Another BSOD head banger :( One beep no Windows!

[zadai]

OK! This all started Sunday morning, 5 days now of trying everything I've read, I'm throwing in the hat to you fine folks .

I have a Gateway desktop SX2110G with a D1F-AD mobo. My HD is ST5000DM002-1BD142 500GB, AMD Radeon HD 7310 Graphics, and 4GB DDR3 memory.

I hit the power button and get a quiet power up, one quick beep, the Gateway logo with "hit 'del' to enter bios" on the bottom left corner for about half of a minute then the blue sad face screen that says I have a pc problem and need to restart, then I get a black screen with a small blue box that says "no signal" then she restarts, then it loops all that over and over, since Sunday!

I know you're thinking this is the same as every other BSOD thread...BUT, I've read them and researched and those other computers are working and mine's in another room looping...still.

I can't do any of the "F"s, shifts, alts, or esc's. I obviously can't download on it to repair, can't get to safe mode, I can't make it stop! My HD is good, I checked it on another pc, it scanned over 600,000 files found 1 corrupt, fixed it or deleted it (???) and said my drive is working properly and ready to use.

I wish I had some beeps or something to point me in a fix-it direction, so please help me get my baby back, I hate using this old slow one to google all my pc stupidity!

Thank you in advance,
zadai

 

[blueelvis]

Hi Zadai & Welcome to the forums ^_^,

On my desktop (HP), one beep means that there is a RAM problem. My guess would be that this is being caused by faulty hardware. Now, always remember the golden rule of Hardware Troubleshooting ^_^ :- "Always try starting up the PC with minimum hardware (No GPU and all other cards, if you have got multiple RAM sticks then put only single stick and see if the system Boots up or not)".

Post back here how it goes on and I would be glad to help you out further ^_^.

 

[zadai]

Thanks for the welcome!
Ok, for the past month or two while surfing and so forth, I would get a box pop up telling me to close some programs due to low memory and some times my pc would just close it all without warning and reboot. I did take my memory stick out, make sure it's clean, tried it in both slots, but still the same problem. I've unhooked everything I could and had the same problem. I have only one memory stick, 4GB ddr3, and I'm wondering if it's full? I don't have any spares that fit my pc to try another one, the others, I have many from old computers I fix (hobby).

So if it's my memory, and it's full is it possible to download more memory to a disk or flash drive and somehow try to get my computer to acknowledge it at some point of the looping process?
What is stored on those sticks anyway? I thought everything went to the hard drive....?????

Thanks for jumping in to my computer AND mental breakdown

Zadai (aka Terri)

 

[blueelvis]

Hi Zadai,

Unfortunately, there is no such way of using Hard Disk or any other Flash drive in the absence of RAM and make it detect as RAM. I would advise you on getting a stick of RAM which is compatible with your system from any store which accepts returns so that in case it still does not boot up, you could return it back for your money.

By the way what parts did you remove (hardware)?

 

[zadai]

I'm ready to trash it...nothing is working. I unplugged everything I can and nothing. I cleaned the memory ram, my hard drive works on my laptop....I'm pulling my hair out

I downloaded amd catalist to get ready for mining a different coin and that's when the fit hit the shan!

It restarted and went into loop!

I didn't have a card installed yet so did it fry my pc?

Thanks,
Terri

 

[blueelvis]

Hi Terry,

As soon as you start the machine, keep on pressing (Not hitting ) the "DEL" key and see if you are able to get into the BIOS atleast or not? Anyways, do you have an installation media with you?

Also, what do you mean by cleaning the RAM?

 

[zadai]

I have gotten in to the bios without any problem, I just can't figure out what needs changed in there! Like I said , it won't let me boot in safe mode.

By cleaning my ram i meant i took it out and cleaned it with rubbing alcohol. The only hardware connected is the hard drive, monitor, and keyboard. I still have the ethernet plugged in, is that ok?

Also I bought two (a set) of memory ram today. kingston DDR3 1600 240p 1.65v pc3 12800, 2gb each. Are they compatible with my gateway SX2110G-UW308, mobo D1F-AD?

Please let me know about the memory, and also if there is something I can be doing in the bios.

Thanks for still trying to help me, I'm so ready to throw in the towel but this computer I just got new last year for my birthday...it's too young to die

Terri

 

[blueelvis]

I finally found the user's manual under the docs section of your product support page over here :-

Drivers & Downloads

Btw, see if you are able to follow those troubleshooting/recovery steps. Anyways, let's wait for someone more experienced than me and see if he has any good advice on this.

 

[zadai]

Thanks for the link , I already downloaded some of their info but found nothing helpful. I guess someone will get this figured out for me, I'm all out of ideas

The BSOD might actually mean "death"!!!

Terri

 

[HippsieGypsie]

Welcome to Windows Eight Forums, Terri. Sorry to read of your problem. I went through this with my old Acer tower about four months back, except no loop. Just nothing.

This is how members here solved mine. One beep on mine is a BIOS test pass. What is it in your manual?

Make sure all connectors are snug if you haven't already. If that doesn't work, unplug everything except keyboard and monitor. I mean everything. No peripherals, HD, cards, external drives, modem > Everything. You may as well change the Cmos battery since it's old. I did. Start plugging everything in one by one starting with the HD.

Ironically I can't tell you what ended up being my problem, but whatever it was got fixed! I suspected the Cmos battery, but not sure. Removing the battery will eliminate any changed settings in the BIOS, so you'll have to reset if desired.

Take all precautions of high voltage and static electricity. Good luck!

 

[zadai]

Ok, I unplugged everything except the keyboard and monitor. It says no disk detected. When I plug in my hd it starts it's loop. If I plug in a different hd it says no disk detected. So, right now, one by one, it's all back together doing what it's been doing from the beginning.

I checked my battery and it's very strong. I checked my hd on my laptop and everything is there! I can't imagine it's a hd problem if it shows up fine as an external disk.

Like I said previously, I kept getting "low on memory, close some programs" alerts. My pc only has one memory ram stick and it's Nanya 4GB 1333MHz, pc3-10600, 240p, DDR3. I bought a set of 2 kingston 2GB each, DDR3, 240p, but they are 1600MHz and pc3-12800! Are they compatible? I'm really thinking it's a memory problem but I don't know how to check or fix it. When I took my stick out it squealed like a banshee!!!

BTY, my research for my pc says one beep is a "normal boot start-up".

Please keep helping, I know we'll get this!

Thanks,
Terri

 

[HippsieGypsie]

Ok. It's getting into the holiday weekend and I'm going to be busy, but I'll help as much as I can.

Lol! I'm at the bar and my fiancee said that's enough!I'll check in in the morning. Later....

 

[zadai]

I agree with your fiance...if I were sitting in the bar, enjoying good company and a cold brewsky, a stranger's computer problems would be very low on my priority list (still on the list just lower)

It's been a week and a half without it now and my blood pressure has dropped somewhat, an extra zanax or two during the initial breakdown (mine) helped!

So if need be, I'll play on my old XP and get through the holiday weekend. Maybe a few cold ones and some fireworks will put me at ease!

Enjoy,
Terri

 

[blueelvis]

How about, you remove the HDD and plug in your DVD Drive and put in the Installation media and see if it is able to boot up or not? If the setup starts, see if you can plug in the HDD and maybe reformat that?

Since, you are able to access the HDD on another machine, I would suggest you to backup all of your data. But, please wait for

HippsieGypsie ' s post before proceeding further ^_^.​

 

[HippsieGypsie]

Good morning and Happy 4th!

I agree with your fiance...if I were sitting in the bar, enjoying good company and a cold brewsky, a stranger's computer problems would be very low on my priority list (still on the list just lower)

I agree. It is rude to play on phones or whatever when on a date. It's a sure sign that the person is not interested or is self-centered. In this case we're well into our relationship and she likes to play a few lottery bingo cards, so while I'll allow that I play on the phablet, but once she's done > "OK! Time's up!" It's amusing to me in a way. She dislikes tech so much so that she'll continue to use her flip phone over a smart phone. Beeps away when texting. She'll scratch away for 15 minutes on a card when all one has to do is scratch one line or shove it in the scanner to check the win or lose. Whatever floats one's boat!

Anywho, after some research I think you don't have a hardware problem at all. With my problem I got no screen, which indicates a hardware problem. A loop is different kind of BSOD. It's not one in pure sense of the term. It's either due to a virus or a Windows update, although it's a long way from patch Tuesday, so odds are a virus has corrupted or locked the boot process of Windows. The lock is due to what I think is a new feature of 8 in which it locks itself down for security. Not all that sure. I'm still researching.

I researched your computer and it is a tower, correct? You mention a laptop battery.

I'll assume you've backed up all your important files. If not hook the HD up as you mentioned and do so via copy and paste as blueelvis suggested.

You stated the F keys don't work. Have you tried Ctrl/Alt/Delete combo?

Overall we'll try to get this thing to boot somehow to virus scan or restore it to an earlier point. Do you have install media or mirror by any chance?

@ blueelvis

Thanks for the consideration, but this is team work. Any suggestions are welcomed on this forum. Don't let the guru badge fool you. I'm by far not the savviest here. In fact, I probably have the worst points to post count ever! It is more like feeding information and suggestions to the OP to make an intelligent decision so to fix a problem.

Here's some researching results:

Windows 8 stuck in startup loop

Windows 8 Repair screen loop upon startup - Microsoft Community

Windows 8 stuck in startup loop

 

[blueelvis]

First of all, goto the BIOS options and see if the Secure Boot option is turned off or not. If it is turned on, then please turn it off and see if the loop is broken or not. The only problems which I can think of at this time are listed below :-

1. There is a problem with the BIOS settings (Most Likely, secure boot). Try removing the CMOS battery for 10 minutes. This would reset the BIOS settings and see if the issue still occurs or not.

2. Rootkit/Malware Infection which has caused a early boot up driver to become corrupt.

3. There is some possible corruption on your system due to some hard crash or something like that.


@HippsieGypsie :- Thanks for your kind words, looking forward to resolve OP's issue along with the forum members ^_^ and yeah Happy 4th.

 

[zadai]

I disabled Secure Boot and then hit save and exit. Still looping BUT now I can't get into bios, no option on the bottom left corner (del).

Here's what it does....when I turn it on it goes beep (hello) then goes to a screen with the Gateway logo and a circle of sorts spinning under it like it's processing something. This is when I have that split second to hit "del" for bios...not there now. It goes from the Gateway screen to the BLUE screen, the restart............

right now, my cmos battery is out for a break, the pc is off since I can't change the bios back at this point, and I'm gonna eat some grilled salmon and have a beer!

I Will hook my hdd up tp my laptop again, but I have no clue what copy and paste is!!! I can see my folders and files, blah blah, but how do you save them? I know I can't format until the stuff is off, I also didn't make a disk when I got my pc (oops, my REALLY REALLY bad!). Maybe you fine people can tell me where this info is when it's attached to my laptop and I could save THAT stuff to a disk and try to insert it in my dvd drive, although... when my Hdd wasn't hooked up to my pc it did NOTHING. ????????

Happy fourth
Terri

 

[blueelvis]

Hi Zadai,

Which edition of Windows 8 were you using? Did the Windows 8 came preinstalled when you bought this PC? Furthermore, backig up hard disk means that copying and pasting your personal data like games,songs,work etc. For saving them, simply browse thru your HDD, copy it and then paste it in your Laptop HDD or any other external media.

 

[HippsieGypsie]

To copy highlight with left mouse click > Right click > Choose"Copy" on menu > Go to a folder on the drive you wish to copy to > Left, then right click > Choose "Paste" on the menu.

Or

Tab or arrow key to navigate to or right click to highlight folder > Windows key (hold)/C (to copy) > go to folder > Highlight > Windows key/V to paste.

You may want to create folders and name them for storing. Highlight drive or folder > right then left click > Choose "New" > Choose "Folder" on slide out menu. I would name them "Backup Docs", "Backup Pics", etc.

Edit:

My keyboard has a menu key. I highlight a drive, folder, or file then press that key for the context menu.