[PH315-54] BIOS settings reset automatically

BIOS Version: V1.12

OS: Dual-Boot - Pop OS 22.04 | Windows 11 build 22000.856

For a few months, I have had a weird laptop issue. After a few boots, my BIOS settings automatically get reset. I'll describe what exactly happens. When I press the power button to switch my laptop on, sometimes, instead of booting directly, my keyboard lights start blinking, and it automatically restarts 2-3 times. After that, when it starts, the BIOS settings revert to default. When I press F12 to check boot options, the Linux entry vanishes and only detects Windows 11. So, I need to manually add the boot entry for Pop OS whenever this reset occurs. This issue has become very frustrating as I had to repair the bootloader multiple times till now. I also set a password for accessing BIOS settings, which persists after each reset, so I don't think it's a CMOS battery issue. My machine is pretty new, so that's also a rationale behind this hypothesis.

The settings that get changed are:

"POST sound" unmutes.
"Secure Boot" turns on.
"Password on Boot" turns off.
"F12 for Boot Options" turns off.
"System Date and Time" reset.

These are the default settings, so that's why I concluded that it is a BIOS reset.

Accepted answers

All comments

JackE

Try keeping secure boot enabled.

r0gue_shinobi

https://community.acer.com/en/discussion/comment/1140791#Comment_1140791

I can't. Pop OS doesn't support secure boot.

JackE

I think that's only for the Pop installation or running a live Pop USB session. Once it's on the internal boot drive, it should start with secure boot enabled.

r0gue_shinobi

Actually I have already tried turning on the secure boot after installation. It shows "Secure Boot Failed" and doesn't boot up.

JackE

Does Windows still boot with secure boot turned on?

DanReed66

I am having a very similar problem on my daughter's laptop. Windows 11 (only OS), latest BIOS, secure boot on. She went to her first class on her first day of college and tried to boot the laptop. It kept cycling, only making it as far as flashing the keyboard before trying again. It did this for a solid minute before getting past this. It played the bootup swoosh, which she had previously turned off. Then windows wouldn't let her log in for 2 hours because it had tried to boot too many times. I'm about to return this one and try a different laptop manufacturer. She is going to school in engineering and needs a reliable laptop. We have since discovered that the cycle doesn't happen as often if the boot sound is off, but it still happens.

Commodore_1995#

https://community.acer.com/en/discussion/comment/1141644#Comment_1141644

Does the problem go away when you disable Post Animation & Sound in bios?

DanReed66

https://community.acer.com/en/discussion/comment/1141654#Comment_1141654

The problem occurs a lot less frequently when the post animation and sound are off, but it seems like something happens and they get turned on again, I'm thinking some kind of BIOS reset. I've noticed that after we get through the boot loop, which can take a minute or two, the animation and sound are always on again.