Solved Uninstalled Prefetch, computer won't start

[FrankK]

The startup hangs at the first screen, where you can access the BIOS, etc.


Prefetch was listed in a number of critical events in Event Viewer, so I went online to find a repair. I read several articles that said to disable Prefetch, but that it would start up again, so I uninstalled it instead as there were no warnings to not do so.



I installed the Win7 CD in the drive and restarted it to do a repair or reinstall of the OS, but nothing happens.



Computer dead.

 

[torchwood]

Hi Frank,

If your machine was hanging on the BIOS screen, its NOT your W7 OS, its not even kicked in at that stage.
More likely a hardware problem.

And why it wont currently boot, you could try removing one of the Ram modules, then the other. Also check the CMOS battery.


Roy

 

[FrankK]

Thanks, Roy,


I replaced the battery to no effect, I'll start testing the memory strips later today.


Frank

 

[FrankK]

I've pulled the RAM piece by piece and nothing changed, it still hung at the first screen before access to BIOS.


Any more suggestions?


I've started trying to find a replacement, but getting the file handling power for editing large photos with my old Photoshop and Lightroom is going to be difficult - I'm not up for building my own computer again at this age.

 

[iko22]

Can you Enter the BIOS menu? If you can enter BIOS menu, then check the settings there, as one or more of these settings might be preventing a Boot. If you have Saved BIOS profiles, then at this stage, you may wish to re-load a known working BIOS profile. Otherwise, if you are feeling confident, then a Factory Reset of the BIOS might be in order.

 

[FrankK]

I do not have BIOS access, it stops at the splash screen.

 

[iko22]

Try these in order:
1. Disconnect USB peripherals, except keyboard and mouse.
2. Disconnect HDD and DVD drive power supplies.
3. Reset BIOS CMOS by removing CMOS battery and shorting CMOS pins on motherboard.

The aim here is to try and Enter BIOS, not to Boot Windows.

 

[FrankK]

I disconnected all the internal drives and the card reader and unplugged all USB connections - no effect, stops at Gigabyte opening screen, none of the BIOS access buttons work.

 

[FrankK]

Oooops, forgot to reset the CMOS!


I got past the BIOS and it's asking for a boot disk, so it looks like an HD failure?

 

[FrankK]

I works! I plugged both internal HDs in and everything started up normally. WTF?


Well, I'm still going to get an upgraded computer, but, at least the pressure is off to get it fast.


Thanks to all of you for your contributions,


Frank

 

[iko22]

Thanks to all of you for your contributions,


Frank

glad you made some progress Frank. Please mark this post as Solved, if you have finished.