(Solved, RAM issue) New build doesn't boot Windows installation media and gives various errors.

[McGravel]

****Read my latest post for my resolution.****


Hello, I have ordered some parts and recently assembled them for my new build. No overclocks have been performed.

Here's what I put together:

CPU - i7 4770K (3.5GHz Stock)
CPU COOLER - Corsair H100i
RAM - 2x4GB Corsair Vengance Pro 1333 MHz
MOBO - ASUS Maximus VII Ranger (Z97 Chipset)
HDD - 2TB WD Black 7200RPM
GPU - ASUS Nvidia GTX 780Ti DirectCU II
PSU - Corsair CS750M Semi-modular

Hopefully I can explain my syptoms well enough:
Upon trying to run Ubuntu to see what the system was like, the system simply went to a black screen. I pressed the reset button, and tried again, only to have the system reboot with every option from the options menu. Since I was going to install Windows and this was new hardware, I thought nothing of it, simply deciding that it was an incompatible version.

However, attempting to install Windows 7 x64 Home Premium SP1 gave me no luck either.

I have recieved various errors from both USB and DVD versions of Windows, such as:

Winload.efi - missing/corrupt
winload.exe - missing/corrupt
or messages about "the digital signature could not be verified"

Trying a windows 8.1 USB, I recieved a different error about a required device or driver (or something similar) was not found/inaccessible. (0xc00001)

Deciding to see what the memory diagnostic tool would say, I started it up only to receive a message saying that a hardware problem was found. I quit the diagnostic shortly after at about 68%, no errors seemed to appear.

In addition, some attempts to boot in either UEFI or legacy mode would not even boot the media, instead having the screen flicker and simply stay in the bios.

I have tried changing the secure boot settings and compatilbity settings when defaults didn't work, but to no avail.
I have reseated both sticks of ram, which doesn't appear to have done anything either.

I think that's most of the symptoms I have recieved, although all the hardware seems to work correctly. I have reseated both sticks of ram, which doesn't appear to have done anything either.

 

[jkhoward]

How much memory is detected in the computer BIOS?

What USB ports did you try connecting the media too?

Secure Boot should be disabled for Windows 7.

Have you tried loading BIOS optimized defaults?

 

[JoshuaPinto]

Hmmmm. Thats a tough one. I had something similar to this. If you have any wireless mice or keyboard attached then try booting with a WIRED keyboard and mouse. If that does't work then my guess would be the motherboard. good luck!

 

[McGravel]

How much memory is detected in the computer BIOS?

What USB ports did you try connecting the media too?

Secure Boot should be disabled for Windows 7.

Have you tried loading BIOS optimized defaults?

Both RAM sticks appear in the bios, and I have tried with the defaults for the bios as well.
This however means that the secure boot status appears enabled in the settings.
I have used the front USB3.0 ports of the chassis for the USBs, but actually didn't consider using the motherboard's USB ports.

 

[JackNaylorPE]

Odd mix.....new MoBo chipset / older CPU design. Most questions of late have been no boot Z87 / 4790k replated

But anyway .... everything is brand new, so I'd call Asus and have them guide you thru the troubleshooting procedure.

 

[jkhoward]

How much memory is detected in the computer BIOS?

What USB ports did you try connecting the media too?

Secure Boot should be disabled for Windows 7.

Have you tried loading BIOS optimized defaults?

Both RAM sticks appear in the bios, and I have tried with the defaults for the bios as well.
This however means that the secure boot status appears enabled in the settings.
I have used the front USB3.0 ports of the chassis for the USBs, but actually didn't consider using the motherboard's USB ports.

I would recommend trying the USB ports on the back of the motherboard. I have had an issue in the past with the case USB ports not working during an installation of Windows. Hopefully it is as easy as that! I would also test your USB drive and the disk drive on another computer. I had a disk drive that was faulty and I was literally pulling my hair out for the longest time trying to figure out why I was receiving the errors. Could be your image is also bad if it was burned with the faulty disk burner.

 

[McGravel]

Hmmmm. Thats a tough one. I had something similar to this. If you have any wireless mice or keyboard attached then try booting with a WIRED keyboard and mouse. If that does't work then my guess would be the motherboard. good luck!

I have been using a random PS/2 keyboard which works fine, and when i used a mouse, it was a USB one as well.

 

[McGravel]

How much memory is detected in the computer BIOS?

What USB ports did you try connecting the media too?

Secure Boot should be disabled for Windows 7.

Have you tried loading BIOS optimized defaults?

Both RAM sticks appear in the bios, and I have tried with the defaults for the bios as well.
This however means that the secure boot status appears enabled in the settings.
I have used the front USB3.0 ports of the chassis for the USBs, but actually didn't consider using the motherboard's USB ports.

I would recommend trying the USB ports on the back of the motherboard. I have had an issue in the past with the case USB ports not working during an installation of Windows. Hopefully it is as easy as that! I would also test your USB drive and the disk drive on another computer. I had a disk drive that was faulty and I was literally pulling my hair out for the longest time trying to figure out why I was receiving the errors. Could be your image is also bad if it was burned with the faulty disk burner.

I just went to try the USB in the mobo ports, but it gave me the required device missing/inaccessible error again (the usb still has windows 8.1) The bios was reset to optimised defaults.


Going to likely call ASUS support when their call centre is available. Thanks for the responses so far, I've been quite stressed and baffled since i'm used to putting together older and simpler machines. For example, this is my first encounter with UEFI.

 

[jkhoward]

Does the error imply that you need the USB drivers to be loaded to continue?

 

[McGravel]

Does the error imply that you need the USB drivers to be loaded to continue?

If you mean the "required device missing or not accessible" (0xc0000001) error, no device or driver is specified.

EDIT - This is booting UEFI mode according to the boot menu.

EDIT 2 - Just sent ASUS a "Service Request" thing, so hopefully I should get some sort of response with 48 hours at least. I have also realised that my BIOS revision is stil 0601 (factory) and there is newer revisions, however they don't appear to address any relevant issues for me, so I have not updated yet.

For future reference, the motherboard is a 1.02 revision version.

 

[jkhoward]

If you are not installing Windows 8 it is best to not use UEFI mode.

 

[McGravel]

If you are not installing Windows 8 it is best to not use UEFI mode.

Thanks, I'll keep that in mind should I try to use the disc again.

EDIT - I have recieved a reply from ASUS support via email and am currently responding to their emails. I will update the thread as necessary.

 

[McGravel]

I have just booted the PC up with one RAM stick removed, and now legacy boots (non UEFI) give me a "memory overflow error" and UEFI Windows 8.1 gives me the "winload.efi missing/corrupt" error where it had not done so before.

Could this be a sign of RAM issues, considering the Windows Memory Diagnostic immediately says there is a hardware problem?

 

[McGravel]

I have fixed the problem! (At least for now, as I write this.)

I had removed a RAM stick only to recieve errors.

Swapping with the other RAM stick into the same slot to potentially eliminate a slot fault, the PC now boots into both Win 7 and 8.1 media, i stil need to install but I am happy it even boots!

I had a feeling the RAM would be the culprit, especially after the memory diagnostic saying there was a problem.

Thank you for your responses, but for future reference, if you recieve similar issues, check with the Windows Memory diagnostic if you can. Alternatively, swap you sticks into the same slot one at a time, booting once with each stick. This process eliminated the faulty stick for me.

I hope I don't need to make another thread about this problem.