Win7 install won't allow Y key @ "Boot from CD/DVD?" but C+A+D reboots

frrrosty · 18 Nov 2016

I've seen problems similar to this, but not exactly like this. Keyboard is recognized and works in BIOS. All other drives are disconnected except the DVD and the Samsung 850 Pro 256GB SSD. I reset fail-safe defaults in the G1.Assassin, enabled AHCI, set CD as first boot device, HDD as second. Insert Windows 7 Pro x64 DVD in a late-model DVD burner & reboot the i7-960. All proceeds normally, basic HP mechanical keyboard is nothing special, and "Num Lok" lights. After verifying DMI, it asks:

"Boot from CD/DVD?"

at which point the "Num Lok" light goes out ("Caps" light won't light either) , pressing "Y" has no effect. In fact, no other keystrokes seem to have any effect at all EXCEPT if I press Ctrl+Alt+Del, it reboots, just as it should.
After troubleshooting, swapping usb ports and the like, with no results, I though it might be the boot media, so I swapped in the x86 disk, and after several failed attempts, as I was pressing some keys, and I think the Control key was one of them, the installation suddenly skipped down to a new line, and instead of asking me to press Y or N, it says "Press any key to boot from CD". I pressed ctrl, and the files started to copy. Too bad it was the x86 disk, or I'd be done. I swapped back in the x64 dvd, and have never been able to get the "Press any key to boot from CD" i need so bad. Tried the x86 disk again, but couldn't reproduce the earlier success.

I've already been asked:
If you have another DVD drive available try using that drive in your computer instead. DON'T HAVE, BUT DO HAVE A DIFFERENT SSD, AN OLDER OCZ 256GB, IT DIDN'T HELP
If you have another computer available try the Windows 7 disk using that computer and see if the disk is bad, or if it's your computer. YES DISK BOOTS ANOTHER PC.
Also, if you bought the retail version of Windows 7 try putting in the other bit type disk of Windows 7 disk and see if that works properly. AFTER MANY ATTEMPTS, BLIND LUCK IT WORKED ONCE AND ONLY ONCE, CAN'T REPRODUCE. I ALSO HAVE A SECOND WIN 7 DISK SET, SAME ISSUE
If you can't boot from the Windows 7 install disk, can your computer boot from other bootable disks? YES, BOOTS FROM MOBO CD.
Can your computer run 64 bit? DUH!
Look, I'm not an engineer but I'm also not in first grade. I know how many beans it takes to make two.
If you KNOW the answer, please, I'm all eyes. If not, please don't waste space with the stupid stuff!

Does anyone know a way to FORCE the installer to give the prompt "Press any key to boot from CD" instead of "Boot from CD/DVD?"

Megahertz07 · 18 Nov 2016

Try this:
- Set the boot order to the SSD. When you hear the POST beep, press F12 (boot menu) then choose the DVD.
- Make a USB flash installation disk with Rufus. Set the boot order to the SSD. When you hear the POST beep, press F12 (boot menu) then choose the USB flash installation disk.

frrrosty · 19 Nov 2016

I already tried making a bootable usb with rufus, set the usb-hdd as first boot, ssd as second. It then takes me to a sub menu, lets me choose any drive as the installation media, but no matter what I choose, usb or CD-rom, I get "Missing a required CD / dvd driver" and won't proceed.

torchwood · 19 Nov 2016

Might be of interest and help.
Your SSD is 6GB, W7 copes well with 4GB, for 6 you have to use GPT partitions.

Roy

Eric3742 · 19 Nov 2016

Points to take note.

1. When booting to CD/DVD drive, sometimes this will appear "Press any key to boot from CD" and
"Boot from CD/DVD?" make no difference, only statement different, otherwise it is fine.

Do use <space bar> or alpha numeric keys.

Try not to use Ctrl, Alt, and any special keys for certain purpose.

2. On another point; < ("Caps" light won't light either) , pressing "Y" has no effect >

Press y with or without caps lock.
It is not to say need to have Y but y should able to work; these are from DOS period where Y/N.

3. As for lights appear on Num Lock &or Caps Lock, this is standard to check and verify your keyboard is good.

Alternately, the keyboard need to be directly connected to USB 2.0 port, not thru Hub.
This is common as the system is not in Windows mode, so no pnp.
This rule may also apply to mouse.
As for USB 2.0 port, as both keyboard and mouse required direct connect to the USB port itself.
This is only apply for certain cases, as this happened before when i am using non Windows mode.

Megahertz07 · 19 Nov 2016

- Set the boot order to the SSD. When you hear the POST beep, press F12 (boot menu) then choose the DVD.
- Make a USB flash installation disk with Rufus. Set the boot order to the SSD. When you hear the POST beep, press F12 (boot menu) then choose the USB flash installation disk.

