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Can't Get INto BIOS ATI 2018

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Since installing ATI 2018 I can't get into my BIOS.  I disabled Startup Recovery Manager but that didn't do it either.  I just cannot access Boot Menu or BIOS, period. I intend to transfer my C drive to a new SSD.  But if I can't boot from DVD I don't think I'll be able to.  When I ran Startup Recovery ATI didn't recognize any of my USB drives, which is where I've been storing my backups.  Help!

 

Art

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Installing ATI should not impact on your ability to access you systems BIOS/UEIF. However if you installed Acronis Startup Recovery Manager it uses the F11 key for activation - the BIOS/UEFI may use that key to select alternative boot device. Try disabling Acronis Startup Recovery Manager and use USB/DVD recovery media. It may then work correctly!

However, as you are trying to use the recovery DVD this seems unlikely. It is possible that merely disabling Startup Recovery Manager may be insufficient. Save your settings, uninstall ATI 2018, do a shutdown-restart. The shut down the PC. Power it up again and hopefully things will work OK.

Also, check you settings for what "shut down" does, it may in fact be hibernating rather than shutting down (see here on how to adjust this behaviour). You should probably do this before doing an uninstall!

Ian

Thanks.  I'm hoping to get more feedback as I proceed, but I will do an uninstall of ATI and see if that gets my BIOS back. .

As I was qualified for a free upgrade to ATI 2019 I DLd that and then uninstalled 2018.  And, lo, I have access to my BIOS and boot order.  So before I install 2019 I have set the boot order to DVD first.  And I will be careful about Startup Recovery Manager.  I get my first SSD today and I'm looking forward to using it.  Wish me luck with the new install.

 

 

Arthur, please ensure that you make a full backup of your current OS drive before taking any actions to upgrade to the new SSD.  This is especially important if you are intending on using clone to transfer your OS to the new drive.  Also test that you can boot from your ATI Rescue Media DVD and see your drives.

You should always create a backup before moving to a new drive, particularly if you are going to do a clone. Abundant caution has never backfired on me.

Ian

PS As usual Steve Smith's advice is spot on. 

I've installed ATI 2019, and, behold, I can't get into BIOS yet again.  Between installs I set boot sequence to start with the CD/DVD.  I tested it out and got to the command window.  HIt enter once, it says  "Acronis Recovery etc etc".  I didn't want to proceed any further lest I load anything prematurely but (and I've done this before, just don't remember) I assume I hit enter and keep hitting enter in the command window until the recovery manager comes up.  Yes?

My mobo is old, probably 2011.  I"m using a Gigabyte P55 USB3, with an i5 cpu, 24 gigs DDR3 RAM, Win 7 Home Pro 64

Arthur, there should be nothing in ATI 2019 or other versions that will prevent you from getting into the BIOS apart from ASRM (that gives the F11 prompt on boot for the Acronis Loader), and this only if the F11 key is used for the BIOS access?

The only other potential cause here might be if you have Windows Fast Start enabled where doing a shutdown just puts Windows into a Hybrid Sleep state (akin to Hibernation) where the BIOS might not be accessible?  Doing a full shutdown by either using 'Shift + Shutdown' or doing a Restart would show if this was the case.

I successfully did a full recovery onto the new SSD.  I still can't get into BIOS by tapping the DEL key. I visit BIOS infrequently, but it is an odd situation.

Thanks for letting us know that you finally succeeded. It is rather odd. I updated the BIOS on one of my PCs a few days ago and the hot key to change boot device seems to have disappeared. Or it could just a seniors moment on my part.

Ian

I understand senior moments, I assure you.  My mobo and BIOS are ten years old. Perhaps the computer's having senior moments too.  I'm tempted to do a BIOS flash but I'm afraid of it.  There are potentials for catastrophe and my computer works pretty well as it is.  The SSD is not monumentally faster but it is crisper and...well, yes...it is faster.  Not ZOOM ZIP! faster but nicely responsive.  I may try other keys and see if any have become my entry into BIOS.  I'll keep you posted.

Art

After reading around i came upon some advice to change the keyboard wireless dongle to a USB slot on the motherboard rather than connecting via a hub.  I did that and was able to boot to BIOS first try.  Simple enough solution.  I feel more relaxed about the new Acronis now.

Thanks for sharing this Arthur. Now that you mention it there have been similar reports over the years on Acronis forum; not sure exactly where.

Ian

Ditto to Ian, thanks for sharing - not something I had thought about but personally I tried a wireless mouse years back, didn't like it and have always used a wired one ever since!

If I want to reformat the original WD hard drive, as long as my boot order is correct I shouldn't run into any weird conflicts by having two OS Win 7 drives in the case.  I'd like to use it for an ASZ or just space for backups.  I figured I might as well ask here as you've helped me through this process.  Thanks.

 

Art

Art, the best approach would be to connect your original WD HDD externally via USB using a dock or adapter where you connect it after the main OS has already booted to the Windows desktop.  Then you can reformat the old drive and use it as you wish.

Please be aware that if you set up the drive as an ASZ, then this requires the drive to be formatted as FAT32 for the ASZ partition with the limitations that FAT32 brings for file sizes etc.

Personally I stopped using ASZ some time ago - I prefer to keep my backup drives using NTFS to allow easier management of my backup files.  If needed, you can use the ATI password encryption for your files for added protection.