[Updated] How to Fix PC Won’t Boot After BIOS Update?

Are you encountering PC won’t boot after BIOS update? Several users have noted difficulties booting their computers immediately after installing a BIOS update. Although the problem is often attributed to a failed update, many users have experienced it even after a seemingly successful update.

Why is the computer not booting after BIOS update?

Experiencing a PC failure to boot after a BIOS update can be incredibly frustrating. This error occurs when the system cannot load startup files, leading to either a blank black screen or an endless boot loop with no progress. This issue has been predominantly observed in Dell and MSI computers and laptops. The primary reasons behind this problem are either an incorrect BIOS update or an interruption during the update process.

Several factors can contribute to a system failing to boot after a BIOS update:

These issues can result in boot failures, and in severe cases, they may even lead to data loss and render the motherboard unusable, which cannot be repaired. Therefore, it's crucial to address this problem promptly whenever it arises.

Some users have also reported encountering a black screen after performing a BIOS update. If you find yourself in this situation, you can seek assistance from the following article for guidance.

What to do when PC won’t boot after BIOS update?

After BIOS update PC won't boot, you can try to create a bootable media to rebuild MBR, reset CMOS, refresh BIOS update, boot into safe mode, and restore BIOS to default settings. In this part, we will introduce the detailed steps for you to effectively troubleshoot PC not booting after BIOS update.

Method 1. Create a bootable media to rebuild MBR

If your PC doesn't boot up after a BIOS update, you can fix it by creating a bootable media to rebuild the MBR or repair boot BCD errors. AOMEI Partition Assistant Professional offers a simple solution.

This versatile computer management tool lets you quickly create a bootable USB drive and then rebuild the MBR in just a few steps. Feel free to download the demo and give it a try.

Step 1. Plug USB into a well-working PC.

Plug in a blank USB stick to a working computer. Check that it's recognized and formatted. Then, get the AOMEI Partition Assistant Professional Demo, and set it up.

Step 2. Select "Make Bootable Media" from the Tools menu and click on it.

You can follow the wizard to complete the creation.

Step 3. Insert the bootable USB drive into your computer and start it.

If your computer defaults to the original disk, adjust the boot priority in the BIOS and boot from the destination disk instead. Once it loads, AOMEI Partition Assistant Professional will be running.

Step 4. Select Rebuild MBR.

Right-click the disk that has a boot BCD error and leads to Windows failing to start the file boot BCD error and select Rebuild MBR.

Step 5. Choose your Windows OS.

Select the type of MBR for your Windows operating system.

Step 6. Apply and confirm the operation.

Click Apply and then Proceed to commit the operations. Restart your computer after its repairs.

Tips:
1. After successfully booting up Windows, you may want to run CHKDSK on the disk to see if there is any other error. Also, you can check the hard drive for errors using AOMEI Partition Assistant Professional.
2. To fix the boot BCD error on Windows Server computers, please turn to the AOMEI Partition Assistant Server edition.

Method 2. Reset CMOS

Generally, the boot configuration is stored on the CMOS battery, which preserves hard drive configurations after each boot. Any fault or changes to the CMOS will directly affect Windows startup. Therefore, whenever you encounter booting issues like PC not booting after BIOS update, you can try to reset the CMOS battery. Here's how to do it.

Step 1. Turn off the system and make sure the power line is unplugged. Find the CMOS battery on the motherboard.

Step 2. Remove the CMOS battery, wait 15-20 minutes, and then reinstall it. The battery would reset.

Step 3. Turn on your machine and view the findings. If the system boots normally, the issue of the PC won't booting has been resolved.

Method 3. Refresh BIOS Update with UEFI setup

Updating the BIOS means changing an old BIOS to a new one. If the new BIOS gets messed up, you can swap it for a better version. Just make sure the new BIOS is the right one and nothing stops the update process. To do so, you can run UEFI setup.

So, plug in your USB containing the BIOS file. Go into your BIOS. Here's how you'll do the rest:

Step 1. Connect the USB and turn on your PC.

Step 2. To access the BIOS, press F10, F12, or F2 (depending on your PC/motherboard). Or you can run UEFI BIOS Boot Options Manager provided by AOMEI Partition Assistant to enter BIOS.

Step 3. Once in BIOS, boot from USB.

Step 4. Once on the USB drive, pick the BIOS file.

Step 5. Confirm when the BIOS prompts.

Once you confirm, the BIOS will upgrade in around 2-3 minutes. Once completed, your BIOS will be upgraded, and your computer will restart in Windows.

Method 4. Boot into Safe Mode

Windows Safe Mode lets the system work with basic drivers. If booting problems happen because of changes in the BIOS or motherboard, you can use Safe Mode to avoid them. Safe Mode also helps the BIOS fix itself. Follow these steps to start Safe Mode.

Step 1. Open your computer and promptly press the F8 key or the Ctrl key to reach the Startup Settings screen. Then, utilize the F4/F5/F6 keys to choose the preferred safe mode for booting.

Step 2. After a few minutes, your computer will enter Safe Mode.

Method 5. Restore BIOS to Default Settings

If the BIOS update came from an untrusted source, it might contain malware or viruses, making the PC won't boot BIOS update. In such cases, the easiest fix is to restore the BIOS to its default settings. This resolves any changes causing startup problems. To reset the BIOS to its default settings, follow the steps provided below.

Step 1. Power down your computer, wait briefly and then power it back on. Press the F10 key repeatedly as the computer starts to enter the BIOS startup menu.

Step 2. Within the menu, press F9 to opt for and load default BIOS Settings.

Step 3. Once more, press F10 to save these adjustments. Confirm by selecting Yes when prompted to save the changes.

Step 4. Reboot the system to check if the issue has been resolved.

Conclusion

The problem of "PC not booting after BIOS update" is widespread among modern computers. In this situation, the startup process fails, and the screen remains black without progress. This issue could result from failed boot updates, incorrect BIOS settings, a corrupted operating system, or motherboard issues.

This article offers 5 solutions for fixing the "PC not booting after BIOS update" problem. Each method comes with a description, easy-to-follow steps, and visual aids to assist in understanding and implementation. As you can see, AOMEI Partition Assistant is a powerful computer management tool. You can also use it to extend drive space, format partition, convert between MBR and GPT, etc. If you are a Windows Server user, please turn to the AOMEI Partition Assistant Server edition.