Can't install windows 7 on new asus laptop

Are you able to install to UEFI (Unified Extensible Firmware Interface) - Install Windows 7 with
even if that's not your preference, just to see if it will install?

Well, here's the deal.

I use Acronis Trueimage to create master images of W7 for deployment. I'd like to remove the hard drive, zero it and re-image then drop it back in.

Since this is one of the world's stupidest designs, I'd have to take it apart repeatedly if it doesn't work.

I promise you I will throw this dog into the trash if I have to do it from scratch. It's too slow and I'm too old.

Then Legacy it is!

Make sure any CSM or Legacy BIOS modes are enabled, UEFI and UEFI boot disabled, no bootable devices are booted as UEFI devices.

If you have questions post back camera snaps of the BIOS settings choices. Screenshots and Files - Upload and Post in Seven Forums - Windows 7 Forums

Ok. I'll flash back to the newest BIOS. At least I could enable CSM there. Not even an option with the stone age BIOS I've got in it right now.

The thing that made me concerned is the boot options. With secure boot disabled and CSM enabled I never got a non-EFI boot option in the BIOS. There is options to create a new boot definition but the only options presented require an EFI enabled device.

I don't know what the results will be but I will do as I described and pull the drive. Zero it and let 'er rip. Hopefully it will boot and that will be that.

I'm hoping this isn't a waste of time. Time is money and I'm a hired gun.

Thanks Greg. You do rock.

WR

I already had a drive prepared for this so this is the result:

Upgraded the BIOS to the latest version (515 as of this post.)

Shazaaaayyyuuuummmm!

The OS option is back in this release!

Disabled Secure Boot, enabled CSM and set OS to Windows 7. Booted right up.

I use the old 9.7 server version of Acronis TI. With a little monkeying, it works fine on Win 7 except, as you'd expect, universal restore doesn't work. I create Win7 images sans the boot manager. These backup and restore without a hitch with TI 9.7 Echo Server. Even the scheduler works fine. Mounting an image as a drive letter works fine.

The key to making it work is to manually create the partition with Diskpart while doing the initial installation so as to avoid the boot manager. Skip entering a key and don't install any drivers you don't have to. I like to use an Intel machine with an ICH10R Southbridge. ACHI enabled. Install whatever common software you want and all the updates you can while avoiding drivers and then create the images. Deploy at will on any machine with a chipset that employs ACHI hard drive access and then change the windows installation key to whatever you've got. I'm not too crazy about the later versions of TI. My rocket-science and brain surgeon degrees are still lost in the mail and until I get it I'll just keep using the stuff that works.

I've left a few things out and I'm old and I don't always make sense but I'll answer anything anyone wants to know.

Using this method I can turn out any computer in an hour or two depending on how hard I have to chase after the drivers. Finding your data (pictures, word processing, spreadsheets, videos, music, etc) can take a while. As does zeroing out a hard drive. The Windows 7 part is pretty painless though.

I wish I hadn't gotten fooled by ASUS and their descriptions of their BIOS upgrades. The notes they provide make it appear that the OS selection was deleted by version 402. I deduced I should go back before that. I did. And before that. And before that. No help whatsoever. The new 515 version is the answer.

Thanks again Greg. Give me a holla if I can ever help you.

WR

I've noticed you all having success installing the 550.300 firmware on your 552 machines...
I have a 553 Machine and I'm not even able to see the 550.300 firmware when I'm in the Easy Flash utility.
I've got an Asus X553SA and there is NO " OS Selection " in the bios.
I was able to install Windows 7 from a known-good DVD after disabling secure boot, enabling CSM and cleaning the drive in diskpart. Unfortunately it does the usual " Loading Windows > Bluescreen > LOOP. " In "safe-mode", the last driver to load is disk.sys.

I've tried every BIOS firmware version on the asus driver / support section of this mode's page.
I'm currently running BIOS version 205, which is the latest offered on the support page.

If ANYONE has WINDOWS 7 64 ULTIMATE running on their X553SA, PLEASE let me know how you've done it!
Thank you so much in advance.
Rocco