Secure Boot Violation Red Box - Help Please!!!!!

RhoXS

Member
Aug 14, 2010
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A few weeks ago I built a new machine to take with me on a very long term business trip. It uses W7 Pro. After getting settled in my extended stay hotel I started the new machine and it booted and ran without issue. Some Windows updates were indicated so I allowed the updates to update. Due to a slow hotel internet connection, I stepped away from the machine. When I came back to it a large red box was on the display titled "Secure Boot Violation" and the following text referred to "... unauthorized changes on the firmware.".

The red box and message appears after each reboot and trying to run the W7 Pro installation disk just gives an error message that states the disk does not match the installed system (wrong). Changing the bios to Legacy only avoids the red box but it then does not see an operating system.

Please help. I am 1,400 miles away from home and I do not have access here to all the serial/software id's although, with difficulty, I have access to all the software if a new install is required. I see many references to this issue via google but no solutions. Please help.

Also, what happened?
 

corkyg

Elite Member | Peripherals
Super Moderator
Mar 4, 2000
27,370
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Perhaps allowing the Windows updates to run unattended, it tried to upgrade you to Win 10 and ran into a problem with one of the built in reboots.
 

Elixer

Lifer
May 7, 2002
10,371
762
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Well, depending on where in the world you are now, you might have gotten malware.
Kinda sounds like that was the case, and wiped your boot sector (and whatever else), since you can't boot into the OS with secure boot off.

The only know fix is to reinstall the OS IIRC, though, you might be able to get away with a 'repair install', but, again, if this is malware, you need to clean install.

Since it is a Win 7 laptop, I don't think you need the key (although, it should be printed on the bottom of it), and the BIOS also has a key in it as well.
 

nerp

Diamond Member
Dec 31, 2005
9,865
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A desktop you built? Straight up normal install -- you're not using any proprietary stuff or behind a special secure connection with your employer or something like that?