No Bios Access

I experimented with this Lenovo Edge E335 laptop to see if I could successfully convert it from MBR/BIOS to GPT/UEFI without data loss. Had to tweak a few BIOS/UEFI settings to get it to work but it was fine until I wanted to boot to a boot disk, which requires disabling secure boot. However after that it still wouldn't boot to a boot disk until I tweaked another UEFI startup setting from UEFI only to Legacy only. Bad move!! After that it would only boot to boot disks and either can't see or bypasses the hard disk. Worse, I could no longer access the UEFI/BIOS at all, the laptop not responding to the Enter key at boot which enables BIOS access and which I needed to get it working properly again.

In my efforts to correct this situation I did somehow suddenly get access to the BIOS and was able to reset the settings, at least as far as my by now rather confused memory recalled. That gave me the opportunity to reimage the entire system to how it used to be but with one exception! I still cannot access the BIOS at boot to change the boot order or to make any other changes. So even restoring a system image is no longer possible without access to another machine.

So the question is does anyone know of or can think up a way to regain access to the BIOS at boot? I have no idea how I managed to do it just the once.

 

Lenovo is usually hit ENTER - so start tapping that when you power on. Old days you could hold any key down, BIOS used to be set to halt for a stuck key. Pull the CMOS battery to reset it.

 

I've also pulled the battery and disconnected the CMOS battery for 15 mins but it didn't reset itself.

 

1. The PC screen displays the Lenovo logo.
2. Immediately press (Fn+) F2.

Did you hit the power button before reattaching the batteries? Really drain the system.

 

No go but nice try. Yes, I did drain all power. I'm doubting there is any simple solution to this, rather maybe I need to do something that really gets the BIOS' attention, like a drive that's wrongly configured. I have another laptop, I may try its drive.

 

For Lenovo machines, press F1 repeatedly as soon as you see any "sign of life" after power-on. This should take you straight into BIOS/UEFI.

Also, you might find this article useful:

How to convert MBR to GPT drive to switch BIOS to UEFI on Windows 10
https://www.windowscentral.com/how-convert-mbr-disk-gpt-move-bios-uefi-windows-10​

 

I've already tried all the F keys, both with and without the Fn key. It always goes straight into W10. I've already successfully used MBR2GPT but this problem only started when I wanted to boot to a boot disk in UEFI.

 

Okay, so much for the easy solution.... Take a look at this post and try answer #2. It's a nuisance, but it should force the BIOS to display the boot menu. From there, you can get into BIOS/UEFI.

 

Thanks for the link but as I said, I have done ALL the F keys to death without any effect at all on boot behaviour, it always just goes straight to Win 10. The standard boot options key on this machine is Enter, which is normally followed by various options, including F1 for BIOS. Nothing works, not even Enter. I have also tried re-updating the BIOS but as it was already on the latest version it won't allow it. I have an identical machine which is useful for checking what the settings should be but at present there isn't any way to change or even view any BIOS settings. Not looking good.

 

Did you actually read answer #2 in that post? I'm thinking "no". If you remove the boot drive from the computer, the BIOS/UEFI has to display the boot menu to ask you how to handle this problem. You can enter the BIOS/UEFI setup from the boot menu, check the settings, and make sure the keyboard prompt settings are enabled. Save the changes, reboot again to make sure you see the prompts, then shut down the computer and reinstall the drive.

 

Sorry, I should have said, but removing the boot drive was the very first thing I tried. It does not cause the boot menu to appear, it gives a rapidly repeating text display with no user input option at all. However I do think this is the way to go - see #5.

 

I think you're on to something. Try putting a blank drive in the laptop. BIOS/UEFI will see a drive, but there is no way to boot off it. Maybe that will invoke the boot menu.

 

Yeah, but it's getting late here. Tomorrow, life permitting. Thanks for the interest.

 

Have you tried the newer <shift> restart to get to the troubleshooting/ boot other devices menu?

 

It's the way to get to special Windows modes but there is no access to BIOS down that road.

 

Actually there is. It's behind another (or 2) settings. Troubleshoot>Change the way the computer starts..... or something similar. I'm on a '7 right now so can't look it up. But starting in'8 that's the way most had to get into bios to be able to change from secure to normal, so it has to be there.

