Question PC boots straight into Windows. Will not boot into BIOS

[Hunter Camper]

My PC boots straight into Windows without a chance to go into BIOS. I don’t get the BIOS splash screen with the boot options.

My BIOS key is DEL. When I press DEL, I just get a black screen and my monitor remains in standby since it does not detect any video. I press the Power button and the PC quickly shuts down. This has me thinking that it’s a display issue since that’s how a PC normally shuts down when in BIOS. Yet, I tried using all 3 DisplayPort ports and the HDMI port, and it does the exact same thing.

I also tried holding down shift while selecting restart, so that I can get to the screen where I can try a UEFI restart. After boot-up, I still get a blank screen, but now I have to hold down the Power button for a few seconds in order to shut down the PC. Again, this leads me to believe that I’m at the proper screen, but I just can’t see my options so I don’t know what to press.

I also tried unplugging all USB devices except for keyboard. And I also tried plugging only the keyboard. Nothing works. It goes straight into Windows.

I tried a BIOS reset. In fact, I updated BIOS by choosing the most current version. I used BIOS Flash Button and a USB Drive. It updated successfully, because I can see in CPU-Z that it has the BIOS I installed. Yet, it still goes straight to Windows and does all the above behavior – depending on what I try.

I also disabled Fast Startup in Windows. That didn’t help either.

I also did a CMOS Reset, removing the battery for over 5 minutes. That did nothing.

The PC is a fairly fresh install. I formatted everything and installed Windows 11 4 weeks ago and it’s been working great. This issue started about a week ago. I only noticed because I wanted to mess with the BIOS fan settings. Other than this, the PC and all the devices work great.

MY SYSTEM:
MSI B550M Tomahawk Max WiFi on version 2.81
AMD Ryzen 7 3700x
Silicon Power DDR4 32GB (2x16gb) SP032GXLZU320BDA
XFX AMD RX-580 8GB
Asus VP247QG Monitor
Samsung 870 EVO m.2 SSD 500GB
Thermaltake 600W PSU
Windows 11 Build 22631

 

[35below0]

If you suspect you can get to BIOS but can't get display, look in the motherboard manual for keyboard shortcuts. Try using restore defaults and save & exit shortcuts. If the system reboots, you will know BIOS is working and with restored defaults, you will hopefully get your display back.

Does your motherboard have a clear CMOS button? Or pins you can short for a few seconds? The battery method isn't the most reliable.

I don't know what is causing the problem. I had a similar issue that i could solve only by clearing CMOS. I would get no display on my monitor from any DP or HDMI port on the GPU or motherboard (i had iGPU; didn't help.

I don't know why display is so sensitive. I do know BIOS was in deed working because it would respond to keyboard shortcuts.

 

[Hunter Camper]

If you suspect you can get to BIOS but can't get display, look in the motherboard manual for keyboard shortcuts. Try using restore defaults and save & exit shortcuts. If the system reboots, you will know BIOS is working and with restored defaults, you will hopefully get your display back.

Does your motherboard have a clear CMOS button? Or pins you can short for a few seconds? The battery method isn't the most reliable.

No clear CMOS button, so I just used the clear cmos jumpers. Boot-up took a bit longer than usual to get to Windows. I suspect I was taken to BIOS where they tell me it has been reset, and it timed out and then went to Windows. Who knows?

Tomorrow I will call MSI and see if they can walk me through all the keyboard steps to restore defaults. But isn't that exactly what I did but shorting the jumpers?

 

[35below0]

Tomorrow I will call MSI and see if they can walk me through all the keyboard steps to restore defaults. But isn't that exactly what I did but shorting the jumpers?

Yes, you did restore defaults. You should ask MSi why you lost display in BIOS.

I was hoping to confirm that BIOS is working normally, you just can't see it.
If you look up keyboard commands in the motherboard manual, you can try using them. For example, if you can enter BIOS but can't see anything, you may exit BIOS using the keyboard shortcut. If the computer restarts it confirms BIOS is working.

If it doesn't work, then there's a bigger problem.

 

[Hunter Camper]

The only thing MSI came up with is that it could be an issue with compatibility with an older GPU, newer BIOS. (That doesn't explain why it worked fine for 3 weeks). They suggested I try a newer GPU. Well that's not gonna happen. This 8GB RX 580 is actually a recent upgrade for me.

