HELP Windows 7 Breaks BIOS after Installation

[EMINEM]

I installed Windows 7 and after the Completing Installation part it rebooted like it should and then after restarting my PC gets stuck at the BIOS. All BIOS Controls do NOT work. I can't access the BIOS nor the Boot Menu. I'll post a video later on YouTube about the case.

 

[gregrocker]

If this is a tower then reset the CMOS: Clear CMOS - 3 Ways to Clear the CMOS - Reset BIOS

Now can you boot the DVD using one-time BIOS BOot Menu key given on first screen, or enter BIOS setup to set DVD drive first to boot, or reset to defaults?

What happens if you power up with DVD in drive? Any prompts or messages at all?

Try pulling the RAM sticks to check for debris in slots, swap slots, reseat them.

Next try booting with the HD maker's HD Diagnostic extended CD scan since this CD will normally boot itself without user input, as will free Partition Wizard CD. Test the HD with these disks, then wipe the HD which will in turn force the Win7 DVD to boot itself to reinstall.

 

[EMINEM]

Here's the link for the video: HELP BIOS Breaks After Windows 7 Installation - YouTube

If it says its being processed, wait for a 30 Minutes or so.

 

[EMINEM]

If this is a tower then reset the CMOS: Clear CMOS - 3 Ways to Clear the CMOS - Reset BIOS

Now can you boot the DVD using one-time BIOS BOot Menu key given on first screen, or enter BIOS setup to set DVD drive first to boot, or reset to defaults?

What happens if you power up with DVD in drive? Any prompts or messages at all?

Try pulling the RAM sticks to check for debris in slots, swap slots, reseat them.

Next try booting with the HD maker's HD Diagnostic extended CD scan since this CD will normally boot itself without user input, as will free Partition Wizard CD. Test the HD with these disks, then wipe the HD which will in turn force the Win7 DVD to boot itself to reinstall.

What's a tower? This is a result of a failed attempt to downgrade from Windows 8.

 

[EMINEM]

If this is a tower then reset the CMOS: Clear CMOS - 3 Ways to Clear the CMOS - Reset BIOS

Now can you boot the DVD using one-time BIOS BOot Menu key given on first screen, or enter BIOS setup to set DVD drive first to boot, or reset to defaults?

What happens if you power up with DVD in drive? Any prompts or messages at all?

Try pulling the RAM sticks to check for debris in slots, swap slots, reseat them.

Next try booting with the HD maker's HD Diagnostic extended CD scan since this CD will normally boot itself without user input, as will free Partition Wizard CD. Test the HD with these disks, then wipe the HD which will in turn force the Win7 DVD to boot itself to reinstall.

I tried reseating the CMOS but it had a negative effect: The option, Press DEL to Run Setup is now gone!!! I re-tried it but nothing happens!!! Also there's no messages as seen in the video.

 

[gregrocker]

Here's the link for the video: HELP BIOS Breaks After Windows 7 Installation - YouTube

You may not be pressing the DEL or F8 keys enough times or vigorously enough. Start tapping them firmly every 2 seconds from the moment you press the Power button until they respond.

How exactly did you reset the CMOS? Did you use the jumper or pull the battery long enough, drain the residual power by holding the power key? What else was done attempting to downgrade from Win8? Did this PC previously have Win7? What OS came with it?

Power down, unplug the PC, hold power button to drain power. Carefully pull the RAM while frequently touching the case to avoid static charge. reboot without RAM to see if you get beep codes, the power down again the same ways to replace the RAM one stick at a time, trying to start up with each. Any changes?

You can also burn a CD which will boot itself to test the RAM - Test with Memtest86+ for 5-6 passes.

I gave you steps to test the HD and then with the same disk wipe the HD to force the installer to boot to reinstall. You can also use Hiren’s BootCD 15.1 which should boot itself and contains memtest, can rescue your files to another HD, external USB with bootable XP browser, HD diagnostics for your model HD, then wipe the HD to force Win7 installer to boot itself to Clean Reinstall - Factory OEM Windows 7 .

As back if you have any questions. Others may have more ideas.

 

[theog]

Here's the link for the video: HELP BIOS Breaks After Windows 7 Installation - YouTube

Check all cables, ram are seated OK.

 

[EMINEM]

Here's the link for the video: HELP BIOS Breaks After Windows 7 Installation - YouTube

Check all cables, ram are seated OK.

I noticed that the HDD Data Cable got split so I joined them back together but still no luck. It appears that the HDD has been corrupted. I have another PC but my SATA Cables are all fixed to the CPU Case. How can I format the HDD WITHOUT using an enclosure?

 

[gregrocker]

I gave you a whole list of steps to perform which you've not replied to yet. If you have questions ask them back, but don't just ignore steps I take the time to type out for you.

Unplug the HDD to see if a disk you know for sure is bootable will boot. If it won't then its most likely not the HDD, which rarely blocks a disk from booting anyway.

If you can get a disk to boot then run the bootable HD Diagnostic extended CD scan.

If this all fails then try installing the HD in another PC to see if it can be read, rescue data if necessary, wipe the HD to see if installer will autostart in problem PC.

 

[EMINEM]

I gave you a whole list of steps to perform which you've not replied to yet. If you have questions ask them back, but don't just ignore steps I take the time to type out for you.

Unplug the HDD to see if a disk you know for sure is bootable will boot. If it won't then its most likely not the HDD, which rarely blocks a disk from booting anyway.

If you can get a disk to boot then run the bootable HD Diagnostic extended CD scan.

If this all fails then try installing the HD in another PC to see if it can be read, rescue data if necessary, wipe the HD to see if installer will autostart in problem PC.

Yeah it can boot. I tried the Partition Wizard without the HDD and it works but when I put back the HDD it just freezes as as seen in the video

 

[gregrocker]

In that case it could be boot code on the HDD blocking boot.

What happens if you attach the HD to another PC? Will the PC boot it's own OS with the same HD plugged in?

Can you access the problem HD to rescue your files and run a HD Surface and File Check with PW CD?

If so try booting again in the problem PC and if it won't boot anything including PW CD, put it back in other PC to wipe the HDD with Diskpart Clean Command

 

[EMINEM]

If only I had a PC with a SATA Compatible Board. I have a very old board designed to run Windows 98 and it doesn't any port for my SATA Cables

 

[theog]

Did you Check your PC with the Upgrade Advisor?

Download Windows 7 Upgrade Advisor from Official Microsoft Download Center