My computer’s both keep crashing. I keep getting a stop code during a hard shut down and then I’ll get a bios utility screen and I keep going in a circle and I can’t get out of it.

Question

I keep getting a bios utility screen. I try all of the apps then I do F10 exit reboot my computer sometimes it’ll start and then it will crash and give me a stop code blue screen and I’m in a loop. I can’t get anything to work. this has been going on for over a week.

Answer 1

It sounds like your computer is experiencing a serious issue that could be related to hardware, drivers, or system corruption. Here are some troubleshooting steps you can take to address the stop code errors and the BIOS utility screen:

1. Check Hardware Connections: Ensure that all hardware components are properly connected. Loose connections can cause crashes.
2. Remove Recently Added Hardware: If you have added any new hardware recently, try removing it to see if that resolves the issue.
3. Update Drivers: If you can access Windows, check for any driver updates, especially for critical components like graphics and storage drivers. If you can't access Windows, you might need to boot into Safe Mode to do this.
4. Run Hardware Diagnostics: Use the hardware diagnostics tools provided by your computer manufacturer to check for any hardware issues.
5. Check Event Viewer: If you can boot into Windows, check the Event Viewer for any critical errors that occurred around the time of the crashes. This might help identify the faulty driver or hardware.
6. Run Memory Diagnostics: Use the Windows Memory Diagnostics tool to check for memory issues. You can access this from the Control Panel.
7. System File Checker: If you can boot into Windows, run the System File Checker tool to repair any corrupted system files. You can do this by opening Command Prompt as an administrator and typing sfc /scannow.
8. Safe Mode: If the crashes prevent normal booting, try booting into Safe Mode. This can help you disable problematic drivers or services.
9. Check for BIOS Updates: Ensure that your BIOS is up to date, as outdated firmware can lead to compatibility issues.

If these steps do not resolve the issue, you may need to consider restoring your system to a previous state or performing a clean installation of Windows.

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References:

• Troubleshoot bug checks (stop code errors)
• Advanced troubleshooting for stop code errors

Answer 2

Good morning,

When a computer goes straight to the BIOS Utility or the American Megatrends screen and refuses to proceed, it means the motherboard cannot communicate with your Hard Drive or SSD. The Blue Screen crashes you experienced earlier were likely the drive failing (corrupting files), and now it has likely failed completely or become disconnected.

You can try these followings ways:

1. Identify the Error on the American Megatrends Screen

When you unplug the PC and restart, you see the American Megatrends (AMI) logo. Read the white text directly above "Press F1 to Run Setup".

If it says "S.M.A.R.T. Status Bad, Backup and Replace", your hard drive is physically destroyed. You need to buy a new SSD and reinstall Windows. There is no software fix.

If it says "CMOS Checksum Error" or "Date/Time Not Set", your motherboard battery (a small coin battery) is dead. This caused your BIOS settings to reset, making it "forget" how to talk to your Windows drive.

2. Verify Drive Detection in BIOS

Since you are stuck in the BIOS Utility (likely ASUS or similar if you see the Utility screen):

Look for a tab named Advanced, Storage, or SATA Configuration.

Look for a list of connected devices (SATA 1, SATA 2, or M.2).

Do you see your Hard Drive or SSD listed there? It will usually show the brand name (Samsung, Western Digital, Kingston, etc.) and size (500GB, 1TB).

If the list is empty (all say "Empty" or "Not Detected"): Your drive has failed or disconnected. If this is a desktop, open the case and unplug/replug the cables going to the drive. If it's a laptop, the drive is likely dead.

If you SEE the drive listed: The drive is alive, but the BIOS is configured wrong. Proceed to Step 3.

3. Correct the Boot Settings (CSM vs. UEFI)

If the drive is visible but won't boot, the BIOS reset likely switched your "Boot Mode." Windows 10 installations are either UEFI or Legacy (CSM). If the BIOS is set to the wrong one, it cannot boot the drive.

Go to the Boot tab.

Look for a setting called CSM (Compatibility Support Module) or Legacy Boot.

Toggle it. If it is currently Disabled, Enable it. If it is currently Enabled, Disable it.

Also, check Secure Boot (usually under the "Security" or "Boot" tab). If you enable CSM, you usually must disable Secure Boot.

Press F10 to Save and Exit.

If the computer still loops back to the BIOS after trying both CSM settings, your Windows Boot Manager partition is corrupted (a common result of the previous Blue Screen crashes). You will need a Windows 10 Installation USB (created on a different working computer) to perform a "Startup Repair" or a clean reinstall.