topic Re: Screen freezes when trying to access boot menu in Desktop PC / All-In-One

Screen freezes when trying to access boot menu

Planeman653 — Mon, 17 Apr 2023 07:55:28 GMT

I'm trying to upgrade my pc from windows 32 to 64 bit. I want to boot a usb so i can install it but when i try to access the boot menu to change the boot priority, the screen just freezes.

Any help is appreciated!

Specs:

Akoya E4360 D

processor	Intel® Core™ i3-530 Processor
motherboard	MS-7616 with 4 ddr3 supporting 16gb 1333/1066 mhz ram, pcie x16 & x1, 6 SATA II
memory	4GB
drives	1TB & DVD Writer
power supply	350w
ports	VGA, 6 rear and 2 front usb 2.0, 2 front audio(speaker and mic), DVI, HDMI, Keyboard And Mouse Ports, Ethernet
graphics	GeForce GT330

Re: Screen freezes when trying to access boot menu

daddle — Mon, 17 Apr 2023 18:05:31 GMT

@Planeman653

With your given information we can not really support you properly.

@Planeman653 schrieb:
I'm trying to upgrade my pc from windows 32 to 64 bit. I want to boot a usb so i can install it but when i try to access the boot menu to change the boot priority, the screen just freezes.

Thus you can enter Bios? What do you mean "when I try to access boot menu". Clicking in Bios on the Boot tab?

Did you try pressing the F7 key ( maybe F8) while starting the PC it shows you after post a list with the findings; is your HDD listed there?

Can you tell us if you want to upgrade Win 7 32 bit to Win 7 64 bit? And if yes did you try it per Upgrade, or a complete new installation?

The new Installation is the only way you can switch from a 32 bit to a 64 bit Version. And you would need a product key for the 64-bit version.

Or was the machine delivered with a 64 bit DVD version as well? Pleas ename the MSN numbe rof your PC

Or do you want to install Win 10 or Win 11? If yes you firrst should delete the MBR partition scheme on your harddrive. Win 10 will automtically in the progress of installation installs the necessary GPT Partititon scheme.

So you should save alll data from your D-Drive to a external drive. Tis applies for both; Win 7 --> Win 7 64 bit, or installing Win 10 /11.

To give you some more tips, you should at least replace the HDD with a 2.5" SSD. It's worthwhile because it speeds your PC up at least 4-5 times faster in its reactions, and also in boottime about 3 times faster.

Second you could upgrade your RAM to 8 GB (2x4 GB), because 64. bit versions support more than the 4 installed GB, only 3.2 - 3.4 GB from 4 GB is used with a 32 bit version. All Windows 64-bit versons definitely benefits from more RAM.

Cheers, daddle

Re: Screen freezes when trying to access boot menu

Planeman653 — Mon, 17 Apr 2023 20:44:40 GMT

Hi daddle,
No i am unable to enter bios/boot menu. The screen is just frozen at the Medion screen. I Pressed f8 as instructed by the screen(Press f8 to run boot menu.) I Want to upgrade from windows 10-32 bit to 64 bit and i have a product key available. I don't think that the pc cam with any dvd of any sort. The msn number is 001 3596. Finally, your bottom 2 solutions, i have already completed but just didn't tell you. My bad... I will install windows on the ssd once i can boot from the usb successfully.

Re: Screen freezes when trying to access boot menu

daddle — Tue, 18 Apr 2023 13:06:23 GMT

@Planeman653

Maybe you press the Esc or Del button too late?

With my PC the Medion Logo only shows after POST.

Try tapping rythmically the tab as soon as you pressed the Power button.

@Planeman653 schrieb:

I Want to upgrade from windows 10-32 bit to 64 bit and i have a product key available.
Finally, your bottom 2 solutions, i have already completed but just didn't tell you. My bad... I will install windows on the ssd once i can boot from the usb successfully.

Just for Information, you cannot upgrade from a 32-bit to a 64-bit version. You have to do a complete new installation with a 64-bit installation stick.

@Planeman653 schrieb:
Finally, your bottom 2 solutions, i have already completed but just didn't tell you. My bad... I will install windows on the ssd once i can boot from the usb successfully.

The two hints were to double the RAM SIZE , and to install a SSD instead of the HDD.

So you say you upgraded your RAM as well?

