How can I recover my lost BIOS boot options?

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I am in terrible need of help to resolve this continuing saga, and I upfront appreciate your suggestions.

Here is how I got into this mess. I purchased a new (refurb) ASUS x55c laptop with Windows 8 64.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16834231064

Silly me thought to replace my hard drive with an SSD. So, I created both a USB recovery drive and disc using W8’s tools. Neither tool helped me to transfer my image to the new drive. Subsequently, I got slapped with a 0xc0000225 error. Moreover, I lost my boot options, except for Windows Boot Manager for a while (and after a few tries of things, a reference ot a DVD… yet the disc I put in will not be read).

I’ve tried several things, including restoring BIOS defaults, disabling/enabling secure boot, etc., and nothing. Ooops, I should add that I also have the original drive back in place. Ideas, please??? I wonder what might I expect if I were to remove the cmos battery and then reinsert? Thank you, thank you, thank you for your help.

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Are you able to boot from the DVD/CD ROM or USB drive?
What is the program you are using to restore your image from?

Go back into BIOS and check the boot settings. Leave secure/rapid boot disabled.

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Thank you for responding CLiNT. Yes, I have tried both the ROM drive and USB, separately and together. And secure boot is disabled. Like I said, I’m left with Windows Boot Manager, but I also got back the ROM (seems there were once two possible ROM entries, one for regular, and one for EFI). I observe both hard drive and ROM are alive, as I see my hard drive light come on and flicker at bootup.

This is a continuation from this thread, particularly page 5, where I write in bold “Big trouble in little China” :
http://windowssecrets.com/forums/showthread//155797-How-to-get-my-full-name-into-username

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Update— Well, I know that my DVD ROM works and can read, because I slipped in an installation disc, and it could read it fine. Of course, I stopped it short of installation. And so back at square one. It just won’t read the original hard drive and I don’t have any other boot options in BIOS, save for Windows Boot Manager and the DVD

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Have you tried to boot from your system recovery disk and let it repair the boot process?

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Have you tried to boot from your system recovery disk and let it repair the boot process?

Yes, Rui, several times. No luck.

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But what happened, precisely? Was the disk recognized? Did the recovery attempt fail?

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But what happened, precisely? Was the disk recognized? Did the recovery attempt fail?

No, that repair disk was not recognized, neither with the SSD, nor the current hard drive. When I press the key to access the media, I do loop back to the insert proper media screen, over and over again. And that was the disk I created with W8’s own recovery tools.

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As you can read other disks, I am thinking that disk has some issues. Did you test it before replacing the hard disk?

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As you can read other disks, I am thinking that disk has some issues. Did you test it before replacing the hard disk?

Yes, Rui. First, after Windows finished writing it, Windows then asserted the write was a success. But even when I inserted the SSD, I got no response. Moreover, I explored the disk, and all the files are there… all 277 MB or whatever.

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Yes, Rui. First, after Windows finished writing it, Windows then asserted the write was a success. But even when I inserted the SSD, I got no response. Moreover, I explored the disk, and all the files are there… all 277 MB or whatever.

But were you able to boot the computer with it? Have you tried to use it to boot a different computer?

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Maybe you could try downloading this Windows 8 recovery disc ISO, and see if that will boot up the system for attempted repair.
I haven’t vetted the website or the file (beyond size) but it looked ok, as always, ignore the big flashy download icons in favor of the more sublime flat one to the right, which is the real download icon.

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Maybe you could try downloading this Windows 8 recovery disc ISO, and see if that will boot up the system for attempted repair.
I haven’t vetted the website or the file (beyond size) but it looked ok, as always, ignore the big flashy download icons in favor of the more sublime flat one to the right, which is the real download icon.

You never cease to amaze me all the neat little downloadable things you find, F.U.N. Thank you so much for taking the time to do that. Alas, that was a no go as well. It feels like Windows just kind of “locked” me out of my computer.

Anyway, I figure if the greatest minds on this forum can’t figure this puzzle out, I am in serious trouble, and so packed it up and turned it in.– as Windows prescribed anyway.

Rui–Whether with or without the disk, I could only boot to the blue Recovery screen that identified the above mentioned error, and how my computer was in need of repair.

Moreover, I admit uncertainty that even if I got the system repaired if I would get my boot order options back or USB port functionally readable as well. Thank you for your suggestions.

