Cant get computer to boot from disk. Windows 7.?

Question

I'm just gonna include everything, no matter the relevance.

AMD Phenom II X4 965 black edition quad 3.4GHz 8MB, Am3
Gigabyte MA785GT-UD3H Motherboard with DVI & HMI
4GB ddr3-1333 2x2GB dual channel, G.skill
ATI Radeon HD 4890 1GB GDDR5
Western Digital WD1001FALS Black 1TB SATA-2 4.2ms, 32MB
LG 24x DVD Writer, with Lightscribe
Antec Sonata-III with 500Watt power supply

LG monitor, W2243T-PF 21.5" 5ms 30000:1 1920x1080

The computer came blank, no operating system. I have 2 bootable Windows 7 discs that I cant get to boot. I also have a copy on a bootable thumb drive, wont boot. I also can't seem to access the BIOS. The manual says the Delete key on startup should start the bios, but I just get a blank screen. I'm pretty sure that the screen is working because the no signal warning vanishes when it is plugged in. I've tried 2 different keyboards. Am I missing something? Is there no keyboard support on a blank drive like this? I've never installed an operating system onto a blank hard drive before, always over an existing operating system. Some step by step instructions would help. As far as I can tell just inserting the disk should prompt a "press any key to continue" message but no luck.

Answer 1

Is this a new computer? If you can't access your bios then you have other issues, the no signal comes from the monitor and will go out after a few seconds. It sounds like your video card is not working. I would take the vid card out and re-seat it and make sure to plug in the power to it. If that don't work take out your memory sticks and re-seat them. Are you getting power from your power supply? When you push the start button does the processor fan start up? Do the case fans run when you push the start button?



The bios should start as long as you have memory, Video card and monitor. No need for a hard drive or optical drive to access the bios.



Your problem is either:



1. Power supply

2. Memory

3. Video card



The bios screen will come up even if the keyboard don't work......and tell you no keyboard found...etc



Good luck

Answer 2

even with no windows installed there should be the usual white on black text. if there is nothing at all on the screen at startup, either its a video fault or the monitor is set to hdmi or dvi but you would normally get a no signal warning. if there is white text on startup, you need to get the bios up to set the boot drive options. if delete does not work, try F2 or just press every key until it comes on !

If nothing, then obviously the keyboard isn't recognised so try either a ps2 or usb type instead. I had a usb keyboard and no way would the comp see it on first boot. I borrowed a ps2 one. when bios is up, look for boot options either at the top or inside advanced settings.

in boot priority, it needs changing to 1.cd 2.hard drive. If there is no text but you can hear the comp running, take the side off the comp and look if the motherboard light is green and the motherboard power cable is plugged in. also make sure that on the hd4890 that has 2 dvi outputs, that the adapter or monitor plug is plugged into the socket on the left side looking at the back of the comp and the power lead is plugged into the video card..ive forgotten to do that loads of times..

if there is startup text, but cant use bios, there are boot managers that can be downloaded and put on a disk that will probably work and allow you to boot from the windows dvd.

Answer 3

Looks like you spent some coin on your setup, will be nice once it's all fired up. I just loaded Windows 7 onto a blank drive, no problems. This is a guess, but you MUST access the BIOS and make sure that your CD/DVD drive is enabled for boot up. I've never booted from USB, so I don't know about that.



Thoughts/Comments/Answers to your other questions:

-Make sure your motherboard/CMOS battery is good/installed. one of those big watch battery looking things, usually CR2032 type.

-If there is a real BIOS problem, you may need to look up flashing the BIOS, but that is a little more advanced. Last resort.

-Delete on startup is common for BIOS entry, make sure you're doing it at the "right" time. When I power up, I can;t enter BIOS until I see the screen that actually has the words "Press DEL" for BIOS, etc. and that screen is only up for about 5 sec, then it's gone.

-Keyboard support has nothing to do with the blank hard drive. You should have keyboard support. It may be possible that if you use a USB keyboard, it may not be enabled via BIOS. Is there a jack for a PS/2 keyboard plug? May try to use that instead.



After that, clean install of 7 on blank drive piece of cake. You have to click on some things, but no big deal. You may consider partitioning and formatting your drive on another computer before you load 7, just a thought.



good luck

Answer 4

Here's all the steps: 1. Switch ur computer on 2. Put the Windows 7 disc in your computer 3. Restart your computer 4. In after your computer restarts itself you must press F2 or delete in order to enter the bios. Press the restart button on your computer and tap F2 or delete until this blue screen pops up. 5. This is the tricky part, because every BIOS looks different. Use the keyboard and enter all the options and see if you can find boot priority or something like that. Your hard drive should be the first boot device. 6. Set your DVD-ROM to the number one boot device. You might need to disable your hard drive. 7. Press F10 to save the changes and your computer will restart by itself. 8. Your computer will boot from the disc automatically. It might say something like: "Press any key to boot from disc". And there you go.

Answer 5

Yay, a Gigabyte board.

When you start up the computer, hit F12 a few times. You should get a screen asking what to boot from. Choose CD-ROM and wait...When prompted, press any key to boot from the DVD.

(Nice computer, by the way....I'm jealous of your graphics card.)

Answer 6

to access the bios you have to hold the delete key before you switch on have you got any manuals/ disks with the basic mother board info on you, where did you get it from where was it advertised/last of all you sound as you hav a duff computer send it back and get a refund