Solved UEFI and MBR storage disc: Windows is no longer bootable?

[Arc]

I installed windows 7 as UEFI, removing the old MBR storage disc. After completing the installation whenever I try to add the storage disc, windows becomes unbootable. Remove the storage disc, everything is as normal as earlier.

Is there a way to solve this issue with keeping everything intact?

Thanks a lot in advance.

** Microsoft has some hotfixes, but those need to be added to installation media :sarc:

 

[theog]

Is Windows Boot Manager, first boot device in UEFI/BIOS firmware

Are all storage drives marked INACTIVE

 

[Arc]

The windows boot manager is in UEFI.

The other discs... if I attach them, they are not auto detected. If I restart, I cannot boot to anything, so I am not sure if they're marked as inactive or not. I will try PW boot cd and will let you know.

Thank you Ray

EDIT: Cannot boot into PW, too. It says .... "This bootable CD does not support windows server" :sarc:
My good old PW bootable CD

 

[Brink]

Hey Archie,

It's not looking good for that storage drive. Do you have the same issue if you connect the storage drive to another computer.

 

[Arc]

Hey Archie,

It's not looking good for that storage drive. Do you have the same issue if you connect the storage drive to another computer.

Hi Shawn.
Installed windows in another HDD , using the legacy settings for BIOS, all the HDDs are accepted and works good.

If any of them are connected to the UEFI installation, windows does not boot

So probably Storage drives are not faulty? It seems that the issue is somehow similar to "Boot failed" error when you start a UEFI-enabled computer from a 64-bit version of Windows 7 or Windows Server 2008 R2 installation DVD (Package 1) and "Boot failed" error message when you start a UEFI-enabled computer from the installation DVD of a 64-bit version of Windows 7 or Windows Server 2008 R2 (Package 2) .

 

[gregrocker]

Do you have BIOS set to Compatibility Support Mode (CSM enabled)?

You'd need to tell the BIOS that you want it to recognize both UEFI and MBR disks. Most BIOS have CSM or Legacy Mode to achieve this.

Some BIOS require a firmware upgrade to get fully compatible or are not capable.

Which MS hotfixes do you think might apply?

 

[Arc]

Thank you Greg

The board runs on the latest available firmware, version F2.

In The UEFI settings, for storage, there are various options. UEFI only, Legacy only, Legacy first, UEFI first. All results the same.

For boot drive, there are two options available (other than enter setup etc), UEFI and SATA.

If I stick to UEFI, it happens all the things I described till now.

If I go for the SATA options, it results "no boot device specified" and needs to ctl+alt+del and enter teh setup to change the option to UEFI.

The two hotfixes I am talking are linked in my earlier post.

Thanks a huge lot to you all.

 

[gregrocker]

Archie, I've not seen a "UEFI first" setting before for Legacy BIOS or CSM settings. I saw that you affirmed to Ray that UEFI Boot Manager was set first in BIOS Boot Priority. Is this the "UEFI first" you're referring to or is that another boot order priority setting, which would make it more likely "UEFI first" is the Legacy/CSM setting?

Is it possible to see camera snaps of all related settings? Someone may recognize these hybrid settings.

It does seem that if those are the only choices then "UEFI First" would be what you want since you installed in UEFI mode. But that still doesn't expressly give Compatibility for the MBR storage drive although it somewhat implies it.

You could also consider reformatting your storage drive to GPT to see how it performs then, even trying "UEFI only" if necessary.

I would also inquire of the mobo maker telling them we're waiting to hear.

 

[Arc]

Sorry for it, Greg. When I set the legacy settings, there is no "UEFI first" option. And with legacy everything works as smooth as always. All the MBR discs are detected with it.

But if I go for the UEFI settings, then I get the options including "UEFI First", "Legacy first" etc. In that situation, Windows boots when the GPT disc is connected only. A single MBR disc makes it refuse to boot.

I wanted a way to make the MBR discs work, without reformatting them to GPT, if possible

 

[gregrocker]

Look for CSM settings which is how GPT and MBR disks are normally co-mingled. There must be a setting.

 

[Arc]

I failed to find the CSM settings Searched everywhere in the setup.

Will use the legacy BIOS only, till I get new storage discs.

 

[Brink]

Odd.

Was the storage disk an active boot disk, that could be messing with your UEFI drive booting?

Found your CSM setting in your UEFI/BIOS settings. It starts at page 22 in the mobo manual.

GIGABYTE - Motherboard - Socket 1155 - GA-H61M-DS2 DVI (rev. 1.0)

English PDF: http://download.gigabyte.us/FileList/Manual/mb_manual_ga-h61m-ds2-dvi_e.pdf
​

 

[theog]

So probably Storage drives are not faulty? It seems that the issue is somehow similar to "Boot failed" error when you start a UEFI-enabled computer from a 64-bit version of Windows 7 or Windows Server 2008 R2 installation DVD (Package 1) and "Boot failed" error message when you start a UEFI-enabled computer from the installation DVD of a 64-bit version of Windows 7 or Windows Server 2008 R2 (Package 2) .

From Both Microsoft Hotfix.

SYMPTOMS

Consider the following scenario:•You attach a storage device that has more than four partitions to a computer that has the Unified Extensible Firmware Interface (UEFI) mode enabled.
•You insert a Windows 7 or a Windows Server 2008 R2 installation DVD into a drive of the device, and then you start the computer from the DVD.
•You receive the following message during the startup process, and then you press a key:

Press any key to boot from CD/DVD

In this scenario, you receive an error message that resembles the following:



Boot failed.

To have more than four Partition, you would need to have one or more Logical partitions or Linux partitions.

Do you have any Logical partitions or Linux partitions?

 

[Arc]

Hi Shawn, here is what I get, all in these two consecutive pictures




Ray, I have logical partitions. Is it the reason behind that issue?

Edit: Shawn, none of the storage discs have any active boot partition.

 

[Brink]

I guess you have a different rev # of the mobo.

 

[gregrocker]

I notice the Boot Option is set to SATA so I'm assuming you have changed to Legacy Mode there?

What other settings are available for OS Type, Boot Mode Selection, Storage Boot Option control, System Mode State?

 

[Arc]

Yes, Greg. When I failed to find CSM, I set everything back to Legacy, as it provides a situation that works as per my requirements and existing situation.

Here is the screenshots:

OS Type:

​

Boot Mode Selection:

​

Storage Boot Option Control:

​

System Mode State is never accessible, always grayed out.

 

[gregrocker]

Did you try Boot Option UEFI only, Storage Boot option Disabled or Legacy? Do you get more or other choices if you set those?

Did an older BIOS version have CSM settings, which they cut out in the latest version due to 8 crapware supremacy?

 

[Arc]

Greg, actually I have tried almost all possible and combinations. All resulted the same.

There is an older BIOS version, Version F1, with which the board came. But that version was much more painful to configure, and with this F2 version it is now easier to deal with the setup. Actually I forgot what options was persent there

 

[gregrocker]

Do you notice any faster boot with Win7 which is the main selling point they give for UEFI? I never do. I consider it more crapware getting in the way of smooth sailing.