Aspire TC-875 inaccessible boot device after updating BIOS from Windows Update

I updated the BIOS from a Windows 10 update option on my Acer Aspire TC-875. While updating the BIOS it loaded the default settings and now it won't boot. I can get to a cmd window through repair mode and see the partitions for the HDD and SDD. Using Advanced Options in recovery mode I was able to successfully remove the last quality and feature updates, so I'm confident there isn't a drive problem. The boot mode is UEFI. Is it possible the original setting was legacy? I'm not able to toggle the boot mode since it is not editable. From diskpart it shows the SSD drive (Disk 1) - which is the boot drive - with an asterisk for Gpt, so I'm assuming the boot mode must be UEFI. I have tried resetting the CMOS, both by removing the battery and by moving the pin connector. I haven't tried resetting the PC yet by reinstalling windows, hoping there are other steps to try first and I think it's a BIOS issue. I don't believe it's possible to downgrade a BIOS version. Thank you.

Accepted answers

Puraw

https://community.acer.com/en/discussion/comment/1322910#Comment_1322910

Yes, you can try "Reset this PC" without losing your files option, if that fails it means your Windows Recovery partition (bootloader) is damaged on the boot drive and then the only way out is reinstalling Windows with an installation boot drive or Windows Recovery disk made on another PC with the same Windows version.

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Puraw

https://community.acer.com/en/discussion/720034/aspire-tc-875-inaccessible-boot-device-after-updating-bios-from-windows-update

Hi, no you can't roll back UEFI or firmware, did you update your BIOS with version R01-A3? Did you perhaps have a power interruption during the system update? If you can get to Safe Mode with the Windows Recovery disk there is no BIOS corruption but probably a bad Windows bootloader. I recommend a clean install of Windows10 with an ISO image downloaded from UUPdump.net: https://www.winhelponline.com/blog/download-older-version-windows-iso/

teemick

Thanks for your response. Yes, the updated BIOS version is R01-A3. There were no power interruptions and the installation seemed to go well until the restart. I forgot to mention I did see a CMOS checksum/or battery error, which is why I removed and replaced the battery. Would it be ok to use the "Reset this PC" in the recovery options to reinstall Windows? This would be more convenient.

teemick

I should clarify that I'm not using a recovery disk. The troubleshooting options come up automatically when the boot fails. That is how I got a cmd window to look at the partitions and also undo the latest Windows updates. Another option is to reinstall Windows. I'm hoping I can choose this option since I don't have another computer to create an ISO.

Puraw

https://community.acer.com/en/discussion/comment/1322910#Comment_1322910

Yes, you can try "Reset this PC" without losing your files option, if that fails it means your Windows Recovery partition (bootloader) is damaged on the boot drive and then the only way out is reinstalling Windows with an installation boot drive or Windows Recovery disk made on another PC with the same Windows version.

teemick

Thank you for your help, sir.

teemick

Quick update: Resetting the PC worked. I will not update another BIOS unless it is to fix a serious error. Thanks for the help!

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