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White flashing dash at boot

Discussion in 'Windows 7' started by Panzerpung, 2014/10/03.

  1. 2014/10/03
    Panzerpung

    Panzerpung Inactive Thread Starter

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    Hey, Ive got another problem.

    I was out eating 2 days ago and let my PC run while I was away. When I came back the PC was turned off I and since then I have been unable to boot.

    I was running W7 at the time, and I thought that it might have been due to the OS so I downloaded the W10 preview today and burned the image onto a flash drive. Now I am trying to install the OS, but it still isnt getting past the white flashing dash. I can get into BIOS, but no further it seems. In BIOS, the system can still detect my drives.

    No LEDs flashing at the mobo
    My system specs are as listed with the exception of 16GB 2133mhz RAM that I upgraded a week ago.
    Temperatures are fine.
     
    Panzerpung,
    #1
  2. 2014/10/03
    Evan Omo

    Evan Omo Computer Support Technician Staff

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    Hi Panzerpung.

    You haven't updated your other thread here, BSoD about twice a day, help me decipher the dump file!.

    Are you still getting BSOD's? Lets address the Windows 7 issue first. What is stopping the computer from booting into Windows 7? Do you get an error message or a blue screen?

    I am debating on merging this thread with your other one but I need to know if this is a new issue that is separate from this problem that you are experiencing.
     
    Evan Omo,
    #2


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  4. 2014/10/03
    Panzerpung

    Panzerpung Inactive Thread Starter

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    Tried booting with IDE and AHDI (Or some combination of those letters), with the same result. With Asus EZ flash utility I can see that my files are intact (I think)
     
    Panzerpung,
    #3
  5. 2014/10/03
    Panzerpung

    Panzerpung Inactive Thread Starter

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    I do not get any blue-screens while booting, however the problem persisted even after changing RAM (which I thought was the cause). I did get them less and less though. I do not know whether this is an individual issue or if it is connected.
     
    Panzerpung,
    #4
  6. 2014/10/03
    Panzerpung

    Panzerpung Inactive Thread Starter

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    I tried to boot from a flash drive with a burned xPUD file as well. Did not work either, same thing happens. This is really frustrating. Could any hardware be defect, just all of the sudden?
     
    Panzerpung,
    #5
  7. 2014/10/03
    Evan Omo

    Evan Omo Computer Support Technician Staff

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    Please do not keep bumping your thread. You already posted once with a new reply. You don't need to keep adding more posts when no one else has responded. Its better to just edit your existing post if you have new information that you want to add.

    Just so we don't get confused would you consider your other thread resolved and finished so I can help you focus on one thread at a time?
     
    Evan Omo,
    #6
  8. 2014/10/03
    Panzerpung

    Panzerpung Inactive Thread Starter

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    Its not resolved, I don't even have the chance to get a blue screen. This is, however, the most pressing issue so please focus on this! :) I am grateful for whatever help I can get. Pretty much everything I've done so far has not helped one bit.


    Sidestory for your guys' entertainment : Today while trying to fix this issue I accidentally pushed the power button on my MacBook (which will not boot without removing the battery, due to liquid damage), leaving me with 2 useless computers. After this I discovered my HTC One wasn't charging because the pins had been crooked somehow. This left me with 2 useless computers and a phone that won't charge. What a day.
    I'm in your hands!
     
    Last edited: 2014/10/03
    Panzerpung,
    #7
  9. 2014/10/03
    Evan Omo

    Evan Omo Computer Support Technician Staff

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    Well that's just bad luck having 2 computers and your phone not working. :(

    Regarding your issue with Windows 7 not booting up can you boot into Safe Mode successfully? When the computer attempts to boot into Windows 7 you just get a black screen with a flashing cursor correct?
     
    Evan Omo,
    #8
  10. 2014/10/05
    Panzerpung

    Panzerpung Inactive Thread Starter

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    I can not boot into safe mode, no. Pretty much all I can do is go into BIOS and Intel EX... (something with very few options (CTRL+S)) All I get when I boot is the flashing dash/underscore ( _ ). This is the only thing I get whether I boot from SSD(reg boot drive), HDD (Nothing on this really) or Flash Drive (w/ xPUD)
     
    Panzerpung,
    #9
  11. 2014/10/05
    Evan Omo

    Evan Omo Computer Support Technician Staff

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    Do you have a Windows 7 DVD that you can use to repair Windows 7?
     
