Solved Windows won't startup correctly

[bobcat14]

Hey guys,

I purchased a second NIC card for my Dell XPS 8700, installed it, turned my computer back on but it wouldn't recognize the new NIC. So after reading through some forums, I read that by taking out the CMOS battery and putting it back in may help the motherboard to notice the hardware changes. When I turned my computer back on I went into BIOS to make sure my computer was booting from the correct drive, which it was. Restarted the computer, it gets to the Windows 7 screen, then flashes a blue screen real quick, and takes me to Startup Repair. Any ideas why my computer isn't booting up correctly, or how to fix this problem?

I'm new to this forum, but I listed all my computer information when filling out the registration form. If you need me to add it here just let me know.

 

[ICIT2LOL]

Hello and welcome bobcat now before you go playing in the BIOS mate have you tried removing the new device and booting?

If you can see if you can get into safe mode for example.

 

[Ranger4]

Hi bobcat14, welcome to the Forum.

Try removing the new NIC card & see if the computer boots properly, if it does then the NIC card is the problem. Either it's the wrong one for your computer or it's faulty.

Also check that you have it installed correctly & it's fully inserted into the right slot.

Edit. It looks like we have both posted at the same time. Well great minds think alike & small minds never differ.

 

[bobcat14]

Thanks for the welcome and quick reply!

So, I took out the NIC and tried turning it on with no luck. I noticed that when I turn it on it takes me to a page that gives me the options to either "startup repair (recommended)" or "Start Windows Normally". If I click "Start Windows Normally" it shows the Windows logo for about 2 seconds, screen goes blue with a bunch of information on it but it goes away so quickly I can't read what it says. Then the computer restarts, and takes me back to the initial screen.

I ran a full diagnostics test on it, and everything came back with a clean slate of health.

Thoughts?

 

[Mellon Head]

Since you have reset the BIOS, go into the BIOS and check your storage settings to see if they are set to AHCI or IDE. If it is set to IDE, set it to AHCI and try to reboot. Conversely, if it is set to AHCI, set it to IDE and try to reboot.

I suspect that if you have an SSD, it was set to AHCI. Setting back that way may allow it to reboot.

 

[bobcat14]

Since you have reset the BIOS, go into the BIOS and check your storage settings to see if they are set to AHCI or IDE. If it is set to IDE, set it to AHCI and try to reboot. Conversely, if it is set to AHCI, set it to IDE and try to reboot.

I suspect that if you have an SSD, it was set to AHCI. Setting back that way may allow it to reboot.

So I checked the storage settings and they are set to AHCI. Under the Boot Menu, do I want the Boot Mode to be set as "Legacy" or "AHCI"?

So I tried the AHCI boot, and that didn't work so I suspect it's suppose to be on Legacy.

 

[Mellon Head]

If the storage settings are set to AHCI, then you want your boot mode set to AHCI, if I'm not mistaken.

 

[bobcat14]

Okay, I tried rebuilding the BCD by using the bootrec.exe and it said it didn't find any windows installation drivers. Another thing I have noticed, is my SSD and HDD both show up normal in the BIOS, but when I'm using the command prompt it shows (x:\sources\recovery) and when using the Startup Repair, it says a hard disk could not be found.

Any idea what that means?

 

[bobcat14]

If the storage settings are set to AHCI, then you want your boot mode set to AHCI, if I'm not mistaken.

When I switched it to AHCI, it said no boot devices were available. When it is set on Legacy, it gets to the Windows 7 logo and then goes to blue screen and immediately restarts.

 

[ICIT2LOL]

Ok mate just what is that second drive used for? if it is just data does unplugging it make any difference?

 

[Ranger4]

Get back inside the computer again & check that all the leads are properly attached, particularly the SSD ones & check that all the plugs into the motherboard & fully inserted.

 

[Megahertz07]

Tell us the story of your computer.
It's a new computer and has 4º gen Intel CPU. So it's probably a UEFI BIOS.
Did it came with win 10 or Win 8.1?
Is secure boot disabled (OS=other)?
Is CSM enabled?
Is your SSD (boot drive) a UEFI - GPT or a Legacy-MBR?
Is fast boot disabled?
Why do you want to install a new NIC? Is the original one damaged?

 

[bobcat14]

Hey guys, appreciate all of your help on this. I ended up figuring out the issue, and wanted to share it on here for future reference. My Dell XPS 8700 is suppose to be configured in BIOS as a RAID machine. So even though I only have one hard drive connected, and am not using the RAID services, that's how this computer is setup.

Hope this helps someone else down the line, and if anyone can explain what I just said in simpler terms that might make more sense please feel free.

Thanks again!

 

[ICIT2LOL]

Well glad you got it sorted although I have to admit I really am not familiar with RAID and how it works - and I cannot see how that would affect your machine if you have Windows running on one drive. But it i working that is all that matters eh?