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Acer Laptop / Boot Loop Issue

JTav13

Hello all,

Thank you in advance for any help and time given. I spent a few hours trying to resolve this problem before asking
for any help but have been unsuccessful. Any help on this matter is greatly appreciated. Jay

A few days ago, my daughters Acer Laptop stopped booting up properly. It now goes into a loop between first screen:

Default boot device missing or boot failed.
Insert recovery media and hit any key
Then select 'Boot Manager' to choose a new boot device or to boot recovery media

I hit [ok] and then it takes me to

Boot Manager / Boot Options Menu. One option given for the installed HDD.

Choose HDD option and it takes me back to above Default boot device missing or boot failed.

This is a continuous loop that I cannot get out of. Only exception that I have found is that I can get into the BIOS [F2]
and can modify the boot priority order to allow for a USB drive if needed however the few things I have added to my USB drive have not helped or even been executed by the laptop.

a few reference notes:
Laptop = Aspire A315-41 / Part Number: NX.GY9AA.005 / Windows 10 / 64 bit / BIOS v1.06 /
CPU AMD Ryzen 3 2200U with Radeon Vega Mobile GFX

-Power while tapping [F2] = BIOS (Primary HDD is reported) (Cannot change to Legacy option)
-Power while tapping [F12] = Boot Menu (which is in a loop with 'Default Boot Device Missing or Boot Failed'
-Power while tapping [F10] = goes directly to 'Default Boot Device Missing or Boot Failed'
-Power while holding [ALT] + tapping [F10] = goes directly to 'Default Boot Device Missing or Boot Failed'
Acer logo pops on screen for less than a second. (Also kept fingers pressed on Alt+F10)
-Power while holding [SHIFT] + tapping [F8] = goes directly to 'Default Boot Device Missing or Boot Failed'
-Repeatedly turn laptop on/off 3x times at logo screen. Tried but logo screen only on for split second before going to
= 'Default Boot Device Missing or Boot Failed'
-Unable to change bios settings from uefi to legacy. Uefi is only option in bios.
-Cannot get laptop to boot into repair mode
-Cannot get laptop to boot into repair
-The HDD is reported in the BIOS setup.
-Do not have any recovery discs or recovery USB drives. The laptop did not come with either of these products and
I failed to make any prior to this issue.
-The Acer logo pops on the screen for a split second before the error screen appears. Not enough time to press
and important buttons while it is on the screen.

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JackE

Don 't try to change anything in the BIOS menu. It must be in UEFI mode. If possible, please post phone images of the BIOS Information and Main tabs. I'm mainly interested in seeint if the HDD is recognized in the Information tab. And if the F12 and D2D options are turned on in the Main tab. Jack E/NJ

JTav13

Image: https://us.v-cdn.net/6029997/uploads/editor/6e/0i7ji6yr85uh.jpg

Image: https://us.v-cdn.net/6029997/uploads/editor/q5/c650f1zknpo5.jpg

pics

JackE

No. Sorry that not what I meant. You have to get back into the BIOS menu with the F2 key on turning the machine on. Just don't change anything inside the BIOS menu right now. All I'd like to see is photos of BIOS Information and Main tabs in the BIOS menu. Jack E/NJ

JTav13

pics

Image: https://us.v-cdn.net/6029997/uploads/editor/2x/jbg6vz19gvh1.jpg

Image: https://us.v-cdn.net/6029997/uploads/editor/gp/26ym77syub5t.jpg

Edited the content to hide sensitive information
Acer-Samuel

JTav13

pics

JTav13

Thank you for the response. Sorry, thought I posted pictures on original message but noticed now that the pics did not post.
The F-12 menu, D2D Recovery are both checked and the HDD can be seen in the BIOS.
Thank you, Jay

JackE

So far the hardware looks good. Try this. Shut the machine completely off by pressing and holding the power button for about 5 seconds.

Then press and hold ALT+F10. While still holding the keys, press the power button to turn the machine back on. If the hidden recovery partition hasn't been corrupted, a recovery screen should appear as shown in the video below to either refresh the machine to factory conditions while saving personal files/apps/programs or a full remove everything factory fresh reset. The latter option being a better indicator of a hardware problem. I'd probably try the refresh first to see if it'll resolve the booting issue. Jack E/NJ

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cpzLJRAZldA

JTav13

Thank you for the follow up. I just the ALT+F10 startup again and it is taking me straight to:

Default boot device missing or boot failed.
Insert recovery media and hit any key
Then select 'Boot Manager' to choose a new boot device or to boot recovery media [ok]

The Acer logo briefly pops up for split second before.

