ASUS X55A Windows Install + UEFI Confusion

CYPER · 01 Jul 2014

Slartybart said:

CYPER said:

Please read the topic title

- Asus X55A

I tried the UEFI Bootable USB guide, but it made no difference.

Ok, fair enough.... thanks for checking my references.

IF BIOS 302 gave you the options, I'd go back to that version or the base version 301
There are some updates such as
413: Fix the issue that SecureBoot will be disabled if BIOS is updated by EzFlash or WinFlash

that indicate the flashing of BIOS is causing you consternation.

I think I got the correct board this time :)

Please update your System Specs for the you are working on. Out of habit, members look at the specs, not the title of the thread.

Now about my other question... is this a Win8 downgrade install?

It's a friend's laptop, not mine, that is why I haven't changed my System Specs.
BIOS downgrade is impossible at least not through the BIOS interface - that is where I updated it originally. I tried to flash 302 after the update it it tells me it is too old.

As far as I can see the laptop came originally with DOS, at least the sticker on the palm rest says OS: Free DOS.
My friend had Windows 7 on it and one day it stopped working with the error being some files are corrupt or missing. System Repair didn't help, so I decided to reinstall and I've been trying ever since.

Slartybart · 01 Jul 2014

I see, the box came with a free dos OS and your friend loaded Win7 and you've been trying Win8.

Where did the install media come from? Are they retail versions?

I'm going to step back on the UEFI, because it isn't necessary to install Windows. The fact that you're having difficulties with BIOS tells me that you should skip the fancy Unified Extensible Firmware Interface (UEFI) and try installing with legacy BIOS. (I should have paid more attention to Arc's post# 2).

I'm looking at the specs for the Asus X55A (right machine this time?

) and there are two processors.
Notebooks & Ultrabooks - X55A - ASUS

User manual

I'm going to need more information on the machine. Is it up and running?

Please follow this tutorial to provide the current operating environment of your machine.
Speccy - Publish Snapshot of your System Specs

Thanks

Slartybart · 01 Jul 2014

A Disk Mgmt screen shot would be great too:
See: Disk Management - Post a Screen Capture Image

Thanks

Slartybart · 01 Jul 2014

Take a look at this post on notebookreview. The author prescribes a method to downgrade the BIOS using DOS Aflash utility.

BIOS update guide for ASUS notebooks - READ THIS BEFORE YOU BRICK YOUR MACHINE!

I am not familiar with the forum or the utility, so the call is yours to make. It's a "think about it first" reference., then think about it some more.

Scroll down to: Step 2 option B. Updating BIOS with AFLASH for DOS
In step 6 of that option it states Also, if the BIOS is older than what you currently have, you will be asked for confirmation that you really wish to write the older version. Confirm in order to downgrade the BIOS

This might get BIOS 302 flashed, or it might brick the system. I've upgraded and downgraded BIOS on many systems many times and never had an issue... still the caution is real - every machine is different.

CYPER · 01 Jul 2014

Slartybart said:

I see, the box came with a free dos OS and your friend loaded Win7 and you've been trying Win8.

Where did the install media come from? Are they retail versions?

I'm going to step back on the UEFI, because it isn't necessary to install Windows. The fact that you're having difficulties with BIOS tells me that you should skip the fancy Unified Extensible Firmware Interface (UEFI) and try installing with legacy BIOS. (I should have paid more attention to Arc's post# 2).

I'm looking at the specs for the Asus X55A (right machine this time?

) and there are two processors.
Notebooks & Ultrabooks - X55A - ASUS

User manual

I'm going to need more information on the machine. Is it up and running?

Please follow this tutorial to provide the current operating environment of your machine.
Speccy - Publish Snapshot of your System Specs

Thanks

I've tried Windows 7 first and after I realized there is some inherent problem I tried Windows 8.1.
Btw the latest attempt of Windows 7 installation is so far successful with 2 rounds of updates installed and a couple of restarts. So far the laptop is running OK.
I will proceed to install any missing drivers and I expect a BSOD. I think it can be related to the Chipset driver - I will install this one:
Version - V9.3.0.1020
Description - Intel INF Update Driver
File Size - 2,94 (MBytes)
Date - 2012.03.02

Media is ISO that I used before and I know it works.

In Regards to UEFI - there is no such option in BIOS and I don't think it is active in any way. Please check my previous posts - there are photos from BIOS with all the options.

So machine is up and running now after a fresh install and 2 rounds of updates. Let's see if that Chipset driver will bring the BSOD.

