I can't access BIOS settings because BIOS assumes Windows is resuming

Good evening!
A week ago I reinstalled Windows 7 in EFI mode on my laptop, and now I've got this problem: whenever I turn on my computer after a shutdown, the BIOS says "System Resuming" instead of "Press F2 to enter settings". This makes impossible for me to access BIOS settings. Previously, my BIOS used to say "System Resuming" only after a hibernation. The weird fact is that - as far as I remember - this thing started happening only after a few days.
Can you help me?
Thanks in advance

Try doing a shutdown command from a CMD window, or Start button / Run
The command is shutdown /s

See if entering the command manually makes a difference in how it starts up

Thanks for the suggestion. I ran the command as a normal user but, at the following boot, the probem was still there.

If you have a bootable CD/DVD in the drive it won't boot from that, right?
If you have a bootable flash drive connected it won't boot from that, right?
The laptop only starts with Resume from hibernate, right?

Have you tried using the key to use the one-time Boot option to display a list of bootable devices?

My guess is you have malware, your specs show you don't use an Anti-Virus, just Windows Defender.
You could try installing an AV such as Microsoft Security Essentials and run a scan, but malware may block it now.
You could also try installing the free version of Malwarebytes to scan with that.
I'm not a security expert, so you could ask about this in the Security forum for better advice.
Someone there may have seen this before.

Run a System File Check to see if it finds any problems that can be fixed.
SFC /SCANNOW Command - System File Checker

You can try disabling Hibernate and see what happens.
I've never heard of a PC stuck in a Resume from hibernate loop like yours.
WARNING
If you can disable Hibernate, I have no idea what might happen on start up.
The laptop might not be able to boot up.
If you're interested here is a tutorial:
Hibernate - Enable or Disable

You might end up needing to remove the hard drive, connect it to another PC and clean it.
Then put it back in the laptop and reinstall Windows.

Check your BIOS settings for Fast Boot to disable. This is how Windows 8 starts so fast is it secretly uses Hibernate's Resume in place of Startup. It likely is the default in your EFI settings.

If this doesn't help look for other similar BIOS settings and read your Manual on it's Support Downloads webpage.

Run a few Startup Repair s.

Disable Hibernate as suggested after setting a System Restore Point - Create.

Greg,
As I read it here, the OP can't access BIOS, so right now it's not possible to check BIOS settings for Fast Boot, etc...
If the laptop can boot from a Optical disc, a Startup Repair may be what's needed...
I asked if it can be booted from a CD/DVD...

Assuming the OP can't access BIOS, or boot from a CD/DVD/USB flash drive
do you think this might be another case where removing the Hard Drive and then booting the laptop might be a good idea ???

It certainly can't Resume from Hibernate if there is no Hard Drive with the OS and hibernate file !

That might be better than disabling Hibernate as I suggested...the HD hibernate file will still be there, but we can see what happens if the laptop tries to Resume and can't find the OS/hibernate file...
That might trigger something to allow access to BIOS ???

Most failures to boot into BIOS, WinRE or a disk are user failures. Has OP pressed the key at just the right time? Try tapping it vigorously, then try holding it down. Response?


A HD can stop a disk from booting so I suppose its possible it is blocking BIOS setup. If OP reinstalled in EFI mode there are may be settings for EFI meant for Windows 8 including Fast Boot which emulates Hibernate as the Startup and Shutdown, or even accessing BIOS via the OS. Is there a newer BIOS update that corrects this, or an older one which doesn't interfere in this way? Perhaps reinstalling the latest BIOS would correct this to access BIOS setup. Reading the Manual on the same Support Downloads webpage may explain these settings further.


If the hotkey cannot be made to boot into BIOS even with HD removed, then it may require wiping the HD with the Hard Drive Diagnostics CD http://www.carrona.org/hddiag.html or Partiton Wizard CD which should autostart on its own to rescue files using https://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials...y-console.html and then wipe the hard drive, thereby forcing the Win7 installation media to likewise auto start and possibly allowing access to BIOS setup.


Your idea to check for infection is also good, David. So I'd start by running at least one of the bootable AV scans in Troubleshooting Windows 7 Failure to Boot followed by SFC scan to check for damaged System files.


A few Startup Repairs from the Win7 disk or F8 Repair options might also find something.

That's the first thing that comes to mind, yes.

But unfortunately Jack in order to reset to defaults on a laptop it involves some level of disassembly to get to the CMOS battery which is highly risky and often way too involved for most consumers.

That leaves only being able to enter BIOS setup to reset to Defaults, which OP is unable to do yet.