After installing Windows 8, boot hangs before BIOS setup

Posted by Joe Purvis on Super User See other posts from Super User or by Joe Purvis
Published on 2012-11-19T21:36:53Z Indexed on 2012/11/19 23:08 UTC
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windows-8

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bios

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upgrade

I have an Alienware M15x, 940MX processor, 16 GB RAM, 512GB M4 SSD, and I was running Win7 64bit. I backed up the disk and ran Win 8 setup. Setup appeared to go well through multiple reboots.

After the last reboot, it simply stopped after POST at "Press F2 for bios setup". I have tried powering off, reducing RAM to one stick, removing MOS battery. Now, it gets to the screen with "Press F2 for setup" and "Press F12 for boot options". If I press F2, I get a single beep only. If I press F12, nothing. I cannot get into the BIOS to change boot options to boot from another disk and restore.

I do have the latest BIOS. I am going to try replacing the CMOS battery, but I don't think that is likely to help. The computer has been fast and very reliable until now.

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