Any other suggestions appreciated and thank you again for your time. Jay

JackE

Go to this link. Click on Win10 to make a Win10 installation recovery USB using Microsoft's media creation tool http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/software-recovery. Try the ALT+F10 again. Then insert the USB recovery media when it asks you to insert it. Hit any key. Then boot from the USB stick. From there we can try to repair the HDD using the troubleshooting advanced section. Jack E/NJ

JTav13

Hi Jack, I downloaded the needed info and made a Win 10 install recovery USB. I started the laptop via ALT+F10 and then
when I arrived at the below screen:

Default boot device missing or boot failed.
Insert recovery media and hit any key
Then select 'Boot Manager' to choose a new boot device or to boot recovery media [ok]

I inserted the recovery USB in the blue USB 3.0 port and hit return. It then took me to the below screen again:

Boot Manager / Boot Options Menu. One option given for the installed HDD.

I then tried it in another USB port (2.0) and had same result. Please also note that I did not change the boot sequence in the BIOS to put the USB above the HDD.

Thank you,
Jay

JackE

Try this. Shut the machine completely off. Insert the USB recovery stick. Then press and hold the F12 key. Then turn the machine on. The F12 boot menu should reappear with the USB listed. Try to boot from the USB stick. Jack E/NJ

JTav13

Hi Jack,

I tried this and it did take me straight to the boot menu (#1 was HDD and #2 was USB). I choose USB and then it went directly to:

Default boot device missing or boot failed.
Insert recovery media and hit any key
Then select 'Boot Manager' to choose a new boot device or to boot recovery media [ok]

I tried it a few times to be safe. Thank you

JackE

OK. Get back into the BIOS menu with F2 on startup.

(1) Then set a supervisor password in the Security tab.

(2) Then save & exit the BIOS menu. Then shut the machine off.

(3) Then re-enter the BIOS menu with F2 on startup using the supervisor password.

(4) Then disable secure boot. And for good measure try to rearrange the boot order with the USB stick first in the Boot tab.

(5) Then save and exit the BIOS menu again. Then shut the machine off.

(6) Then press & hold the F12 key and turn the machine back on.

(7) Then select the USB stick again to boot.

Jack E/NJ

JTav13

Hi Jack,

I followed everything from above, step by step. Unfortunately after selecting the USB drive (#7 above) with the windows recovery, it went directly to
the following option again:

Default boot device missing or boot failed.
Insert recovery media and hit any key
Then select 'Boot Manager' to choose a new boot device or to boot recovery media [ok]

I am adding a picture also of the contents of the windows 10 recovery USB, if this helps with anything. Thanks again for all of your help. Jimmy

JackE

If the Boot tab in the BIOS still shows secure boot is disabled and the USB stick first in the boot order, then the BIOS is having trouble reading the stick. Which USB port are you using and is it a USB2 or USB3 stick? Jack E/NJ

JTav13

Hi Jack,

I am using a 16GB Sandisk USB drive which I believe is 2.0 though not 100%. It was purchased about 5-6 years ago. I tried it in the laptops USB 3.0 port (blue) and the USB 2.0 port and neither was responsive.

I didnt think I had any other 8GB+ USB drives but found one (same model/brand as one I already tried) though this one is 8GB vs 16GB. I am going to give it a shot when I have a chance in a few hours after work. Thank you, Jay

JTav13

Hi Jack,

I tried a second USB drive with the windows 10 recovery. It took me back to:

Default boot device missing or boot failed.
Insert recovery media and hit any key
Then select 'Boot Manager' to choose a new boot device or to boot recovery media [ok]

and has me in the same loop. On a possible positive note, when I first tried to boot up with new thumb drive,
The Acer logo popped up and stayed on the screen for the longest I have seen yet at about 3-4 seconds. On the second attempt, it went back to Acer logo only being visible for less than a second.

Thank you

JackE

Please show a photo of the BIOS Boot tab with the stick inserted if possible. Jack E/NJ

JTav13

Image: https://us.v-cdn.net/6029997/uploads/editor/7c/kllncnyh60ao.jpg

I think I may have mentioned earlier that my USB drive was Sandisk. Was wrong, it's Kingston if that matters. Thanks

JackE

Disconnect your HDD. Try to boot from the USB again. Jack E/NJ

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