Stuck at pre-BIOS after resizing partition

[Nunchez]

I tried installing Win 8 and I needed to re-size the C: partition so I used MiniTool Partition Wizard to re-size it. It said it needed to reboot and then it re-sized the partition. But after trying to boot into Windows again I'm stuck at the pre-BIOS screen and I cant enter BIOS or do anything. Any help would be great because I really need it. Thanks.

 

[AnonymouseUser]

Try clearing CMOS. If you still can't get into the BIOS, unplug the hard drive and try again.

 

[Bubbaleone]

If you had MiniTool Partition Wizard installed on "C:\Program Files\MiniTool Partition Wizard", and you tried using it to resize the C:\ partition, you've got a problem. This is a quote from their website on using the app: "Pay attention: do not install it on the partition needed to be operated". In other words; the first rule in partition management is that the partitioning app can never be installed on the same partition you're trying to resize.

As AnonymouseUser suggests; disconnect the HDD completely, and then see if you're able to access the BIOS. If that fails, unplug the power supply from the wall outlet, hold down the power button for ten seconds, and remove the CMOS battery for sixty seconds. Reinstall the battery, reconnect power, and see if you can now access the BIOS. Try these steps first, then post back with your result, then we'll see what needs to be done next.

 

[Nunchez]

Thanks for replying and I unplugged the HDD and I'm able to get into BIOS. Now should I do next? Sorry I'm kind of a noob at this. Should I reinstall the battery?

 

[Bubbaleone]

You reconnected power and booted without reinstalling the CMOS battery first? Disconnect the power cord from the wall outlet, hold down the power button for ten second, then reinstall the CMOS battery. Next; reconnect the HDD, plug the power cord back in, and test to see if will still boot to the BIOS screen. Post back with any error messages you see.


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[Nunchez]

So I did what you said but I'm getting the same screen saying "serial ata ahci bios and two dots appear and below that it says
Controller Bus#00, Device#1F, Function#02 : 06 Ports, 02 Devices

And then a cursor keeps blinking forever. But I could access BIOS without the HDD connected.

 

[Bubbaleone]

OK; in order to help sort this out, you need to post your computer hardware specs. You also need to clearly specify where you installed Partition Wizard before you attempted the resize operation, which version of Partition Wizard you used, and the actual program settings you used to specify the new size of the resized partition.

If you used the free Windows edition and installed it in C:\Program Files, the hidden Windows recovery partition, MBR, partition table, and boot loader may have all been damaged or deleted. If this turns out to be the case, reinstalling Windows would be the best option if you're not well experienced using commandline tools like diskpart, fsutil and bcdedit.

There's a slim possibility you may be able to complete the failed operation using a bootable CD version of Partition Wizard. Partition Wizard Professional Edition 7.5 ($29.00) includes a "bootable media builder" which is a feature built into the app that allows you to create a bootable CD image to boot your PC and manage partitions just like MiniTool Partition Wizard Windows edition.

 

[Nunchez]

I'm on Windows 7 ultimate 32 Bit and 1 TB WD HDD, 4 gig RAM, core2duo processor, Intel DG33FB mobo and a ATI HD5670 graphics card. So now my best bet would be reinstall windows? But my files will still be intact? Yes I did use the free one and installed it to the default directory C: and I don't think I can try the bootable CD image method as of now.

 

[Bubbaleone]

At this point, unfortunately, you're looking at using data recovery software to recover any existing data to another HDD, using the Western Digital format utility to perform a low-level format on the 1TB drive, and then reinstalling Windows. Afterward, you'd be able to transfer back to the new installation whatever usable recovered data was copied to the second HDD.

 

[Nunchez]

What will happen if I plug in the 1TB HDD to another PC? Can I do anything from there?

 

[Bubbaleone]

You can certainly try that but don't be disappointed; more than likely you won't see any data if the MBR and partition table are gone. I am curious to know what the 1TB is detected as, on a different PC. I'm guessing it will be detected as unformatted. But try that, and post back with the result.

 

[Nunchez]

You can certainly try that but don't be disappointed; more than likely you won't see any data if the MBR and partition table are gone. I am curious to know what the 1TB is detected as, on a different PC. I'm guessing it will be detected as unformatted. But try that, and post back with the result.

Ok I'll try connecting and ill let you know what happens.

 

[Nunchez]

Unfortunately I couldn't try connecting it to another PC but I disconnected the HDD and then it let me get into BIOS. I then changed the SATA config from AHCI to IDE and I was finally able too boot up completely and able to access all my files. So now should I continue with this or try to get AHCI to work?

 

[Bubbaleone]

It's your choice, but before you attempt another resize operation I'd make sure your Windows installation is in good repair first. I suggest you run SFC, CHKDSK and then a Startup Repair, in that order. After completing SFC and CHKDSK you can try switching back to AHCI, before running Startup Repair, to see if it boots into Windows. But run SFC and CHKDSK first and we'll deal with AHCI when you get to it.

Open a Command prompt:

1. Click start, and type cmd in the search box.
2. Right-click cmd.exe, and select Run as administrator.
3. In the command prompt window type the following command, then press Enter:

sfc /scannow

4. When SFC completes type the following command in the same command prompt window:

chkdsk C: /x /v /f /r /b , as shown below:

5. Restart the computer.

After CHKDSK completes, and you've booted back into Windows, restart and see if you can change BIOS back to AHCI mode and still boot successfully. Post back with your result.

Edit:

If you're not able to boot in AHCI mode; switch back to IDE mode in BIOS and boot back into Windows. Run this Microsoft Fix It tool to enable AHCI mode in the Registry, then restart and change the BIOS back to AHCI mode.



