How to reset BIOS if your can't access windows ?

Dazy
Dazy Member Posts: 1 New User
edited August 2023 in 2018 Archives
I have Acer laptop and i tried to install new os but something went wrong, and now my BIOS won't recognize bootable usb.
How can i reset BIOS ?

Answers

  • JackE
    JackE ACE Posts: 44,868 Trailblazer
    What is your full ACER model number? If it had factory installed Win10, the bootable usb won't be recognized unless it is GPT partitioned FAT32, not MBR FAT32. Jack E/NJ

    Jack E/NJ

  • AJBAJA
    AJBAJA Member Posts: 15 Troubleshooter
    JackE said:
    What is your full ACER model number? If it had factory installed Win10, the bootable usb won't be recognized unless it is GPT partitioned FAT32, not MBR FAT32. Jack E/NJ
    Hi, sorta similar issue in my case.

    How would I go about if you hadn't saved a flash from previous Windows 7 home ?

    I'm stuck with a wiped HHD after a couple unsuccessful Linux partitions, when I save BIOS default settings it will not help..Im not trying to rescue data, just want to use the full size of HDD

    Me:Aspire Z3770 v.1.06
    BIOS: American Megatrend v. P03-A2
    BIOS memory is 4086 mb

  • JackE
    JackE ACE Posts: 44,868 Trailblazer
    AJBAJA  Your BIOS chip requires an MBR-partitioned FAT32-formatted Linux installation stick. What installation distros have you tried so far? Most installations default to run alongside Windows in dual boot mode unless manually changed. Did you also wipe the small hidden ACER Win7 recovery partition---only about 10GB? Jack E/NJ   

    Jack E/NJ

  • AJBAJA
    AJBAJA Member Posts: 15 Troubleshooter
    JackE said:
    AJBAJA  Your BIOS chip requires an MBR-partitioned FAT32-formatted Linux installation stick. What installation distros have you tried so far? Most installations default to run alongside Windows in dual boot mode unless manually changed. Did you also wipe the small hidden ACER Win7 recovery partition---only about 10GB? Jack E/NJ   
    I did CD Ubuntu 18.04, that was the first one, after test driving I didnt like it so I switched to LinuxLite 3.8 which I did like, so I decided it would be smart to ~wipe the rest of the hard drive, once done that I was left with only the bootable memory of Linux USB Live and couldnt get pass that, ran my previous Ubuntu Live and could not install, the dialog box showed me no space left.

    Did I wipe the small ACER Win7? Well, after doing a command prompt dir search using a Windows 7 iso, I only see the USB dir, I change to C: and nothing is there.
  • AJBAJA
    AJBAJA Member Posts: 15 Troubleshooter
    I formatted USB with these settings pre Linux iso
  • AJBAJA
    AJBAJA Member Posts: 15 Troubleshooter

    Currently, Im going to try a different Ubuntu Live iso and this time thru a USB
    ps. 1) LinuxLite 3.8  would be my preferred distro ultimately
    2) I did a BIOS/CMOS reset, and 1 TB HHD appered on bios, but after doing a LinuxLite USB iso I couldnt install Live because in the gparted window there was only the LinuxLite USB iso memory, which is the only partition thus the primary partition and could not make a new partiton
    that was a dev/sba partition (primary), the only one showing in that stage of Linux Live install.

    thank you so much for your kind assistance.

  • AJBAJA
    AJBAJA Member Posts: 15 Troubleshooter
    JackE said:
    AJBAJA  Your BIOS chip requires an MBR-partitioned FAT32-formatted Linux installation stick. What installation distros have you tried so far? Most installations default to run alongside Windows in dual boot mode unless manually changed. Did you also wipe the small hidden ACER Win7 recovery partition---only about 10GB? Jack E/NJ   
    After your comment I booted by Bios by default and saw it has no Legacy bios options, only EFI.
    Thanks for your comment, apparently this distro is works only for Legacy:
    which leaves my distro options to onle EFI builds....am I correct ?

  • JackE
    JackE ACE Posts: 44,868 Trailblazer
    @AJBAJA >>>How would I go about if you hadn't saved a flash from previous Windows 7 home ? >>>
    >>>After your comment I booted by Bios by default and saw it has no Legacy bios options, only EFI.>>>

    Ayeee!!! I thought you meant it was originally Win7 home from the factory!!!! You have a UEFI bootstrapper so it must've been changed to Legacy BIOS mode to install Win7 home! Please explain your earlier comments about Win7 home. Jack E/NJ 
     


    Jack E/NJ

  • AJBAJA
    AJBAJA Member Posts: 15 Troubleshooter
    Yes you are right, Windows7 was factory, I decided to use Linux to compare OS. After an Ubuntu Live CD, and dual partition, and install of it, I did not like Ubuntu as much so I looked into Linux Lite, and in USB boot it seemed great so I tried installing. Thats when I decided to install it, I had a hard time making sense of gpart partitions  ( it showed several Ubuntu partitions ) so I paused the install to~wipe my hdd and then move on fwd. Couldnt! After wiping all I only had the boot memory and if I tried to install, gpart showed my boot as primary (and only) partition, an Installer crashed messege came up and thats pretty much were Im at.
  • AJBAJA
    AJBAJA Member Posts: 15 Troubleshooter
    Afterwards, I did a bios cmos reset, and EFI appeared as primary bood device wothout being able to change it to Legacy...its been insane
  • JackE
    JackE ACE Posts: 44,868 Trailblazer
    >>>Windows7 was factory>>>

    What is your BIOS version number? Jack E/NJ

    Jack E/NJ

  • AJBAJA
    AJBAJA Member Posts: 15 Troubleshooter
    American Megatrend P03-A2
  • AJBAJA
    AJBAJA Member Posts: 15 Troubleshooter
    I was able to reset BIOS CMOS by physically disconnecting CMOS battery for a good 30 minutes, then restarting. ( After this was the 1Tb HHD was showing in the Boot Device available )
  • JackE
    JackE ACE Posts: 44,868 Trailblazer
    OK. Good for you!!! Please remember that you have a BIOS, not a UEFI bootstrapper. In order to install any Linux distro from a USB pendrive, the pendrive with the Linux distro must be MBR-partitioned FAT32-formatted to be seen by the BIOS and installed on the 1TB HDD. Jack E/NJ

    Jack E/NJ

  • Jwg59
    Jwg59 Member Posts: 1 New User
    ok please help me.  I also tried to install a version of lunux.. which has crashed.. my bios ver is v1.12  on  

    Aspire E5-575   NX.GE6AA.011

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  • JackE
    JackE ACE Posts: 44,868 Trailblazer
    @Jwg59 Were you trying to dual boot? Which Windows version? Jack E/NJ

    Jack E/NJ