Stuck in PXE mode and can't access BIOS

B4901

B4901

B4901

Associate
Joined
3 Oct 2010
Posts
9
Hey guys,

So I'm having an issue after attempting to format and clean install Windows 10 on my laptop. I have experience doing this in Win7 but not 10. I should have done some reading prior to giving this a go but hey, hindsight's 20-20 and all that...

So the steps I took were:


  • Shut the laptop down (did not access advanced shutdown options or disable windows 10 fast startup, wasn't aware this was a thing)

  • Removed HDD

  • Connected HDD to separate PC

  • Formatted HDD as normal

  • Replaced HDD in laptop

  • Attempted to boot from USB to install windows 10

At this point the laptop boots straight into PXE mode and attempts to boot over ethernet. I can't access the bios to change boot priority because it seems to skip this step completely (tried pressing every key I can think of during boot). I think this is probably down to the fact that I brazenly ripped the HDD out of a system that wasn't fully shut down. Thanks windows 10.

I have now also tried removing the HDD again, installing windows on it through a separate system and replacing. No dice - still boots straight into the PXE "no bootable media" message.

Any advice on a fix for my stupidity would be greatly appreciated ;)

Cheers!
 
I had issues with my laptop when I wanted to secure erase my SSD with in-place upgraded Win10 and reinstall with a clean install. I think I needed to unplug the power and temporarily remove the battery before I got the BIOS (UEFI) prompt to appear. That might be particular to my laptop though (Toshiba).

Also, I think I had to disable secure boot and enable CSM or something similar before it'd boot from USB.
 
Thanks for the reply. I've tried leaving the laptop with main battery disconnected for an extended period, but haven't tried removing the CMOS battery yet as can't really be bothered opening the thing up unless I have to.

Did your BIOS seem to reset just by removing the main battery?
 
Some laptops you can reset the BIOS by holding down a key on powering up but it might not be implemented and/or might not be on an obvious key - usually it is one that can't easily be pressed by accident like 0, F12, etc. but sometimes control, tab or spacebar.

I've also encountered some situations where you can only get into the BIOS using F1 or F2 despite the device saying delete or F2, etc. to enter BIOS.
 
I didn't remove the CMOS battery. I guess it was just an issue with this laptop. I wasn't getting a "Press F# to enter BIOS" until I removed it. It must have been fully powering down the motherboard that did it for me. It still had all of previous BIOS settings. Shame the laptop battery is internal and I had to remove the entire back cover - ugh.
 
Rroff said:
Some laptops you can reset the BIOS by holding down a key on powering up but it might not be implemented and/or might not be on an obvious key - usually it is one that can't easily be pressed by accident like 0, F12, etc. but sometimes control, tab or spacebar.

I've also encountered some situations where you can only get into the BIOS using F1 or F2 despite the device saying delete or F2, etc. to enter BIOS.
Click to expand...

Thanks, I guess I'll have a go with some different keys and try to track down a manual for the board online. Problem is that it's not an off-the-shelf laptop, so hard to find info.

Thanks for the replies guys.
 
Just to conclude this, I've fixed the issue. Resorted to opening the thing up and disconnectin/reconnecting CMOS. Cleared bios and allowed me to access it on boot. Thanks for the suggestions! :)
 
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