Dummy needs help with non compliant computer (will do what it wants on startup)

a reply to: Skada
Are hidden files like a bit lighter in color than the other entries in the Explorer window? Then I can see those already.

I fear if I try to put a new windows on it, that I first need a CD for it, I break everything.

Not sure if I am allowed to link products but would

4x Renkforce RF-2124108 SATA-Festplatten-Gehäuse 3.5 Zoll USB 3.0

be the right thing to buy? I could cut out a little wooden board on the table saw and mount four of those on it. Complete with a AC-socket for the power supplies and a 4x USB coupler. This way I could store it somewhere and it's all in place. The computer is too bitchy for me, it constantly makes problems for me. I would even be confident enough to gut the cases and use them without the big metal casing. Look at the oversize of this thing.

We do not like each other, it seems (the computer and I)

a reply to: ThatDamnDuckAgain
Do I need to do something with the solid drives before I can put them in these USB coupling cases? Like change a setting or something. Is this just plug in or do I need to mess around with them?

Sorry for the double post.

a reply to: ThatDamnDuckAgain

Okay, worry not about the hidden files. That product you linked looks like a Hard drive Enclosure, not sure if that may help. (Edit 2: Sorry, these may help if you are just needing the data off of them, the poster below is correct.)

Since you have win10, you can plug in a win10 install [USB or CD] and it should read the OS License Key already there, and activate. (Edit to clarify; You already have a valid key on the PC in question, so, it should auto - activate after repair, or re-install.)

I am attempting to get the proper link for you, it may automatically go to a German page based on your location.

Win10 install page - MS

Go to the section [Create Windows 10 installation media]; make sure you have an 8GB+ usb, and you will have your bootable install media that can also repair the PC.

a reply to: ThatDamnDuckAgain

If the drives were already just storage then there's no need to change any settings. Once in their cases they should behave just like any dedicated plug & play storage you can buy.

Even if any had an OS on them, you'll just see the data folders.

a reply to: Encia22
I will badger through this

a reply to: Skada

Go to the section [Create Windows 10 installation media]; make sure you have an 8GB+ usb, and you will have your bootable install media that can also repair the PC.

Thank you, I downloaded it and will put it on the computer with a stick that is big enough and hope they made it so easy I can take it.

Yes the product I copied into my message is a USB to SATA case. I imagine gutting them out and just use the electronics and put it all on a board. That I can do, I can solder wires and build mechanic things but what the magic pixies do inside a computer, picture me clueless. This is for sure the easiest way of resistance to get what I want.

But I will give your idea a shot but look for things I need to get off the windows solid drive, just in case.

a reply to: Encia22

Just to add, if there's enough space on the drives I would consolidate the data on as few drives as possible and format the empty ones. If I know the data destined for the new drive are small files (text, doc, etc.) then I'll choose a smaller cluster size... it helps save space... but that's just me.

In any case, starting with newly formatted drives will help avoid bad disc sectors and provide faster access speed.

a reply to: Encia22
Great! If Skada's solution does not work for me, I will abandon the computer itself and try it with the USB cases.

a reply to: Encia22

It's mostly PDF, documents, pictures, downloaded websites, library software, encyclopedias and has personal value to me. It's 4 x 2TB, all the same model. So if one drive works in that case, all the others will too.

I would just use them as they are and keep the windows drive. Just in case there is something important on it, that I might need.

a reply to: ThatDamnDuckAgain

It sounds like your boot sector could be corrupted. It may be to a failing drive, or it could just be a Windows 10 update. There have been problems with them on some systems.

My suggestion is to try something like Boot Repair Disk. All you need is a usb thumb drive. There's instructions on how to use it. It's actually quite easy to use. The system will find and bootable systems, repair the boot sector, and should get you booting properly. I'm assuming you have a 64bit system and will need to download that version.

If by chance that doesn't help. You can use a bootable system and copy files you want to save over to a usb drive. There are many linux bootable systems that run right off a usb thumb drive.

Well , looks as if I am late again
Google "Windows 10 not booting BCD"
Make note of everything.

a reply to: Gothmog

Thank you too for coming here.

I read through it, I don't think it will solve my problem because windows 10 boots fine. It's the UEFI I learned that does something wrong. It has to be setting related because it worked before, I guess.

Im still not entirely sure how the system and storage is setup..

Is it possible to remove the drives with the important data? Then we can get down to business with the boot drive. Is the primary goal accessing the data, or specifically getting this build up and running?

Either way, getting it down to its basic parts is nearly always a good step when dealing with some of the more vague issues that can crop up; single stick of memory, boot drive, limited peripherals, etc.

Usually, there are a few methods to access the firmware at boot, but I believe ASRock is F2 or Del. You can essentially just mash one of them repeatedly while its turning on until it goes into the interface. Makes it so you dont have to catch the right moment, though you may get some angry beeps depending on your setup

Like others, my guess would be something went wonky in the efi/boot sector.

The easiest solution to this is to reinstall the OS. However, if there is data on the boot drive that is important, that will need to be copied elsewhere first. It will also mean setting up dual boot again, if that is desired. This may include funky stuff for strange interfaces, depending on what it was used for before.

