Where's the best online community to get PC help?

Question

Question

Where's the best online community to get PC help?

by 24bit7 Apr 19, 2018 5:29AM PDT

My PC is currently stuck in a boot loop. Am looking for an online resource or community where someone with a little bit of technical experience* but not a lot might be able to get some help, any suggestions?

*In the past, I've installed new RAM, a new graphics card and the odd hard drive.

At the moment I can't even get into the bios. If we had the money, we'd buy a new PC but we don't so I'm going to have to fix it or at least figure out what we can salvage. Have been able to determine it's not the RAM or the boot drive and am now out of my league ...hoping someone can point me in the right direction!

Post was last edited on April 19, 2018 5:30 AM PDT

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Thanks

by 24bit7 Apr 20, 2018 5:45AM PDT

I haven't moved an existing installed version of Windows but I have moved some of the sata cables around, would that make any difference? I read elsewhere that it shouldn't.

I'll remove the HDD this weekend and will try again, thanks for the tip!

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Moving the HDD to another SATA port can create this issue.

by r. proffitt Forum moderator Apr 20, 2018 6:53AM PDT

That can trigger a boot loop and can really upset folk that thought which SATA port was used didn't matter.

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I did wonder!

by 24bit7 Apr 21, 2018 10:48AM PDT

How do you know which Sata port to use?

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I can't know.

by r. proffitt Forum moderator Apr 21, 2018 10:59AM PDT

I deal with machines that come in with this story and the owner doesn't know so I have to try each port. I start at the lowest numbered port, test and move up. If the owner also tinkered with the BIOS well, what a mess to untangle.

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SOLVED

by 24bit7 Apr 21, 2018 11:39PM PDT

So I was able to get into BIOS without any hard drives plugged in. I realised that half my SATA ports were 6GB half were 3GB interfaces. It appears that any of my drives (all of them in my case) with a 3GB interface that were plugged into a 6GB port would send the PC into a boot loop. PC now up and running, thanks for your help!

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what motherboard is that?

by James Denison Apr 22, 2018 12:45AM PDT

The 6 should have been backward compatible to 3. I believe what you said, but I want to know what it is so I can avoid buying such motherboard model.

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...

by 24bit7 Apr 23, 2018 4:17AM PDT

Sorry, I meant to say hard drives with a 6GB interface plugged into a 3GB SATA port, would cause a boot loop.

Every indication is that devices with a 3GB interface are perfectly back compatible with 6GB SATA ports.

I have an Asus Extreme IV black edition motherboard.

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(NT) thank you for that info

by James Denison Apr 23, 2018 11:10AM PDT

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Tim just did that at the shop.

by r. proffitt Forum moderator Apr 23, 2018 9:30AM PDT

It's a common problem when the owner forgets to put it back the way it was. Glad the discussion (appeared) to help.

Back to Computer Help forum

Kees_B · Answer 1 · Apr 19, 2018 7:29AM PDT

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Answer

Re: PC Help

by Kees_B Forum moderator Apr 19, 2018 7:29AM PDT

Of course, this is the best online community .

Anyway, if you can't even get into the BIOS (and you know how to do it, and it used to work) it's time to try a new motherboard. Note that not all motherboards will support your current CPU and RAM, and that you might need to buy a new license for Windows.

But if the boot loop only starts when or after loading Windows, it's better to first try a reset or a clean install of Windows. Also it could be useful to try to boot from a Linux disc or stick (free to make) and see if that works OK.

Post was last edited on April 19, 2018 7:30 AM PDT

r. proffitt · Answer 2 · Apr 19, 2018 7:55AM PDT

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Answer

Worth repeating.

by r. proffitt Forum moderator Apr 19, 2018 7:55AM PDT

If you move an existing installed version of Windows on a HDD to another PC it can result in a boot loop.
So the fix is to do a clean install. If you want to try google and this phrase "How to change motherboards and not reinstall Windows" you can try that but it's very hit and miss. No tech I know will tell you it always works.

About the BIOS. Do try again but without the HDD plugged in. Also, some boards don't let you get to the BIOS unless you use a PS2 keyboard. It's very annoying but why we always have a PS2 keyboard in the shop, office and home. This is usually seen on older boards as times changed but given you will run into this time and time again, you keep a PS2 keyboard handy.

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