Thank you for being a valued part of the CNET community. As of December 1, 2020, the forums are in read-only format. In early 2021, CNET Forums will no longer be available. We are grateful for the participation and advice you have provided to one another over the years.

Thanks,

CNET Support

Question

Computer restart loop?

Aug 6, 2016 5:35AM PDT

My friend bought a used computer I5 6600k, Msi r9 380, 1tb hard drives, 120gb sandisk ssd, Cx600, 16 gb ddr4 ram 2133 MHz, and z170a gaming m3 mobo. The person he bought it from didn't give him the password to the account so he tried to factory renew the computer. During this process I guess something bugged and now the computer just keeps restarting in an endless loop and can only get into the bios. He also doesn't have a boot cd or anything like that.

Discussion is locked

- Collapse -
Answer
Re: restart loop
Aug 6, 2016 6:00AM PDT

- How did he do the factory reset if he didn't have a boot disk?
- What happens if he tries that factory reset again?
- What happens if he resets the BIOS to it's "safe defaults" and boots again?
- What OS does it run? If Windows 10, try to install that from a disk or stick you make with the Windows Media Creation tool.
- Does MSI sell recovery disks for this computer? It seems very new.

- Collapse -
..
Aug 6, 2016 6:14AM PDT

-He said held shift while he restarted his computer.
-The computer keeps restarting and windows doesn't even load. He is only able to get into bios before it restarts again.
-I told him to reset the C/MOS or take the battery out of the mobo and put it back but it still the samething.
-The computer is running Windows 8.1. I'm gonna try and download the Windows Media Creation Tool and give to him to see if it works.
-I'm not sure if MSI sells recovery disks for the computer.

- Collapse -
Answer
Factory renew
Aug 6, 2016 6:09AM PDT

Tell about how this renew was done.
Where did the media come from to do this renew?

- Collapse -
Factory Renew
Aug 6, 2016 6:30AM PDT

So he bought the computer but there was a password on the account. He pressed the shift key while he clicked on reset. Which brought him to the advanced options of windows 8.1. He pressed factory renew all drives. While the process went on the computer bugged or something and now it restarts before it even loads up windows. The most he can do now is just go into bios settings.

- Collapse -
On the bios,
Aug 6, 2016 7:58AM PDT

can you get to the boot sequence? You want to be sure that the SSD is called first to see what the problem might be. Can the OS be seen as in the beginning?

- Collapse -
Answer
I agree with the above.
Aug 6, 2016 8:27AM PDT

Looks like they need factory renew (recovery) discs. I'd order these from the maker next.

In parting it's a shame they didn't take the Windows 10 free upgrade since I have a free exit for those that took that. I'm running into more and more instances like this where folk dub in their heels, didn't make backups or recovery discs and now this situation comes up.

I gotta ask. Why haven't folk learned about recovery and backup after 2 decades of Windows?

- Collapse -
Answer
Get P/W
Aug 6, 2016 10:53AM PDT

Can't the buyer get the p/w from the previous owner, and if NO why not. This comes into play was the previous owner actually the owner or has forgotten themselves which is why the PC got sold. Pretty slim chances of recovery if the p/w is bios or mtrbd. based other than factory reps becoming involved. Yes, the vendor of maaker of the PC should still provide the recovery disc/flashdrive for some small cost. There are also, recovery s/w like from or similar:

http://www.restoredisks.com/findrestoredisk.aspx?gclid=CI6FiuCsrc4CFQkpaQodbOEIlg

I do suggest 1st contact the maker to see what's available. Also, MS provides access to OEM type if the key code# is known to create the OS media. OEM makers may follow the same method, since Win8x is mentioned.

Alas, since it failed within a short period during restore/recovery maybe that's the reason for selling initially. Thus, a serious problem exists prior to the current one.

tada -----Willy Happy