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 will not boot!

Aug 28, 2016 1:37PM PDT

I have a Z87-g45 gaming motherboard and I can't get it to boot to usb.

My computer completely crashed after I ran hitman and malewarbytes. I ran both scans and each told me a restart was needed so I waited for both to finish since they both required a restart. Prob was not good idea since now my computer won't boot at all. Once I was prompted of a failed startup I chose to restart from last known good configuration. It just got hung on the starting Windows screen for over 3 hours.

So I tried changing the bios to ufei instead of legacy+ufei and tried to see if that helped. It didn't. I've tried restoring bios to defaults to see if it helped it did not. Stuck on loading Windows screen. I took the battery out of the mother board and left it out for 5 mins and tried to start it. Same thing stuck on loading Windows. After trying to load to safe mode with network and without network and trying to load to command prompt and it all still getting stuck I decided to go purchase a new computer to try to get some recovery software to try to fix the problem.

So my first choice of programs to try is Hiren. I downloaded Hiren and it was an iso file. So I formatted my usb thumbnail to Fat32 and used PowerISO to burn the Hiren ISO to the usb. (Using the create bootable usb option) after it was finished burning to the usb. I removed it from computer and put it into broken PC. Booted PC up and push F10 till I got to the bios. Changed boot priority to #1 uefi usb #2 usb. Saved changes and restarted. Went to stuck loading Windows screen. Power off, power on F10 changed bios from uefi+legacy to just uefi and booted usb first priority. Saved and rebooted. Went to stuck loading Windows screen. Figured I'd just try to see if command promp would work. Power off, power on F10 changed to default bios settings saved and restarted. Windows failed to load restart with command promp. Stuck on Windows loading screen but it finally worked and I was in command promp. Trying several commands to figure out what drive the usb was and looking on Google trying to find list of commands to use with command prompt. The computer automatically just restarted and I didn't even execute any command. Now unsure I can get to command prompt again. Tried rebooting again and again about 4 or 5 times and get stuck on Windows loading screen and no option of boot to command prompt.

I can get to efi shell easily but don't think that's gonna help me with what I need. I honestly don't know what I should run off of hirens even if I do get it to run. I'll use to research Google as I go. My biggest problem is trying to get the usb to load then if someone would like to walk me to diagnose the problem id be forever grateful!

Please help me. I've repaired computers that have crashed before but this is first time this computer with this motherboard has crashed and I just can't get it to do right and it's been killing many days just watching a stuck screen.

Please! TY in advance!

Discussion is locked

- Collapse -
Answer
That USB sounds like a not going to boot in UFEI thing.
Aug 28, 2016 1:53PM PDT

You'll want to go legacy.

Also, forget front USB ports.
TEST that stick in other PCs.

Windows 7 repair is all over the web and how to fix is just as all over the map. After you have saved your files, I'd just start fresh if none of the online methods work.

Remember that if you change the SATA port mode (IDE to/from AHCI) and write to that drive, you have have knackered the OS good. Some tell me to use EasyRE ( http://neosmart.net/EasyBCD/ ) but folk don't want to pay so I haven't tried it firsthand.

- Collapse -
easybcd is free for non commercial
Aug 28, 2016 2:11PM PDT

you can use easybcd free if for a non commercial computer. click on see plans in the above link. I use it several times in the past with mixed results. In this case, I doubt it will help.

- Collapse -
Which is why I noted EasyRE.
Aug 28, 2016 2:16PM PDT

Some report it's pretty good but not enough for some. That is, the moment you tell them it's 25 bucks, they bail.

- Collapse -
(NT) thought it was a typo since it was not a direct link
Aug 28, 2016 2:27PM PDT
- Collapse -
It's on the link I gave.
Aug 28, 2016 2:57PM PDT

I use the EasyBCD link because it has this:
"EasyBCD can't fix a PC that won't boot.

Download EasyRE, our bootable repair & recovery CD."

And the download button is there too.

- Collapse -
you're as tricky as microsoft
Aug 28, 2016 3:18PM PDT

you should have posted the direct link to it instead on a page for easybcd where it is a side note. oh well, I guess you do what you do.

- Collapse -
I've had folk complain either way.
Aug 28, 2016 3:49PM PDT

Anyhow, I'll use some video to explain.

- Collapse -
Answer
W7
Aug 28, 2016 5:19PM PDT