Help! Wont boot to windows after upgrade!

What Windows version are you running? How many drives do you have and which one is the OS, data, etc on?

It will be a full wipe, so you will need to back up your personal data if it's on the same partition as the OS.
 
Windows 7 Home Premium.

2 x 1TB drives, both used for data, one has OS on it which I think is partitioned but not 100% sure. In fact it was a package deal from OCUK so however they set it up I guess.
 
Definitely not RAID. One of the drives came from my old machine and was just chucked in.
 
Then I would first do the BIOS update to see if that helps. If the BIOS update doesn't fix things, then you will need to do a fresh install.

Shove all your personal data onto the drive the OS won't be on, and then unplug it so no boot files will go onto the drive.

During the installation, when you're choosing the drive/partition, delete all the partitions just to clear the drive from the old install.

And once Windows is installed, install drivers, updates, etc...

You may need to call up Microsoft to activate Windows if your 7 keyis an OEM licence.
 
That's brilliant thanks.

Unfortunately I don't have another computer to move the data over with, I guess the only option is to lose it, or put the old mobo & chip back in? Really can't be arsed with the latter so might have to lose quite a bit :( Unless I'm missing something obvious?

I have the windows 7 case and serial number at home so hopefully no phone call, no problem if so though I guess
 
do you have anyone with a computer nearby or anything like that you could use linux as a live usb or dvd and recover your files from your HDD to the other HDD you have that way if you really dont want to loose anything, ive had to do it many times for friends or customers.
 
Hmm not really, well I have a laptop I could take home. Have no idea how to use linux though?

Hmm, just had a thought. I could order an SSD, next day delivery. Fresh install to that, then I could transfer the data from the boot drive before formatting it? I've been pondering an SSD for ages but didn't want to spend the money really. I guess it's an option though.
 
Then again a bios update might fix it anyway. Although I suspect not for some reason.
 
ZXSpectrum said:
Also check that your bios hasn't reset and defaulted the SATA controller back to Legacy/IDE instead of AHCI/RAID (If you are using RAID)
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Orch said:
Thanks, I'm not using raid though
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Have you checked to see if your BIOS has the data controller in AHCI mode? You mentioned your not using RAID, but didn't clarify if you'd checked for AHCI.
 
Ah I misread that, sorry I thought that was only necessary if I was using RAID. I will check that before doing anything else.
 
Ahh as you havent used linux before then i can see that bieng more tricky, and you could use the SSD as the boot drive only and your other HDD's as storage or for applications and such. but its entirely up to you sometimes the Bios update you will get lucky with and it will come back alive and sometimes it doesnt just cross your fingers all i can say for that one.
 
SSD would be job done :)
If you go down that path, unplug the other 2 drives so only the ssd is attached. Do the install then you can attach the other drives again. You could probably move all the files onto one drive then wipe the other.
Also, set to AHCI mode in bios for the ssd.
If you try what Orcvader suggested though you may be able to get it to boot so you can move files.
As another check, set your bios to defaults as well. Not sure if you had any overclocks etc on it but maybe that's causing an issue. Worth a shot before spending cash (although an ssd is well worth it)
 
Orch said:
Ah I misread that, sorry I thought that was only necessary if I was using RAID. I will check that before doing anything else.
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It could be that your OS was installed using AHCI and since you've got a new motherboard, the controller is still sitting in a default state of IDE. This would 100% stop you from booting into Windows, if not giving you a BSOD.
 
Thanks guys. When in bios last night I reset to default settings a few times (despite not actually changing anything) but no joy.

Will definitely try Orcvaders instructions first, after checking the AHCI situation.
 
snips86x said:
It could be that your OS was installed using AHCI and since you've got a new motherboard, the controller is still sitting in a default state of IDE. This would 100% stop you from booting into Windows, if not giving you a BSOD.
Click to expand...

That is starting to sound more and more likely to me!
 
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