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

[Tomoms]

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

 

[DavidE]

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

 

[Tomoms]

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

 

[DavidE]

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.
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/1538-sfc-scannow-command-system-file-checker.html

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:
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/819-hibernate-enable-disable.html

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.

 

[gregrocker]

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 http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/681-startup-repair.html?ltr=S s.

Disable Hibernate as suggested after setting a http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/697-system-restore-point-create.html?ltr=S.

 

[DavidE]

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 ???

 

[gregrocker]

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 http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/93347-copy-p,aste-windows-recovery-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 http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/219533-troubleshooting-windows-7-failure-boot.html 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.

 

[Layback Bear]

Just a thought in a question form.

Would resetting cmos/bios to default get him/her back into bios?

 

[gregrocker]

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.

 

[Tomoms]

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

I don't have such key.

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.

Now I'm running those scans - I'll let you know.

Run a System File Check to see if it finds any problems that can be fixed.
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/1538-sfc-scannow-command-system-file-checker.html

That will be my last hope.

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:
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/819-hibernate-enable-disable.html

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.

I won't do this because I need this computer to always work.

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.

My laptop is 5 years old. I haven't got that option, I only have got "EFI = ON or OFF". Anyway, I can't access the BIOS!
I entered BIOS thousands of time, so I know how to do it. I was able to enter BIOS until saturday. I will try removing some software and I'll let you know.

EDIT
I removed some PUP, but obviously nothing changed. I also disabled hibernation, rebooted, and the pc booted normally, but still I wasn't able to enter the BIOS...
BTW: when my pc boots, BIOS says "Resuming System", but I see Windows's boot splashscreen: "Starting Windows". I really don't know what's going on...

 

[DavidE]

Give this a try:

Disconnect the charger.
Remove the battery.
Press the power button a few times to discharge any residual power.
Put the battery back in.
Start the laptop.

 

[Tomoms]

Give this a try:

Disconnect the charger.
Remove the battery.
Press the power button a few times to discharge any residual power.
Put the battery back in.
Start the laptop.

It didn't work...

 

[gregrocker]

The BIOS Boot menu key on Samsung is F12.

Now you say it says "System resuming" followed by "Starting Windows?" Can we see pictures of both screens?

Why did you reinstall in EFI mode? Did you run Samsung Recovery or do a http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/219487-clean-reinstall-factory-oem-windows-7-a.html#post1839164. Did you delete all partitions during reinstall? Did this problem start as soon as you reinstalled?

That would indicate to me it may be BIOS settings for EFI. You may be missing some since they can be labeled Fast Boot, CSM, Compatibility, Legacy BIOS, etc.

You were also asked if you have a newer BIOS update on the Samsung Support Downloads webpage at http://www.samsung.com/be/support/model/NP-R530-JA04BE for your model. I would apply the latest BIOS update to see if this corrects it.

There is also a Manual on the Downloads webpage above for you to read to see if this is at all covered.

 

[Tomoms]

The BIOS Boot menu key on Samsung is F12.

Now you say it says "System resuming" followed by "Starting Windows?" Can we see pictures of both screens?

Why did you reinstall in EFI mode? Did this problem start as soon as you reinstalled?

That would indicate to me it may be BIOS settings for EFI. You may be missing some since they can be labeled Fast Boot, CSM, Compatibility, Legacy BIOS, etc.

You were also asked if you have a newer BIOS update on the Samsung Support Downloads webpage for your model. I would apply the latest BIOS update to see if this corrects it.

1) Yes, that's what I see.
2) I reinstalled in EFI mode just to try it out I reinstalled on monday 8/25 and this problem first occured on friday 8/29
3) As I have already said, the only option is Legacy Boot = ON (it means: no EFI) or OFF (it means: EFI is activated)
4) The latest BIOS update for my pc was released 4 years ago, and I installed it in 2010

 

[gregrocker]

I'd apply the latest BIOS again to see if it corrects the problem. Be sure to read the instructions closely before proceeding and insure the power cannot be cut.

 

[Tomoms]

I'd apply the latest BIOS again to see if it corrects the problem. Be sure to read the instructions closely before proceeding and insure the power cannot be cut.

I have already tried to reinstall the BIOS update, but as soon as the updater compares the two BIOS versions (installed and new) it says: your BIOS is already up-to-date. Aborting installation.

 

[DavidE]

At this point, I would try removing the hard drive and try starting the laptop with no hard drive.
It won't be able to startup and that may force a change allowing access to BIOS.

 

[Mayank Parmar]

i also faced kind of same issue, i kept on tapping F2. laptop took its own time but finally i was able to get BIOS.
As said by Dominos "Patience Pays" !

 

[Tomoms]

At this point, I would try removing the hard drive and try starting the laptop with no hard drive.
It won't be able to startup and that may force a change allowing access to BIOS.

The problem is, I have no idea of how to remove the HD

 

[gregrocker]

Did you read the Manual yet? I gave you a link to it.