If you boot the Win 7 installation disk (DVD or USB flash disk), go to install and then you get "Missing a required CD / DVD driver" you have to provide a driver (USB 3 and / or SATA).

Your MB has USB 2.0 and USB 3.0 Make sure you put the USB flash installation disk on the USB 2.0. There are 4 at the back panel.

Your MB has 6 x SATA 3Gb/s connectors from chipset and 2 x SATA 6Gb/s connectors from Marvell 88SE9182. Make sure you connect the HDD at one SATA 3Gb/s connector from chipset OR put the Marvel driver on a USB flash and when asked ("Missing a required CD / DVD driver") browse to the location on the USB flash where is the Marvel driver.

My suggestion is:
- Always put the USB flash disk on the USB 2.0 connectors at the back panel.
- On BIOS disable (if possible) the 2 x SATA 6Gb/s connectors from Marvell 88SE9182
- put the HDD (or SSD) on one of the SATA 3Gb/s connectors from chipset, Install Win 7 and once you have Win7 running with all drivers, switch to the SATA 6Gb/s connectors from Marvell.

frrrosty · 19 Nov 2016

"1. When booting to CD/DVD drive, sometimes this will appear "Press any key to boot from CD" and
"Boot from CD/DVD?" make no difference, only statement different, otherwise it is fine.
Do use <space bar> or alpha numeric keys.
Try not to use Ctrl, Alt, and any special keys for certain purpose.
2. On another point; < ("Caps" light won't light either) , pressing "Y" has no effect >
Press y with or without caps lock.
It is not to say need to have Y but y should able to work; these are from DOS period where Y/N.
3. As for lights appear on Num Lock &or Caps Lock, this is standard to check and verify your keyboard is good.
Alternately, the keyboard need to be directly connected to USB 2.0 port, not thru Hub.
This is common as the system is not in Windows mode, so no pnp.
This rule may also apply to mouse.
As for USB 2.0 port, as both keyboard and mouse required direct connect to the USB port itself.
This is only apply for certain cases, as this happened before when i am using non Windows mode."

1 No, it's not fine. Press Y or N is different than press any key. It sees the CTRL key, it doesn't see the Y key, and the one successful attempt was when it offered the option to press any key. So, Yes, it makes a big difference
2. I only mention the caps light because it indicates a connection. I didn't say that cap or not-cap affects it.
3.Everything is straight into the pc, no hubs (see, this is one of those "duh" moments I was referring to), and I've tried EVERY usb port, 2 and 3, again, DUH! I was born at night, but it wasn't last night.

frrrosty · 19 Nov 2016

Megahertz07 said:

- Set the boot order to the SSD. When you hear the POST beep, press F12 (boot menu) then choose the DVD.
- Make a USB flash installation disk with Rufus. Set the boot order to the SSD. When you hear the POST beep, press F12 (boot menu) then choose the USB flash installation disk.

If you boot the Win 7 installation disk (DVD or USB flash disk), go to install and then you get "Missing a required CD / DVD driver" you have to provide a driver (USB 3 and / or SATA).

Your MB has USB 2.0 and USB 3.0 Make sure you put the USB flash installation disk on the USB 2.0. There are 4 at the back panel.

Your MB has 6 x SATA 3Gb/s connectors from chipset and 2 x SATA 6Gb/s connectors from Marvell 88SE9182. Make sure you connect the HDD at one SATA 3Gb/s connector from chipset OR put the Marvel driver on a USB flash and when asked ("Missing a required CD / DVD driver") browse to the location on the USB flash where is the Marvel driver.

My suggestion is:
- Always put the USB flash disk on the USB 2.0 connectors at the back panel.
- On BIOS disable (if possible) the 2 x SATA 6Gb/s connectors from Marvell 88SE9182
- put the HDD (or SSD) on one of the SATA 3Gb/s connectors from chipset, Install Win 7 and once you have Win7 running with all drivers, switch to the SATA 6Gb/s connectors from Marvell.

I did not try the SATA 3Gb port! Trying that now, thanks. I did try a rufus flash drive, it does the same thing. I tried the F12 boot options, they just land me right back at "Boot from CD/DVD?".

frrrosty · 19 Nov 2016

At this point I'm pretty much convinced it's either the mobo (I would NOT recommend Gigabyte to ANYONE, btw) or Microsoft has Samsung on board with their efforts to mothball Windows 7.

frrrosty · 19 Nov 2016

So I tried the SATA 3Gb port, no help. The BIOS sees the SSD, just can't press Y to boot from CD, so my initail question remains:

Is there a way to FORCE the win7 installer to offer "press any key" instead of "Boot from CD/DVD?"? Some keyboard command, some combination of keys?

Win7 install won't allow Y key @ "Boot from CD/DVD?" but C+A+D reboots

Win7 install won't allow Y key @ "Boot from CD/DVD?" but C+A+D reboots

That's a though