    Evan Omo,
    #10
  12. 2014/10/05
    Panzerpung

    Panzerpung Inactive Thread Starter

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    I dont even have a CDROM, nontheless a W7 cd.
     
    Panzerpung,
    #11
  13. 2014/10/05
    Evan Omo

    Evan Omo Computer Support Technician Staff

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    You will need to create a Windows 7 DVD to repair the Windows 7 OS. You can find Windows 7 SP1 ISO files here, Official Windows 7 SP1 ISO Image Downloads.

    Once you have downloaded the ISO file you want use the ISO to USB tool to create a bootable Windows 7 USB flash drive.

    Once you have booted from the Windows 7 USB drive let me know and we will go from there.
     
    Evan Omo,
    #12
  14. 2014/10/05
    Panzerpung

    Panzerpung Inactive Thread Starter

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    As I said earlier, that doesnt work. It doesnt enage in booting the OS at all. I tried with W10 tech preview and xPUD (to try to fix boot-files)
     
    Panzerpung,
    #13
  15. 2014/10/05
    Evan Omo

    Evan Omo Computer Support Technician Staff

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    Did you try resetting your BIOS back to its default values and setting your USB flash drive as the first boot device?
     
    Evan Omo,
    #14
  16. 2014/10/05
    Panzerpung

    Panzerpung Inactive Thread Starter

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    Yes, both. Ive tried default settings and optimized settings.
     
    Panzerpung,
    #15
  17. 2014/10/05
    SpywareDr

    SpywareDr SuperGeek WindowsBBS Team Member

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    A computer that cannot boot an operating system is about as useful as a brick.

    What you need to do is re-assemble and run a plain'ol bare-bones system outside of the case. To get started:

    1. Remove EVERYTHING from the case.

    2. Place the motherboard on a non-conductive surface, such as cardboard (motherboard box) or plywood. Do *-NOT-* place the motherboard on the anti-static bag! It can actually conduct electricity.

    3. Re-install the CPU, thermal grease and heat sink. (Intel Guide / AMD Guide)

    4. Remove all but 1 RAM module (stick).

    5. If applicable, install the video card and attach the power supply connection(s) to the card if your card needs it.

    6. Connect a monitor to the video output.

    7. Connect the power supply to the motherboard with both the 24-pin main ATX power connector and the separate 4- or 8-pin power connector.

    8. Connect a power lead from the power supply to the power connector on the CPU fan.

    9. Connect power to the power supply.

    10. Do NOT connect ANYTHING else.

    11. Use a small screwdriver to momentarily short the power switch connector on the motherboard. Consult your motherboard manual to find which two pins connect to your case's power switch. When you momentarily touch both pins with a screwdriver, it will complete the circuit and boot the system.

    With any luck the system should power up and you should get a display. If so, assemble these same parts back into the case and try booting once again. If the system now fails to boot, you have a short in the case and need to recheck your motherboard standoffs.

    If the system did not boot up, more often than not, you have a faulty component. Start swapping parts until you determine which one is defective. Best bet would be to start with the power supply.
     
    SpywareDr,
    #16
  18. 2014/10/06
    Panzerpung

    Panzerpung Inactive Thread Starter

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    Is it possible to do this while all the components are still in the case? I have a pretty tricky EKWB liquid cooling setup, for both GPU and CPU. Could the mobo be faulty (seeing as I can still enter BIOS), could it potentially be my gpu? (As you can see its a 780ti, and I really dont want to eat noodles for a whole month :p)

    As of now, which parts could it be? Which parts can I check while keeping the system in the case?
     
    Panzerpung,
    #17
  19. 2014/10/06
    Evan Omo

    Evan Omo Computer Support Technician Staff

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    Well you can start by disconnecting all extra peripherals such as printers, speakers, and any other external devices except for the mouse, keyboard and monitor.

    Then turn off the machine, open up the case and remove all but one stick of RAM, use your motherboards integrated graphics if possible and disconnect one of the hard drives as well.

    Then power on the computer and see if the computer boots from the USB flash drive successfully. If that doesn't work then you may need to follow Doc's advice to establish a working bare bones system.
     
    Evan Omo,
    #18
  20. 2014/10/06
    Panzerpung

    Panzerpung Inactive Thread Starter

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    I will do this ASAP, and post my results here.
     
    Panzerpung,
    #19

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