New windows 8 asus laptop, booting to Grub prompt?

stonehelm

New Member
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2
This is a brand new windows 8 system that was sold to a customer. He brought it in for being unable to boot into windows after having used it for a couple of weeks, and he demonstrated the issue to me. It literally just boots to grub. This customer is a basic windows user. No experience with linux or dual booting. He uses it for email. I have never come across this particular problem before, so I ran the normal partition tools to see if the table looked proper for a windows 8 machine. Everything checks out ok, however it is still booting to a grub prompt!!!! :cry:
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    winders
Killdisk first + clean Windows install.

If he never tried to play with Linux and GRUB is on there, something went crazy on him.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    7601.18247.x86fre.win7sp1
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Self-built Intel based
    CPU
    Pentium D 925 3.0 GHz socket 775, Presler @ ~ 3.2 GHz
    Motherboard
    Intel DQ965MT
    Memory
    Hyundai 2 GB DDR2 @ 333 MHz
    Graphics Card(s)
    ASUS DirectCU II HD7790-DC2OC-2GD5 Radeon HD 7790 2GB 128-Bit GDDR5
    Sound Card
    MOTU Traveler firewire interface
    Hard Drives
    1 Seagate Barracuda SATA II system/boot drive 80 GB, 2 Western Digital hdds - 1 is SATA II Caviar Black 1 TB attached to card (assorted media, page, temp), other is SATA I 420 GB (games, media, downloads)
    PSU
    Thermaltake 450W
    Cooling
    stock Gateway cooling, extra large fan in rear of case
    Keyboard
    Alienware/Microsoft Internet kb
    Mouse
    Logitech M510
    Internet Speed
    Optimum Online, fast for US
    Browser
    Pale Moon
    Antivirus
    Kaspersky integrated into ZoneAlarm+Antivirus
Which Linux is listed in the UEFI/BIOS firmware?
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    ME, XP,Vista,Win7,Win8,Win8.1
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Other Info
    Notebooks x 3

    Desktops x 5

    Towers x 4
Nuke is the last resort, granted it is a new machine with very little personal data stored locally. My problem is, when I come across a new and particularly frustrating issue, my brain will not stop until I find the casue/effect/solution/whatever the hell you call it. My only theory at this point is that some sort of an MBR infection tried to get in, but was somehow thwarted by the UEFI. Any other suggestions?
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    winders
Nuke is only resort. (If customer is not pulling a quickie by not owning up to trying to install Linux.)
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    7601.18247.x86fre.win7sp1
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Self-built Intel based
    CPU
    Pentium D 925 3.0 GHz socket 775, Presler @ ~ 3.2 GHz
    Motherboard
    Intel DQ965MT
    Memory
    Hyundai 2 GB DDR2 @ 333 MHz
    Graphics Card(s)
    ASUS DirectCU II HD7790-DC2OC-2GD5 Radeon HD 7790 2GB 128-Bit GDDR5
    Sound Card
    MOTU Traveler firewire interface
    Hard Drives
    1 Seagate Barracuda SATA II system/boot drive 80 GB, 2 Western Digital hdds - 1 is SATA II Caviar Black 1 TB attached to card (assorted media, page, temp), other is SATA I 420 GB (games, media, downloads)
    PSU
    Thermaltake 450W
    Cooling
    stock Gateway cooling, extra large fan in rear of case
    Keyboard
    Alienware/Microsoft Internet kb
    Mouse
    Logitech M510
    Internet Speed
    Optimum Online, fast for US
    Browser
    Pale Moon
    Antivirus
    Kaspersky integrated into ZoneAlarm+Antivirus
Which Linux is listed in the UEFI/BIOS firmware?

Is Windows Boot Manager first boot device in the UEFI/BIOS firmware?

Also is Secure Boot ENABLED?
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    ME, XP,Vista,Win7,Win8,Win8.1
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Other Info
    Notebooks x 3

    Desktops x 5

    Towers x 4
New Asus's laptops, F201E and X201E, can have Ubuntu preloaded on them. It could be a quirk.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    windows 8.1
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Dell Inspiron
    Browser
    Firefox
    Antivirus
    avast!
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