New Asus Maximus VII Hero build - Legacy Boot Event errors/OS install restarts

[Fatpigeon2]

Hi, this isn't my first rodeo so to speak but this build has me completely stumped now. I can sit on the BIOS screen as long as wanted but once I try installs of Windows 7 HP 64bit I'll usually get restarts once the loading Windows screen hits; I have made it to the install section a couple of times but the furthest I get up to the is having it detect hardware (where it once again restarts), usually it fails at expanding files
.
On my board I've had 3 codes reported (in order of how often they show):
AE - Legacy Boot Event
A2 - IDE Detect
99 - Super IO Initialisation


AE is usaully the one to display.

I've tried booting from just the DVD tray (no HDD connected as I've seen suggested, same issue as above), it's set to AHCI for SATA control and in the CMS I've attempted different combinations of UEFI/Legacy settings. All to no avail.
I've removed hardware (GPU, optical drives, etc.) and tried multiple different set ups to test it. I've replaced my HDD with a new one just to check that. No luck.

A bootable USB is something I've yet to try. Rufus keeps failing to create it (as did windows USB/DVD tool) so there may be some issue with my USB stick?

Build:
8GB 2x4GB CMZ8GX3M2A1600C9B
4GB MSI Radeon R9 290 OC
Intel Core i5 4690 s1150
Asus MAXIMUS VII HERO
Corsair CSM 750W Semi Modular 80+ Gold Power Supply
WD 1TB Blue Desktop Drive 3.5" SATA-III 7200RPM 64MB

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. It feels like I'm just hitting a brick wall.
And apologies for any info missed, or poor explanations; my head's battered.

 

[spooky2th]

Go into BIOS and make sure it is set in AHCI mode instead of IDE mode. See if that makes any difference. I would set up the BIOS completely starting with setting optimized defaults then the memory timings, voltage and speed and anything else that needs to be set. Then try loading windows.

 

[Fatpigeon2]

Go into BIOS and make sure it is set in AHCI mode instead of IDE mode. See if that makes any difference. I would set up the BIOS completely starting with setting optimized defaults then the memory timings, voltage and speed and anything else that needs to be set. Then try loading windows.

I've been setting it to optimized defaults through the BIOS whilst adjusting the DRAM frequency to 1600 (that defaults to 1333). I've checked each time and it always lists as being in AHCI mode.
RAM sits at 1.5 volts and I've been leaving the CPU to auto.

I've tried updating the BIOS version as well.

Edit: I also tried allowing the RAM to run at the 1333.

 

[spooky2th]

Set optimized defaults and then enable XMP Profile1. This should set the memory timings and speed correctly. Check and see that the timings are 9-9-9-24. XMP will take care of that for you.

 

[Fatpigeon2]

Set optimized defaults and then enable XMP Profile1. This should set the memory timings and speed correctly. Check and see that the timings are 9-9-9-24. XMP will take care of that for you.

I cleared CMOS before I started this suggestion. Hit F5 to set to optimized defaults and set the XMP to profile 1.
The timings were correct but I still got a restart when booting from optical drive.
Made it to expanding files and restarted again.
I then did the above again and changed the SATA ports I was hooked up to - same result.

Edit: The on-board code changed to A0 this time which is IDE initialization is started.

 

[spooky2th]

Found this from Intel, about IDE Initialization:

FI IDE Controller Initialization Protocol Specification v0.9

***This specification defines the core code and services that are required for an implementation of the IDE Controller Initialization Protocol of the Intel® Platform Innovation Framework for EFI (hereafter referred to as the "Framework"). This protocol is used by an IDE bus driver to program an IDE controller and to obtain IDE device timing information. This protocol abstracts the nonstandard parts of an IDE controller. This protocol is not tied to any specific bus.***

Try flashing the latest BIOS version. If you already have the latest version, flash that one. Might fix any BIOS corruption if any.

 

[Fatpigeon2]

I have read on a few places that to install Windows 7 on this board you need to disable Secure Boot. I deleted the keys for this which was the only way to get secure boot to set to disabled.
I retried most of the above after this: defaulted the bios, set to XMP1, set optical to first boot device. Still restarts when enabling files.

Cheers. I'll try flashing it again and see what happens.

 

[spooky2th]

Do not set optical drive to first boot device. Leave it at what it is from setting optimized defaults. When booting with a disk in the optical drive, tap the "F12" key to get into boot manager and select the drive that the windows install disk is in. Should work. Boot manager is not the BIOS, it's a one time boot change and then the comp boots off the HDD or SSD normally afterwards unless you tap the "F12" key again.

 

[Fatpigeon2]

Found this from Intel, about IDE Initialization:

FI IDE Controller Initialization Protocol Specification v0.9

***This specification defines the core code and services that are required for an implementation of the IDE Controller Initialization Protocol of the Intel® Platform Innovation Framework for EFI (hereafter referred to as the "Framework"). This protocol is used by an IDE bus driver to program an IDE controller and to obtain IDE device timing information. This protocol abstracts the nonstandard parts of an IDE controller. This protocol is not tied to any specific bus.***

Try flashing the latest BIOS version. If you already have the latest version, flash that one. Might fix any BIOS corruption if any.

I tested different combinations of my RAM again and had no luck. May as well exhaust every option even if I've tried it before.
I've flashed the bios again through the EZ Flash utility, tried the defaults and still no luck. It made it to the same spot: "Expanding Windows Files"
Would you recommend testing it with a new set of SATA cables?

Whenever I flashbios or clear CMOS, and now whenever expanding fails, it'll restart multiple times (for a few seconds at a time) before it finally settles on starting proper.

 

[spooky2th]

Every time you flash or clear cmos, you need to set it all up correctly again. You could try different cables but I doubt that's the problem. Do you have an extra PSU to check? Sometimes a bad PSU will cause restarts.

 

[Fatpigeon2]

I've tried with my old PSU as well.
I default it and left the boot order as it set it. First couple of attempts it either restarted at widows starting screen or at the expanding files again.
Final attempt it started to make progress on expanding files then rebooted and now says:
Remove disk or any other media
Press any key to restart.

 

[spooky2th]

Try with one stick. Then the other stick if still having a problem. Can try all the slots too with one stick at a time. This might determine a bad slot or a bad stick. Can also be the CPU where the memory controller is.

 

[Fatpigeon2]

Try with one stick. Then the other stick if still having a problem. Can try all the slots too with one stick at a time. This might determine a bad slot or a bad stick. Can also be the CPU where the memory controller is.

I'm giving up for tonight but thanks for all your help so far!
I'll try again tomorrow and see if I make any progress but unfortunately I have no compatible CPUs kicking around that I'd be able to try.