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[Bubbaleone]

After doing some digging, here's the link for the Partition Wizard Boot Disc. It's an ISO image so just burn it to CD and boot from it.

For future reference; disk edit operations are inherently risky. To minimize these risks a partition editing tool needs to have full access to the disk or partition you're planning an operation on, and the best way to accomplish that is for the disk or partition to be unmounted. Using a disk/partition editing tool that runs from a bootable CD makes this possible.


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[Nunchez]

Ok I'm just running the SFC now I'll let you know if I can boot using AHCI.

 

[Nunchez]

I ran SFC and it said it found some corrupt files but it couldn't fix it. Chkdsk is still running its taking a long time to finish up.


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[Nunchez]

So chkdsk finished too and I ran the FixIt tool you provided but still I can't boot using AHCI. I can boot using IDE though perfectly


Posted from Anandtech.com App for Android

 

[Bubbaleone]

Since SFC can't repair the damaged system files, then a Startup Repair won't fix that either. The solution is to perform a repair installation which keeps all your existing data intact. After the repair installation you should be able to re-enable AHCI.

Windows Secrets offers this excellent tutorial: Win7′s no-reformat, nondestructive reinstall , which guides you step-by-step through the process. Carefully read through the entire article so you understand what you're doing before you begin. It's best if you have that page open in a browser on another PC or your Android so you can refer to it.

 

[Nunchez]

Since SFC can't repair the damaged system files, then a Startup Repair won't fix that either. The solution is to perform a repair installation which keeps all your existing data intact. After the repair installation you should be able to re-enable AHCI.

Windows Secrets offers this excellent tutorial: Win7′s no-reformat, nondestructive reinstall , which guides you step-by-step through the process. Carefully read through the entire article so you understand what you're doing before you begin. It's best if you have that page open in a browser on another PC or your Android so you can refer to it.

Ok awesome I'll do this in a day or two and report back because I don't have any backups of my files. Once I get a new external hard drive I'm going to backup and then do this.

Thanks so much for helping out I'll let you know soon.

 

[Matt1970]

Ok awesome I'll do this in a day or two and report back because I don't have any backups of my files. Once I get a new external hard drive I'm going to backup and then do this.

Thanks so much for helping out I'll let you know soon.

No offence but you don't have backups of your files, backup hardware incase you brick a hard drive, which you almost did, and you are still tinkering with partitions and converting to AHCI. Do you even know what AHCI is and if it will even help you?

 

[Nunchez]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nunchez

Ok awesome I'll do this in a day or two and report back because I don't have any backups of my files. Once I get a new external hard drive I'm going to backup and then do this.

Thanks so much for helping out I'll let you know soon.

No offence but you don't have backups of your files, backup hardware incase you brick a hard drive, which you almost did, and you are still tinkering with partitions and converting to AHCI. Do you even know what AHCI is and if it will even help you?

Well honestly I actually don't but I kinda read up on it. Supposedly it doesn't make a difference for me because I'm using a standard hard drive right? AHCI is recommended for SSDs? There's not much of an advantage or anything I think.

I actually did have backups on my external hard disk but it broke so it looks like ill have to buy a new one.

So you recommend I just stay on IDE and not to do reinstall?


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[Nunchez]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Matt1970

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nunchez

Ok awesome I'll do this in a day or two and report back because I don't have any backups of my files. Once I get a new external hard drive I'm going to backup and then do this.

Thanks so much for helping out I'll let you know soon.

No offence but you don't have backups of your files, backup hardware incase you brick a hard drive, which you almost did, and you are still tinkering with partitions and converting to AHCI. Do you even know what AHCI is and if it will even help you?

Well honestly I actually don't but I kinda read up on it. Supposedly it doesn't make a difference for me because I'm using a standard hard drive right? AHCI is recommended for SSDs? There's not much of an advantage or anything I think and please correct me if I'm wrong.

I actually did have backups on my external hard disk but it broke so it looks like ill have to buy a new one.

So you recommend I just stay on IDE and not to do reinstall?


Posted from Anandtech.com App for Android

Posted from Anandtech.com App for Android

 

[Matt1970]

Well honestly I actually don't but I kinda read up on it. Supposedly it doesn't make a difference for me because I'm using a standard hard drive right? AHCI is recommended for SSDs? There's not much of an advantage or anything I think.

I actually did have backups on my external hard disk but it broke so it looks like ill have to buy a new one.

So you recommend I just stay on IDE and not to do reinstall?


Posted from Anandtech.com App for Android

I always say if you are booting and stable leave it alone unless you know what you are doing or atleast have the means to correct or recover from any failures that may arise. If you do have the means to recover from any failures than I encourage you to experiment with any and all funtions you can find. That is one of the best ways to learn Windows and how most of the people who will give you advice learned too. Click it and see what it does.

But if any file on your PC is of value, back it up. I cannot tell you how many people have left my shop in tears from a drive failure and loss of pics & files they can't get back. I have mirror images of pics & docs on both my machines as well as an external drive and even some info stored on Yahoo email. I am sure you have seen that Carbonite commercial?

 

[JayneT]

My husband has had the same trouble after trying to re-size his partition using Partition Wizard - his laptop is stuck at the pre-Bios. I am going to follow all the advice given above to try and re-start it but in the meantime, I did manage to rescue all his files (he didn't have them backed up).

Mini-tool support have been extremely helpful and I downloaded their Power Data Recovery software to my PC, created a boot disc and followed their on-line instructions to save the files to an external HDD. These files are now safe so my next job is to try and get his laptop going again.

Thanks for all the great advice in this thread.

Jayne:thumbsup: