Problem Navigating The Bios

Brentg · 14 Feb 2020

I've posted about this problem once before and now I'm at a critical stage. I'm running Windows 10 version 1903, on an Acer Aspire E15 ES-575 laptop. Some time ago, I had a situation in trying to navigate the Bios so that it would boot from USB or CD if I had a problem. I could not move around the Bios to get that done. I've worked with computers all my life, so I know how to use the arrow keys to get around. Nothing in the Bios can be changed and all you can do is "save & exit" once you are in there. I have flashed the bios in the past to see if that resolved the problem, to no avail.
Today when I started my computer it stated there was no "boot disk". Again, I entered the bios using F2 but could do nothing once I was in the bios. I was able to get it to boot finally by using Shift + F10??? I don't know what is going on and downloaded a "Create Windows 10 installation media" from the Windows site onto a USB drive knowing that whatever I have there is useless unless I can change the boot order.
I'm leaving this computer on for now until I can figure out what is wrong with it.
Can anyone help me? Thanks!!!

Berton · 14 Feb 2020

Have you tried running the setup.exe file on the USB drive from within File Explorer while Win10 is running? I've done several Upgrades using that method.

Steve C · 15 Feb 2020

Try removing the laptop's battery for a few minutes and ideally change the CMOS coin battery if you have access to it.

Megahertz · 15 Feb 2020

Did you see if BIOS is write protected by a password?

Try3 · 15 Feb 2020

My computers use F2 to enter the bios and F12 to bring up a list of boot devices so that a one-time selection of the boot device can be made without any need to get into the bios.

I suggest that you find out what the Acer equivalent of my F12 key is - check your manual, look at your boot screen in case it displays the info, search Acer support, ask Acer support, search Acer user forums, ask in Acer user forums.

Denis

Bree · 15 Feb 2020

Brentg said:

I've posted about this problem once before ... (edit by Bree: here) ...Today when I started my computer it stated there was no "boot disk". Again, I entered the bios using F2 but could do nothing once I was in the bios...

Try3 said:

My computers use F2 to enter the bios and F12 to bring up a list of boot devices so that a one-time selection of the boot device can be made without any need to get into the bios.
I suggest that you find out what the Acer equivalent of my F12 key is ...

My Acer uses F2 to enter bios and F12 for the one-time boot menu too. That one-time boot menu is generated by the bios, so it may be subject to the same inability to navigate it from the keyboard as the OP has when using F2. Worth a try though.

Brentg · 15 Feb 2020

Megahertz said:

Did you see if BIOS is write protected by a password?

There is a password on the BIOS that I put there, but I know it and can enter.

- - - Updated - - -

Bree said:

My Acer uses F2 to enter bios and F12 for the one-time boot menu too. That one-time boot menu is generated by the bios, so it may be subject to the same inability to navigate it from the keyboard as the OP has when using F2. Worth a try though.

Thanks, Bree. I will check on that

- - - Updated - - -

Steve C said:

Try removing the laptop's battery for a few minutes and ideally change the CMOS coin battery if you have access to it.

I did try this and still cannot move around the bios

- - - Updated - - -

Berton said:

Have you tried running the setup.exe file on the USB drive from within File Explorer while Win10 is running? I've done several Upgrades using that method.

If I run the setup.exe on the USB, will it do a fresh install of Win10 and keep all my files. My computer is also very sluggish, freezes up and takes forever to boot.

Caledon Ken · 16 Feb 2020

If you run setup from either a mounted ISO or a USB stick it does an inplace repair / upgrade.

Repair Install Windows 10 with an In-place Upgrade

If the media is of the same version it does repair, if media is newer then it does update. Say you are 1903 and you use 1909 media.

If you boot with media, USB or ISO then you are on the path to "Clean" install. Yes you can choose repair.

If you want to reset Windows you can choose to keep or discard personal files but either way you lose programs.

Reset Windows 10

In any and all scenarios I would first backup all my personal data. Better safe than sorry.

As to BIOS I would remove all security passwords. I say all as I think there can be one to enter and others like allow F12 key to produce boot menu.

Once this is done then try navigating BIOS.

As to sluggish and forever.

Run sfc /scannow

Run chkdsk c: /f

If this is a spinner check fragmentation levels

Open task manager and click Startup tab. What is starting up and should they all be enabled.

Have you run a scan with Malwarebytes (Free)

Available at malwarebytes.com, please don't search, head right to vendor's site.

Again, please backup all personal data first.

Ken

Brentg · 16 Feb 2020

Caledon Ken said:

If you run setup from either a mounted ISO or a USB stick it does an inplace repair / upgrade.

Repair Install Windows 10 with an In-place Upgrade

If the media is of the same version it does repair, if media is newer then it does update. Say you are 1903 and you use 1909 media.

If you boot with media, USB or ISO then you are on the path to "Clean" install. Yes you can choose repair.

If you want to reset Windows you can choose to keep or discard personal files but either way you lose programs.

Reset Windows 10

In any and all scenarios I would first backup all my personal data. Better safe than sorry.

As to BIOS I would remove all security passwords. I say all as I think there can be one to enter and others like allow F12 key to produce boot menu.

Once this is done then try navigating BIOS.

As to sluggish and forever.

Run sfc /scannow

Run chkdsk c: /f

If this is a spinner check fragmentation levels

Open task manager and click Startup tab. What is starting up and should they all be enabled.

Have you run a scan with Malwarebytes (Free)

Available at malwarebytes.com, please don't search, head right to vendor's site.

Again, please backup all personal data first.

Ken

Thanks, Ken. You gave me lots of things to try. I have ran Malware Bytes on it. I somehow got a password on the bios of "0" when I was working in it and I can't change that since I can't move around the bios. I have to enter that to get in the bios. Thanks again.

Brentg · 18 Feb 2020

Thanks,
Ken Caledon for all your suggestions on this issue. The chkdsk option found multiple sector errors and when this was resolved the laptop came back to life and is running well once again.
Bree, I tried the F12 3 times and could not boot into it. Maybe another option for me. I still cannot navigate the bios, but I'm out of the woods for now with the sluggish computer and taking forever to boot. Thanks to all for your help. If you have any other ideas on the bios problem I appreciate your responses.