PC constantly rebooting, not POSTing.

[lilrayray69]

I just upgraded some parts, I got a new cpu/gpu/mobo/psu - specs in sig.

It's been working fine, but now just restarts over and over - shows the GIGABYTE logo screen and I can get into BIOS but it won't go past that, it just gets stuck in a restart loop. This actually happened once before but I have no idea what fixed it - one time it just booted up normally and there wasn't a problem after that....until now (a few days later).

This time it happened after I tested my RAM; I used memtest86 on each RAM stick individually, determined 1 produced errors and put the 3 good ones back in place.

I've tried:

1. Clearing CMOS
2. Default BIOS setting
3. Unplugging/Replugging all cables to/from motherboard
4. Unplugged all unnecessary peripherals
5. Removed sound card, just to see
6. Re-seated the RAM
7. Checked boot order in BIOS numerous times

My hunch is it's some kind of short maybe. The only idea I have to try next is removing the motherboard and putting it back in.

 

[radeson]

What operating system are you using? Im assuming windows? Have you tried seeing if it will boot to the windows install disk?

 

[lilrayray69]

Win7. It will boot into the install disk - it will boot into memtest for that matter. So maybe then it's not a short. Something to do with the Win7 install?

 

[lilrayray69]

Actually I think I may know - the Win7 installation is on an SSD and it seems that somehow the driver for the SSD is getting removed/corrupted somehow - I remember when this happened last time when it finally did boot back up Windows popped up with that message "successfully installed drivers for this device" regarding the SSD...

 

[radeson]

Are you absolutely sure your settings in the boot menu are where theyre supposed to be?? Have you looked into the secure boot menu or CSM menu? It sounds like you could be having a secure boot issue. I am only familiar with asus boards mainly, so you might need to investigate the secure-boot area of your BIOS which shoud be under the boot section.

 

[radeson]

It should say legacy first if you did a traditional install of windows(not UEFI). And CSM should be "enabled"

 

[lilrayray69]

I don't see a Secure Boot or CSM option.

It has a Fast Boot option which is disabled.

Under Win8 features you can select Other OS and there is

Boot Mode Selectoin: UEFI Only, Legacy Only, or UEFI and Legacy - it Lwas on UEFI and Legacy, switched to Legacy Only but no difference

Storage Boot Option Control: has UEFI Only, Legacy Only, UEFI First, Legacy Fist, or Disabled. It was on Legacy First.

 

[radeson]

I just seen the post about the SSD. I dont think that the drivers are getting removed/ corrupted. I just went through an issue with secure boot after i flashed my BIOS and i lost my RAID 0 setup. what you're describing sounds like the secureboot keys are not lining up for windows to boot. I dont really know of a fix either, but im sure there is. Worst case scenario = fresh install...:\

 

[radeson]

i think if somehow your secureboot keys got disrupted then the order wouldnt matter as the keys have to line up perfectly for windows to boot. Im not 100% but it does sound like CSM/secureboot issue. I hope someone else with deeper knowledge sees this

 

[radeson]

Do you have another hard drive that has another version of windows on it? OR another ssd/hdd that you can install windows on?? That way you can see if a fresh install fixes the problem. ANd worse case scenario you can port over all your data from the ssd. Then you can make a raw copy of the fresh install onto the ssd.... Sound like a pain. but thats what i would do

 

[lilrayray69]

I can't get it to boot to win7 even if only the SSD is connected.

I don't have another drive with win7 or anything.

Sometimes when booting into the Win7 repair disk it doesn't even recognize an existing Win7 installation. Sometimes it won't let me format onto the SSD because it says it is a GPT or MSR partition style or something.

Currently it would let me reinstall Win7 on the SSD but I was hoping not to have to do that....It seems to me this will only occur again.

 

[lilrayray69]

I have found 2 other accounts of people with the same board and SSD having issues - though I don't see how any got it resolved

Basically, it seems there's just some issue between this board and the Samsung 840 EVO...? One guy even pointed out this SSD support list for the board:
http://download.gigabyte.us/FileList/SSD/mb_ssd_support.pdf

which, does not include the Samsung 840 EVO

 

[radeson]

The samsung 840 SSD is one of the best ssd's made. If it is an issue it is in the motherboard. I still wouldnt doubt if itsd a secure boot issue. I really wish you had a another hdd/ssd sitting around to do a fresh install on. Then you could just port over your data and re-copy the whole disk over to the ssd. and then you would always have a fresh backup laying around just in case something like this happens again..

Paragon disk manager is a good utility to use for this. Here:

http://www.paragon-software.com/home/hdm-professional/

.

 

[radeson]

Can you do boot over-rides on your board? Like where there is a separate option to boot to a specific drive right out of bios???


I was thinking that you could try to do a boot over ride into your boot drive

 

[lilrayray69]

Oh yeah I've tried the boot override plenty of times - nothing different happens.

I am reinstalling Win7 on the SSD but since this is the 2nd time this happened (still no clue how I got past it the first time), I can really only assume it will happen again. Submitted a ticket to Gigabyte, will see what they say

 

[radeson]

Well, best of luck.. I would recommend getting another hdd and making a backup periodically. The program i linked above works great for that. Just remember to hit 'apply' LOL If you get it you'll see what I'm talking about.

 

[Ketchup]

Is you SSD listed as a boot device?

If so, you need to make sure all of the legacy/boot options are the same as they were on the initial setup.

Worst case should be backing up personal data and reinstalling Windows with the current settings.

 

[Burpo]

Is SATA Mode set to AHCI?

 

[lilrayray69]

Is you SSD listed as a boot device?

If so, you need to make sure all of the legacy/boot options are the same as they were on the initial setup.

Worst case should be backing up personal data and reinstalling Windows with the current settings.

So basically don't mess around with any boot options? Yes it's listed as a boot device.

Is SATA Mode set to AHCI?

Yep.

 

[redzo]

Testing if it's a OS boot issue is quite easy:

1. Disable fastboot from bios(this so that you can press that quick boot menu key)
2. Enable both legacy and uefi boot from BIOS.
3. Use quick boot key on post to access boot devices list menu. Make sure that your storage OS boot devices are properly detected. They should be displayed on that list. Try all available options(legacy and uefi one by one for your OS drives)!

If you disconnect all your storage devices from the motherboard is there any difference in the way that restart loop behaves? It is not normal behavior for the motherboard to restart itself if there are no storage devices attached to it. It should stop and display a message regarding the absence of a storage device.

 

[lilrayray69]

The SSD with Win7 has always been detected and shows up in the boot list. When I tell it to boot to it via the boot menu, the PC just restarts itself. I've never had fast boot enabled.