Hung Boot Loader

Vicktoria

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Hello All, and again my gratitude for your sharing your time and knowledge. Anyone following my previous post about a duel install of Mint with Widows 7 may know i murdered my machine. After achieving what I thought was a successful install of Mint 19.3 Mate 64bit; upon reboot the boot menu came up showing '1. Ubuntu' only with an 'Application' tab as well as usual; yet when I hit enter nothing happens. The screen remains and no OS is booted. I purchased a new Hard Drive thinking I crashed the HD with so many reboots. It came yesterday and upon installation, the exact same screen shows with the same results. I had run the diagnostics on the Application tab and no errors were reported. I had read that unplugging 'something' on the motherboard and then re-plugging it would reset things. I did try unplugging the power and then a card at the back of the board by the battery, but I'm thinking that was just a graphics card. Perhaps it was the CPU which resets things. I'll try that eventually if I can't find another answer. I tried my 'Boot Repair' live usbs, yet they didn't work. Now I'm wondering if they may be broken. I'm learning they do die, so I'll try to get some scandisks and try the boot repair again. Does it matter which brand of usb one uses? That worked many, many times before. Soooo, if anyone has any information regarding how I might revive my Fujitsu 500GB 4GB Ram, It would be greatly appreciated.
 


Hi again Viktoria--

I had read that unplugging 'something' on the motherboard and then re-plugging it would reset things.

Maybe the CMOS battery, leading to resetting the cmos? See attachments.

If removed, leave battery out , unplug the machine (take battery out if a laptop), and hit the power button to remove any residual electricity from the machine. Let sit for length of a sitcom, then put (new) battery in its place, add power and turn on.

If no difference, submit more hardware info (I believe there is a recent thread on the subject), please.
 

Attachments

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  • cmos-batt_rm.jpeg
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Hello Sp331yi, and thank you for the info. I've been looking for the jumper and the battery. Think I have to open up the motherboard more, it seems to be hiding. I will follow your suggestions. Thanks.
 
I've been looking for the jumper and the battery.
A laptop may not have the "jumper". Use the CMOS battery removal to reset the BIOS. Good time to replace the CMOS battery if it is more than a few years old.
 
Thanks Vrai I'm going to open up the motherboard more today in a few minutes. sp331yi put me on the trail of some youtube videos, and I think the battery is hiding under another section. The video said if there isn't a jumper, you can use a paper clip to connect the terminals under the battery and that will act as a jumper. I'll order some batteries and usb drives as well as a usb hub, as soon as I get the numbers. This is wonderful...I'm sure this will allow me to access the data when the machine is revived, and then I can reformat and create an awesome Linux machine. Would you put Cinnamon on a machine like this rather than a Mint Mate? Or which OS would you choose? I like to play with video editing, photos and music creation, plus I will want to get my windows astrology program on the Linux, so that I'll need Wine or Virtual Box, of some sort I think.
When I get this revived I'll put the new hard drive in it. So how does one Install Linux on a new HD. Just make a live usb and let the OS install itself? Thanks again to all for all the guidance.
 
So how does one Install Linux on a new HD. Just make a live usb and let the OS install itself?
That would be nice!
the freecountry.com has a good rundow in answer to your question, unless you don't lie oldshcool ways, that is (some here seem not to, is whay I say this!), Here

What's your hardware? What's your hardware? What's your hardware?
 
Thanks Vrai I'm going to open up the motherboard more today in a few minutes.
Yikes!
The video said if there isn't a jumper, you can use a paper clip to connect the terminals under the battery and that will act as a jumper.
Double yikes!
I'll order some batteries and usb drives as well as a usb hub, as soon as I get the numbers.
Sounds like a good plan :)
Would you put Cinnamon on a machine like this rather than a Mint Mate?
Actually, I've lost track of which machine we are talking about! :\
What's your hardware? What's your hardware? What's your hardware?
MeToo
When I get this revived I'll put the new hard drive in it.
In all seriousness - I will do a "happy dance"! :)
 
I'll be dancing too, but first more frustration. I finally got all 25 screws out and alas, I still can't get at the battery. There is a 12 pointed star like fixture with a hole in the center made of brass or some yellow metal. I assume this needs a special tool. My toolbox had a star shaped bit head yet they were just a tad too big, and the hex wrenches 3/32 was too big and 5/64 was too small. I'm feeling like Goldilocks, and I'm not finding the 'Just right'. Does anyone know what the tool is called so that I can find one? Sheesh...nothing is easy these days. I was so excited and confident the issue would be solved. I'm sure it will be when I can get to the dang battery.

My currently Hung Fujitsu Lifebook AH532, I think has an Intel Core i3 motherboard, I can't find it written on the board, yet I can't see everything and this is how it was listed in th board research I did. HD Seagate Momentus 5400.6 500GB, and I have 4GB RAM; Phoenix Secure Core Tiano BIOS setup version 1.10 9-7-18; Processor Intel Core i3-235 OM CPU @ 2.30GHz. That's all the info I can lay hands on. Thanks again for being there...it gives me hope.
 
There is a 12 pointed star like fixture with a hole in the center made of brass or some yellow metal.
From your description that sounds to me like a 'screw insert' or 'grommet'. A screw will screw down into it. Maybe it is a 'tamper resistant' fastener? Can you post a picture of it? Is it like this;
laptop_mobo.jpg
 
Vrai, I've tried to load your pic 3 times...Dial-up ya know It's a tamper proof fastener. I can see the battery under that cover, so it must come off. I need to know what the tool is called. I suppose i can get one one line. trying to get a pic. Thanks for info, needed to know what it is called. I'll research. Can't find the cord to get the pic off the camera. I give.
 
