i use "Universal-USB-Installer-1.9.6.1" as the program to take an ISO image and shove it onto a USB to make it bootable.

Originally I was running 8.1 Pro, yes. Also my SSD had nothing important that couldn't just be re downloaded, so how would you recommend re installing Windows? I'm not sure what I downloaded but it was from the official site and was definitely legit. The problem I think started with me accidentally shutting down whilst it was downloading, the file was only one GB but It had a time estimate of 2 days to download (thanks ISP's). After that shutdown my problems started.