I also installed AMD Adrenaline software which makes sure you have the newest display drivers. Up until now, I was only using the Windows-installed RX 580 drivers. Unfortunately, that didn't make a difference either.

I just realized that I'm screwed if I ever have to do a fresh install of Windows. I won't be able to get into the boot options.

 

[Hunter Camper]

I am now locked out of my PC. But I learned something:
I tried connecting the pc through DVI to an older monitor I have. I didn't get any video AT ALL. Not even in Windows. So I went back to my displayport connection. Then, I decided to try to use DDU to do a clean uninstall of the GPU. They recommend doing this in safe mode so I changed msconfig to do so. Well, it turns out that along with no video in BIOS, no video via DVI, I also do not get any video in Safe Mode. I'm now locked out of my PC as I changed msconfig to boot in safe mode.

I have a very old gpu lying around that I will try to see if I can get back into my pc. In the mean time, this new info must all mean something to some of you guys. Any thoughts?

 

[NedSmelly]

My gut feeling is the fault lies with the GPU, given that you tried another monitor. Drivers shouldn’t make a difference regarding BIOS display as they don’t get loaded until windows starts. Yes I’d be interested to hear if a different GPU solves this.

 

[NedSmelly]

This 8GB RX 580 is actually a recent upgrade for me.

Oh. I just noticed this. Did you buy this used? What was its source?

Used RX580s in the current market don’t have a good reputation, as a lot of them are flogged ex-crypto mining cards.

 

[Hunter Camper]

Oh. I just noticed this. Did you buy this used? What was its source?

Used RX580s in the current market don’t have a good reputation, as a lot of them are flogged ex-crypto mining cards.

Yes it was used. That's how I've always gotten my PC parts with the exception of of my SSD which is new.

An old Nvidia Quadro P2000 that I had lying around got me my video back and I was able to go into BIOS. The first thing I saw was this message "There is no Graphics Output Protocol support detected in this card. The Bios CSM/UEFI Mode settings will be changed to CSM" After I agree, I go into BIOS, and then in Safe Mode, I used DDU to uninstall the GPU Drivers for the RX 580. Then I put the RX 580 back on, but I was back to no video. I had to put the P2000 back on and get into BIOS and change the Mode back to UEFI, shut down, put the RX 580 back on, wait a few minutes for Windows to install the correct drivers, and then finally, I had video. But still no video in BIOS. I'm back to square 1.

Luckily, I adjusted the fan settings while I was in BIOS with the P2000. Now that I have that out of the way, I'm just going to leave things be. If I ever need to get into BIOS again, I will use this old Nvidia card to do so.

Going back to the RX 580 being used. I do realize it's a roll of the dice, but so far, I have had great luck. My sons use this PC for gaming and they have no issues whatsoever. As I said before, not being able to see BIOS is the only issue we have.

 

[NedSmelly]

One suggestion is to check the firmware of the RX580. There’s a remote possibility that it’s running a custom mining firmware which is causing these issues. Have a peek in HWinfo or equivalent, and crosscheck with online source such as Techpowerup.

 

[35below0]

Well, hopefully the issue will last only as long as the RX 580. Luckily it's only BIOS and you're able to deal with it.

Look into acquiring an RX 6500XT, or Intel Arc A580 or A770, or nvidia RTX 3050 or 4060.
Can be found on sale and will probably be more reliable than a used card.

 

[Hunter Camper]

Well, hopefully the issue will last only as long as the RX 580. Luckily it's only BIOS and you're able to deal with it.

Look into acquiring an RX 6500XT, or Intel Arc A580 or A770, or nvidia RTX 3050 or 4060.
Can be found on sale and will probably be more reliable than a used card.

My budget was for the card I just got. But I'll look into those next year. Thanks.

 

[Hunter Camper]

One suggestion is to check the firmware of the RX580. There’s a remote possibility that it’s running a custom mining firmware which is causing these issues. Have a peek in HWinfo or equivalent, and crosscheck with online source such as Techpowerup.

https://freeimage.host/i/JD2wbzg

I'm not too familiar with this. Does anything look odd? Tech Powerup lists this bios in a lot of different RX 580's.