On a side note, I was so tempted to even try Spotmau, which promises the moon and more, but I saw nothing to suggest that it is Windows 8 ready yet. Anyone ever try this?
http://www.spotmau.com/products/package/full.html?gclid=CJDpmMfh87gCFcd_QgodmEQAUQ

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What I am thinking is that your boot disc didn’t work, for some reason. Maybe a working boot disc would solve your problem, but for that you would need to create one that worked. I’m afraid you should have tested it immediately after creation, to confirm it worked.

You are writing from another computer. Can you create a system restore disk from that one and just see if it boots? Don’t let it change anything on your windows 8 computer, just check whether it boots the problem computer. If it does, I would say my first step would be to create a Windows 8 system recovery disc, one that actually worked.

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What I am thinking is that your boot disc didn’t work, for some reason. Maybe a working boot disc would solve your problem, but for that you would need to create one that worked.

That was my line of thinking after post #4 where it seemed an install disc works fine (for booting), that maybe a independent Win 8 repair disc might boot and work. I am assuming it was created from the same process one would have followed from within Windows 8. I have a few other ideas (maybe a bit radical but still logical) but ultimately they still depend on being able to boot with a Win 8 repair disc or Win 8 install disc to fix the hard disk boot issue.

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I wonder why I have this sense that the issue(s) were more BIOS-side related than Windows? I mean, shouldn’t BIOS be independent of Windows to some extent? To lose all my boot order options, save for Windows Boot Manager… what’s with that. I also question the possibility that some of all this might go back to the fact this refurbished laptop shipped with the recovery partition deleted. Even though Windows allows one to supposedly recreate such partition, something might have gone wrong there, so any creation of a recovery flash drive and/or repair disc would be in err as well. Certainly though, after all this unexpected grief, I really did not want to play guinea pig on this computer– my only link to you guys. Now how to account for the new and full-fledged installation disc seemed to be compliant is quite a mystery in itself to me. Hence, my question about how my old installation may have put the block-lock on the system (perhaps to prevent any perpetuating copies of the OS to be made. …Problem all started when I tried to apply the USB flash to a new SSD). Anyway, I know so little… these are just questions that have risen in my mind.

—Perhaps it would have been interesting to try clearing the CMOS, but that also sounds a bit like playing with fire. Meanwhile, this story may not be over because I’ll either get that unit exchanged, repaired, or returned as is.

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I don’t see why you say it is BIOS related. Your computer seems to boot from a bootable disc (the Windows installation disc). From what we know, there are no guarantees that the other boot media you tried are actually bootable (something may have happened to them to cause that). Have you tried using the SSD as a boot drive in another computer? Have you tried the HDD in another computer, to make sure it actually boots?
Until you can establish either of them, in their current state, as being bootable, you can’t have certainties about the BIOS.

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I don’t see why you say it is BIOS related. Your computer seems to boot from a bootable disc (the Windows installation disc). From what we know, there are no guarantees that the other boot media you tried are actually bootable (something may have happened to them to cause that). Have you tried using the SSD as a boot drive in another computer? Have you tried the HDD in another computer, to make sure it actually boots?
Until you can establish either of them, in their current state, as being bootable, you can’t have certainties about the BIOS.

Rui, I tried to explain that as clearly as I could in my preceding post. I never asserted it as being the BIOS, just calling it into question. Remember, I also called the deleted recovery partition into question as well. And the SSD is currently in a state of tabula rasa, so I could not test it in another computer. And again, I did not test the HDD in this computer, making a guinea pig of it.

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Gerard, I’ll pipe in here just briefly as working with the newer disks is beyond my experience so far.

Perhaps it’s time to reinstall the OS from scratch. You said you were able to boot to the installation screen on the DVD, but stopped short of reinstalling the OS. You have spent what appears to be a large amount of time trying to fix this perplexing problem. If you were to try to install from scratch and it worked, perhaps you could then try to restore your Image again, after creating an Image of the reinstalled OS of course (I would try a different Imaging app for this operation).

If the reinstallation does not bring everything back to an operational mode, then perhaps you are trying to work around a H/W problem rather than a Bios or OS problem.

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Gerard, I’ll pipe in here just briefly as working with the newer disks is beyond my experience so far.

Perhaps it’s time to reinstall the OS from scratch. You said you were able to boot to the installation screen on the DVD, but stopped short of reinstalling the OS. You have spent what appears to be a large amount of time trying to fix this perplexing problem. If you were to try to install from scratch and it worked, perhaps you could then try to restore your Image again, after creating an Image of the reinstalled OS of course (I would try a different Imaging app for this operation).

If the reinstallation does not bring everything back to an operational mode, then perhaps you are trying to work around a H/W problem rather than a Bios or OS problem.