Did this "not being able to enter Boot menu" happens just after you upgraded the RAM? Did you do a RAM test?

And what happened with the original installation on the HDD? Did you clone it to the SSD? And after that, did the SSD boot ?

Try the installation with the two original ram modules installed only. Can you enter Bios then?

daddle

Re: Screen freezes when trying to access boot menu

Planeman653 — Tue, 18 Apr 2023 22:41:00 GMT

Hi daddle,

I was pressing the f8 key before the medion screen so i wasn't pressing the button late. For me the medion logo shows after the fans are spinning at top speed(the screen is blank for a bit). I have also tried rhythmically tapping the tab and f8 as soon as i hit the power button and the screen still froze. I am 100% aware that i need to do a clean re-install of windows to get 64 bit. This issue also happened with the original ram before any of the upgrades. The ssd is just there so i can install windows on it one i boot from my usb. Would you like me to clone the hdd to the ssd and boot from it?

Re: Screen freezes when trying to access boot menu

daddle — Thu, 20 Apr 2023 08:46:36 GMT

@Planeman653

@Planeman653 schrieb:
(.....)
I have also tried rhythmically tapping the tab and f8 as soon as i hit the power button and the screen still froze.

Did you try in the past to install a different operating system?

And do you manage to get into Bios by pressing the Esc or Del key. Sorry if you answered this question already.

@Planeman653 schrieb:
. Would you like me to clone the hdd to the ssd and boot from it?

No, but you can try. Thus you can login to Windows 7 as usual ?

@Planeman653 schrieb:
I don't think that the pc cam(e) with any dvd of any sort.

It came even with two DVDs, one for 32 bit Windows, one for 64-bit Windows.

Often those PCs used to have two recover images, and you could swap the C-Partitition to a 64-bit Windows version., or vice versa.

MSN DVD 32-bit Windows --> 20043020

MSN DVD 64-bit Windows --> 20043327

Do you still possess the original 1 TB HDD? Do you live in Australia? What happens if you take this HDD, disconnect the SSD, and try to reach the Boot menu with the F8 (or F7) key, or go to the boot page in Bios.

A USB Stick must be inserted before you switch the PC on, only than the POST can recognize it and it will be seen and initiated.

Could you provide the MSN number, then we know exactly which model you have and how it was equipped.

I would disconnect momentarily the boot disk, and try to boot from a special USB Stick (see below) as the only connected boot medium..Just for testings sake.

This Stick you can make with a Microsoft tool ----> MediaCreationTool

The stick must have 8 GB in size, you have to mark "For another PC" and "64-bit Version"

If you can boot from this special stick, switch your PC off again, reconnect your disk and try to boot from the USB stick. You can set it in first position on the boot page in Bios, I think it are the F5 and F6 tabs, to move the iteems. But it is explained at the bottom line in the bios page.

And you must choose the item USB harddisk (or some similar naming).

Cheers daddle

Re: Screen freezes when trying to access boot menu

Planeman653 — Thu, 20 Apr 2023 11:50:55 GMT

Hi daddle,

I have solved 1 of our 2 problems. I booted from the usb by disconnecting the hard drive and installing windows on my PC. Now our main priority will be actually getting into bios to change my ram settings. Thanks for your help and persistance so far!

Re: Screen freezes when trying to access boot menu

daddle — Fri, 21 Apr 2023 10:50:31 GMT

@Planeman653 schrieb:

Hi daddle,
I have solved 1 of our 2 problems. I booted from the usb by disconnecting the hard drive and installing windows on my PC.

@Planeman653

From which USB did you boot? As i suggested? Calling the Bootmenu with the F8 Tab?

How and on which drive did you install Windows? Disconnected the HDD, and left the SSD connected_

Look, if you aren't more elaborate and if you don't explain in more detail what you did, I can not help you any further.

daddle

Re: Screen freezes when trying to access boot menu

Planeman653 — Thu, 20 Apr 2023 12:29:58 GMT

Hi daddle,

The usb i booted from was the one created from the Microsoft media creation tool. I did it by unplugging the hard drive leading the boot priorities(which i can't access yet still there) to number 2 which was the usb. I then followed the on screen prompts to install it on the ssd, which was plugged in. After the installation, i unplugged the usb and then turned on the pc again. Now the pc had to boot from any remaining bootable things, which was the ssd and that is how i installed 64bit on my PC. Hope this info helps!

