Pavilion 20-b010 BIOS Startup Issue...Please Help!

[Alabama35121]

Hi, 

My Pavilion 20-b010 can't find boot device upon startup.  The only way to make it see the hard drive (boot device) is to start computer, go into BIOS, select load defaults, apply, save & exit.  After this, the computer sees the hard drive and boots normally until the next restart/cold boot.

Steps I've tried:

1  Upgrade BIOS

2  Check CMOS Battery Voltage (3V+)

3  Move jumper pin to clear CMOS-Returned it back to normal pins

I'm thinking probably a new motherboard but wanted to get the experts of this forum opinions.

Thanks in advance for the help!

[old_geekster]

@Alabama35121, welcome to the forum.

Before we consider any component replacements, you should test the hard driver using the SMART test from the BIOS.  Here is a guide to help you.

[Alabama35121]

Hi Old_Geekster and thank you for your reply.  I forgot to mention that I did run all versions of HP diagnostics and all hardware passed.  I also removed the hard drive from the system and tested the hard drive through the manufacture's diagnostic tools - drive passed all tests.  I have also removed all non essential external devices except usb wired mouse & keyboard.  My thoughts go to a bad motherboard but I am willing to try any other suggestions before replacing it.

Thanks again for all your help!

[old_geekster · Accepted solution]

You are welcome, @Alabama35121.  Thank you for the additional information.

If you haven't done so recently, I suggest doing a full System Recovery to see if it helps.  Over time installing and uninstalling apps can leave remnants of the apps on the hard drive.  This can cause a multitude of problems that don't always seem to be likely.  I always look carefully at the software before considering the hardware.  The biggest percentage of problems is caused by software.  Before beginning the Recovery, you should make a backup of your personal data.

[Alabama35121]

You are welcome, @old_geekster.

The OS has nothing to do with the system POST.  This is something handled in BIOS & I am convinced that the issue is probably a bad CMOS chip or an issue with the RTC having an intermittent short on the board.  Since I am not skilled in "wave" soldering or anything that small, I have decided to order another board on Ebay and see if that solves my issue - I really think it will.

But again, I really appreciate your help and if you would like an update, I will post back in about a week once the board comes in and I swap it out.

[Alabama35121]

Old_geekster...With your help & a little grey matter on my part, my problem has been resolved!  Here's what did it:

1.  Replacement motherboard = same problem so that didn't fix it.

2.  Tried your suggestion to do a system recovery using the preloaded recovery partition = same problem.

3.  The problem seemed to be a glitch between the UEFI BIOS & the software preload.  So I decided to try a final solution -

      -  I created recovery discs (5 in total).

      -  I then used those recovery discs, which formatted the entire hard drive.

The problem hasn't shown up again since.  Plus, this same problem came up on another HP system.  I created & used the recovery discs and problem solved on that one too.

Not sure why this worked but it did and I thank you for all your help!

Please close this post as being solved.

[old_geekster]

Thank you for the update, @Alabama35121.  I am glad that your problem is solved.