Solved Laptop won't boot (Logo screen),can't boot from USB/DVD or access BIOS

[JoeHannes]

Hey guys,

I've been searching the web for solutions for hours now and won't find anything that works for me. You are kinda like my last hope.

Situation
I have a Asus A54C Laptop here (it's my brother's), that won't boot. If I turn it on, it quickly shows the Logo screen and nothing else happens.
If I have a WIN7-DVD in the DVD-drive (created with downloaded ISO, it seems to be working on another laptop), the drive makes some noises but nothing else happens.
If I have a Ubuntu-Live-USB plugged in (worked on this Laptop before), nothing happens.
If I press F2 repeatedly after turning the Laotop on (it's the BIOS-key), nothing happens.

What I've tried
I tried several potential BIOS-keys, although I am 99% sure that F2 is the one.
I tried the turn off, deplug battery and cable, hit power-switch 20 times and for a minute thing.
I tried unplugging the Laptop while it was in the logo screen, hoping this would bring me to BIOS after starting it again.

How I got there
An Ubuntu system has been installed on the Laptop for a while. Now, my brother needed a windows and I wanted to create a dual boot system (what I had succesfully done before).
Some stupid mistakes later, I had a corrupted Win7 and wanted to overwrite it with a fresh install.
I tried to delete the 100MB system reserved partition (in the WIN7-installation menu) because I thought, a fresh install would create a new one. This took about 1 hour (for the 100 MBs) without any visible progress, I finally force-turned it off.
I then had a Blue Screen several times. On started with "0x0000007E", one was something like "stop: 0x00000050 (0xFFFFF6FC00002430, 0X0000000000000000, 0XFFFFF8000C4C92D4, 0X0000000000000009)".
Unfortunately, I don't exactly remember how I got from blue screens to where I am now.

How I imagine the solution
Is there a way to get into BIOS, so that I could set DVD or USB as booting device? I hope I could then reinstall WIN7.
Is there another way to force the Laptop to boot from USB / or USB?
Is there a way to plug the laptop to another laoptop, in order to solve the problem?

But that's just my amatuerish imagionation, any help is very much appreciated.
Yours
Joe

 

[ICIT2LOL]

Hello and welcome Joe mate the BIOS key is F2 and this is the manual for that model sorry but I can only access the English version - if you type in what you want to search for it automatically will go to that setting or instruction. https://www.manualowl.com/m/Asus/A54C/Manual/261331?page=84

Now if you select the optical as the first boot device and it will not go then maybe it needs a new optical drive - very cheap these days and you may be lucky that it is held in with one screw on the underside of the laptop without any pics it is hard to tell - it possibly could be in that manual.

Now for the BSOD's please use these if you want to get them analysed

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/174459-dump-files-configure-windows-create-bsod.html

&

http://www.sevenforums.com/bsod-help-support/96879-blue-screen-death-bsod-posting-instructions.html

 

[JoeHannes]

Hey ICIT2LOL,

thanks for the link to the manual. So, I was right about the F2 key.

Yet I don't get how the two BSDO links can help me? I cannot do anything with this notebook at the moment. Also, the blue screens don't appear any longer, just the black screen with the ASUS logo.

Have I missed anything in the threads you linked to?

Anyone any idea how to get this notebook running again? Thanks so much!

 

[ICIT2LOL]

Ok Joe it is just you mentioned blue screens in the first post. Now can you get into safe mode? If you cannot you might have to look at a clean install if it is not booting at all.
Now of course you need to retrieve all the data you need first and to do that you could try this
BOOTABLE UBUNTU
Make a bootable Ubuntu disk Download Ubuntu Desktop | Download | Ubuntu
Set the BIOS to boot from the optical when the machine boots it will show you a screen with TRY or INSTALL > select TRY not INSTALL
When it is finished - it takes very little time you will get a screen like in the pic .
Open the drive you want > User and dig down until you get to the data / settings you may be able to copy / paste the material you want to an external source or other installed drive doing this.
I am not sure if it will but I have recovered tons of data etc using this method both on "dead" or just plain drives that you cannot get data from using Windows.
There is a Linux Mint MATE version too however I find this as easy.

Some other options here http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/219533-troubleshooting-windows-7-failure-boot.html

 

[JoeHannes]

Thanks for the quick reply.
Good news first: I have saved all the data before I started to work on the PC.
I have a bootable Ubuntu USB stick, a bootable Win7 USB stick and a Win7 installation CD. However, none of them helps me since I cannot access the BIOS to set the right boot priority.
If I got it all right, none of the options suggested in your linked thread would work for me (for the same reason). Please tell me, if I'm wrong.
Is there any way to get into BIOS again?

 

[ICIT2LOL]

Ok mate now just how are you trying to get into the BIOS?? if you are not using the F2 key??

