Question ASUS Z97-C Build Issue

[aoresteen]

I am having a lot of trouble getting Windows 7 to install on a new build based on the ASUS Z97-C motherboard.

Reason for the Build:

The computer will be my primary DAW in my recording studio. It will be a CLOSED (no internet) system. I have proprietary PCI audio & MIDI interface cards. The Z97-C has 3 PCI slots and 4 PCIe Express slots. It is replacing my aging LGA 775 Q9650 3.GHz DAW running WinXP SP3, Win 7 SP1 and Win 10. Primary applications are Reaper, Sonar 8.5.3, and Sonar X3.

Here are the ASUS Z97-C specs:

SOCKET: LGA 1150
CHIPSET: Intel Z97
CPU: i7-4790K 4.0 GHz
RAM: 32GB
SATA 1: DVD Burner
SATA 2: 160GB hard drive
SATA 3: 2TB hard drive
M.2 Slot: 500 GB Team Group SSD PCIe Express (Target Boot drive)
BIOS: 2801 (last one released)
PCIe Slot 16x : USB3 card (all other slots are empty)

Target OSs: Windows 7 SP1 Professional 64 bit & Linux Mint 21.3 dual booted.

ASUS has Windows 7 64bit drivers for this motherboard. i7-4790K is listed in the ASUS supported CPU list for this motherboard.

INTEL has Windows 7 64bit drivers for the Z97 chipset.


The ASUS UEFI BIOS sees the DVD drive, both SATA hard drives, and the M.2 SSD. Keyboard is USB, mouse is PS/2 - both work fine. I am using the onboard video via the VGA mobo port 1680 x 1050 monitor. I flashed the BIOS to 2801 from 2103. No issues, easy update.


1. Using the genuine Windows 7 SP1 64 bit install DVD, the install hangs at the Windows logo & "Starting Windows" screen.

2. Using a Win7 SP1 64bit Professional install USB (UEFI), the install hangs at the Windows logo & "Starting Windows" screen.

3. Using a Win7 SP1 64bit Professional install USB (BIOS), the install hangs at the Windows logo & "Starting Windows" screen.

4. If I disconnect the SATA hard drives, the Windows Install program (DVD or USB) does NOT hang but gets as far as asking where to install but does NOT show the 500GB M.2 SSD as an option so there is no place available to install. Cancel & Reboot.

5. If I remove the M.2 500GB SSD and have the two SATA Drives in, the install program hangs as before at the Windows logo & "Starting Windows" screen. Ditto for just one SATA drive.

I have tried the above with UEFI and Compatibility modes. Makes no difference. Install hangs.

6. I can boot the Linux Mint 21.3 install media and it can see the hard drives & the SSD.

7. Booting Hiren’s BootCD PE USB (WIN 11 based) takes about 15 minutes to boot but it does finally boot.

I have been working on this build for a day & a half now with no luck. I have never had a Windows 7 build behave like this.

Internet searches came up with SATA drive issues with Win7 but these were early in Win7's life and the install media are based on WIn7 SP1 which had fixes for the SATA issues.

Any ideas?


Many Thanks!

 

[Lutfij]

I flashed the BIOS to 2801 from 2103.
Did you clear the CMOS after you'd verified your BIOS was flashed to the latest BIOS version?

See if this post helps you out;
https://forums.tomshardware.com/thr...n-an-asus-z97-a-usb3-1.2588559/#post-16731338

 

[aoresteen]

Lutfij,

I did NOT clears the CMOS after I updated the BIOS. I will do that. Thanks for the other links. I will try those tips.

Thank you!

 

[geofelt]

What is the make/model of your motherboard?

When installing windows, have only one drive connected.
That is so All of the components are on one drive and not distributed.
Support for m.2 may not be present without drivers.

Use one of the sata connected hard drives.
Installing from a usb may not work because the usb2 drivers may not be present.
Installing from a sata connected dvd should work.

When done, and all drivers are installed, clone the C drive to the M.2 drive.

 

[aoresteen]

What is the make/model of your motherboard?

........

It's in the first line of my original post "ASUS Z97-C motherboard"

"Use one of the sata connected hard drives." I did. When I started, only the 160GB SATA hard drive was connected. I then switched to the the 2TB SATA drive only. Then both together. Same result - Windows 7 SP1 install hangs - either from a DVD or a USB hangs at the "Starting Windows" screen.

"Installing from a usb may not work because the usb2 drivers may not be present." Re-read my first post items #2 & #3. USB drives work and are recognized by the BIOS. They are USB2 drives and the motherboard does't have any USB 1.1 ports.

"Installing from a sata connected dvd should work." Re-read item #4 from my first post. I know it *SHOULD* work. It doesn't. That is why I posted here in the first place.

"When done, and all drivers are installed, clone the C drive to the M.2 drive." I may have to do that but I would prefer to install directly to the M.2 SSD.

The key issue right now is that if I disconnect both SATA hard drives, running the Windows 7SP1 install from the SATA DVD or a USB drive, the install program does NOT hang and I can get to the point where the install program asks WHERE I want to install. The page with possible install locations listed is BLANK because the SATA hard drives are disconnected and the install program does not see the 500GB M.2 SSD. Nowhere to go.