Fujitsu Lifebook AH532

Fujitsu Lifebook AH532 disassembly BIOS battery replacement

Reset BIOS settings Fujitsu Lifebook AH512 (AH531) laptop | CMOS battery replacement

CMOS Battery

http://globalsp.ts.fujitsu.com/dmsp/Publications/public/ds-LIFEBOOK-AH532.pdf

nVidia Driver GTX 649M LE
 
sp331yi: Thanks Wiley One. I'll check out the tools you highlighted. I did some looking and got the numbers of a bit set which has the number size I think I need. I had a T-10 but it was slightly too big. Intended to order a set with size T-9 thru T-5 which ought to be correct. I found the C2032 size battery which I hope is the same on AH532 as on the 512. Found that video on Youtube. What a wonderful source of info. I saw it when I hit hispeed a few days ago. Of course the Mobo was not the same. Can't view video on dial-up. Thanks for all the tips and leads. I'll acquire the batteries and tools as soon as I can, and update the progress.
 
sp331yi: Thanks Wiley One. I'll check out the tools you highlighted. I did some looking and got the numbers of a bit set which has the number size I think I need. I had a T-10 but it was slightly too big. Intended to order a set with size T-9 thru T-5 which ought to be correct. I found the C2032 size battery which I hope is the same on AH532 as on the 512. Found that video on Youtube. What a wonderful source of info. I saw it when I hit hispeed a few days ago. Of course the Mobo was not the same. Can't view video on dial-up. Thanks for all the tips and leads. I'll acquire the batteries and tools as soon as I can, and update the progress.
 
Eureka!!! Hi Everyone...It's Time To Happy Dance...the Fujitsu on which I was attempting to get a duel install Mint & Win7 is fixed!!! The tools I thought I needed came last night. Vrai you were right of course...the brass like hole I thought I needed a 'star' bit to open was a screw housing. So I just started tearing the machine apart, figuring there must be a way to get at the CMOS battery hidden under a part of the computer frame. I had to take it totally apart and get the motherboard out. That must have been all it needed. I didn't find a 'jump' connection anywhere. I just changed the battery and put it together again. [I must admit I've got 3 screws loose :oops:, maybe I'll try taking it apart to find where they go but probably not, unless someone recommends I need to.] So I set it up and plugged it in and Voila', we have Linux Mint Mate 19.3 Tricia & not only that, but in checking the drive partitions I found Windows 7, so All IS Magnificent! Thank you all for All the effort, expertise, support and assistance. You are All Awesome. I'm sure I'll have more questions. I need to get Mint hooked up to Dial-up. May be able to connect through the Windows partition, yet will want Mint connected as Windows will be jettisoned soon I intend. Talk again soon I expect. Thank-you.
 
Eureka!!! Hi Everyone...It's Time To Happy Dance...the Fujitsu on which I was attempting to get a duel install Mint & Win7 is fixed!!! The tools I thought I needed came last night. Vrai you were right of course...the brass like hole I thought I needed a 'star' bit to open was a screw housing. So I just started tearing the machine apart, figuring there must be a way to get at the CMOS battery hidden under a part of the computer frame. I had to take it totally apart and get the motherboard out. That must have been all it needed. I didn't find a 'jump' connection anywhere. I just changed the battery and put it together again. [I must admit I've got 3 screws loose :oops:, maybe I'll try taking it apart to find where they go but probably not, unless someone recommends I need to.] So I set it up and plugged it in and Voila', we have Linux Mint Mate 19.3 Tricia & not only that, but in checking the drive partitions I found Windows 7, so All IS Magnificent! Thank you all for All the effort, expertise, support and assistance. You are All Awesome. I'm sure I'll have more questions. I need to get Mint hooked up to Dial-up. May be able to connect through the Windows partition, yet will want Mint connected as Windows will be jettisoned soon I intend. Talk again soon I expect. Thank-you.
That's awesome @Vicktoria !!!

I must admit I've got 3 screws loose :oops:, maybe I'll try taking it apart to find where they go but probably not, unless someone recommends I need to.
Hah! LOL
I usually end up with a "loose screw" or two also whenever I dismantle a laptop and reassemble it!
If it works - I figure it is "O.K." and a few loose screws are just "spare parts"! ;)

I think Dial-Up should work with Linux Mint. All the required software may not be included out-of-the-box but should be available in the repositories.
 
Great! Your persistence paid off!
We're glad for you!
Send pictures! LOL
 
The Hung Boot Loader has returned :eek:. Mint was working, I could access documents in the windows partition, I was using Mint...I went to hispeed to grab some packages and set up Mint to become my main machine. I downloaded and installed the 'start up' updates as well as some programs/packages I thought I needed including Wine and Virtual box so that I could decide how I wanted to access my Astrology program. Everything seemed fine. I shut down the machine and intended to set up dial-up and explore the programs at home. Tried to bring up Mint on Tuesday and we are back to the Boot Loader coming up showing Ubuntu yet pressing enter does not load the program. Nothing works. Not Boot Repair or an attempt to reinstall Mint. What happened? Any ideas? Was it because I updated the Mint program? How do I avoid this. I will take the machine apart tomorrow and get to the CMOS battery again. If anyone has an idea how to get Mint or some other OS installed in stable fashion, I'd appreciate the guidance. Thanks.
 
Maybe a kernel update fouled that old machine. Had it happen to me.
Get it back to runing and use clonezilla to make a backup before doing any updates, as a sggestion.
It's probably not the CMOS again.

Sorry to hear of the setback, but it is best to be cautious. Trying to go to the 'latest and greatest' on an old machine is not always possible.
 
Howdy Wiley One, thanks for feedback. So you think maybe Mint isn't a good idea on this 2010 ish Fujitsu? What would you recommend as an OS that would be stable? I intend to get to hispeed tomorrow and will be able to download and hopefully install something else, if I get it running again.
 

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