ASUS Z87 Sabretooth - OS Instal Issue

[woodman1999]

Hi all,

I've scoured the web and this forum so I apologize if I missed something and this is already posted somewhere.

I purchased a new Z87 Sabretooth and I am getting very frustrated trying to install an OS. The other important players here are my Plextor 840 Pro SSD and my Plextor DVD-RW (SATA interface). My issue is, no matter how I set the hardware up, from shifting SATA ports on the board to different SATA cables and power cables, I can't get the Windows 7 installation to start. Instead, it goes straight into the UEFI "BIOS" which is slowly causing me to pull my hair out.

This is the first time I have dealt with UEFI so there's a distinct possibility that I need to set something up here first. If anyone could PLEASE give me some guidance I would be very appreciative.

If this question belongs elsewhere, please let me know.

 

[woodman1999]

EDIT: One other item of note is that the "Boot device LED" stays on the entire team the DVD drive is being read. Once the light goes off, the drive stops being read and it boots straight into UEFI. This leads me to believe that maybe the version of Win 7 I have isn't compatible with UEFI Bios. Thoughts?

 

[Ketchup]

In the BIOS, enter Advanced mode, go to the Boot Menu, then Secure Boot, and select "Other OS."

Also make sure Launch CSM is set to "Auto" or "Disabled."

And if you haven't done so already, make sure your DVD drive is the first boot device.

Let me know how it goes.

 

[Ketchup]

EDIT: One other item of note is that the "Boot device LED" stays on the entire team the DVD drive is being read. Once the light goes off, the drive stops being read and it boots straight into UEFI. This leads me to believe that maybe the version of Win 7 I have isn't compatible with UEFI Bios. Thoughts?

Correct, UEFI is a feature that currently only Windows 8 supports.

 

[woodman1999]

Correct, UEFI is a feature that currently only supports Windows 8.

Interesting. I had read that 7 was also supported, but only in the 64-bit version.

 

[Ketchup]

That is interesting. This guy says you can:

http://blogs.technet.com/b/askcore/...talling-windows-7-on-uefi-based-computer.aspx

But everyone replying (on a PC at least) pretty much says they can't.

 

[Ketchup]

And this article says you can with some "tweaks."

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorial...e-firmware-interface-install-windows-7-a.html

 

[woodman1999]

Did all three things you mentioned with no luck. Tried CSM as Auto and Disabled, but neither worked. I feel like it's hanging on the Windows 7 disk, but I am not sure why that would be, as the disk loads fine in other systems

 

[Ketchup]

Did all three things you mentioned with no luck. Tried CSM as Auto and Disabled, but neither worked. I feel like it's hanging on the Windows 7 disk, but I am not sure why that would be, as the disk loads fine in other systems

Can you test the DVD-RW drive in another system, or do you have another DVD drive to test with?

 

[woodman1999]

Can you test the DVD-RW drive in another system, or do you have another DVD drive to test with?

I have tried three separate drives in different SATA ports.

 

[Steltek]

Also, have you tested your Windows install media to make sure it isn't defective?

 

[Ketchup]

I have tried three separate drives in different SATA ports.

Hmm, so it's something in the BIOS. Let me do some more looking.
What SATA chip do you have the DVD plugged into?
Does the BIOS show the DVD drive is being detected?
What mode is the SATA port for the DVD drive set on (IDE/AHCI/RAID)?

 

[Bubbaleone]

EDIT: One other item of note is that the "Boot device LED" stays on the entire team the DVD drive is being read. Once the light goes off, the drive stops being read and it boots straight into UEFI. This leads me to believe that maybe the version of Win 7 I have isn't compatible with UEFI Bios. Thoughts?

Return your UEFI setup to default settings before you do anything else. To install in UEFI/GPT mode, you must select the Windows installation boot device (USB, or DVD) via the BOOT MENU screen that you access via a key press during startup, and not by booting your installation device via the BOOT ORDER that you've set in the UEFI/BIOS setup utility.

For example; I load my Windows 7 x64 installation disk in the optical drive, then shutdown. Then I start my computer and tap the F11 key (yours will likely be different), which brings up the BOOT MENU screen. On the BOOT MENU screen, the model number of my optical drive is listed as two selections; one for booting in AHCI mode, and the other for booting in UEFI mode.

If I select to boot my optical drive (or USB) in AHCI mode, then my Windows 7 x64 installation will have a BIOS/MBR (Master Boot Record) partitioning scheme. If I select to boot my optical drive (or USB) in UEFI mode, then my Windows 7 x64 installation will have a UEFI/GPT (GUID Partition Table) partitioning scheme.

