Windows keeps restarting over and over

[Persian_Boy]

We'll I was updating windows 8 to windows 8.1 about a day ago and I didn't plug my laptop in properly so it turned off during the update and now when I turn it on it shows the acer logo and it's where I have the option to press F12 or F2 but it restarts straight away so when I press F12 or F2 it says please wait but then it restarts straight away, how do I fix this please help!!!

 

[DonQuixoteMC]

We'll I was updating windows 8 to windows 8.1 about a day ago and I didn't plug my laptop in properly so it turned off during the update and now when I turn it on it shows the acer logo and it's where I have the option to press F12 or F2 but it restarts straight away so when I press F12 or F2 it says please wait but then it restarts straight away, how do I fix this please help!!!

You may just need to re-install windows. If your computer has an optical drive just insert the CDs. If not, you'll need to use this to install Windows.

DonQuixoteMC

 

[Persian_Boy]

We'll I was updating windows 8 to windows 8.1 about a day ago and I didn't plug my laptop in properly so it turned off during the update and now when I turn it on it shows the acer logo and it's where I have the option to press F12 or F2 but it restarts straight away so when I press F12 or F2 it says please wait but then it restarts straight away, how do I fix this please help!!!

We'll I was updating windows 8 to windows 8.1 about a day ago and I didn't plug my laptop in properly so it turned off during the update and now when I turn it on it shows the acer logo and it's where I have the option to press F12 or F2 but it restarts straight away so when I press F12 or F2 it says please wait but then it restarts straight away, how do I fix this please help!!!

You may just need to re-install windows. If your computer has an optical drive just insert the CDs. If not, you'll need to use this to install Windows.

DonQuixoteMC

I would do that but it keeps restarting before it can run the cd

 

[DonQuixoteMC]

I would do that but it keeps restarting before it can run the cd

Oh. That is troubling... So you don't have time to enter setup with BIOS and change boot order?

Try clearing the CMOS (Resetting BIOS).

For you, you'll have to either clear the CMOS using the Motherboard Jumper, or if your motherboard does not have a jumper you'll need to clear the CMOS by reseating the CMOS Battery. (I know the directions say to replace the battery, but all you have to do is take it out, wait five minutes (or so) and then put it back in)

Once you've done that, try booting with the install disks again.

Let me know how that goes! You'll need to consult your computer's manual to figure out where your jumper/CMOS battery is located (The manufacturer often offers .pdf versions on their website). If you can't find it, post your computer's brand and model and I'll see if I can find it.

DonQuixoteMC

 

[Persian_Boy]

I would do that but it keeps restarting before it can run the cd

Oh. That is troubling... So you don't have time to enter setup with BIOS and change boot order?

Try clearing the CMOS (Resetting BIOS).

For you, you'll have to either clear the CMOS using the Motherboard Jumper, or if your motherboard does not have a jumper you'll need to clear the CMOS by reseating the CMOS Battery. (I know the directions say to replace the battery, but all you have to do is take it out, wait five minutes (or so) and then put it back in)

Once you've done that, try booting with the install disks again.

Let me know how that goes! You'll need to consult your computer's manual to figure out where your jumper/CMOS battery is located (The manufacturer often offers .pdf versions on their website). If you can't find it, post your computer's brand and model and I'll see if I can find it.

DonQuixoteMC

Sorry for the late reply mate, but um my laptop didn't have a motherboard jumper so I tried to clear the CMOS by reseating the CMOS battery like you said but it didn't do anything, I also took out the hard drive think that it would give a error and allow me to boot by using the windows 8 DVD but it kept restarting with no change

 

[DonQuixoteMC]

Sorry for the late reply mate, but um my laptop didn't have a motherboard jumper so I tried to clear the CMOS by reseating the CMOS battery like you said but it didn't do anything, I also took out the hard drive think that it would give a error and allow me to boot by using the windows 8 DVD but it kept restarting with no change

Hmm. I'm not sure if I have the knowledge to help you with this one. That was smart to try forcing the computer to boot into something by removing the hard disk, and that would have been my next suggestion. Shame that didn't work.

It looks like the BootRec.exe Tool would be a likely way to solve part of your problem. The thing is... It sounds like you might not be able to boot into the Windows Recovery Environment to use it.

I'll keep you posted.

DonQuixoteMC

 

[dodger46]

Try to see if you can access the recovery Partition if you have one
Power computer on. Hold Alt and keep pressing F10 at the Acer logo.

 

[Persian_Boy]

Hmm. I'm not sure if I have the knowledge to help you with this one. That was smart to try forcing the computer to boot into something by removing the hard disk, and that would have been my next suggestion. Shame that didn't work.

It looks like the BootRec.exe Tool would be a likely way to solve part of your problem. The thing is... It sounds like you might not be able to boot into the Windows Recovery Environment to use it.

