Do I or don't I  

John

Under Intel Anti-Theft Technology Configuration there should be two items:

• Intel Anti-Theft Technology Configuration should be Enabled
• Enter Intel AT Suspend Mode should be Disabled

Under USB Configuration:

• Legacy USB Support should be Enabled
• XHCI Pre-Boot Mode should be Smart Auto

On you Save & Exit Tab there can be an option: Boot Override
See if the Windows Boot Manager and the DVD drive are listed there.
If not, a picture of that screen would be helpful.

I never got an answer to find out if you did the Restore Defaults process (Save & Exit Tab).
It is a good idea to always restore the defaults after every settings change attempt that does not yield results. In this way you are always starting at ground level, not piling one change on top of another and complicating things.

The Boot Options thing is strange. Boot Option #1 (your SSD) is Disabled. That is the problem we need to solve.

BTW: USB sticks will often not show up as boot options unless the system is started with the stick installed. Did you try plugging one in and then restarting the laptop?
Another note: if that laptop has USB 2.0 ports (Black) and USB 3.0 ports (blue), plug the stick into one of the black 2.0 ports. Sometimes the Smart Auto does not always pick up a stick.

Check to be sure the settings in the top of this post are are correct.

Then he next thing I want you to try is to Launch CSM on the BOOT menu. Set that to Enabled > go to the Exit Tab > Save Changes and Exit.

Sorry mate and yes I did try the default settings a couple of times but same old stuff. The USB yes I sort of understand what you mean because that BIOS update showed up like that. By the by all ports are 3.0 (x4)

The other stuff I will try tomorrow when I get up from sleeping as I am on night duty right now and at work and by the time I get home all I want is the shower and bed

I thought that CSM stuff looked promising but I shall as stated try the other stuff first.

Sorry if I sounded a bit pessimistic earlier but the whole process from buying to trying to get this machine sorted has really stretched my stress levels, and although I am normally very patient - my patience sadly is wearing a bit thin with something that is going to be very simple I guess.

I'll see if I can find some info for you on CSM (Compatibility Support Module) later on. But I know it is a necessity to install W7, as unfortunately W7 is now a Legacy OS.
I recall Gregrocker did some tutorials on this, since he is the Installation guru here!

TVeblen said:

John, I'm having a problem responding to you. You might want to check your settings:

Ok mate I tried a PM but up to just recently have had no problems I ticked the box in Advanced options and obviously it is not working as should be. I don't know what the problem is because you are onmmy friend and contact list?
I will check again.

Well I found out what I was asking and as a matter of interest I found CSM in this Unified Extensible Firmware Interface - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
a quote -
CSM booting[edit]

For backwards compatibility, most of the UEFI firmware implementations on PC-class machines also support booting in legacy BIOS mode from MBR-partitioned disks, through the Compatibility Support Module (CSM) which provides legacy BIOS compatibility. In that scenario, booting is performed in the same way as on legacy BIOS-based systems, by ignoring the partition table and relying on the content of a boot sector.[32]
BIOS booting from MBR-partitioned disks is commonly called BIOS-MBR, regardless of it being performed on UEFI or legacy BIOS-based systems. As a side note, booting legacy BIOS-based systems from GPT disks is also possible, and it is commonly called BIOS-GPT.
Despite the fact MBR partition tables are required to be fully supported within the UEFI specification,[20] some UEFI firmwares immediately switch to the BIOS-based CSM booting depending on the type of boot disk's partition table, thus preventing UEFI booting to be performed from EFI System partitions on MBR-partitioned disks.[32] Such a scheme is commonly called UEFI-MBR

It seems to have a few answers.

It will certainly be worth a try. And changing settings in a BIOS is fairly risk free since you can easily reset BIOS defaults even if the machine wouldn't start.

To reset BIOS on a laptop:

• Shut down/power off
• Remove the power supply/adapter
• Remove the battery
• Press and hold the power button for about 30 seconds or so
• Replace the battery, attach the power supply
• Power on and go directly into BIOS settings.

Two things to do:

1. Go to the SECURITY Tab > Secure Boot Menu > and Disable Secure Boot
2. Go to the BOOT Tab > Launch CSM : set to Enabled (Launch PXE OpROM : Enabled)
3. Save Changes and Exit

And you should be good to go.

Step 1 will allow Windows 7 to start without the Secure Boot error, step 2 will get the CD/DVD drive to show up as a boot device.
Be sure your W7 disk is installed when you do the changes.

BINGO!!
You have saved my sanity Bob I am on the machine typing this. By chances I had the install disk in the optical (I had missed putting it in) but it didn't show up in the boot options all the same but at least it booted to the SSD.

I don't know how that dealer got it to run 7 when he put in on as those BIOS settings to the best of my recollection had not been changed since factory.

Now all I have to do is go back and disable the touchpad as I prefer a mouse.

Thank you so much for sticking with me and also to all of the others it certainly has been a bit of a learning curve with this form of EUFI because the desktop one I have is so easy to navigate.

I read somewhere that 7 is now a legacy OS do you reckon that has something to do with it??

Hey! Congrats!

Yes I believe I said it. W7 is a legacy OS in the eyes of new UEFI systems designed for modern OS like Windows 8. So if you buy a PC with W8 pre-installed you can be sure those BIOS settings will be set up with Secure Boot enabled and CSM disabled by default.

If the dealer installed W7 on the laptop he would have had to change those BIOS settings or 7 would not install!

Mmm Bob well I knew I had seen it somewhere about the legacy stuff and I must thank you again for sticking with my miserable self. I found this quite a good learning session after all is said and done and maybe a good reference to others who may have similar problems as I saw some on the ROG and Tomshardware sites forums with this problem too but they didn't seem to be bale to come up with a solution.

So if I ever get lumbered with this again - will know what to do.

That dealer well I suppose his "techie" as he called him must have changed the BIOS but he is one ratbag I will steer clear of in the future.

By the by I think my message would not come through because you were not on my friends list - is now but I was certain it was but however many thanks I appreciate it. It just goes to show what a great forum this is eh?
John