Slartybart said:

A Disk Mgmt screen shot would be great too:
See: Disk Management - Post a Screen Capture Image

Thanks

Few posts back

CYPER · 01 Jul 2014

Slartybart said:

Take a look at this post on notebookreview. The author prescribes a method to downgrade the BIOS using DOS Aflash utility.

BIOS update guide for ASUS notebooks - READ THIS BEFORE YOU BRICK YOUR MACHINE!

I am not familiar with the forum or the utility, so the call is yours to make. It's a "think about it first" reference., then think about it some more.

Scroll down to: Step 2 option B. Updating BIOS with AFLASH for DOS
In step 6 of that option it states Also, if the BIOS is older than what you currently have, you will be asked for confirmation that you really wish to write the older version. Confirm in order to downgrade the BIOS

This might get BIOS 302 flashed, or it might brick the system. I've upgraded and downgraded BIOS on many systems many times and never had an issue... still the caution is real - every machine is different.

I will skip that for now as Windows is running.
Let's install things step by step and see what causes the problem. If I'm lucky it might actually not happen this time :)

Speccy: http://speccy.piriform.com/results/0...w1pxlCuPVncmcm

Slartybart · 01 Jul 2014

CYPER said:

I've tried Windows 7 first and after I realized there is some inherent problem I tried Windows 8.1.
Btw the latest attempt of Windows 7 installation is so far successful with 2 rounds of updates installed and a couple of restarts. So far the laptop is running OK.

I will proceed to install any missing drivers and I expect a BSOD. I think it can be related to the Chipset driver - I will install this one:
Version - V9.3.0.1020
Description - Intel INF Update Driver
File Size - 2,94 (MBytes)
Date - 2012.03.02

Media is ISO that I used before and I know it works.

In Regards to UEFI - there is no such option in BIOS and I don't think it is active in any way. Please check my previous posts - there are photos from BIOS with all the options.

So machine is up and running now after a fresh install and 2 rounds of updates. Let's see if that Chipset driver will bring the BSOD.

Ok thanks... the manual says differently, but I did read your post that said the updated BISO removed the options. That just very odd.

Attachment 323865

I skipped past the Disk Mgmt shot (expected screen cap, not photo) - thanks for pointing me to it.

Let me ask about Win7 a different way, then. You said you think the machine came with free DOS, and that you installed Win7 / Win8 from an ISO that you know works. Did you activate Windows 7 using the key on the COA (bottom of machine or in battery compartment). DO NOT post the COA product key.

The manual references a recovery partition, but the Disk Mgmt shows no such animal. The manual also references recovery disks - any chance they're around?

I'm not sure what you want to do at this point. My take is to baseline a machine when it starts acting up.

It sounds as though the UEFI question was a bit of a red herring, and you were trying to resolve a BSOD. I'm easily confused though.

You'll be continuing with the machine as is - applying updates and drivers waiting for a BSOD. Is that a fair assessment of your plan?

I'm not sure I'll be more help on this, I might pop back in to see any progress you're making. Hopefully I've given you some references that might help.

Good luck.

Bill
.

Slartybart · 01 Jul 2014

See, I popped back in - thanks for posting the Speccy.

edit: You said that you followed the UEFI USB instructions - is the flash drive in the machine now the one you used?

I don't want to go back into the UEFI mess, especially since your BIOS doesn't have the settings. But..... the file system on that Flash drive is NTFS- that will NOT work for a UEFI USB install.

Just a note in case you ever think about UEFI again.

CYPER · 01 Jul 2014

Great Success - I managed to install all updates + a few drivers and so far the Laptop seems OK even after a few restarts. Nothing is lagging and Windows Experience Index looks OK:

This time though I only installed drivers which are either missing or too old in this order:
Chipset driver
USB 3.0 Drivers
ATKP Package
SmartGesture (touchpad)
Card Reader

Windows 7 installed the latest Graphics, Ethernet and WiFi drivers. No drivers missing in Device Manager.

I think skipping the Intel Management Engine Interface and Intel Rapid Storage Technology driver might be the reason I am not seeing any BSODs. Maybe...

Thanks you very much for your help guys. I still have no idea why I was getting BSOD before and I hope I don't get any more.

Slartybart · 01 Jul 2014

IRST has been know to cause BSODs, I'm not sure about IMEI

Glad you got it all sorted out. you really did all of the work. Keep an eye on it for a few days and if it's still running well, please mark the thread solved.

Bill
.