I'll keep you posted.

DonQuixoteMC

Yeah I can't get into the windows recovery, This is truly frustrating and it would be amazing if you could tell me once you have figured something

 

[Persian_Boy]

Try to see if you can access the recovery Partition if you have one
Power computer on. Hold Alt and keep pressing F10 at the Acer logo.

Yeah I just tried holding Alt while pressing F10 at the acer logo but nothing happened at one situation it actually froze on the acer logo for about 10 seconds but then it went to what it was doing before but it takes a little longer to bring the acer logo up now i don't know why

 

[dodger46]

Can you confirm that you actually tried to boot the machine with the HDD removed/disconnected? Best post your full model number, may help. If it failed to boot with the HDD removed, check your RAM, try running on one stick at a time if you have two.

 

[Persian_Boy]

Can you confirm that you actually tried to boot the machine with the HDD removed/disconnected? Best post your full model number, may help. If it failed to boot with the HDD removed, check your RAM, try running on one stick at a time if you have two.

Yes I did remove the HDD and boot the laptop in fact I still haven't placed the HDD back it, I booted it without the HDD and it turned on like before I removed it and kept restarting when it got to the acer logo where F12 and F2 is and again none of these buttons work because it restarts too fast it does make a beep noise when I press F12 or F2 and it does say please wait but it restarts before it can do anything.
And yes last night I removed a ram trying to see if that is the problem but it wasn't, but I didn't check the ram my brother did and he said that wasn't the problem, but are u saying maybe out of the 2 rams one of them has a problem? Cuse I don't know if he tried to run while 1 stick was in at a time and then swap to try other stick.

 

[dodger46]

Can you confirm that you actually tried to boot the machine with the HDD removed/disconnected? Best post your full model number, may help. If it failed to boot with the HDD removed, check your RAM, try running on one stick at a time if you have two.

Yes I did remove the HDD and boot the laptop in fact I still haven't placed the HDD back it, I booted it without the HDD and it turned on like before I removed it and kept restarting when it got to the acer logo where F12 and F2 is and again none of these buttons work because it restarts too fast it does make a beep noise when I press F12 or F2 and it does say please wait but it restarts before it can do anything.
And yes last night I removed a ram trying to see if that is the problem but it wasn't, but I didn't check the ram my brother did and he said that wasn't the problem, but are u saying maybe out of the 2 rams one of them has a problem? Cuse I don't know if he tried to run while 1 stick was in at a time and then swap to try other stick.

Well, it can't be a software problem as you removed the HDD. That leaves Hardware or BIOS. Running with one stick usually eliminates RAM from the equation, which leaves BIOS or System Board. It would help if you posted your Model number to check the Manual... Also check carefully that no keys are stuck down...especially F keys!

 

[Persian_Boy]

Can you confirm that you actually tried to boot the machine with the HDD removed/disconnected? Best post your full model number, may help. If it failed to boot with the HDD removed, check your RAM, try running on one stick at a time if you have two.

Yes I did remove the HDD and boot the laptop in fact I still haven't placed the HDD back it, I booted it without the HDD and it turned on like before I removed it and kept restarting when it got to the acer logo where F12 and F2 is and again none of these buttons work because it restarts too fast it does make a beep noise when I press F12 or F2 and it does say please wait but it restarts before it can do anything.
And yes last night I removed a ram trying to see if that is the problem but it wasn't, but I didn't check the ram my brother did and he said that wasn't the problem, but are u saying maybe out of the 2 rams one of them has a problem? Cuse I don't know if he tried to run while 1 stick was in at a time and then swap to try other stick.

Well, it can't be a software problem as you removed the HDD. That leaves Hardware or BIOS. Running with one stick usually eliminates RAM from the equation, which leaves BIOS or System Board. It would help if you posted your Model number to check the Manual... Also check carefully that no keys are stuck down...especially F keys!

The model of my laptop is the acer aspire 5560G and no keys are stuck down

 

[dodger46]

Nothing of any use in your Manual (It's only a User Guide, actually)
The fact that you can't use F2 to access the BIOS is really frustrating, it's the only place you can make any changes. In fact it looks to me as if the BIOS has somehow become corrupted, and as you've already disconnected the CMOS battery there's not much else you can do, other than return to Acer, hopefully you're still within the Warranty period.

 

[dodger46]

Seems it's not that unusual to fail to enter Aspire BIOS. Some have had success by holding down F2 before hitting the Power button. Others recommend tapping the F2 button furiously after power on. Keep trying may be the trick!

 

[dodger46]

From another thread, similar problem, believed the fast boot option involved both HDD and BIOS, so removed the HDD and installed a fresh copy of Windows 8 on the drive in another, similar, laptop. Worked a treat...Worth a try?

