Solved Computer only boots to "Advanced Boot Options" then freezes

[Krisby]

Hello,

My computer is an HP dv7 laptop with Windows 7 Home Premium. When I turn the computer on, it only opens to the "Advanced Boot Options", but it does not respond to the keyboard, such as directional arrows and "Enter". On starting up I can hold down the F8 key and get the first BIOS page, but the same problem is there of not being able to effect any change with keyboard.

Prior to this problem developing, I had started my computer, and it went to the password sign in page as normal, but it indicated that I was "locked out" or something to that effect. The fingerprint reader light was blinking, but I've never set it up for that (I didn't know it had such a facility). I did a restart and the normal sign-in screen was there, so I signed in and updated my AVG Anti Virus 2014. I then I opened the Google Images search page, and it was from that point on that things got "weird", because the screen became greatly magnified. Perhaps I had inadvertently clicked on some option. Not being able to use the computer with the great magnification setting, I then did a restart, which brought me to the "Advanced Boot Options" page without any keyboard access.

I have tried removing the battery and then removing the BIOS battery, which only resulted in a page appearing which stated that the BIOS had to be reset. I was able to press "Enter" to make that happen, but then the "Advanced Boot Options" screen appeared again, with disabled keyboard. I have no Recovery disk. I did get it to boot up once to the sign-in screen, but the keyboard was still not responding, so I could not enter my password. The cursor was working via the touchpad that time. Upon restart, the "Advanced Boot Option" page returned, and no keyboard response.

What is the problem, and what is the solution?

I would greatly appreciate assistance with this.

Kind regards,

Krisby

 

[Pendaws]

What happened before this? did you drop something on the Keyboard? has it been wet?
Can you not get into the HP boot menu? not the BIOS but there should be a boot menu
which HP puts on these laptops. I think you can gain access to it by hitting F5 at boot start.

 

[gregrocker]

Is this the original HP Factory install which is the worst possible install of Win7 one can have, with the worst load of bloatware in the industry along with duplicate utilities that interfere with better versions built into Win7? If so you're overdue for a http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/219487-clean-reinstall-factory-oem-windows-7-a.html#post1839164 which will result in a perfect install if you stick with the steps.

On top of that installing AVG bloatware is never a good thing. If you can get into Safe Mode you may resolve some problems by replacing it with a lightweight AV like MSE or Panda free. I'd also immediately disable everything in msconfig>Startup and >Services (after Hiding All MS Services) to start getting some control over the monstrous HP bloatware. You'll need to uninstall the HP Wireless manager in Control Panel, then reconnect using Win7's superior wireless manager in System Tray.

No tech enthusiast would run an HP Factory Install.

 

[Krisby]

Pendaws:

Thank you for your response. I have not dropped anything on the keyboard, nor has it been wet. Regarding the "boot menu", pressing F5 upon boot-up has no effect. If I hold down the "esc" key upon start-up (not F8 as stated in my original post), I go into the "Windows Boot Manager", which has an option of going into a "Tools" menu by pressing "TAB". However, as the keyboard is not responding, nothing can be effected. Is that the "boot menu" that you were referring to?

K.

 

[gregrocker]

Can you boot via ESC into HP Diagnostics to test hardware.

If not try booting disk to do the repairs in Troubleshooting Failure to Start steps below.

In step 6 it provides fisk and shows how to rescue files. You can then try triggering F11 Recovery to choose Minimal Recovery or do the comparable Clean Reinstall

 

[Krisby]

Hello gregrocker,

Thanks for the feedback. No, I cannot boot into HP Diagnostics via ESC. Both of the two screens I can access, being "Windows Boot Manager" and "Advanced Boot Options" are frozen, in that keyboard is not responding, so I cannot select choices and "Enter" them. You have written,

"try booting disk to do the repairs in Troubleshooting Failure"

I assume you are referring to some on-board option upon booting up my computer, but I have no options available to me, because my keyboard is not working.

I appreciate what you are communicating about the factory installation version of Windows 7, but that is not my priority at present. Given the present state of my computer, is it possible to boot from some kind of CD repair disk or USB flash drive? If so, how would that work, considering that my optical reader won't open, because the computer is not operating normally. I notice a small hole in the outside of the CD/DVD tray, is that to insert a wire or tool in order to open the tray? Or, will the computer boot up from a USB device? But if my keyboard still doesn't work, I wouldn't be able make selections.

Thanx.

 

[gregrocker]

Then how can you hold the F8 key to get first BIOS page? It seems you may have some keyboard function. Do you see the option for Safe Mode? How about if you plug in a USB keyboard?

