990FX Extreme 4 : BIOS and USB boot problems

[ryu_shinobi]

Please help me with these issues.
I tried to google for similar issues but there are no same issues or solutions provided.
I also send email to asrock tech support, but I have not received any replies.

Bios problem:
My default BIOS is 1.20 and everything works good.
then I tried updating my bios to 2.0 since I will be upgrading my CPU to pilediver.
after the update I cleared the CMOS to have the dafult configuration on the bios,
disabled boot logo, and changed sata connection to AHCI mode, enabled S.M.A.R.T. then save.
the problem is when I try to boot POST result does not beep anymore, Dr. debug shows different codes but mostly I see code 59 (southbridge initialization?).
also S.M.A.R.T. results are gone.
Its behavior is like its already loading my OS without finishing the boards POST.
I downgraded the bios to 1.80 , reset to default, and done the same minor bios configuration but its still the same.
does it really behave like that or there is something really wrong?
*during the update/revert back process of the bios my OS drive is now corrupted. I have to reinstall it after I find a solution

Boot from USB problem:
I created a linux live CD/USB and tried to boot from it.
but the loading hangs and it does not continue to load on my PC.
I tried to use this USB to my friends PC but its working fine, I can install/boot my linux live CD/USB to my friends PC.
I also tried to install it to my OS drive using my friends pc, it worked fine but grub now fails because its not pointing to the correct mount point. I still have to run my live CD/USB on my own PC to fix this issue.
do you have any workaround for this?


please ask if there is anything that seems unclear. thanks so much.

[parsec]

If you installed Windows in IDE mode, you cannot simply change to AHCI mode, the PC won't boot, that is normal. Change back to IDE and see if it boots.

To use AHCI mode, either install the OS in AHCI mode, or search for the registry update needed to allow changing from IDE to AHCI. Just google on "changing from IDE to AHCI".

How do you know your OS drive is corrupted?

[ryu_shinobi]

I can boot my OS on my HDD without any problem, it is the POST that I am worried.
No beep and no SMART result is like there is a problem on this board.
if this is normal on 2.0 and 1.8 bios I dont need to worry then.

what is not booting actually is the live CD installed in the thumb drive/USB, it is working fine on other PC but not mine.

about the corruption, I was stuck at the welcome screen, tried to boot via safe mode and its OK.
maybe its all in the drivers, but i cant install/uninstall them in safe mode.
I also checked system event and there are multiple corrupted files logged.
reinstalling the OS is not a problem to me, I just need the USB boot to work.

thanks for the help. :D

[- wardog -]

Since you're early on into this I suggest you reinstall the OS the proper way instead of the "registry hack' method.

Is the WD 250GB Blue going to be the drive you install the OS onto, in AHCI mode?

If so, first check that all your HD's support NCQ. So long as they do support NCQ, follow the Online User Manual (<-Link) pg47 titled "2.17 Installing Windows® 7 / 7 64-bit / VistaTM /
VistaTM 64-bit / XP / XP 64-bit Without RAID Functions" , then choose either subsection 2.17.1(XP w/AHCI) or subsection 2.17.2(Vista, Win7 w/AHCI). Either of those subsections will describe the correct procedure to follow to create the AHCI Driver Diskette using the Support CD included with your MB, and how to install your chosen OS in AHCI mode using this driver diskette. Following these instructions will have you on your way, trouble free.

I would suggest only having the 250GB Blue and one DVD or Blu-Ray drive connected when you install the OS. With the DVD/BD as Boot 1 and the HD as Boot 2 in the BIOS Boot section.



As for your boot from the linux live cd on USB, I'm betting that because you hadn't installed the AHCI drivers at some point, that this is where your problems arise. After you get the OS installed in AHCI using the method above, you might need to re-image or otherwise recreate the live cd ISO onto the USB stick and from there I'll bet you'll be good to go.

If afterwards you still have problems with the live distro post back with the procedure and distro you used and I will try to recreate your problems here on my Extreme4.

[ryu_shinobi]

yes I'm installing my OS in my WD BLUE and I do remove my other drives leaving my optical drive and WD blue.
as for the NCQ, I'm still looking for the technical specs of my drives. is there any way to check this in my board?
my support CD is missing and I just downloaded all the drivers from asrock site.
I can't see any AHCI diskette drive utility in there.

to clear things up, this is how I always install my OS.
1. remove all unnecessary drives, (optical disk drive and HDD for OS installation is left)
2. boot and enter bios settings, boot priority ODD then HDD.
3. set sata to AHCI mode including marvel sata,then enable SMART.
4. save and reboot, then install my win7 OS, drivers.
*notes: on bios 1.20, I can hear the POST beep status(single beep, means all things are ok) everytime my machine restarts/boot
but on BIOSes 1.70, 1.80 and 2.00 no POST beep can be heard.
unless I enter the bios setup menu, that is when I hear the single beep sound.
also during the whole part of installation and onwards no other problems are encountered. aside from no smart display and no beep sound.
all things are working fine, provided that I disregard the SMART and beep issue.

as for the live CD, I am using two ISO's, KUBUNTU 12.10 64bit CD version and salix live 13.37 xfce version 64bit.
before this posting, I burned these two ISO's directly into DVD.
I tried to boot from these two dvd's but it hangs after the grub boot/menu selection.
on kubuntu : i select run kubuntu from the menu > it will display some logs and then hangs.
on salix : I select run salix 13.37 from the choices > same result with kubuntu.