 

[DonQuixoteMC]

From another thread, similar problem, believed the fast boot option involved both HDD and BIOS, so removed the HDD and installed a fresh copy of Windows 8 on the drive in another, similar, laptop. Worked a treat...Worth a try?

Even with a functional OS, wouldn't a corrupt BIOS still prevent the laptop from booting?
That's what I can't figure out... How to get around a "broken BIOS"
Nothing I can think of or have read involves a solution independent of BIOS.
And it seems like he's able to use the F-keys required to access BIOS, the problem is that it just won't enter BIOS. (I'm citing the "Please wait..." message)

I think what you said about sending the laptop back to Acer is, unfortunately, the most promising idea at present. A corrupted BIOS, that isn't repaired by a CMOS reset, seems like a surefire recipe for a laptop-paperweight.

I'm not giving up by any means, I don't want to see this go unsolved, I just think it couldn't hurt to see what your warranty is and if you could send your laptop to Acer for repairs.

Still looking.

DonQuixoteMC

 

[DonQuixoteMC]

Hey Dodger,
I've been digging through these threads and I'm just wondering about the possibility that they could help us with this current problem.

In order of probable usefulness:
http://forums.majorgeeks.com/showthread.php?t=217930
http://forum.notebookreview.com/compal/68237-req-procedure-crisis-recovery-diskette-recovery-bios-fail.html
http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/183341-30-corrupted-bios-flash
I'm reluctant to even post this one. It just sounds risky to do regardless of how much tech experience you have. Here it is anyway

What do you think about trying that avenue of troubleshooting? Usually the system will at least POST if the problem is hardware or OS related. The symptoms just seem to suggest a BIOS failure.

Thanks!

DonQuixoteMC

By the way, how are you doing? It's good to see you again! Haha

 

[Persian_Boy]

Could it be from the motherboard?

 

[dodger46]

Could it be from the motherboard?

A huge co-incidence if it is! I suspect it is more to do with the inter-reaction between BIOS and OS during fast boot, ie if your OS is malfunctioning, the Fast Boot sequence fails and you are unable to get into BIOS to disable it. Hence the suggestion to try to get a working Win 8 install on to the drive in another machine if possible. Difficult if you only have one machine...

@ DonQuixote, Aye, good to see you in the Forum again, I see you have been posting regularly since, either that or you've been having serious problems... meanwhile it would be highly unusual for a BIOS to become corrupted without actually screwing up a BIOS update, but these modern UEFIs have a lot to answer for as they have Software components which rely on the OS to function, fat lot of good if your HDD fails or OS gets corrupted...

 

[dodger46]

Could it be from the motherboard?

I think it is possible to get into your Windows 8 Recovery area by trying to power off by holding down the Pwr Button for 5 seconds immediately the Acer logo appears. Keep trying until you can get into Troubleshooting. Then choose Advanced Options and System Restore

 

[DonQuixoteMC]

I suspect it is more to do with the inter-reaction between BIOS and OS during fast boot, ie if your OS is malfunctioning, the Fast Boot sequence fails and you are unable to get into BIOS to disable it. Hence the suggestion to try to get a working Win 8 install on to the drive in another machine if possible. Difficult if you only have one machine...

Ah. Okay, that makes sense. You're right, it's not like Persian_Boy was updating BIOS when the problem occurred, I don't know why I thought a Windows update would affect BIOS.

...but these modern UEFIs have a lot to answer for as they have Software components which rely on the OS to function, fat lot of good if your HDD fails or OS gets corrupted...

Seriously!?
Who thought that was a good idea?

 

[Persian_Boy]

I think it is possible to get into your Windows 8 Recovery area by trying to power off by holding down the Pwr Button for 5 seconds immediately the Acer logo appears. Keep trying until you can get into Troubleshooting. Then choose Advanced Options and System Restore

I turn it on everyday since this has happened and press F12 and F2 and then hold the power button to shut it down but ill try shutting it down when the acer logo shows up, hopefully something happens eventually.

 

[dodger46]

I think it is possible to get into your Windows 8 Recovery area by trying to power off by holding down the Pwr Button for 5 seconds immediately the Acer logo appears. Keep trying until you can get into Troubleshooting. Then choose Advanced Options and System Restore

I turn it on everyday since this has happened and press F12 and F2 and then hold the power button to shut it down but ill try shutting it down when the acer logo shows up, hopefully something happens eventually.

Is your laptop still within Warranty? Best send it off for repair as it appears to have a corrupt BIOS, and Acer don't provide any means of updating it outside the Windows Environment...

 

[Persian_Boy]

Is your laptop still within Warranty? Best send it off for repair as it appears to have a corrupt BIOS, and Acer don't provide any means of updating it outside the Windows Environment...

No it's not within the warranty if it was the first thing I would have done was send it to acer