Solved Win 8.1 clean install from DVD/USB reboot issue

moguy1973

New Member
Messages
16
I have bought a completely new system and am trying to install Windows 8.1 64bit on it. I have the retail box DVD and I have also tried from a USB stick from both the DVD .iso and the mediacreator program. What is happening is with the DVD in the computer it will go past the bios screen, and then a Windows 8 logo will show on the screen and nothing else. The DVD will spin up and the access light will flash for a while and then stop, with the computer then shutting off and restarting. Then the same thing happens in a continuous loop. Same with the USB drive. I've read through all the tutorials on here on how to make a UEFI USB stick with Rufus and how to get it to start up in UEFI mode through the BIOS settings, but it still just shuts down and starts back up, only doing it that way the Windows logo doesn't show up, it just stays on the BIOS splash screen and then reboots. It's really frustrating that I cannot get this to work, as I have always been able to install other versions of Windows on any other computer without all these steps, just put the DVD in and it knows what to do. Not sure why they had to go and make things so much more difficult. Here's my setup:

MSI Z77A-G45 Motherboard
Intel Core Core i3-3220
ASUS DVD drive
XFX Radeon HD 6450 graphics card
8GB G.Skill RAM
500GB Samsung 850 EVO SSD
 
Last edited:

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    CPU
    Intel Core Core i3-3220
    Motherboard
    MSI Z77A-G45
    Memory
    8MB G.Skill
    Graphics Card(s)
    XFX Radeon HD 6450
    Hard Drives
    Samsung SSD 850 EVO
    PSU
    XFX PRO750W Core Edition
    Internet Speed
    18Mb
    Browser
    Firefox
    Antivirus
    AVG
I would also like to say that I did have Windows 8 32bit running on this system on a smaller HDD, but even then I had to create a USB to install it. I have tried to use that USB stick to install 32bit this time with the SSD but with the same results.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    CPU
    Intel Core Core i3-3220
    Motherboard
    MSI Z77A-G45
    Memory
    8MB G.Skill
    Graphics Card(s)
    XFX Radeon HD 6450
    Hard Drives
    Samsung SSD 850 EVO
    PSU
    XFX PRO750W Core Edition
    Internet Speed
    18Mb
    Browser
    Firefox
    Antivirus
    AVG
If you are getting to a "Windows Logo" then your PC is trying to boot in "legacy Mode"..

What are your firmware setting?
UEFI ?
Legacy ?
UEFI with Legacy Support ?

Also, what format is your USB - Fat32 or NTFS ?
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 3.1 > Windows 10
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Dell XPS 8700
    CPU
    I7
    Memory
    24 GB
I have tried both UEFI mode and UEFI/Legacy mode. The UEFI USB I made with Rufus was FAT32 just like the tutorial on here states to do. Im not sure what format the windows mediacreator uses. But neither one works
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    CPU
    Intel Core Core i3-3220
    Motherboard
    MSI Z77A-G45
    Memory
    8MB G.Skill
    Graphics Card(s)
    XFX Radeon HD 6450
    Hard Drives
    Samsung SSD 850 EVO
    PSU
    XFX PRO750W Core Edition
    Internet Speed
    18Mb
    Browser
    Firefox
    Antivirus
    AVG
Unplug all drives except the SSD you want to install on then see what happens.

Jim :cool:
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 7 HP 64bit, Windows 8.1 Pro w/Media Center 64BIT
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    ASUS - Home Built
    CPU
    AMD Phenom II X6 1100T
    Motherboard
    ASUS M5A99X EVO
    Memory
    Crucial Balistic DDR-3 1866 CL 9 (8 GB)
    Graphics Card(s)
    MSI R6850 Cyclone IGD5 PE
    Sound Card
    On Chip
    Monitor(s) Displays
    ASUS VE258Q 25" LED with DVI-HDMI-DisplayPort
    Screen Resolution
    1920 x 1080
    Hard Drives
    Two WD Cavier Black 2TB Sata 6gbs
    WD My Book Essential 2TB USB 3.0
    PSU
    Seasonic X650 80 Plus GOLD Modular
    Case
    Corsair 400R
    Cooling
    Antec Kuhler H2O 620, Two 120mm and four 140mm
    Keyboard
    AVS Gear Blue LED Backlight
    Mouse
    Logitech Marble Mouse USB, Logitech Precision Game Pad
    Internet Speed
    15MB
    Antivirus
    NIS, Malwarebytes Premium 2
    Other Info
    APC UPS ES 750, Netgear WNR3500L Gigabit & Wireless N Router with SamKnows Test Program,
    Motorola SB6120 Gigabit Cable Modem.
    Brother HL-2170W Laser Printer,
    Epson V300 Scanner
With only the SSD and the USB thumb it does the same thing. Shows the BIOS splash screen for a bit and then shuts down and reboots.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    CPU
    Intel Core Core i3-3220
    Motherboard
    MSI Z77A-G45
    Memory
    8MB G.Skill
    Graphics Card(s)
    XFX Radeon HD 6450
    Hard Drives
    Samsung SSD 850 EVO
    PSU
    XFX PRO750W Core Edition
    Internet Speed
    18Mb
    Browser
    Firefox
    Antivirus
    AVG
the media creator uses Fat32 by default...