You may need to disassemble the laptop to get to the keyboard to see if the ribbon has come unplugged, or replace the keyboard. But there is real risk in disassembling a laptop even if you can find an online video for your model.

So I think before I do that it would be better to boot Partition Wizard or the HD maker's Hard Drive Diagnostic Procedure bootable CD scan which will autostart itself to wipe the HD. This in turn will force the Win7 installer to start so you can try reinstalling to see if that gives you back functions. If keyboard works in boot mode then the reinstall may restore it's use. If neither then you can work on replacing the keyboard.

Another disk that can boot itself is Paragon Rescue Kit Free Edition 11.0 Free CD to rescue files if needed.

A paper clip will open the disk drive but why won't it open as usual under power? If you need USB version HD diagnostics or Partition Wizard there is a way to do that.

 

[Krisby]

Yes, gregrocker, the "esc" key works, by holding it down during start-up, to bring me to the "Windows Boot Manager" screen, and if I let it go, then the screen changes to "Advanced Boot Options". If I don't press any key, the computer most likely boots straight to "Advanced Boot Options", but if it opens the "Windows Boot Manager" screen, I can advance it to "Advanced Boot Options" by pressing F8. Yes, "Safe Mode" is listed on the "ABO" page, but the arrow keys will not work to move the highlight from "Repair Your Computer".

Are you saying that if I put some kind of repair or recovery disk (or USB stick) in the computer, it will boot from that? I just put in an AVG Rescue & Installation Disk (the "open tray" button is working when the computer is on), but there was no response from my computer. I then restarted it with the CD still in the computer, but there was no difference to the problem (no response to the disc).

Curiously, when the "Advanced Boot Options" screen is showing, if I press F1, F8, F12 or delete, then a little LED on the "caps lock" key will light up, and pressing any of those keys again will turn it off!

I shall try another keyboard, but that doesn't answer the question why the computer will only boot up to those two screens mentioned above. The problem with booting up must also be connected to the directional arrows and the "enter" keys not working. As I have mentioned, the computer did boot once to the log-in page, but I couldn't type in the password, even though the touchpad was working. But I haven't seen that log-in screen for some time now.

I think I'll see if I can find somebody who can work on the Hard Drive. As a worst-case scenario, I can always buy a new HD, and then do an new installation of Windows 7, being mindful of your advice re "bloatware"

Cheers,

K.

 

[gregrocker]

I specified the few disk I know will normally self-boot.

I didn't say the HD is suspect, so i don't know why you want someone to "work on it." You'll know if the OS is involved if after wiping the HD with a self-booting disk it corrects the problem when it autostarts the Win7 DVD to do a decent install.

I know you were quick to dismiss it but you can't really downplay having the worst possible install of Win7, especially when you can cut to the chase to soon end up with the best possible install while seeing if it solves your problem.

 

[Krisby]

gregrocker,

I will endeavour to get those discs you have recommended, and see if they will boot up. I've just tried various boot and repair disks that were lying around, but they didn't boot. I haven't entirely dismissed the idea of the Window 7 installation that you recommend, but rather it seems to involve downloading a lot of data, and my wireless connection out here in what you would refer to as the "boondocks" is very slow, so I would have to go somewhere that I can have a fast internet connection (unless I could score a CD or DVD with the Windows 7 OS on it.

The best plan now is to get the boot discs that you have recommended.

K.

 

[Krisby]

Anybody still there?

Today my computer miraculously started up and went straight to log-in screen, and I was able to enter my password and then arrive at the desktop screen! However I noticed the F12 "wireless" key had a white LED showing rather than the usual red one, so I pressed it, hoping it would change back to red, but then things got weird again (I think pressing that button had caused the original problem). A small box appeared on the screen with options of enlarging the image, and then the whole screen went to super enlarged scale, as it had done prior to the original problem developing. I navigated over the mega screen landscape to the "start menu" and clicked on "restart". Upon rebooting to the log-on screen, I found that, as previously, I could not enter my password (no response to keyboard). I then restarted the computer and it has now returned to only opening to the "Windows Boot Manager" or "Advanced Boot Options" screen, with the keyboard disabled.

I have tried a number of "Boot" CD's, but they will not boot, as I suppose the computer is not configured to boot from a CD, but might not boot from a disc anyway as it appears to be "out of order".