Essentially, my SOP for bringing a system like this "back into the fold" is to start from a fresh OS install and go from there. Thats regardless of whether its working properly.

Before we get there, we need to make sure there is nothing on the OS drive that we need. Once its been backed up, we can go ahead and install the OS again and if we go for the full format & install, it will also give us a fresh start on the boot sector as well.

Its kind of the nuclear option, however, in circumstances like this where its not our main system and its been sitting around for a while.. it tends to be my go-to.

a reply to: Serdgiam

Hey Serdgiam,

That's right, it's del key and when I exit UEFI it starts up windows.

I have removed all drives except the windows one. It's huge still and I search for documents to rescue but it looks like it's just the windows things there.

If there are hidden folders, can there be hidden drives too? Because the number of missing drives in the explorer in windows is greater than the physical drives I have.

Nice to read from you

originally posted by: ThatDamnDuckAgain
a reply to: Gothmog

Thank you too for coming here.

I read through it, I don't think it will solve my problem because windows 10 boots fine. It's the UEFI I learned that does something wrong. It has to be setting related because it worked before, I guess.

The issue MAY not be with UEFI.
You can always check the boot order.
There is a setting (different on different computers) to boot UEFI or legacy.
Legacy = old fashioned way.
UEFI = boot from a file created and stored in the UEFI itself.

Yet I still recommend setting the windows boot file from BCDedit .
Also , if Windows 10 is booting , check the part of "Advanced Settings" and see how many OS'es are listed there

Sounds like the PC is going through a list , then finally booting.

a reply to: ThatDamnDuckAgain

Ah, I see. That changes things.

You can set your preferences in Windows to Show Hidden Files.. But hidden files arent always Hidden Files as the system sees them.

There are always nooks and crannies.. and if you arent the one that hid them, they can really only be found by looking through things piece by piece.

On a whim here: try searching for readme files in odd places, or ones with your name on it. Maybe a word or phrase that is.. relevant to you. Depending on the storage habits of the person who had it before, important stuff is likely to be backed up elsewhere though. That said, even those of us that know a thing or two can get lazy lol

We dont need to worry about the drives that have been taken out, but they might come in handy for a selective copy/paste from the boot drive.

I spent a bit looking through the manual for that motherboard, but what Id like you to look for in the firmware (mash Del on boot) is something that allows you to either select or disable/enable Secure Boot (UEFI) or Legacy Boot. I wasnt able to find anything on it in the manual, but its probably in there somewhere. We will also be wanting to look for settings like a "Fast Boot" to mess around with.

Many times, these boot orders can be distinct. So, even if one is correctly set for a UEFI boot, the other might not be for a Legacy Boot order. Since you can still get it to actually boot windows (correct?), and want to preserve the data, the nuclear option may not be ideal anyway. Im just quick to jump to it 😌

Between all of us, we will get it worked out.

I truly hope you are doing very well

a reply to: Gothmog
Okay I think I found the list you are talking about. What a journey! Why is this so hidden away? There is only one entry and it says

Windows 10 (C:Windows) Aktuelles Betriebssystem ("current working system"?)
There are a few boxes, the only one checked says

"Kein GUI-start" ("no GUI-start")

If I click on "advanced settings", nothing is selected there. The processor count is not checked and it says "1" in that list. But it is grayed out.

a reply to: Serdgiam

About the hidden files
I found that the folder "Benutzer" ("user") has a few things in there, I will copy that to be sure.


About the manual
I looked through it, too, I typed in the name I get into google and added user manual. I did not find anything there about legacy or my problem. I already read it from start to beginning to search for a "automatic go to setup option" but there is none.

But!!!
I found under "advanced" - "storage options" that there was selected "IDE". There was SATA in that list, I googled IDE with my phone and they do not look like the SATA cables. They are more fatter and gray or black. So I selected the correct cable type as "SATA". there is another cable to select called "RAID".

I have two sorts of cables, red and black. One red one also goes to the DVD burner. Both types say SATA. I selected SATA in that list. Then I saved and restarted the computer. I went back to see if there is now any legacy option. There is none but now I can select a boot priority option. Before I could not go there, the marked line would jump over this entry.

The entry was complete empty, I went into the first one and selected "P2 SATA". Then I saved, windows 10 started like the whole time. I now copy the user folder -just in case I broke everything- and try now to start up without hitting DEL.

That was it!

For everyone here or from google coming having the same problem with a Asrock 970 and Windows only booting after exiting setup:

Start computer, hit del.
Go to advanced settings
Go to storage settings
Check if you have the correct cable selected. In my case I have SATA cables and IDE was selected.
If you have SATA, select SATA.

Then go back to the main menu.
Go to boot options
"boot priorities"-entry is now unlocked!
Go to boot priorities
See if there is anything selected, if not, select the correct solid drive.

In my case it was the only one connected "P2 SATA".
You should be good!!



A big thank you goes out to everyone typing solutions, very awesome you all jumped in and helped me out!




I did not count the beers or helper, everyone just take one if they like!
YES!!!