Say, thanks for coming around, Ted! Funny how you mention the reinstallation. That thought came to me as well. Then I thought, “Doh! Need chipset drivers and such as well.” Luckily I found them at ASUS support site. I didn’t want to gamble with reusing my current W8 install disc which I have on reserve for my buld project, so I ordered another copy in case I go that route. Your approach sounds to have better merit as it saves money on the OS cost. On the other hand, a completely fresh installation gives me one that is bloatware free (no need for uninstalling… especially those insidious, nearly impossible to eradicate ones like McAffee). I had to chuckle when you mentioned “a different imaging app.” You’re not kidding.

And that’s the thing I wondered, too… There is no guarantee that even if I got a working, bootable drive in there, that I would have my BIOS options restored. That’s why I decided to turn it in at this point, hoping to get it back one way or another real soon so as not to miss out on my $70 rebate!

That said, to be clear I plan to implement your advice ASAP. Thanks!

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Ah! A new thought just came to me. Perhaps the hard drive has to boot to Windows start up screen in order to access the repair/recovery media?

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Ah! A new thought just came to me. Perhaps the hard drive has to boot to Windows start up screen in order to access the repair/recovery media?

Gerard,

Hello.. As i am only exploring this myself (SLIC 3.0 ) and “Windows Secure Boot” I can offer a possible suggestion as to the Basic problem. If you search Windows 8 SLIC 3.0 ( OEM installs) you can find a “Pile” of posts comments about this type of problem Example[/url] … Seems that MS is making it very difficult to change, or reinstall ( OEM Windows 8) OS’s even on, and with their own ” stuff”. Personally i would at this point never purchase any PC that have either Windows 8 OEM, or secure boot , or the “embedded BIOS Key” I have read about some “Cracks” or “work-around’s” to these type of problems … but more than that i can’t say .. Good luck :cheers: Regards Fred

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Gerard,

Hello.. As i am only exploring this myself (SLIC 3.0 ) and “Windows Secure Boot” I can offer a possible suggestion as to the Basic problem. If you search Windows 8 SLIC 3.0 ( OEM installs) you can find a “Pile” of posts comments about this type of problem Example[/url] … Seems that MS is making it very difficult to change, or reinstall ( OEM Windows 8) OS’s even on, and with their own ” stuff”. Personally i would at this point never purchase any PC that have either Windows 8 OEM, or secure boot , or the “embedded BIOS Key” I have read about some “Cracks” or “work-around’s” to these type of problems … but more than that i can’t say .. Good luck :cheers: Regards Fred

Oh my goodness, sounds like you are really on to something here, Fred. Thanks! You mean my suspicions of being “locked” out had some merit after all? And the installation disc I just ordered is OEM. Do I interpret that I am archimedesed then when it comes to replacing my hard drive with an SSD even with a fresh installation?

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? And the installation disc I just ordered is OEM.

Gerard,

Hello… Can’t say ….as I’m just starting to try and sort this MS stuff out myself … Guess that yours is one of the first (of many ) to come about “Secure Boot” and SLIC etc. and Windows 8…(OEM installs) Sounds like what i would do as a next step in trying to figure this out…I’ll post back if i can “uncover” anymore “Info” for you:cheers: Regards Fred

PS: Please post back with any updates …I’m sure that there will be many that this will help

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Gerard,

Hello… Can’t say ….as I’m just starting to try and sort this MS stuff out myself … Guess that yours is one of the first (of many ) to come about “Secure Boot” and SLIC etc. and Windows 8…(OEM installs) Sounds like what i would do as a next step in trying to figure this out…I’ll post back if i can “uncover” anymore “Info” for you:cheers: Regards Fred

PS: Please post back with any updates …I’m sure that there will be many that this will help

Will do, Fred. Thanks!!!

Once again I wonder what kind of effect clearing the CMOS would have, or if that’s to risky a proposition. I know it involves either bumping jumpers or alternatively disconnecting the battery. I wonder if that would clear the embedded BIOS key, and give everything a fresh start again.

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Well part of what I was going to suggest is not use UEFI. You don’t have a HD that exceeds 2 TB, SSD is really fast instead of faux fast (Win 8 hybrid boot) and you probably don’t need more than 4 primary partitions and are willing to take your chances without secure *##^#&@#** boot.

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Well part of what I was going to suggest is not use UEFI. You don’t have a HD that exceeds 2 TB, SSD is really fast instead of faux fast (Win 8 hybrid boot) and you probably don’t need more than 4 primary partitions and are willing to take your chances without secure *##^#&@#** boot.