I have another machine to try, the board is ASROCK N68-S3 UCC.
it does not have ACHI mode for sata, is it ok to install my linux in this board?
I'll transfer my WD blue and ODD in there.

thanks so much for the help. :D

[- wardog -]

as for the NCQ, I'm still looking for the technical specs of my drives. is there any way to check this in my board?

Nope. Manufacturers site. Or Google like I did using the model # and include NCQ at the end.

my support CD is missing and I just downloaded all the drivers from asrock site.
I can't see any AHCI diskette drive utility in there.

Look in the OS of choice's Downloads section for "SATA RAID Driver (For system to read from floppy diskette during Windows installation)" and hover you mouse over the D/L link and you'll see something like "ftp://174.142.97.10/drivers/AMD/SATA/Floppy_x..X..x.zip" as the actual downloadable file.

If those don't work, they do contain the AHCI drivers, let me know and I'll create them using my Support CD here and upload them somewhere for you.

[ryu_shinobi]

Nope. Manufacturers site. Or Google like I did using the model # and include NCQ at the end.

checked them with google and all of them are NCQ supported,
the result i have seen are from smarthdd.com, don't know if its reliable though.
here are the models of my HDD's just in case.
1 - WD2500AAJS-00V4A0 (250GB)
2 - ST31000524AS (1TB)
1 - ST2000DM001-1CH164 (2TB)
1 - ST2000DL003-9VT166 (2TB)

Look in the OS of choice's Downloads section for "SATA RAID Driver (For system to read from floppy diskette during Windows installation)" and hover you mouse over the D/L link and you'll see something like "ftp://174.142.97.10/drivers/AMD/SATA/Floppy_x..X..x.zip" as the actual downloadable file.

If those don't work, they do contain the AHCI drivers, let me know and I'll create them using my Support CD here and upload them somewhere for you.

got them now and extracted, do I need to place these drivers in my live cd or install it directly on windows?

[- wardog -]

do I need to place these drivers in my live cd or install it directly on windows?

Again, so long as they do support NCQ, follow the Online User Manual (<-Link) pg47 titled "2.17 Installing Windows® 7 / 7 64-bit / VistaTM /
VistaTM 64-bit / XP / XP 64-bit Without RAID Functions" , then choose either subsection 2.17.1(XP w/AHCI) or subsection 2.17.2(Vista, Win7 w/AHCI). Either of those subsections will describe the correct procedure to use the AHCI Driver Diskette to install your chosen OS in AHCI mode using this driver diskette. Following these instructions will have you on your way, trouble free.

[ryu_shinobi]

Again, so long as they do support NCQ, follow the Online User Manual (<-Link) pg47 titled "2.17 Installing Windows® 7 / 7 64-bit / VistaTM /
VistaTM 64-bit / XP / XP 64-bit Without RAID Functions" , then choose either subsection 2.17.1(XP w/AHCI) or subsection 2.17.2(Vista, Win7 w/AHCI). Either of those subsections will describe the correct procedure to use the AHCI Driver Diskette to install your chosen OS in AHCI mode using this driver diskette. Following these instructions will have you on your way, trouble free.

ahh okay, its quite clear now.
i just need to replace the AHCI driver being used by windows install to the driver i downloaded before proceeding on installation.
so what I am using as of today is some incomplete AHCI driver provided by windows.
and when my board boots, it sees some issue on my AHCI mode and so it does not beep.

ok that clear some things up, I just have to install it again and check if it would resolve my 2nd issue.

thanks for the help. :D

[ryu_shinobi]

OK, after trying to reinstall my OS including the AHCI driver downloaded,Windows 7 installer says that it is not a signed driver so it does not continue to load.
Also on on the directions included in the manual there is no need to load AHCI driver.

Using SATA3 HDDs with NCQ and Hot Plug functions (AHCI mode)
STEP 1: Set up UEFI.
A. Enter UEFI SETUP UTILITY Advanced screen Storage Confi guration.
B. Set the option “SATA Mode” to [AHCI]. (For SATA3_1 to SATA3_6 ports.)
Set the option “Marvell SATA3 Operation Mode” to [AHCI].
(For SATA3_7 and SATA3_8 ports.)
STEP 2: Install Windows® 7 / 7 64-bit / VistaTM / VistaTM 64-bit OS on your system.

What is really important to me now it how to boot those linux live CD's i burned.
I still have no idea why they hang during loading in the first place. :(