Perhaps I can take out the HDD and put it in a remote drive hooked to another computer, so I can use a diagnostic and repair program on it? Alternatively, if I can access the HDD via another computer, I could do a fresh re-installation of Windows 7 OS, & add new drivers. Or perhaps the problem is with the BIOS chip? I can get a new one for about $30.

Any ideas?

 

[gregrocker]

You can slave the drive to test it but to install in another PC requires when you move it back to http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/292068-make-windows-7-bootable-after-motherboard-swap.html

I already gave you boot disks which will self-boot for HD Diagnostics and then wiping the HD, which will make the installation media self-boot.

The installation media is provided in http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/219487-clean-reinstall-factory-oem-windows-7-a.html#post1839164 along with everything else needed to get and keep a perfect install. Be sure to read the steps in red for how drivers are handled in WIn7 if you think that a bunch of drivers must be injected as that ended in XP.

Another thing to try is tapping the F11 key to run HP System Recovery
which may offer a Minimal Recovery option which is close to a Clean Reinstall.

 

[Krisby]

gregrocker:

When you mention slaving the hard drive to another computer, do you mean physically installing the hard drive into another computer (then having two hard drives in the one computer), or does what you are talking relate what I was thinking about, which was to put the hard drive into a remote hard drive appliance, connected to my good computer via USB?

Before I take out the hard drive, I would try the methods you recommend, although I am sceptical that my computer will boot from a CD. The tool you have recommended is only available as a download, and at 229MB, I don't think my minimal internet connection is up to the task. So, until I find a computer hooked to a fast internet connection, I have ordered a disc on eBay which claims to be able to boot up a computer, so I will try that first ( but I've so far tried about six different boot disks).

I'll keep you posted on developments!

 

[gregrocker]

You'll be able to test hard drive easier if it's plugged in internally to the other HD via SATA port.

If you can't boot any disk try resetting the BIOS to defaults. Then tap the key given for Boot Menu on first screen. Most failures to boot disk are a user failure having to do with the timing of pressing the key. If tapping it doesn't work try holding it.

You can also try accessing http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/668-system-recovery-options.html via F8 key but again it takes patience and trying different ways like tapping, holding the key, setting the disk drive first to boot in BIOS. Do you ever see the prompt to "Press any key to boot disk?"

 

[Krisby]

Fixed it?

My computer now appears to be fixed! I let it sit, switched off, for about 12 to 14 hours. I then developed a prayerful mind/attitude, and pressed the ON button, whilst laying my hands along the sides of the notebook, visualising "healing energy" flowing from my hands into the computer. Lo and behold, it booted up into the sign-in page! I didn't want to rush things, so I waited a few minutes whilst the computer did whatever it felt in needed to do in the background, and then typed in my password and pressed "enter". Voila! The computer advanced to the desktop! Again I did not hurry things, as I think that was the cause of my original problem. After about 5 minutes wait, I started to navigate around and found everything worked as normal!

One queer thing I noticed, is that the time and the date, displayed at the bottom right hand of the screen, now stated that it was January of 2010! While the computer was frozen for a week, had it actually been traveling back in time? I connected the computer to the internet, and updated my anti-viral program, and did a full scan, but no "bugs" were found. Maybe Windows had set itself back to a time when it was stable? Upon restarting the computer, during shutdown, the CHKDSK (Check Disk) program started on its own, and examined my hard drive and made some kind of report (nothing seemed to indicate a problem), then the computer continued with the restart. So, Windows must have known there was some problem, and somehow, in its own time and in its own way, it sorted itself out! Or, it was the healing "vibes" I put into the computer. Or maybe a combination of both, or neither.

Fingers crossed.......

Thanks for the help you guys have given me.

Krisby.

 

[gregrocker]

Clock and data slippage can indicate a bad CMOS battery that stores these when the PC is without power. Keep an eye on that.

I'd also continue to work through the Troubleshooting Steps for Windows 7 to uncover any problems and also to learn more about how to go about this.

 

[Krisby]

Yes, gregrocker, I had thought about the CMOS RTC BIOS battery, so I've ordered a new one just to be sure. I will endeavour to look more into Windows 7, and make a Recovery Disk which the computer recommends be made initially. I don't really have any data on the computer worth saving in some remote location. I don't actually use the computer, due to the limitations of my 12 volt home power supply, but rather use a smaller ASUS notebook which uses a lot less power. So, the HP dv7 sits around for a week or two, before I put a charge on it and update its anti-viral program. Maybe that has led to excessive use of the CMOS RTC battery? Maybe when he computer is powered up or charging, the CMOS battery is not being used?