Acer Aspire SW5-012 corrupt BCD; can not boot from USB

Switch 10 crashed and now gives me a blue screen file /bcd error 0x00..034

It tells me to press the windows key but there is no response

Pressing vol up power on I get a "limited" BIOS but no way I can boot from USB. I've tried some suggestions to access the "full" BIOS but none have worked

F12 doesnt show any option other than windows boot manager

I have tried connecting the USB to the micro USB port on the screen module, also the USB on the keyboard module.

I have tried with three different windows install USB and also a linux live usb all known to work

Reluctant to scrap it, can anyone help please?

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oldfogie

from this thread

https://community.acer.com/en/discussion/682166/aspire-sw5-12-bios-options-locked-i-cant-disable-the-secure-boot-or-change-anything

I've set a sup password but I cant see this option

2)under boot menu change bios mode from UEFI TO LEGACY

I have tried adding a EFI file but now that option is not available.

Bios Version is 1.20

Puraw

https://community.acer.com/en/discussion/comment/1205665#Comment_1205665

Don't touch BIOS as you are making things worse. The Bootloader (BCD) is missing on your boot drive so you have to rebuild it: https://www.lifewire.com/how-to-rebuild-the-bcd-in-windows-2624508

To get to the blue Troubleshoot screen you need a Windows10 USB recovery flash drive (borrow one if you didn't make this), test the USB recovery drive on another W10 PC if you can boot with it.

If you are unable to restore the bootloader, bring the laptop to Acer Services in your country to reinstall the OEM OS and everything else. If you have data on your HDD you can take the drive out and mount it in a external USB 2.0 or 3.0 case ($5) depending on the USB port of the 2nd PC. Copy the data to that PC and reformat the external HDD, put the empty drive back in your laptop for service.

oldfogie

Fine: but I CANT BOOT FROM USB to rebuild the bcd file!

how can I boot from USB if I " dont touch the BIOS"?

Puraw

https://community.acer.com/en/discussion/comment/1206071#Comment_1206071

If you cannot boot with the USB recovery drive, check the recovery drive on another Windows10 PC if you can boot with it.

If the USB drive tested bootable but is not detected in your BIOS after trying different USB ports and with the correct procedure posted on this forum (Insert USB drive, start BIOS with F 2 and move the USB drive to the top of Boot devices), bring the laptop to Acer Services in your country to reinstall the OEM OS and everything else.

billsey

You can boot from USB using the F12 boot menu. You do need to use the 32 bit version of Windows with your install flash drive. Go into the BIOS and verify the boot menu is enabled in the Main tab, then save and exit. Put the 32 bit installer in the USB and boot using the F12 menu to choose the flash drive as your boot source. Not that your system uses an eMMC drive that's soldered to the motherboard. eMMC drives have a shorter life that the more expensive SSDs, and your system is old enough the drive might have failed. If the drive is no longer functional than an OS reinstall won't get you back up and running, and likely it won't be cost effective to repair.