rename the "Bootmgr" file on the setup media to "Bootmgr.old" this should force uefi booting

Also set the usb as your first boot device in your firmware settings..
Or during post hit F12 (or whatever key you use) to bring up your boot menu and then select usb device
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 3.1 > Windows 10
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Dell XPS 8700
    CPU
    I7
    Memory
    24 GB
the media creator uses Fat32 by default...

rename the "Bootmgr" file on the setup media to "Bootmgr.old" this should force uefi booting

Also set the usb as your first boot device in your firmware settings..
Or during post hit F12 (or whatever key you use) to bring up your boot menu and then select usb device

There is a a Bootmgr and a Bootmgr.efi file. I'm guessing to change the one that just says Bootmgr?
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    CPU
    Intel Core Core i3-3220
    Motherboard
    MSI Z77A-G45
    Memory
    8MB G.Skill
    Graphics Card(s)
    XFX Radeon HD 6450
    Hard Drives
    Samsung SSD 850 EVO
    PSU
    XFX PRO750W Core Edition
    Internet Speed
    18Mb
    Browser
    Firefox
    Antivirus
    AVG
yes
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 3.1 > Windows 10
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Dell XPS 8700
    CPU
    I7
    Memory
    24 GB
I tried this and still nothing. I took some snap shots of my BIOS screen and diskpart. I'm pretty sure I am doing everything right. It's just not wanting to work. I don't have to have my new blank SSD formatted for this to work right?




 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    CPU
    Intel Core Core i3-3220
    Motherboard
    MSI Z77A-G45
    Memory
    8MB G.Skill
    Graphics Card(s)
    XFX Radeon HD 6450
    Hard Drives
    Samsung SSD 850 EVO
    PSU
    XFX PRO750W Core Edition
    Internet Speed
    18Mb
    Browser
    Firefox
    Antivirus
    AVG
What is that 55GB disk ?? (Disk 1 - C: Drive)

Disk 2 is your 8GB USB formatted NTFS-GPT

Disk 0 is your 500GB SSD

The problem is none of your internal disks are UEFI-GPT - they are MBR disks.. Your setup media is GPT..

So create windows setup media to USB using the media tool which will format the USB Fat32..
Use Diskpart to clean Disk 0
diskpart
select disk 0
clean
exit
Disable Legacy Support in your Firmware Settings..
Remove the 55GB Disk
Boot from setup media and clean install window 8.1 on the 500GB SSD
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 3.1 > Windows 10
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Dell XPS 8700
    CPU
    I7
    Memory
    24 GB
The 55GB drive is the drive that I currently have plugged into this system with win8.1 32bit installed on it. It is 54GB full hence why I am doing a fresh install on the SSD. I remove that drive when I try to install Win 8.1 64bit on the SSD.

Disk 2 is formatted in FAT32. If you look at my last picture, Volume 4 is the USB stick I have made with Rufus as a UEFI bootable stick

I just cleaned disk 0 with diskpart and I will try this again with just UEFI set up in the firmware settings.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    CPU
    Intel Core Core i3-3220
    Motherboard
    MSI Z77A-G45
    Memory
    8MB G.Skill
    Graphics Card(s)
    XFX Radeon HD 6450
    Hard Drives
    Samsung SSD 850 EVO
    PSU
    XFX PRO750W Core Edition
    Internet Speed
    18Mb
    Browser
    Firefox
    Antivirus
    AVG
Unfortunately it is still doing the same thing.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    CPU
    Intel Core Core i3-3220
    Motherboard
    MSI Z77A-G45
    Memory
    8MB G.Skill
    Graphics Card(s)
    XFX Radeon HD 6450
    Hard Drives
    Samsung SSD 850 EVO
    PSU
    XFX PRO750W Core Edition
    Internet Speed
    18Mb
    Browser
    Firefox
    Antivirus
    AVG
MSI_SnapShot2.png

https://forum-en.msi.com/index.php?topic=175614.0

Well Windows 8 feature must be enabled what auto enables Fastboot and disables MSI Fastboot (which is not related to Win8). Also Sceure Boot needs to be enabled what will only work if your vga is flashed with a GOP compliant vbios. If all that is done Win8 needs to be installed this way. With the current legacy installation you can't use Win8 feature/Fastboot. MSI Fastboot would work but it's not that fast as real UEFI booting.

