Asus laptop does not boot

Vincenzo

New Member
Power User
Messages
299
When I turn on my friend's Asus Windows 8 laptop, the backlit keyboard lights up momentarily, the screen stays blank. I can hear the hard drive spinning, but nothing happens onscreen.

I can get in the Setup menu by pressing F2 on boot. I've turned off Fast Boot, did not help.

Any ideas what to try next?

Thanks
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8 Pro
try hooking it to a regular computer monitor to see if you get any video
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    win8.1.1 enterprise
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Hinze57
    CPU
    AMD FX 6100 6core 3.30gHz
    Motherboard
    gigibyte ga-78lmy-s2p
    Memory
    4gig ddr3
    Graphics Card(s)
    Radon hd5000 Series
    Sound Card
    onboard realtek hd
    Monitor(s) Displays
    19" viewsonic/ 22"Samsung
    Screen Resolution
    1680x1050
    Hard Drives
    128gig ssd Kingston
    80gig WD 10000 rpm spinner
    Case
    micro
    Keyboard
    microsoft curve 200
    Mouse
    Logitech wireless M215
    Internet Speed
    high speed 20
    Browser
    ie 11
    Antivirus
    windows defender
    Other Info
    updated enterprise apr 2/14
Monitor would not seem to be the problem since Setup utility works.

great observation ,lack of sleep on my part maybe , I think ,lol
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    win8.1.1 enterprise
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Hinze57
    CPU
    AMD FX 6100 6core 3.30gHz
    Motherboard
    gigibyte ga-78lmy-s2p
    Memory
    4gig ddr3
    Graphics Card(s)
    Radon hd5000 Series
    Sound Card
    onboard realtek hd
    Monitor(s) Displays
    19" viewsonic/ 22"Samsung
    Screen Resolution
    1680x1050
    Hard Drives
    128gig ssd Kingston
    80gig WD 10000 rpm spinner
    Case
    micro
    Keyboard
    microsoft curve 200
    Mouse
    Logitech wireless M215
    Internet Speed
    high speed 20
    Browser
    ie 11
    Antivirus
    windows defender
    Other Info
    updated enterprise apr 2/14
For using an External monitor or projector on a Notebook/Laptop requires pressing Fn + another F key to toggle between LCD Panel only, External port only or Both at the same time. The F key to use will be different on various Notebooks.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    WinXP, WinVista, Win7, Win8.1, Win10, Linux Mint 20
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    2 Customs and 12 OEM/Brands
    CPU
    AMD and Intel
Yes, the F8 key seems to have the symbol for switch display. I tried F8, fn + F8, also F5 since that is the one I am used to using. Did this when Setup was onscreen. But could not get anything to display on the external monitor.

But it seems like display is not the issue since Setup displays correctly.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8 Pro
How about Safe Mode? Not sure what key for Asus but is doable even with UEFI Bios, just have to be very fast.

If that doesn't work probably looking at corrupted boot sector or bad hard drive.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 Pro 64-bit
    Computer type
    Laptop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Acer V3 771G-6443
    CPU
    i5-3230m
    Motherboard
    Acer VA70_HC (U3E1)
    Memory
    8GB DDR3 PC3-12800 (800 MHz)
    Graphics Card(s)
    HD4000 + GeForce GT 730M
    Sound Card
    Realtek High Definition Audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    17" Generic PnP Display on Intel HD Graphics 4000
    Screen Resolution
    1600x900 pixels
    Hard Drives
    Samsung SSD 850 EVO 250 GB
    ADATA SSD SP900 128GB
    PSU
    90 watt brick
    Mouse
    Bluetooth
    Antivirus
    Comodo
    Other Info
    Asus RT-AC56R dual-band WRT router (Merlin firmware). Intel 7260.HMWWB.R dual-band ac wireless adapter.
According the Asus website, I should be able to access the recovery utility by pressing F9 during boot. But that does not work either, screen stays blank. I am thinking the hard drive is bad, even though it is spinning, or maybe the motherboard is bad.

But in Setup, if I go to SATA setup, it shows the hard drive.

Thanks
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8 Pro
Not saying it is the drive but they will show up in BIOS even when bad. No recovery boot disc or flash to try?

Did he drop it or give it a serious jolt while on?
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 Pro 64-bit
    Computer type
    Laptop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Acer V3 771G-6443
    CPU
    i5-3230m
    Motherboard
    Acer VA70_HC (U3E1)
    Memory
    8GB DDR3 PC3-12800 (800 MHz)
    Graphics Card(s)
    HD4000 + GeForce GT 730M
    Sound Card
    Realtek High Definition Audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    17" Generic PnP Display on Intel HD Graphics 4000
    Screen Resolution
    1600x900 pixels
    Hard Drives
    Samsung SSD 850 EVO 250 GB
    ADATA SSD SP900 128GB
    PSU
    90 watt brick
    Mouse
    Bluetooth
    Antivirus
    Comodo
    Other Info
    Asus RT-AC56R dual-band WRT router (Merlin firmware). Intel 7260.HMWWB.R dual-band ac wireless adapter.
There is no optical drive on this laptop, and my friend did not make a recovery flash drive. I guess I could try a recovery drive made on another computer, but I think it needs to have been made on a UEFI computer to work on this UEFI system. Is that correct?

And he says he did not drop or jolt it.

