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Question

Help: Cant boot from BIOS, need UEFI (everyday computer)

May 4, 2015 4:37AM PDT

Asus G73sw Laptop that I have used every day for the last 2 years.

So, I got the message: "Reboot and Select Proper Boot Device, press any key" so I tried another working HDD that has windows 7 on it; same message. I took apart the computer and checked the connections and cables. One time, during the constant restarts with other HDDs, I got the message "A Disk Read Error Occured." When I entered the BIOS menu, It recognized the HDD. Also, on the Easy Flash, I could see that HDD and its files.

Finally was able to load windows with UEFI mode. I am unaware what this is, but I assume it will work for now?? I have made no updates to windows 7, installed no drivers or programs recently, and am unsure why BIOS won't load any of my HDDs to windows, when BIOS clearly sees it.

Can anyone help me with this issue?

Thanks

Discussion is locked

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Answer
Not yet.
May 4, 2015 4:49AM PDT

The thing about WIndows is that at no time it supported moving drives from machine to machine. Add UEFI and you find another layer preventing, hampering such a move.

Since there is now code in many BIOSes to avoid/block folk that try to wipe a drive accidentally I find myself wiping a drive on a classic non-UEFI BIOS PC so that I can get a fresh start on the failed UEFI machine. And then I must use a UEFI ready OS. (8 or a current Linux.)

As to your laptop, that would require a lot of work to get it fully working on a fresh non-maker supplied OS. I can't guess if you have been around this area long enough to know to get the restore media and use that on a blank HDD. But that's the best exit.
Bob

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Thanks Bob
May 4, 2015 4:58AM PDT

Thanks Bob,

I am pretty ignorant when it comes to these issues.

I was able to load windows on the original HDD with UEFI mode, and am posting from the laptop now. I have used this laptop for a few years, and this issue is new to today. Like I said, BIOS wouldn't load the HDD's Windows 7, even though it seen it, so I tried UEFI, and that worked, and I am now posting.

Is it okay to keep it UEFI? And is there a fix to get BIOS to boot again?

Thanks!

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Yes.
May 4, 2015 5:11AM PDT

But I'm confused at this point. You write you are using UEFI then asking how to get the BIOS to boot again. UEFI is a BIOS and you claim it's working so you must be booting.
Bob

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Alright
May 4, 2015 5:34AM PDT

I was understanding that BIOS and UEFI were separate booting systems. Maybe I'm wrong.

What I'm trying to say, is that for the past 2 years, I've been using the factory default BIOS settings. Today I couldn't load windows because of the "select boot device" screen. So I hit "delete" (or F2) on startup and went to that menu, and for the option "UEFI Boot - Disabled", I changed that to Enabled, Saved & Exited.

And then I was able to load windows normally.

It was as if I couldn't load windows any other way, where previous to today, I never had an issue.

So my question is 2-fold: What caused the "select boot device and press any key" and do I need to fix it, or can I use UEFI from now on?

Thanks

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That's clearer.
May 4, 2015 5:41AM PDT

What we can't do is change from UEFI to old BIOS and back and expect Windows to keep booting. There are tomes about why so I must keep it short.

If you want the old CSM BIOS ( https://www.google.com/#q=CSM+BIOS ) then you check out if your machine has old CSM BIOS and then wipe the drive and then do the install. This install can fail on very large HDDs.

As to cause, I can't guess. But you pick your poison and stick with it.
Bob

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Thanks
May 4, 2015 5:56AM PDT

My main HDD is 1TB. I will cross my fingers and hope that UEFI will keep booting windows for me, as I hate wiping and re-installing!

Any tips if UEFI doesn't load one of these days? I just shut down and it restarted fine, but my luck is pretty non-existent these days.

Thanks Happy

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Just one.
May 4, 2015 6:22AM PDT
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replace the coin battery
May 4, 2015 5:56AM PDT

CR2032 on the motherboard, or it might default to Legacy settings again.

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Thank you.
May 4, 2015 6:07AM PDT

Good idea! Not sure what legacy settings are, but I'll buy a battery for if it fails again!?

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the newer UEFI-BIOS motherboards
May 4, 2015 6:25AM PDT

Are like having two BIOS modes to choose from. One is for older MBR operating systems and now called Legacy, the other is for the newest, especially starting with windows 8 and called UEFI. Windows 7 64 bit was EFI but ran on Legacy BIOS too. UEFI is so Windows 8 could add in Secure Boot. You can search all those terms for wikis which will give more info, but be warned, it can be confusing without reading it several times.

Concerning operating systems and motherboards;

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BIOS

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unified_Extensible_Firmware_Interface

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Master_boot_record

Concerning hard drives and how they are set up.

http://www.webopedia.com/TERM/G/GPT.html

http://www.computerhope.com/jargon/g/gpt.htm

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GUID_Partition_Table

http://www.howtogeek.com/193669/whats-the-difference-between-gpt-and-mbr-when-partitioning-a-drive/

The newer hard drives used today. Two types of "Advanced Format", one is Hybrid, the other is "4K"

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Advanced_Format

http://www.seagate.com/tech-insights/advanced-format-4k-sector-hard-drives-master-ti/

https://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/windows/desktop/hh848035%28v=vs.85%29.aspx

http://wdc.custhelp.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/5655/~/how-to-install-a-wd-advanced-format-drive-on-a-non-windows-operating-system

That'll get you caught up to date for the most part.

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Warning. Can lead to EHS.
May 4, 2015 6:41AM PDT

Exploding Head Syndrome.

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Resulting in....
May 4, 2015 6:52AM PDT

....the Excedrin response. Happy

It's also good if you have short hair.....

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(NT) Shorter hair = smaller fires.
May 4, 2015 6:54AM PDT
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Already lost my hair.
May 4, 2015 6:58AM PDT

Plus, I have some Percocet to keep me on track.

Thanks, gentlemen.