 

I was hopeful I would be able to get in that way but not on this computer, either with Win 8.1 or Win 10. I have done it to death.

 

Didn't work - I'm out of ideas. I can live with this limitation, just don't like it.

 

It's there, as you say Imandy, but only if you are running in UEFI. I'm not, so don't have that option.

 

Sorry I'm late to the party, but have you tried the delete key?

 

I'm away from home at present but yes, I tried all the usual boot interrupt keys, inc Delete.

 

Pull the RAM and *should* error with the option to enter BIOS.

 

That I haven't tried. Will do when I'm back home.

 

I have a Lenova g70-70, 16gb ram, and I had problems getting into the bios, and it just booted straight into Windows- In uefi mode I could use the settings to allow me to boot eventually, but when W10 updated last, it makes it difficult again.I have W7, W8.1, AND W10 on this present hard drive, (and various virtual machines-being a tinkerer),and the last update made it so that it booted into the last system used,and to get it to boot to another, I had to go to msconfig, and tick a system as default to start next time.
I know that in Window 10 it can boot so fast that it can take several times to get into the bios (Without messing with mbr to gpt)
I usually get into bios, by holding down fn button, and fast tapping f2 as soon as I start up.

 

I've finally found a workaround for this and can now access BIOS and save any changes. Ask if you would like to know how. Thanks!

 

Naturally, unless you want to keep it to yourself

 

I'm always curious, so yeah, let us in on it......

 

I suspect this workaround may not work for everyone but has worked for me. By disconnecting the CMOS and laptop batteries but leaving just the mains connection on I get a boot error asking me to press F1 and that opens up the BIOS. After resetting date and time and making any other changes I can press Save and then the power button to shut it down. I can then reconnect the two batteries and boot normally and any BIOS settings changes are remembered.

After all this I still can't get in the proper way so when I need to get into BIOS again I have to open the laptop up and go through this palaver again. Thanks for your interest

 

So a variation on my pulling the RAM to cause an error?

 

It sure would be if I wasn't running EasyBCD, as I wouldn't be able to boot to anything but the hard disk. Restoring a disk image for example wouldn't be possible. As it is I don't often have any need to access BIOS and this whole episode only happened because I wanted to understand running under UEFI at first hand.

 

Exactly. I needed some way to force a boot error. Was reluctant to try your RAM suggestion because I have a bad hand tremor and didn't want to risk damaging it.

 

Thanks for the update Earthling - I would have thought removing cmos battery would make it not boot at all-I have rescued several Laptops with just removing its battery, and power cord, and restarting with just the power supply, (no screen output), pressing start button, but never thought of removing cmos to get into bios (Useful info) with something to note in my Tinkering -Mind you many laptops cmos batteries are soldered in.....
-Foogoo, the ram effort I have tried a few times,and sometimes found a faulty/dirty connection on the teeth causing similar problems, so all useful info.

 

Yep, curiosity had killed both the cat and my ability to boot to environments other than Win 10. But by accepting that if you can't beat them it's probably best to join them I finally have a good outcome here. I had spent far too long trying to find some way in MBR mode to boot to something other than my hard disk and switched my focus to seeing what could be achieved in UEFI mode. By turning off Secure Boot and looking at all the unfamiliar options available in UEFI it transpired I could set other devices to be available at the next boot, such as USB HDDs and USB optical drives. I very nearly fell of my chair when the boot menu on my flash drive appeared and I was able to boot to my life-saving imaging program Macrium Reflect, and all my other beloved life savers too! Once I'd got my head around what was going on I found I could do everything that EasyBCD used to do without needing any third party help at all. So I now have to decide whether I want to reconfigure the other machines here but heck! that can wait!

Ironically I wouldn't have been able to find the time to do this had it not been for the world nearly shutting down thanks to Covid-19! So at least a little good has come of it, but so I fear will a lot of pain. Take the utmost care all of you.

 

Another little reminder, Earthling- turn of secure boot to get into the options-I will keep that in mind.
As the guvnor (the missus) cannot drag me out so much, I am using my time for other remedies and tricks to save time, and problems , too
Keep safe