Re: Screen freezes when trying to access boot menu

daddle — Thu, 20 Apr 2023 15:42:29 GMT

@Planeman653

So in fact you still did booting from the HDD, this you didn't tell before. So something is wrong with the boot loader on it. Thats why I advised to disconnect the disks. Nice to see it did help.

Did you fiddle around with Linux before? Which killed the bootloader on the HDD?

You said you had followed my tips about doubling the RAM and installing a SSD already before, so I did assume you used the SSD already for booting, because it's much faster than a HDD.

@Planeman653 schrieb:
Hope this info helps!

It never was me who needed help! 😎

So now you can repartition and format the HDD to see after if it is intact to be used as a second drive for data storage.

If you still have to rescue data from the HDD, connect it first externally with an USB-Adapter.(or maybe it works also intern, now that you you have a booting device). Maybe you can copy some data, especially from the former D-Partition, most probably now E. And the old C-drive if it is seen wlll most probably appear as drive D.

If the SSD has one partititon C:\

daddle

Re: Screen freezes when trying to access boot menu

Planeman653 — Thu, 20 Apr 2023 22:47:13 GMT

Hi daddle,

I just finished changing the hdd to extra storage. I Followed these instructions to reformat it,

Back up any important data from your hard drive that you want to keep.
Boot your computer from your new SSD and make sure that you can access your hard drive.
Open the Disk Management tool by pressing the Windows key + X and selecting "Disk Management" from the menu that appears.
In Disk Management, find the hard drive that you want to wipe and reformat. Right-click on it and select "Delete Volume" to delete all of the partitions on the hard drive.
Once the volume has been deleted, you should see unallocated space on the hard drive. Right-click on it and select "New Simple Volume" to create a new partition on the hard drive.
Follow the wizard to create a new partition and format it using the NTFS file system.
After the formatting is complete, your hard drive should be ready to use as a storage drive.

Now that is complete, we should move on to entering bios. I really appreciate your expertise and guidance!

Re: Screen freezes when trying to access boot menu

daddle — Fri, 21 Apr 2023 17:18:59 GMT

@Planeman653

Well done, this is a standard procedure. So the HDD was not defect itself, it was just the logical structure.

By the way, except the two Windows DVDs wich wer supplied there came a third Support Disk --> S-DVD MD 8338 / 8341 MULTI w/P2go - with the PC. It was a Rescue DVD with Cyberlinks Recovery Software, Power2 Go and the drivers for your PC.

When you speak of entering the Biosmenü with the F8 Key, this isn't the tab to enter Bios. It's for a single boot menu page.

Page 63 in the german manual --> https://www.medion.com/de/service/topic/medion-products?msnCheck=MD%208338 Scroll down for the PC.

To enter Bios you have to press the Del tab and hold it pressed before switching on the PC until the message "Entering Setup" appears..

You did not answer where you are from? Australia may be? Or the Netherlands? And you didn't give the MSN number of your PC.

daddle

Re: Screen freezes when trying to access boot menu

Planeman653 — Fri, 21 Apr 2023 01:48:08 GMT

Hi Daddle,

Sorry for the lack of information. I am in Australia and purchased the PC from Aldi. The MSN for my PC is

1001 3596.

I also tried this fix, "To enter Bios you have to press the Del tab and hold it pressed before switching on the PC until the message "Entering Setup" appears.. " But that didn't work at it just booted into the os as usual like the key was never pressed at all. Looking forward to another fix!

Re: Screen freezes when trying to access boot menu

daddle — Fri, 21 Apr 2023 11:06:50 GMT

@Planeman653

@Planeman653 schrieb:
I also tried this fix, "To enter Bios you have to press the Del tab and hold it pressed before switching on the PC until the message "Entering Setup" appears.. " But that didn't work at it just booted into the os as usual like the key was never pressed at all. Looking forward to another fix!

Maybe you used the Del key in the number keypad on the right side which was switched on with the Num Tab to use numbers only.

If you are in Windows go to Settings / Update & Security / Recovery / Advanced Startup -> Restart now / Toubleshoot / Advanced Options / UEFI Firmware Settings -> Restart --> Then you are in UEFI Bios.