Also I don't know for example even the model of machine you are using so some system specs might be handy http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/180324-system-info-see-your-system-specs.html

An option is to hit CTRL+ALT+ENTER instead of the F2 which by the way are you tapping all the way in or just the once - I have to ask because sometimes it is missed.

Going on I would even try taking out/ putting back the BIOS battery and/or replacing it.

 

[JoeHannes]

I'm trying to get into BIOS by tapping F2 repeatedly after I turned the PC on. But this has no effect at all. All I get is the black logo screen.

The model is Asus A54C. On the bottom it says:
MODEL: A54C
MB Ver.: K54C ID: 5K
C2N0AS18245906C
A54C-S0325V

Do you need anything more specific? Unfortunately the link for system specs doesn't help me, since I can't access the PC anymore.

Hitting CTRL+ALT+ENTER instead of F2 doesn't do anything either. Just in case, I tried CTRL+ALT+DEL either with the same result: nothing happens.

About "taking out/ putting back the BIOS battery": Maybe you could explain me where the BIOS is physically located. So far I thought, it is located on the hard drive. Apparently that is not the case? Therefore replacing the drive couldn't even solve the problem, right?
How would I access the BIOS battery anyway?

Thank you so much for your patient help!
Joe

 

[ThrashZone]

Hi,
Common other keys could tapping the Delete key
Boot options can also be F8 or F10 or F12

 

[JoeHannes]

Hi ThrashZone,

thanks a lot for your reply. I tried those already. Also, according to the manual, ICIT2LOL posted above, F2 is the right key. Nevertheless I just tried them again. Yes, I am desperat. But still no effect. All I get is the black screen (photo attached).

 

[ThrashZone]

Hold down the F8 key while you press the power button
Also try the F2 or Delete key too.

 

[JoeHannes]

Still nothing

 

[thelma]

Hello, found this

 

[JoeHannes]

Hi thelma,
thanks for your help. How exactly would I unplug all my drives in a notebook? I'm not really firm in the disassembeling business …

 

[ICIT2LOL]

Ok mate sorry late reply usually there is a cover on the underside of the machine unless it is a late version one and all you need to do is to unscrew the fixing screw usually a small cross head one and lift off the cover.
The same goes for the RAM if you ever need to upgrade it.

The late version models I spoke of are different insomuch that one has to remove the whole bottom plate from the machine and in some that is easy some are real pigs to get off. A pic of the bottom would be good to see.

PS Make sure you have the adaptor and battery removed before you attempt any of that.

Ok have found this and I think it may be very similar to the machine you have


If you go ahead just a tip place the machine on a large preferably white bath towel (taped the table top) - this stops the small screws from bouncing off any hard surface and onto the floor where you will invariably have great difficulty in finding them.

 

[JoeHannes]

Thanks for the vid, ICIT2LOL. This does look similar to what I have. The only problem is: I don't see the battery there. Here's what I found: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IbwY96pPDyE
Isn't the battery the little dark round thing in the upper left at 7:34?
These are many many screws. And I don't wanna *stupid pun* this up.
Any other way? Was I right about the thing that replacing the drive won't solve the BIOS problem?

 

[ICIT2LOL]

Ok mate see my pic I snipped one from that video and the battery is the long (about 250mm) object at the rear of the unit. There is a small latch you need to depress and slide the battery out - usually it is two locking latches but I can only see the video maker actuating one.

Now it is worth a try removing the drive mate as we have to cover all options.

PS If I am a long time getting back it is because my net connection is pretty pathetic where I am right now

 

[JoeHannes]

Awwh, I'm so sorry about not being precise: I was talking about the BIOS battery. Because you suggested to take it out and put it back in.
And I can't find the BIOS battery here. So: Is it the round little thing I was talking about in the first place?

 

[ICIT2LOL]

Actually I guessed that is what you meant and if that is the pic of your machine I cannot see the BIOS battery only the hard drive (in aluminium caddy) and possibly the spare slot for more RAM.

So if you have seen the round battery in your travels yes it is the BIOS one and removing it and leaving it out for a few minutes will clear the BIOS settings to default when you replace it.

The drive I think what the others meant was try accessing the BIOS with it out - worth a try in any case will ot do any harm.

 

[JoeHannes]

I can only say it again: Thank you so much for your patience and your explanations.

I have taken a screenshot from a video I've seen (min 7:35): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IbwY96pPDyE
I am not sure wheter I got, what the BIOS battery is. Could you please verify it?
According to the video it's super complecated to get to the BIOS battery (assuming I am right) in this model.
Anyway, it is being late here in Germany, I'll go for the BIOS battery during the next days.
Of course, I will try the boot without hard drive thing first - once again: thanks for your clarification here.

I'll keep you updated - and will probably come up with tons of new questions.
Joe

 

[ICIT2LOL]

No problems mate that is what we are here for. The battery that is in your pic looks to be the BIOS battery it should be silver coloured (usually) the size of a medium coin and have something like CR2032 on it. See my pic/s the RTC means the CMOS/BIOS battery