When you attempt to install in UEFI mode; If you get to the Windows Install screen and get the message that Windows can't be installed to the disk, it means the disk is already BIOS/MBR. For the UEFI installation to succeed at that point, the disk must be erased. Simply press the Shift + F10 keys to open a command prompt, then open diskpart and run the CLEAR command on the BIOS/MBR disk. Close the command prompt, select the now unallocated volume, and let the Windows installer take care of the GPT partitioning and NTFS format, which happens automatically when you click to start the installation.

.

 

[woodman1999]

Bubbaleone, I hit f8 and it got me to "please select boot device" where I have 3 options: Plextor DVDR PX-755A, Samsung ssd, or Enter Setup. There is no mention of what mode to boot in. Choosing any of the options brings me right into the Bios.

 

[Bubbaleone]

I briefly looked through the PDF user manual and Chapter 3: BIOS setup, outlines the configurations for setting up UEFI boot for installation media. I know you're probably weary of having to keep going through this, but my best suggestion is carefully read the entire chapter again. I'm really surprised that when you returned the UEFI/BIOS to default settings it didn't give you a UEFI boot option. Though I only skimmed through the manual, the default settings appear to be optimized for that purpose.

 

[woodman1999]

This is amazing. On a whim, I plugged in one of my dvd drives using my sata to usb cables and it is working so far. we shall see and I will update as necessary...


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[woodman1999]

Meant to add a thank you to everyone for your help and suggestions. I am still stumped and concerned I will have issues with my dvd drives once everything is up and running.


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[woodman1999]

Guess I was right not to get to excited. Can boot into the OS but I only get sporadic success with the USB to SATA connection. The same problem persists with the onboard SATA ports. Insert a disc, reads it for a bit, but in the end doesn't work. I managed to install the chipset drivers and VGA drivers after multiple attempts with the SATA to USB drive. Possible that I put the screw into the board in that area to hard or something?

Also noticed that none of the drives I own are on the QVL Devices list for this particular board, but to be honest, I've never even looked at this type of list for any of my past builds.

Anybody have any ideas on what could be the issue?

 

[Ketchup]

If your hard drives are working on your SATA ports, I don't see a physical issue causing the DVD drive not to work (on the board at least). What is the BIOS configuration for the port the DVD drive is plugged into?

 

[Bubbaleone]

Guess I was right not to get to excited. Can boot into the OS but I only get sporadic success with the USB to SATA connection. The same problem persists with the onboard SATA ports. Insert a disc, reads it for a bit, but in the end doesn't work. I managed to install the chipset drivers and VGA drivers after multiple attempts with the SATA to USB drive. Possible that I put the screw into the board in that area to hard or something?

Also noticed that none of the drives I own are on the QVL Devices list for this particular board, but to be honest, I've never even looked at this type of list for any of my past builds.

Anybody have any ideas on what could be the issue?

Your Sabertooth is running with its very first BIOS release. As the Z87 boards have just hit the market, you may be dealing with a UEFI/BIOS hardware compatibility issue. That's only conjecture on my part, but it wouldn't be the first time a manufacturer has released a brand new board with a crappy first release BIOS. On the other hand, I've also seen new boards arrive badly flashed. I'd consider reflashing the BIOS to eliminate that possibility. One other thought; I didn't see it in this thread, but have you tried clearing the CMOS by removing the battery yet?

 

[woodman1999]

I have not yet cleared the CMOS. I know you mentioned doing withthe battery, but do you think using the jumper would work ok as well?

I grabbed a brand new Asus DVD burner just to see if there is some hardware issues I am missing.

 

[Bubbaleone]

In all of the recent model Asus mobo manuals that I've been reading, they all note that jumping the CMOS pins won't clear everything like removal of the battery will. I'd remove the battery for 3-5 minutes with the PSU powercord disconnected from the wall outlet.

 

[woodman1999]

Alright, two things have been done. Based on suggestions, I cleared the CMOS by removing the battery for well, over 5 minutes. In addition, I removed two sticks of memory as in the very distant past I remember there being issues when you fill all the memory slots.

Booted her up and, after dealing several messages regarding the BIOS, got to the desktop. Dropped a disk into the internal drive (not the SATA to USB one) and it seems to have worked just fine.

Sadly, I had to leave for work right after I got the good news. Tonight, my plan is to throw the memory back in just to see if that was the issue. I am hoping that the CMOS clear did the trick and I appreciate the help.

To be honest, this is the first time I have ever had to do this with a build. Is it something to be expected in the future? Also, could it be a result of the additional testing ASUS does on these TUF boards? Maybe it's doing a little more harm then good?

 

[woodman1999]

So the two new optical drives I got seem to be working fine (1 Asus and 1 LG). Guess it was the Plextor drives all along.


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