Cheers, daddle

Re: Screen freezes when trying to access boot menu

Planeman653 — Fri, 21 Apr 2023 12:46:13 GMT

Hi daddle,
No, i just confirmed that i was using the Delete key below the insert key and left of the end key. The UEFI Firmware settings option wasn't there when I went to troubleshoot.https://imgur.com/o98qfgz

Hopefully that helps!

Re: Screen freezes when trying to access boot menu

daddle — Fri, 21 Apr 2023 16:34:47 GMT

@Planeman653

You said you could with the F8 Key call for the Bootmenu, and you did choose the USB Stick.

Istn't there at the end an item Setup? This also would lead into Bios(UEFI). Maybe on the older machines with Win 7 it isn't yet implemented.

Following your screen picture I would say try to scroll down, the item Bios Firmware settings could be there- but your PC still runs undr a legacy bios.

What partition scheme was installed by the Win 10 Installation?

MBR or GPT. Check under Specs or characteristics of the C-Partititon.

It will be still a Legacy Bios, the PC was delivered with Win 7; the Rescue screen ((partition) was installed with Win 10 I guess. Maybe that's why the UEFI entry is not there.

Try to find help with a computer repair shop. They should show how to enter Bios on your PC. Nothing else. No installation or other repairs, would cost a lot of money. 😉

Why do you want to enter Bios? Therein is not much to be changed.

daddle

Re: Screen freezes when trying to access boot menu

Planeman653 — Sat, 22 Apr 2023 05:02:48 GMT

Hi daddle,

Sorry for the misunderstanding. I could never get into the boot menu so i had to unplug and replug drives to boot from different ones. Scrolling down didn't work, there was nothing there. The partition scheme was using MBR. I will enter a computer shop if I have the time. I want to enter bios because I need to load setup defaults in order to solve my ram issue. (I have the "ACPI bios error" & "0xc00000e9" error codes when i install 16GB of ram)

Re: Screen freezes when trying to access boot menu

Fishtown — Sat, 22 Apr 2023 07:10:10 GMT

Hello @Planeman653

a few thoughts on this,

1.check the keyboard if the "del" key works: http://www.tastaturtester.de/

or use another ps/2 keyboard

2.Under win10 you can also get into the bios differently. via the start menu, via the "Command Prompt" (cmd.exe). this as an administrator carry out. enter there:
shutdown /r /fw /t 0

enter
The computer should now restart directly into the bios

3.If you can't get into the bios setting, try deleting the cmos ram with the jumper JBAT1 and then try again.

4.you write 16GB ram. It should be noted that each slot only supports 4GB, for example if you install 2x 8GB it will not work

system memory:
The motherboard has 4 DIMM sockets, each supporting up to 4GB of memory. The BIOS automatically detects the size, type and speed of the modules.

The special Fictions for the memory modules to be used are:
240-pin DIMMs / 1333MHz / 1066MHz / DDR3 (unbuffered), 1.5V
Single or double sided DIMM. The main board can be equipped with two modules
Be pieced, whereby the memory size of the modules can vary.
Notice
Modules with different clock frequencies must not be operated in parallel
be practiced To ensure optimal performance, YOU assign the memory locations as follows:
DIMM_1 + DIMM_3, DIMM_2 + DIMM_4 or DIMM_1 + DIMM_2 + DIMM_3 + DIMM_4

bye Fishtown

Re: Screen freezes when trying to access boot menu

Planeman653 — Mon, 24 Apr 2023 08:11:57 GMT

Hi Fishtown.

I went through all your solutions and here's what happened.

Del key works
Command prompt told me, "Boot to firmware UI is not supported by this system's firmware.(1)"
I tried shorting the Jbat 1 pins but nothing changed. I know it worked though as i needed to unplug the Hard Drive to boot.
I checked and the replacements ram sticks are compatible with the motherboard and they have been put in the correct order.

Hopefully this information helps!

Re: Screen freezes when trying to access boot menu

daddle — Mon, 24 Apr 2023 11:45:41 GMT

@Planeman653

This was to be expected, because you don't have a UEFI Bios.. And RAM modules should have been correctly placed, because Windows and programs run without problems.

@Planeman653 schrieb:

I tried shorting the Jbat 1 pins but nothing changed. I know it worked though as i needed to unplug the Hard Drive to boot.

What do you mean by this? By unplugging the Hard Drive how do you check the function of shortening the Cmos pins?

daddle