Laptop will not boot at all, not even from DVD

MegaRodeon · 16 Oct 2015

Hello everyone, I'm new here.

The other day I was trying to install Ubuntu on my laptop. I searched the Internet for a guide, and it told me to use a software to create a bootable USB and let BIOS boot from it. I did that, and attempted to change it to boot USB as the first priority. After saving changes, exiting and restarting the laptop, it will not boot at all.

The exact process is as follows, when the power button is pressed:

Power button itself, 2 out of 3 LEDs beside the power button (WiFi, Caps Lock, Num Lock; only the last 2 light up), power light indicator (not sure what the exact name is, but it has a light bulb symbol above it), and the disk activity indicator all light up at once after one second. Screen also lights up (super dim) but only for around 200 miliseconds?
All lights and indicators then disappear, except for power button and light bulb indicator which are still lit. Battery indicator flashes only when it is very low on power (< 7%).
Cooling fan doesn't seem to be running, and laptop gets warm after a minute until powered off.
Keyboard is apparently not turned on, so spamming all kinds of keys like Del, Esc, and F hotkeys doesn't bring me to BIOS.
Inserted a system repair disc (that is created in Windows 10 from a spare laptop, which is currently the one I'm using to request for help here). Disc reader only spins the disc for a few seconds and stops, and laptop doesn't boot from disc. Force shutting it down and power it up again with the disc still inside still won't boot from the disc.

I've tried several other options, like draining all the power from the laptop and taking out the CMOS battery then putting it back again, but all to no avail

. I'm out of solutions, so please help me as far as you can. Many thanks!

Operating systems installed in both laptops are Windows 10.

[EDIT 1:]
Maybe I'm not clear about what I mean so I'll reiterate: I changed the boot order to boot USB first, and laptop won't boot AT ALL. BIOS isn't accessible; it doesn't do anything.

KACI · 16 Oct 2015

I don't have your laptop so I may not offer a lot of help. When you hit the power key try pushing whatever key allows you to enter the Bios. If you can't get into that it would indicate that somehow it got corrupted. Also make sure you have it plugged in to at least reduce the chances that the battery is the issue.

JohnC · 16 Oct 2015

Your USB drive must not be bootable. You want to go back into BIOS and change the boot order back to your hard drive. Start the computer and hit F2 or delete before post (on my asus at least you might have to check the laptop product page to try and find out which key you need to use) that will get you into BIOS.

dalchina · 16 Oct 2015

Hi, forgive a silly question, by any chance do you still have the USB device plugged in?

Beyond that, if you have a camera, maybe post a picture of the relevant BIOS settings.

MegaRodeon · 16 Oct 2015

dalchina said:

Hi, forgive a silly question, by any chance do you still have the USB device plugged in?

Beyond that, if you have a camera, maybe post a picture of the relevant BIOS settings.

No I don't have it plugged in. And I can't get into BIOS because it doesn't do anything.

MegaRodeon · 16 Oct 2015

JohnC said:

Your USB drive must not be bootable. You want to go back into BIOS and change the boot order back to your hard drive. Start the computer and hit F2 or delete before post (on my asus at least you might have to check the laptop product page to try and find out which key you need to use) that will get you into BIOS.

I can't go into BIOS because it doesn't let me. It doesn't do anything, in fact.

lx07 · 16 Oct 2015

You could try plugging into external monitor (display issue?) and/or removing the hard disk (this might force it to boot from USB/DVD).

dalchina · 16 Oct 2015

Ok, understood- you can't get to BIOS..

(which should be F2 for your laptop, as you know).

Do you hear any sounds- 'BIOS beep codes'?

(Here's your manual)
Download ASUS S551LN English user manual in PDF

From pg 83 of your user manual, you need a working BIOS before you can flash it..... Hmm.

I'm beginning to wonder if you need to refresh your BIOS- if that's possible... maybe sthg was corrupted when you saved the setting update..? But how... without the ability to get into BIOS? Hmm.

For reference:
Flashing your BIOS: you'd need a utility and the BIOS itself from
ASUS VivoBook S551LN | Notebooks | ASUS Global

(You've a choice of Win 8 or Win 10 before that).

dalchina · 16 Oct 2015

Hi, this is read from an HP forum, not ASUS- I've no idea if it applies.. but you can try it!
Here are the steps:

Turn off the computer.
Hold down the windows key + b and power on the laptop without letting go.
Here's the magic: while holding down windows key + b, then press F2.
The laptop will enter BIOS recovery mode, and you should be all set from there.

NavyLCDR · 16 Oct 2015

One way to force your way into BIOS is to open the cover over the hard drive (probably 2 to 4 screws to remove and a little prying to get it off), unplug the cable from the hard drive. Do not have any USB devices plugged in. Remove the power cord, remove the main battery. Press the power button and hold for a few seconds to drain any residual power. Put only the main battery and power cord back in. Press the power key to power back on - again with the hard drive disconnected and no USB devices plugged in.