Cant start Windows after shutting down in sleep mode

Cravez

Hi folks

I put this query into another forum but thought id try here just to get a broader range of answers if possible.

I recently got a new computer, long story short I shut down the comp via sleep mode and now it wont load back up into windows. The screen stays blank on my monitor (except for a flashing underscore) and nothing will bring it back to windows. Iv tried pressing Keys on the keyboard, turning it off and on again opening up the comp to make sure everything is fitted in correctly but nothing has worked. It wont allow me into system settings or allow me to boot a disc either. So I feel like I cant do anything at all to let it to load up normally again

Btw the OS is Windows 7 64 Bit Home Edition (SP 1 version I think)

What iv noticed the computer does
- When turning on the computer none of the start up routines on the computer start working (you know how usually sometimes a computer will show motherboard logo, system data etc?)
- The computer makes a single beep, it DID initially the first time when I tried powering on make one beep then 2-3 consequtive smaller beeps but I opened up the computer to check if the graphics, RAM etc were stable (which they seemed to be)
- The Screen goes completely black after the beep, leaving only a flashing white underscore on the top left of the screen

What iv tried doing
- Pressing Multiple Keyboard keys to see if it happens to make windows or the computer load up
- Turning the computer off/on again
- Putting in the Windows CD to see if it boots from the cd: Doesn't work
- Tried pressing F2, F8 or F12 to see if it runs System settings on startup as they are the usual System keys to press. Doesn't do anything
- Checking if computer components are secure and not loose (they seem to be secure)

What I can seem to do
- When the screen is black with the flashing underscore, I can press Alt+Ctl+Delete and it seems to put the computer into 'sleep' mode again. If I press any keys the computer powers back up but it only returns to the black screen with flashing underscore again

I'm really hoping this can be resolved soon, as I had plans with the computer as of tomorrow (Skyrim lol )

Fysh

If you hard-shutdown (ie press and hold the power key for up to 15 seconds) when you've got the flashing cursor on screen, does it then start up correctly?

If yes, the problem you're having is down to power management issues - Windows is dropping into sleep mode and not coming back out correctly. Check if your manufacturer has any BIOS/UEFI updates for the motherboard, check if your drivers are current, check for Windows updates. There are usually fixes for this sort of thing.

If no, it's a bit more complex.

It could be a hardware issue or it could be a Windows BCD (Boot Configuration Data) issue. Here's what I'd suggest:

1) Unplug all your hard drives, optical drives, card readers etc from the motherboard. You want to try powering on with just the CPU, 1 stick of RAM (if you've got more) and video card installed. Does it start up normally and complain that there's no bootable device? If yes, so far so good. If no, try each of your RAM modules and see if there's a difference. (Possible causes at this stage are a failed/failing motherboard and/or a faulty DIMM).

2) Reconnect your devices one at a time and repeat the process, leaving your OS hard drive until last. Again, we're trying to identify the invidual faulting component here.

3) If you can reconnect all your devices but can't get Windows to boot, try booting from a Live CD. It doesn't matter what it is, it just needs to be bootable. I'd suggest GParted (because you can use it for disk maintenance operations) or the XFCE Fedora spin (a decent and simple Linux bootable CD you can use to recover data from your hard drive if a reinstall turns out to be needed).

4) If you can boot from live CDs but not Windows, it's time to look at Windows recovery. Boot from your Windows installation disc if you've got it, and use the automated "Repair my computer" option. After rebooting, check if the issue is fixed. If it persists, use "repair my computer" to get to a command prompt, and run chkdsk to ensure your disk is ok. You can also use the Bootrec tool to fix your master boot record and check your bootloader configuration - see here for details.

5) If none of that works, connect an external hard drive and boot into your live CD of choice again. Copy as much of your data from your Windows drive (assuming you can see it) to your external drive as you can. Check if the hard drive manufacturer offers a free diagnostic tool (most of them do) and use it to check the drive. If the drive isn't failing, boot your Windows install media and start over. I'd recommend reformatting the old partition to be on the safe side.

Cravez

qThanks Fysh for the suggestions. I rang the Tech Support crowd from where I got the Computer, they said to unplug my Solid State Drive and check see if it works. If it does work then to try the computer for a few days and then plug it back in, it may need to be replaced if it doesn't.

They said if it still doesn't work after plugging out the SSD then to ring them again, but ill give your options a go next afterwards before contacting them again.

Edit: Saw this

Fysh wrote: »

If you hard-shutdown (ie press and hold the power key for up to 15 seconds) when you've got the flashing cursor on screen, does it then start up correctly?

Thing is, when I press the power key it shutdowns straight away so there's no point in holding it for more than a second (but I did hold it down for 20 seconds or so anyway just in case), when I repowered it on the same thing just keeps happening so it doesn't work

Cravez

Managed to get this sorted but thanks Fysh for the help

Fysh

Michael Cravez wrote: »

Managed to get this sorted but thanks Fysh for the help

Glad to hear it's back up and running - how did you fix it?

Cravez

Fysh wrote: »

Glad to hear it's back up and running - how did you fix it?

If I can remember correctly, I had to unplug the Solid State Drive which allowed me to enter the BIOS/RAID configuration etc, then I had to go into the RAID Configuration and remove the active RAID device (can't remember 100%). Then I rebooted the computer and I was prompted to Resume Windows or Clear Localised Data and Continue. Which I did the latter and then Windows booted up normally. I have to keep my SSD unplugged for a few days and then plug it back in and see if it's working ok (aka the problem doesn't appear again). If it does I have to get back in touch with the crowd I got my computer from and get a replacement SSD