Unable to get into Windows 8 Pro on Maximus V Formula and HD7950 cards

[mandarpalshikar]

Hi... need ur urgent help. I just changed my mobo to Maximus V Formula and did a fresh install. After first restart windows 8 hanged with numlock light on the keyboard. I'm able to do successful install of windows 7 perfectly but want to use windows 8 pro.
After much tries found out that my gfx cards (2 x HD7950) might have been the causes so installed windows 8 once again using on-board gfx only. Now windows got installed properly but still I'm unable to get into it if I plug in my gfx cards. I can go into safe mode though. I tried my best could not install AMD Catalyst drivers in safe mode. Any idea how to solve this issue? I'm unable to get into win8. Is there any way to install catalyst in safe mode ??

[mandarpalshikar]

^^ I tried with only one single GPU plugged in as well but still problem persists.

[billyray520]

I'm having the same problem. Right now I have the PCIe GPU enabled in BIOS and multi-display disabled. Windows installed the AMD driver itself. If I install Catalyst I start having problems (ver. 12-10) Originally I had my computer working with both GPUs and Virtu MVP enabled. But even then I had problems with Windows (7, 64 bit) suddenly freezing and the black screen of death. No video. Only a hard reset would resolve. I even returned my Sapphire HD7970 card for RMA exchange, but this new card already did the same thing when I was trying to install Catalyst.

My solution right now is to only use the PCIe GPU with the windows installed AMD driver. So far it has been stable with no glitches.

I have never found a good explanation of how to deal with the Catalyst drivers and the Intel HD4000 driver.

When I reinstalled the replacement GPU, Intel HD4000 was already installed, and the latest update working fine, without any incidents the whole time I awaited my replacement. (about a month) But installing the latest Catalyst after installing the GPU caused all sorts of havoc with Windows 7. I tried all sorts of installation and reinstallation options, but nothing seemed to work.

In device driver, if I have the PCIe GPU enabled in BIOS, I will see just the one driver "AMD Radeon HD7900 series" If I check with just the iGPU enabled in BIOS, it will show BOTH display drivers, the "Intel HD4000" and the "AMD Radeon HD7900 series" driver.

More ideas: Turn off the Windows Driver update/install, then install the drivers. First the Asus provided Intel driver, then reboot and install the Catalyst driver. Reboot then turn the Windows driver updates back on.

I just don't have time to devote to this right now. I want to get some work done, and I just can't keep playing around with the GPU drivers, trying to get them to function properly. Obviously SOMETHING is causing conflicts that are catastrophic to Windows and the GPUs themselves.

[Chino]

If you're never planning to use the iGPU, then there's no need to install the drivers for it. Don't get all worked up over it. lol

[billyray520]

Well, it would be nice to have the iGPU functioning with the PCIe GPU so that Virtu MVP can be used, but that isn't an option if the drivers can't be installed. On the other hand, maybe it's not worth it anyway.

[mandarpalshikar]

But in that case... even though I'm able to use Windows 7 but I'm unable to install and use Windows 8. 😞
And moreover I want to make sure that any of the hardware is not faulty.

[mandarpalshikar]

I found this link on Intel Communities -
http://communities.intel.com/thread/29246?tstart=0

There are many people facing similar issue and Intel is not responding. i'll try the solution which worked in that thread and will also try to run the machine with a spare i3-2100 which I have.

Will keep you guys posted tomorrow.

[mandarpalshikar]

Guys.... the problem has been resovled. Here is what I did.

1. I uninstalled all both Intel & AMD drivers with driver fusion in windows safe mode and shut down the pc.
2. Popped out i5 3570k from mobo and re-fitted it once again so as to negate any socket issues. Did CMOS reset. But this did not worked and the problem was reproduced.
3. Popped out i5 3570k and this time popped in a spare i3 2100 I had with me. Did CMOS reset and installed windows 8. It got installed perfectly. Then I tried installing Windows 7 and that also got installed perfectly.
4. Now I popped in i5 3570k again. Did CMOS reset and tried to install Windows 8 Pro. And yes this time all worked perfectly. I now could install all the drivers and stuff.
5. PC is running stable now.


Thx all for your inputs and taking time to look into my issue.

[billyray520]

Thanks for keeping us updated on your progress and final solution. I don't think too many people have different versions of Processors to pop in and out, but still, it was informative.

I have finally gotten Catalyst installed too. I used Driver Fusion in Safe mode to remove all AMD stuff. I also used gpedit.msc (the policy editor) to prevent Windows from installing a driver on its own. Then I installed Catalyst again. What I didn't realize was that the policy I set also prevented the driver from installing. However Catalyst Control Center was installed. I then went into Device Manager and installed the new drivers by pointing windows to the directory where they were extracted. Now I have the latest drivers and Catalyst both. I won't be certain this is a good install however, until I go at least a week without any incidents. If there are any incidents, it may be because of the somewhat disjointed Catalyst install, so I may try everything all over again first, but reverting the policy editor BEFORE I start installing Catalyst.

One other note. I remember using Fusion to remove the Intel HD4000 display driver stuff BUT I also remember it causing problems with the chip driver. I had to re-install the chip driver, then install the HD4000 driver.