Asus rampage IV extreme (black) - boot problem

[Draakjuh]

Hello all,

I have a problem with starting up windows from my SSD. I have a new PC and installed windows 8.1 from a USB on the SSD (EVO 840 250gb). When I startup my computer, I see the republic of gamers screen and it asks me to press delete or F2 to go into my bios.

In the bios I have set the boot priority 1 to my SSD and 2 to my DVD drive (I have another SATA drive, but I have disconnected it). The SATA configuration is set to AHCI mode (also tried RAID mode). When I go to the boot menu and select my SSD, then Windows will startup normally.

Can anyone help me with this problem? I tried a lot, but still no luck. So every time when I start up my pc, is stays in the black screen asking me to press delete or F2 and I have to go to the boot menu to startup Windows.

[Draakjuh]

If I go to disk manager in Windows 8, then It says that the SSD is Disk 0 (C:) NTFS. So that should be ok.

[HiVizMan]

Here is what you need to do. Make sure your SSD is in the Intel 6G port.

Then remove all the other sata cables except your SSD. Now power on and boot to OS.

Power down and fit the others.

No more problem.

[Draakjuh]

It still doesn't work. I unplugged all SATA cables (even the diskdrive), plugged in the SSD in the Intel 6.0 connector (the middle one of all 2 SATA ports of the 5) and powered it up. When I startup I still see the screen 'Please press DEL or F2 to enter UEFI BIOS setting'. When I wait it startup the UEFI BIOS screen.

The boot priority is on 1 (because it is also the only HD connected). Do I have to reinstall Windows? In the 'advanced' settings in the 'SATA configuration' The Samsung SSD 840 EVO is in the SATA6G_1 port. Hot plug is disabled and the SATA mode is on 'AHCI Mode'.

[Draakjuh]

Anyone have an idea how to fix this? I also tried to change the settings inside the "Compatibility Support Module" both Legacy and UEFI. I found out that my SSD is formated to MBR instead of GPT. Should that be a problem?

[HiVizMan]

Do not try to over complicate the process my friend.

Clear CMOS.

Do not make any changes in the bios. Leave it on defaults.

With only the SSD you wish to install OS on fitted power on. Yes you will need to install OS again. Windows places the boot directory in the oddest places and not always on the hard drive that the OS is installed on. That is why I said only the SSD you wish to have the OS installed onto. 🙂

[Draakjuh]

I Unplugged all devices (only SSD + DVD), did Clear CMOS, formatted SSD in Gparted and Installed windows 8.1 (tried both UEFI and normal) by pressing in the Windows installation on the 'New' button and then installing Windows on the SSD partition (not the System Reserved one).

When Windows started up again, it still shows me the UEFI BIOS screen (where i need to press F2 or Delete button - 1.jpg).

I uploaded the photo's of the settings in my UEFI BIOS. Hopefully you see something I did wrong: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/b2cq9r4czkaav61/AADK6zZ8GO0beSfLOWFRhtXma (as you can see on the last photo's is that my SSD is in the middle SATA ports and the one next to it is of my DVD player)

[Praz]

Draakjuh wrote:
I Unplugged all devices (only SSD + DVD), did Clear CMOS, formatted SSD in Gparted and Installed windows 8.1 (tried both UEFI and normal) by pressing in the Windows installation on the 'New' button and then installing Windows on the SSD partition (not the System Reserved one).

Hello

No need for this. With default UEFI settings Secure Erase the drive and then install the the operating system. The install will format the drive as needed.

[Draakjuh]

I checked my disk inside the Hard Disk Management and saw that my SSD is formatted as MBR. On different post in this forum I saw that I needed to change the CSM to 'Legacy OpROM First', but that didn't work also. I changed it back to defaults.

The specs of my PC are:
GH24NS, DVD-burner
Hydro Series H100i
Samsung 840 EVO MZ-7TE250BW, 250 GB SSD
RAMPAGE IV BLACK EDITION, socket 2011
Barracuda 7200.14, 2 TB
16 GB DDR3-1866 Kit
ASUS ROG POSEIDON-GTX780-P-3GD5
Intel® CoreTM i7-4930K
Cooler Master Silent Pro Gold RS850-AFBAG1-EU, 850 Watt
HAF X

[Raja]

Should be an option in the menu to load Windows BOOT manager - that is what I use as the primary BOOT device for my installs here.