Bootloop after pulling hdd

[Terpe]

After my previous issue couldn't be fixed, i decided i'd reset windows in order to fix driver issue (reset was long overdue anyways). But i decided i'd only let windows clear data from it's installation drive (ssd), and simply unplug the hdd. 

It was only after pressing the power button, that i realized the bootloader is stored on the hdd (grub bootloader for a ubuntu installation on hdd). 

Well, now it's stuck in a bootloop, not showing anything on screen, and even clearing the cmos didn't work. 

Help me in some way please. in the worst case the windows installation could probably be trashed (though i'd like not to) 

[Guest]

Plug the hdd back in?

But probably you have to reinstall Windows from recovery media.

[Cyberspirit]

35 minutes ago, Terpe said:

After my previous issue couldn't be fixed, i decided i'd reset windows in order to fix driver issue (reset was long overdue anyways). But i decided i'd only let windows clear data from it's installation drive (ssd), and simply unplug the hdd. 

It was only after pressing the power button, that i realized the bootloader is stored on the hdd (grub bootloader for a ubuntu installation on hdd). 

Well, now it's stuck in a bootloop, not showing anything on screen, and even clearing the cmos didn't work. 

Help me in some way please. in the worst case the windows installation could probably be trashed (though i'd like not to) 

Are you installing Windows from a USB stick? If so you should be able to go into BIOS and put that on top of your boot order.

If not then technically couldn't you just plug the HDD back in and boot normally?

[Terpe]

53 minutes ago, Cyberspirit said:

Are you installing Windows from a USB stick? If so you should be able to go into BIOS and put that on top of your boot order.

If not then technically couldn't you just plug the HDD back in and boot normally?

no, plugging in thr hdd has no effect at all. 

i managed to boot normally after resetting the cmos another way (but the hdd was not plugged in). i reset windows through its own reset tool, and everything worked. so i plugged back in the hdd, and now nothing works again (not even clearing the cmos that way) 

[Cyberspirit]

2 hours ago, Terpe said:

no, plugging in thr hdd has no effect at all. 

i managed to boot normally after resetting the cmos another way (but the hdd was not plugged in). i reset windows through its own reset tool, and everything worked. so i plugged back in the hdd, and now nothing works again (not even clearing the cmos that way) 

Plug the HDD back in and go into the BIOS and put the SSD to the top of your boot order.

If you don't know how to do that then, please tell me what Motherboard you have so I can try to look into that.

[Terpe]

2 minutes ago, Cyberspirit said:

Plug the HDD back in and go into the BIOS and put the SSD to the top of your boot order.

If you don't know how to do that then, please tell me what Motherboard you have so I can try to look into that.

simply changing the boot order is not possible, as i don't get into bios consistently (4 times it showed anything on screen-in 3 hours). 

i have the gigabyte z170 hd3p

[Cyberspirit]

1 minute ago, Terpe said:

simply changing the boot order is not possible, as i don't get into bios consistently (4 times it showed anything on screen-in 3 hours). 

i have the gigabyte z170 hd3p

2

That doesn't sound like an HDD issue then. Can you get into the BIOS without the HDD plugged in?

[Terpe]

1 minute ago, Cyberspirit said:

That doesn't sound like an HDD issue then. Can you get into the BIOS without the HDD plugged in?

No i cannot, nothing will happen with either combination of hdd, ssd or nothing plugged in different sata slots with different sata cables. 

i have tested the hdd on another pc now, which can boot into it just fine. although it should be added that after turning it off again for the first time it went into a boot loop too, managed to boot after the third restart though - now it boots consistenly. 

[Cyberspirit]

2 minutes ago, Terpe said:

No i cannot, nothing will happen with either combination of hdd, ssd or nothing plugged in different sata slots with different sata cables. 

i have tested the hdd on another pc now, which can boot into it just fine. although it should be added that after turning it off again for the first time it went into a boot loop too, managed to boot after the third restart though - now it boots consistenly. 

So, the HDD can boot in a different PC but, the main PC keep bootlooping no matter what?

[Terpe]

2 minutes ago, Cyberspirit said:

So, the HDD can boot in a different PC but, the main PC keep bootlooping no matter what?

exactly. 

i did manage to get out of the bootloop though by clearing the cmos - although this works way too inconsistenly and could be the result of simple randomness too.. 

[Cyberspirit]

Just now, Terpe said:

exactly. 

i did manage to get out of the bootloop though by clearing the cmos - although this works way too inconsistenly and could be the result of simple randomness too.. 

In that case, we'll need to figure out what's causing the boot loop.

Start removing everything one by one. Meaning your Graphics card, your storage your RAM and so on so forth and check each time what happens.

Here's an interesting video by Jayztwocents:

Spoiler

 

 

It's worth a watch because he gives some tips and overall an interesting situation.

[Terpe]

14 minutes ago, Cyberspirit said:

In that case, we'll need to figure out what's causing the boot loop.

Start removing everything one by one. Meaning your Graphics card, your storage your RAM and so on so forth and check each time what happens.

Here's an interesting video by Jayztwocents:

  Hide contents

 

 

It's worth a watch because he gives some tips and overall an interesting situation.

Thanks for the tip - i've found the problem-kinda. The Pc only works in a state where it's lying on its side. as soon as it's standing it will freeze. 

it's not due to the weight of the graphics card though, but rather the cpu cooler it seems, as i can wiggle the gpu as much as i want, but wiggling the cpu cooler will make it freeze. 

[Cyberspirit]

5 minutes ago, Terpe said:

Thanks for the tip - i've found the problem-kinda. The Pc only works in a state where it's lying on its side. as soon as it's standing it will freeze. 

it's not due to the weight of the graphics card though, but rather the cpu cooler it seems, as i can wiggle the gpu as much as i want, but wiggling the cpu cooler will make it freeze. 

Oh yikes. Do you have some thermal paste lying around? You will need to take the cooler off and check if everything is okay in there.

[Terpe]

56 minutes ago, Cyberspirit said:

Oh yikes. Do you have some thermal paste lying around? You will need to take the cooler off and check if everything is okay in there.

Well it kind of works right now while standing.. 

i'll just try not to touch it from now on and that's it. 

Thanks for all your help Really appreciate it

[Cyberspirit]

11 minutes ago, Terpe said:

Well it kind of works right now while standing.. 

i'll just try not to touch it from now on and that's it. 

Thanks for all your help Really appreciate it

Did you tighten the CPU cooler's screws? It would be a wise idea to remove the cooler and reapply the thermal paste.

If you can't be bothered with that then, just watch your CPU temps regularly because it could overheat if some air got stuck under the cooler or, if the cooler itself isn't making proper contact with the CPU.