Here is info about UEFI Boot Mode (installing using the GPT partition style) and Legacy BIOS Boot Mode (installing using the MBR partition style): link
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 10
    Computer type
    Laptop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Lenovo G580
    CPU
    Intel Core i5-3230M
    Memory
    8 GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    Intel HD Graphics 4000
    Browser
    Microsoft Edge
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender, standard user account
    Other Info
    UEFI firmware (BIOS) embedded Windows 8 product key.
Legacy or UEFI it still reboots. With Legacy I get the Windows Logo and nothing else before it reboots, with UEFI I get the BIOS splash screen before it reboots.

I tried everything in your "link" you listed and nothing works. It still shuts off and reboots after a few seconds.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    CPU
    Intel Core Core i3-3220
    Motherboard
    MSI Z77A-G45
    Memory
    8MB G.Skill
    Graphics Card(s)
    XFX Radeon HD 6450
    Hard Drives
    Samsung SSD 850 EVO
    PSU
    XFX PRO750W Core Edition
    Internet Speed
    18Mb
    Browser
    Firefox
    Antivirus
    AVG
Disk 2 is formatted in FAT32. If you look at my last picture, Volume 4 is the USB stick I have made with Rufus as a UEFI bootable stick

Yeah - created with rufus in GPT
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 3.1 > Windows 10
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Dell XPS 8700
    CPU
    I7
    Memory
    24 GB
Disk 2 is formatted in FAT32. If you look at my last picture, Volume 4 is the USB stick I have made with Rufus as a UEFI bootable stick

Yeah - created with rufus in GPT

I tried it the other way using the Windows media creator with the same results.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    CPU
    Intel Core Core i3-3220
    Motherboard
    MSI Z77A-G45
    Memory
    8MB G.Skill
    Graphics Card(s)
    XFX Radeon HD 6450
    Hard Drives
    Samsung SSD 850 EVO
    PSU
    XFX PRO750W Core Edition
    Internet Speed
    18Mb
    Browser
    Firefox
    Antivirus
    AVG
setup media created by MS
UEFI Boot enabled
secureboot disabled
Clean SSD drive
Only a single drive..

At a lose to your issue - as that should be all that is required to install windows 8.1..
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 3.1 > Windows 10
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Dell XPS 8700
    CPU
    I7
    Memory
    24 GB
setup media created by MS
UEFI Boot enabled
secureboot disabled
Clean SSD drive
Only a single drive..

At a lose to your issue - as that should be all that is required to install windows 8.1..

Must be something wrong with my system. I have the USB installer made with MS media creator, my SSD, and a monitor plugged in, only UEFI boot turned on, secure boot disabled and its still starting up, staying on the BIOS splash screen for about 10-15 seconds and then it shuts off and restarts. Time to call MSI I guess and hope they can help.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    CPU
    Intel Core Core i3-3220
    Motherboard
    MSI Z77A-G45
    Memory
    8MB G.Skill
    Graphics Card(s)
    XFX Radeon HD 6450
    Hard Drives
    Samsung SSD 850 EVO
    PSU
    XFX PRO750W Core Edition
    Internet Speed
    18Mb
    Browser
    Firefox
    Antivirus
    AVG
Could a cheapo power supply cause something like this? Does UEFI take more power than a legacy boot? Right before the computer shuts off the lights on the mother board flicker and then it shuts down. My power supply is a cheap Viotek 700w unit that came with the tower when I bought my barebones system.

It's just strange that it boots with the smaller hard drive just fine.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    CPU
    Intel Core Core i3-3220
    Motherboard
    MSI Z77A-G45
    Memory
    8MB G.Skill
    Graphics Card(s)
    XFX Radeon HD 6450
    Hard Drives
    Samsung SSD 850 EVO
    PSU
    XFX PRO750W Core Edition
    Internet Speed
    18Mb
    Browser
    Firefox
    Antivirus
    AVG
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