Thanks
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8 Pro
If you can get a bootable flash drive setup, you can set the Bios to boot from it. You are going to need some kind of external drive either disc or hdd to be able to get anywhere though. Unless you can boot and see his internal drive and the files are there. You may be able to try to repair the boot sector. But you need to get booted up and at least have a command prompt before you'll be able to do much of anything to see if you can repair it.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 Pro 64-bit
    Computer type
    Laptop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Acer V3 771G-6443
    CPU
    i5-3230m
    Motherboard
    Acer VA70_HC (U3E1)
    Memory
    8GB DDR3 PC3-12800 (800 MHz)
    Graphics Card(s)
    HD4000 + GeForce GT 730M
    Sound Card
    Realtek High Definition Audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    17" Generic PnP Display on Intel HD Graphics 4000
    Screen Resolution
    1600x900 pixels
    Hard Drives
    Samsung SSD 850 EVO 250 GB
    ADATA SSD SP900 128GB
    PSU
    90 watt brick
    Mouse
    Bluetooth
    Antivirus
    Comodo
    Other Info
    Asus RT-AC56R dual-band WRT router (Merlin firmware). Intel 7260.HMWWB.R dual-band ac wireless adapter.
I'm going to see if I can boot from a Windows 8 flash drive from another computer. What would you recommend running from a command prompt, assuming it sees the C: drive?

Thanks
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8 Pro

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 Pro 64-bit
    Computer type
    Laptop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Acer V3 771G-6443
    CPU
    i5-3230m
    Motherboard
    Acer VA70_HC (U3E1)
    Memory
    8GB DDR3 PC3-12800 (800 MHz)
    Graphics Card(s)
    HD4000 + GeForce GT 730M
    Sound Card
    Realtek High Definition Audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    17" Generic PnP Display on Intel HD Graphics 4000
    Screen Resolution
    1600x900 pixels
    Hard Drives
    Samsung SSD 850 EVO 250 GB
    ADATA SSD SP900 128GB
    PSU
    90 watt brick
    Mouse
    Bluetooth
    Antivirus
    Comodo
    Other Info
    Asus RT-AC56R dual-band WRT router (Merlin firmware). Intel 7260.HMWWB.R dual-band ac wireless adapter.
I am trying to make changes in Setup to allow booting from a flash drive. On the Boot tab I see two options, Fast Boot and Launch CSM. But any change I make to either one of them, even though I tell Setup to Save Changes and Exit, when I reboot the change is gone, it is back to the default. Even if I just go to the Save And Exit screen and tell it to Save Changes done so far, when I tab back over to the Boot tab, the changes are gone, reverted back to the default.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8 Pro
I also have the option to Add Boot Device, but whenever I add it, it is gone even though I am telling it to Save Changes.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8 Pro
Hmmmm, not sure what is going on there. Maybe someone else will jump in. Do you have an option to switch to legacy mode and does it stick?
 
Last edited:

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 Pro 64-bit
    Computer type
    Laptop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Acer V3 771G-6443
    CPU
    i5-3230m
    Motherboard
    Acer VA70_HC (U3E1)
    Memory
    8GB DDR3 PC3-12800 (800 MHz)
    Graphics Card(s)
    HD4000 + GeForce GT 730M
    Sound Card
    Realtek High Definition Audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    17" Generic PnP Display on Intel HD Graphics 4000
    Screen Resolution
    1600x900 pixels
    Hard Drives
    Samsung SSD 850 EVO 250 GB
    ADATA SSD SP900 128GB
    PSU
    90 watt brick
    Mouse
    Bluetooth
    Antivirus
    Comodo
    Other Info
    Asus RT-AC56R dual-band WRT router (Merlin firmware). Intel 7260.HMWWB.R dual-band ac wireless adapter.
I would make sure the file system is still there and you can open folder etc. Run a chkdsk on it, then the whole bcd repair thing.
Here is a link: BCDboot Command-Line Options

When I go to that link, I am assuming "Repair the System Partition" is the section you are referring to. But I don't see where the repair instructions are. In the Repair the System Partition section, all it says is:

If the system partition has been corrupted, you can use BCDboot to recreate the system partition files by using new copies of these files from the Windows partition.

  • Boot your PC to a command line. For example, boot to the Windows installation disk and press Shift+F10, or boot to Windows PE (WinPE: Create USB Bootable drive).
  • Use Diskpart to determine which drive letter contains your Windows partition and system partition (diskpart, list vol, exit).
  • Optional: Format your system partition: format (drive letter of your system partition) /q
  • Add a boot entry for your Windows partition: bcdboot D:\Windows
  • Reboot the PC. Windows should appear.


Since step 3 is optional, it looks like step 4 is the only real change. Is that the repair?

Thanks
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8 Pro
Sorry about that. I gave you the standard BCD repair link. This link shows the steps for EFI repair: How can I repair the Windows 8 EFI Bootloader? - Super User

Did you ever get it to boot off usb? Also, try determine if the HDD seems alright other than boot.

One other thing you can try is to change the HDD in BIOS to IDE instead of AHCI and see how it reacts.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 Pro 64-bit
    Computer type
    Laptop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Acer V3 771G-6443
    CPU
    i5-3230m
    Motherboard
    Acer VA70_HC (U3E1)
    Memory
    8GB DDR3 PC3-12800 (800 MHz)
    Graphics Card(s)
    HD4000 + GeForce GT 730M
    Sound Card
    Realtek High Definition Audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    17" Generic PnP Display on Intel HD Graphics 4000
    Screen Resolution
    1600x900 pixels
    Hard Drives
    Samsung SSD 850 EVO 250 GB
    ADATA SSD SP900 128GB
    PSU
    90 watt brick
    Mouse
    Bluetooth
    Antivirus
    Comodo
    Other Info
    Asus RT-AC56R dual-band WRT router (Merlin firmware). Intel 7260.HMWWB.R dual-band ac wireless adapter.
No I've not gotten it to boot. I think I need a UEFI boot drive, mine was made on a BIOS computer.

Can't make any changes in Setup, they all revert back to default when I reboot.

Thanks
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8 Pro
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