Most interesting, FD… sounds like I do indeed qualify. Only thing is at this present moment, the only thing I really know about UEFI is that it’s quite different from anything I’ve ever experienced. I need to learn what it actually is. It wasn’t until the other day when I learned there’s an MBR and a GPT! I’d like to know about how to bypass UEFI.

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I believe that if a formatted MBR disk is put in and an installation is begun you’ll get an error if UEFI is in effect; cannot install to that disk error that in Windows 7 one can just ignore and go on with the install, dunno if it’s the same in 8 or not. Is the CMOS battery fairly easily accessible? It’s never made the situation any worse in my experience and one out of ten times or so it helps a lot. Laptops can have a little flash chip for storing things like BIOS passwords and maybe embedded key now(?) so might not have the desired effect.

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One of the things I also did was select load optimal defaults in the BIOS, but did not know if that was tantamount to clearing CMOS. And of course that got me nowhere. Last I remember, I saw it rather clearly when I openned up the back, though I recall reading somewhere that some batteries are extremely difficult to remove. I don’t know if that’s true in this case… yet.

I’m assuming that if the product key is attached to the system, then any fresh installations are out of the question. So there goes that option. That leaves the cloning. And there I wonder about format considerations, and if there are any hidden FAT 32 partitions.

And now for the bitter icing on the cake… I thought, “Okay, if the OEM’s are attached to only one machine, then perhaps a retail version may/may not be a possible option. Little did I realize that MS no longer offers full retail versions (beginning with 8)! Sly dogs… seems like they have successfully advanced the cause of throwaway, non-upgradable drive computers. I hope time proves me wrong. I feel terribly teased when I hear the testimonies of those who have upgraded from hard drives to SSD’s.

I have learned something from this experience though. I’m going to build my desktop with W7 Pro 64.

If I sound loco right now, it’s because my brain is gridlocked. RAM full.

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I’m assuming that if the product key is attached to the system, then any fresh installations are out of the question. So there goes that option. That leaves the cloning. And there I wonder about format considerations, and if there are any hidden FAT 32 partitions.

Gerard,
Hello… With OEM Windows 8 OS’s most will come with UEFI, GPT formatting ..The GPT disk has a OEM Partition and a FAT32 partition preceding the OS partition ..usually followed by a sometimes hidden “Recovery Partition”

A new SSDHD will not be formatted … so unless you format it it will remain “Unallocated” and “un-useable” Some 3rd party programs will do this for you automatically ( Macrium Acronis ) If you don’t have a 3rd party software , then Windows disk Management is your option.. :cheers: Regards Fred

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Gerard,
Hello… With OEM Windows 8 OS’s most will come with UEFI, GPT formatting ..The GPT disk has a OEM Partition and a FAT32 partition preceding the OS partition ..usually followed by a sometimes hidden “Recovery Partition”

A new SSDHD will not be formatted … so unless you format it it will remain “Unallocated” and “un-useable” Some 3rd party programs will do this for you automatically ( Macrium Acronis ) If you don’t have a 3rd party software , then Windows disk Management is your option.. :cheers: Regards Fred

Hi Fred!… Thanks, that makes it a little more understandable for me. I thought I read somewhere about the FAT. It looks like producing a viable successful clone is the only option in light of that embedded key. And so it looks like I have to be able to access that hard drive or I pretty much have a rectangular frisbee. Sweet. I just find it difficult to swallow that the hard drive itself failed, as I see the drive lights come on and flicker and I feel the movement. I hope the state of affairs will be different when one gets returned to me. That BIOS mystery just seems so awfully strange.

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Update:

Woohoo! Woo Doggie – Yeah!!… I’ve just been informed that a replacement laptop is on its way to me. I look to receive it tomorrow. In light of what I have been through with the previous one, I have decided not to try to replace the hard drive with an SSD. And that’s okay by me for this laptop– I’m essentially going to be using it for internettin’, research, and mostly, just to get a grips with Windows 8.

I do plan to try to successfully clone the drive however. That said, I wonder what kind of effect that deleted recovery partition makes in the scheme of things. And one question I have is Does that effect Windows restore points and functionality? Thanks!

On a side note, I feel I can count one real blessing out of all the grievous discovery and experience through which I have been. I had considered of applying Windows 8 to my desk top, but now I am firmly resolved to reserve that one to 7. I don’t want no product key hopelessly embedded in my BIOS.

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