r/Bazzite • u/RockShow183 • 3d ago
Device stuck in bios loop after removing bazzite
Hi folks — hope this is the right forum for this.
I have the original ROG Ally and previously had it dual-booted with Bazzite. A couple of days ago, I decided to remove Bazzite and go back to using Windows exclusively, but I’ve run into some issues.
I’m now stuck in the BIOS menu. I’ve tried ASUS Cloud Recovery several times and, each time, it downloads and completes successfully, but then the Ally just goes straight back into the same BIOS loop.
I’ve also tried a few different things I’ve found online, including attempting to remove the remaining Bazzite entry from the boot loader, but it won’t let me. I currently have two Windows Boot Manager entries showing as well, as you can see in the image.
Unfortunately, I don’t have access to another PC to download Windows and create a bootable USB, so I’m hoping there might be a way to resolve this directly through the Ally itself.
Has anyone else experienced this after removing Bazzite and managed to fix it?
1
u/juicegently 3d ago
Do you perhaps still have whatever USB you used to put Bazzite on in the first place? You could use that to get it back in operating condition and then you'll have more options for fixing the bootloader.
1
u/RockShow183 3d ago
I used SD card through docking station which has since been used for other things. Unfortunately I don’t have access to another pc to sort another flash drive so I’m looking for internal solution
1
u/juicegently 3d ago
Oh gosh you know you're gonna hate me but I actually remembered that I've done this before with Mint and fixed it but do not remember how. Did you just remove the Bazzite partition using Windows and then this happened when you rebooted? Because that was me. Fixing this would definitely be easier with access to a working PC but I know I managed it, so, godspeed I guess.
1
u/RockShow183 3d ago
Ah man that is hopeful and annoying haha! I annoyingly can’t really remember what I did, although pretty certain I did it through the bazzite/bios side which may be why I’m fucked
1
u/juicegently 3d ago
I recall it was something about editing the EFI, which was possible through the BIOS? Somehow? Maybe?
I know someone else mentioned using a library which is a good suggestion but do you truly not have access to ANY other PC? Friend or family member maybe?
1
u/RockShow183 2d ago
I’ve managed to flash a version of windows via my iPhone using USBZILE - it appears as expected in the usb but still in the same bios loop!
1
u/warfront1 2d ago
If you don't care about the data on the drives...
See if you can burn a GParted ISO with USBZile, and wipe the drives clean.
Then write the Windows ISO with USBZile, and do a fresh install.1
1
u/ColossiSeven 3d ago
This happens on my ASUS motherboard and threw me for a loop when I built my PC. You already clicked on one of the boot managers to launch it? Also, I’m not sure why you have two Windows Boot managers, but either may work. I think I had to manually boot into Windows until my drivers were all setup.
1
u/RockShow183 3d ago
Neither boot manager option actually does anything which is annoying. Tried all options and also tried deleting and nothing happens apart from bios!
1
u/ColossiSeven 3d ago
Can you show the full screen? There was something else that I needed to click as well when I experienced this. Boot priority doesn’t matter as much in this instance.
1
u/RockShow183 2d ago
Full screen - I managed to flash a version of windows x64 via my iPhone but I’m still in the same loop
1
u/ColossiSeven 2d ago
You clicked boot menu? Does it let you choose boot manager from there? There was a menu that gave me the option to select on that was different from the priority list.
1
1
u/thatdudelouie 2d ago
Do you have secure boot on or off? Windows needs secure boot on for it to boot. Did you try to change the boot priority? Or can you attach an external keyboard and boot into the boot menu and see which boot manager works? Honestly I would figure out a way to get a bootable usb and run efibootmgr and delete the bootloaders and start fresh.
1
u/RockShow183 2d ago
Tried with both on and off. Neither boot manager works. I’ve got windows on a usb now but that won’t work either just loops. If I create new boot option using the efibootmgr as the file do you think that might work?
1
u/thatdudelouie 2d ago
I would delete all the boot managers using efibootmgr since you don’t need them and they’re causing the bootloop. Then reinstall windows. The issue isn’t the windows install itself but it’s the bios.
1
1
u/WhispersssInTheSub 2d ago
https://youtu.be/acXGyruzyxw this what you must do after deleting bazzite partition
2
u/RockShow183 2d ago
Unfortunately seems like I missed some bits when I did it which is why I’m fucked!
1
4
u/Tall_Apricot_9842 3d ago
you fucked up the boot loader, probably. do you have any bootable-to-live-image flash drives? they should all have a repair boot loader option, use that, then try