Boot to Linux based GPT - not booting

[phantom99]

I'm trying to boot into a GUID partition table based disk and I can't seem to get the boot disk (partition) to be recognised, so I keep ending up at the BIOS settings.
I've tried a few different settings (lots actually) and can't get things to work. I am (perhaps desparately) not wanting to believe a modern ASUS BIOS would not recognise GPT based boot disk (albeit non windows).
I have temporarily installed Ubuntu onto the disk to ensure the hardware is fundamentally compatible, but Ubuntu uses PC-98 partition tables I believe, so it doesnt tell me if GPT works or not - simply that my hardware is compatible at a basic level. It boots fine (and currently I am writing this having booted from a USB version of Ubuntu). So my hardware works at a basic level.
The software I am installing is Smoothwall Express 3.1 Firewall software that is Linux based (and very cool). (I hope it's OK to post here, 'cos I know it's more about gaming discussions. Just that you guys are my best source of intimate hardware knowledge and tweaking to get things to work.
I have a thread on the Smoothwall forum that has helped me with some other issues I initialy had, and it has drifted to this issue. The result being "ask the vendor for a BIOS update". But I thought some ASUS genius might be able to help (I am a bit tech-dumb actually :o).
My hardware is:
ASUS Gryphon Z87 with i5 4570S, 8GB Corsair DDR3, Samsung 840 Pro SSD, 2x Dual port Intel Pro1000 PT LAN cards (4-ports). No other PCI cards and running VESA console from onboard video.
BIOS is V1802 (latest)
Not sure what other info or steps I have taken are useful, so I can respond as required if anyone has some thoughts.
I'm really hoping I don't end up with a door stop, as I'm erally excited to get this flying. (100MB broadband - I need some fast Firewall action and I love ASUS, so that's why I chose it.)
Any suggestions on what BIOS settings I can make, or any other suggestions would be great. Being Firewall software I can't change much, but the Smoothwall guys are great, and can happily support me to work through any suggestions.

[Arne_Saknussemm]

I know zero about Linux so until someone comes along who does I'll just post up the thread where I thrashed about a bit trying to get it to run once....who knows....something might help..at least it's a bump 😮

http://rog.asus.com/forum/showthread.php?40658-Arne-s-Linux-adventure&highlight=linux+adventure

[Zygomorphic]

Question: do you need GPT? It should be supported, yes. Make sure that any SecureBoot is turned off, and LaunchCSM is enabled (though I'm fairly certain you have already done so, since you got the USB key to boot).

[phantom99]

GPT is the only method for the Smoothwall installation.

I have gone back to default settings and then made the following changes:
Boot:|:Secure boot:|:Key Management:|: remove default secure boot keys> resulting in Secure boot state=disabled
Boot:|:Secure boot:|:Operating system > have tried both Windows UEFI and Other
Boot:|:CSM:|:Launch CSM > Enabled
Boot:|:CSM:|: Boot from Network Devices > Ignore

[phantom99]

Here is what was last suggested by the Firewall software tech support:
SWE3.1 uses GPT partitioning scheme. Ubuntu uses PC-98.

First verify that UEFI is disabled in the BIOS.

If that isn't the problem, it must be that your BIOS does not support GUID partition tables or doesn't support booting from GPT without UEFI. If it's a new system, ask the manufacturer to provide a BIOS that does.

I have set
Boot:|:CSM:|:Boot Device Control>Legacy OPROM only
Boot:|:CSM:|:Boot from storage devices>Legacy OPROM first

[Zygomorphic]

Don't disable UEFI, that's not the problem. Try re-enabling that, and booting a Fedora image. Fedora usually has support for the latest things, since it is supported by Red Hat.

[dalvator]

I've got seemingly the same problem with a brand new MAXIMUS VI HERO (BIOS version 1402)

With the motherboard, I bought 4 2Tb disks, having in mind a RAID10 configuration.

I tried installing CentOS6.5 via PXE from another linux computer and Windows 8.1 pro on an USB key.

When using a single 2Tb bisk, everything goes fine : CentOS installs without a question as does Windows 8.1 !

But when I go for the RAID 10 with my 4 disks
- Windows 8.1 crashes after loading the RAID drivers (extracted from the ASUS DVD). A grey screen saying that there were a hardware problem and then rebooting for a new install process ... again and again
- CentOS complains about using a GPT boot drive on a non-EFI system, just before asking for a reboot ... which hangs !

The strange thing is that CentOS is able to detect a non-EFI system !

I've played with all the options you're taking about but I perhaps missed something. For my last attempt, I verified that Secure boot was disabled and all the possible options with UEFI set with UEFI first.

[dalvator]

Oops !
Yes, I obviously missed important things !

All my attempts installing either CentOS or Windows 8.1 were made using the usual (old style) way, PXE boot and USB boot. I didn't notice that the ASUS BIOS was offering me UEFI: lan connection and UEFI: USB devices as boot options ... I haven't tried yet but that's sure the path to follow !
I've already located the bootx64.efi file in the Windows 8.1 DVD, it just remains to me to find an hypothetical efi-pxelinux.0 file.

[Zygomorphic]

Yes, you need to use UEFI USB options. Linux Mint 16 can boot on UEFI from USB (tried it with my Surface Pro). CentOS, being based off RedHat, is much slower to support new things, so your mileage may vary.