Help with MSI Z97 Gaming 7

[DeadlierThanLag]

I wanted to upgrade my processor from an old AMD APU, so I got an i7-4790K but to use it I needed an Intel motherboard. I picked up a MSI Z97 Gaming 7, but I've been having trouble with the software side. Intel RST won't download, stating 'platform not supported'. Doesn't matter if I try the driver from Intel or MSI's support site for my motherboard. I'm using everything I had with my previous motherboard (RAM, HDD, CD Drive, GPU etc.). The asmedia drives downloaded fine, but that means I can only use ports 7 and 8. This wouldn't be much of a problem, except I can't install any new drives, and ports 7 and 8 are only recognised as eSATA drives, and the option to safely eject my only HDD, which is my boot drive, is available. Also, if I switch to IDE mode for ports 7 and 8, or try to use ports 1-6, I am given the error 'inaccessible boot device', although my BIOS still detects the drive.

I have Windows 10 upgraded from 7. I didn't reinstall my OS after the switch. I installed the drivers for the new motherboard prior to the switch.

I tried uninstalling the asmedia drivers to see if I could install Intel RST, no luck. I reinstalled the driver before switching off my PC, but I was greeted with the 'inaccessible boot device' error when I turned it back on. Trying to boot with UEFI got stuck at startup.nsh My motherboard has dual-BIOS, and for some reason, switching to the other BIOS then trying to boot (Legacy not UEFI) reinstalled the driver and let my pc work again, including with the other BIOS. I'm too scared to change or try anything else. Intel RST still gives the same error.

Edit: Forgot to mention, Intel RST is disabled in BIOS and can't be enabled. It's greyed out and clicking on it to change it does nothing. Tried a bunch of registry solutions for the ability to eject boot drive, seems like it might have worked for CD drive, but not for my HDD.

 

[cin19]

RST? do you mean Rapid Start Technology or Rapid Storage Technology?
If it is for Rapid Start Technology, check the link for more info. http://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/support/technologies/000015518.html
If it is for the Rapid Storage Technology, you will need more than two HDDs.

And from what you said it looks like you have more than two of them. So how many HDDs do you have? Which SATA port do you connect the HDD and CD drive? Do you use the HDD with OS from the AMD to boot the intel PC? I am confusing what your questions are, we need more info.

The MSI Z97 gaming 7 has 6 x SATA 6Gb/s ports (SATA1~6), which is usually more than enough. But if you have more than 6, you can move the CD drive into the ASMedia SATA ports, but you need to install the ASMedia sata driver ( win7 only), because you had the win10, you don't need.

 

[DeadlierThanLag]

RST? do you mean Rapid Start Technology or Rapid Storage Technology?
If it is for Rapid Start Technology, check the link for more info. http://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/support/technologies/000015518.html
If it is for the Rapid Storage Technology, you will need more than two HDDs.

And from what you said it looks like you have more than two of them. So how many HDDs do you have? Which SATA port do you connect the HDD and CD drive? Do you use the HDD with OS from the AMD to boot the intel PC? I am confusing what your questions are, we need more info.

The MSI Z97 gaming 7 has 6 x SATA 6Gb/s ports (SATA1~6), which is usually more than enough. But if you have more than 6, you can move the CD drive into the ASMedia SATA ports, but you need to install the ASMedia sata driver ( win7 only), because you had the win10, you don't need.

As I said, I didn't reinstall (or repair install) my OS after switching motherboards. I only have one HDD, and the HDD and CD Drive are plugged into SATA ports 7 and 8 respectively. I am using the same OS and same HDD from when I had the AMD motherboard and APU.

 

[cin19]

You should always to use the SAST #1 port ( the first one sata port) for your boot drive, because the MB will boot from the device connected into the 1st sata port by default. If you use other ports like the #7/#8, which are not the intel sata ports, you need load the ASMedia sata driver before you can use them, otherwise just like you had the problem right now, because the MB will not recognize the drive that connected into those ports.

So you may change the HDD into the 1st sata port, and try boot the PC to see it works or not.

If it does not work out. May try put the hdd back to the amd PC, upgrade the win10 to the win10 anniversary update, then linked your Microsoft account to your Windows 10 digital license, after that download the win10 and make the USB boot drive or DVD to clean reinstall the win10.
Here is how to http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/id-3164428/windows-build-1607-activation.html

I recommend to do the clean reinstall the OS after switch the MB, because the MB is intel, it is totally different to the AMD, so the chipset drivers or other drivers are different too.

 

[DeadlierThanLag]

You should always to use the SAST #1 port ( the first one sata port) for your boot drive, because the MB will boot from the device connected into the 1st sata port by default. If you use other ports like the #7/#8, which are not the intel sata ports, you need load the ASMedia sata driver before you can use them, otherwise just like you had the problem right now, because the MB will not recognize the drive that connected into those ports.

So you may change the HDD into the 1st sata port, and try boot the PC to see it works or not.

If it does not work out. May try put the hdd back to the amd PC, upgrade the win10 to the win10 anniversary update, then linked your Microsoft account to your Windows 10 digital license, after that download the win10 and make the USB boot drive or DVD to clean reinstall the win10.
Here is how to http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/id-3164428/windows-build-1607-activation.html

I recommend to do the clean reinstall the OS after switch the MB, because the MB is intel, it is totally different to the AMD, so the chipset drivers or other drivers are different too.

I've tried using SATA 1, it didn't work. I believe a clean install is needed, just need to find where to backup some of my files.