Unable to install Windows 8.1 Pro N 64bit with AHCI help!!

randomspam

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TLDR: I'm unable to install an OS without setting drives to IDE and not AHCI and I cannot successfully change it to AHCI retrospectively. :)

Hi,

I've been struggling for days with getting a stable installation of Win 7 Pro 64bit or Windows 8.1 Pro Version N 64bit working on an OCZ Arc 100 240gb.

Backstory
I bought a new SSD an OCZ Arc 100 240GB to replace an existing Plextor 120GB. I had had a Windows 7 Pro install running solidly with no problems for a couple of years (note though it was not a UEFI setup). With the new SSD I tried for days to clone and then create from scratch a new Windows 7 UEFI install but failed constantly and all of the information I found seemed to suggest it was all around a secure boot problem. I spoke to OCZ and they asked me to RMA the drive, I then got a replacement. I then decided to bite the bullet and invest in Windows 8.1 in the vain hope it would relieve the issue however it turned out to be just as bad and really it was an AHCI problem all along. In both the Win 7 and Win 8 installs I had been setting CSM to UEFI Only, Secure Boot to UEFI only, disabling fast boot but without any success it was only when SATA was set to IDE I could finally complete an install, this time on Windows 8.1 . However later setting it back to AHCI would then stop it booting, I read various guides on how to change it and switch it to AHCI but everytime I tried to start again it would not start up.

I concluded there must be some kind of storage driver issue however there doesn't appear to be any SATA/AHCI specific drivers for my mobo on the Asus site for 8.1 so are presumably inlcluded however I even tried similar mobo (R2.0 Evo and R2.0 LE) and chipsets and presenting the drivers during install but that came to nothing. Getting thoroughly sick of it all I settled for having IDE only and successfully did a clean install of 8.1 and went about installing all my stuff, happy days at last, a working PC. I would say though that it didn't seem the most stable OS install ever as occasionally it would freeze on the logon screen or freeze randomly during use,sometimes it would come alive again and sometimes not. That was yesterday but for the majority of the time it was good.

Current situation
Today, in the hope of finding an answer to the stability issues I was going through the usual series of driver updates and I updated the Asus bios from 2501 to 2601 this morning and that set my sata to AHCI. I spotted it and set it back however it now won't boot at all and gives me an 0xc0000034 error.

I've now been round the houses again, repairs and recovery disks, messing with EFI settings and boot managers like this Qlik Tips: Fix a Windows 8 boot issue but nothing seems to work, I am sadly resigned to likely having to start again however if I do that I will need to fix this AHCI/IDE boot issue once and for all as it's clearly been a problem in all my attempts. If I could get into the current OS first it would be a bonus as then I could copy out every download I'd just made to reinstall everything, would save me time when I presumably have to rebuild.

Tech Specs
Asus M5A97 R2.0 mobo
OCZ Arc 100 240gb
Corsair XMS3 8GB x 2
AMD FX8350
XFX HD7850
X-Fi SB0770
Seagate 250GB SATA
Hitachi 640GB SATA

I've genuinely put days and days into this now, I just want it to end and go back to using a PC like normal, can anyone help?

Thanks
Mat
 
Last edited:

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 Pro N 64bit
just to add to this I can currently get in via Macrium Reflect Free so it's all still there. If anyone can direct me as to what might help in getting my files out that would be good. This software can't do it but I imagine there are others that can. If my drives are squiffy as well then let me know. I tried the fix boot problems option in here but when it reboots I still get the 0xc0000034 error.

IMG_20150518_174049516.jpg

During other investigations today I have learnt that my XFX HD7850 card is not UEFI compatible so that may be something causing a problem too.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 Pro N 64bit
Ok managed to get all my files off, and marked that rogue partition on E: as inactive.

Clean install attempt no.1

Hardware setup

  • SSD connected to Sata #1 on mobo
  • DVDRW on Sata #2
  • No other drives connected
  • UEFI booting from DVD media
  • Only keyboard & mouse connected

Bios setup

  • SB Sata Configuration - AHCI
  • Fast Boot - Disabled
  • Secure Boot - Disabled
  • Platform Key State - Unloaded
  • OS Type Windows UEFI
  • CSM - Enabled
  • Boot Device Control - UEFI & Legacy OpROM

Here we go....


  • Install progress reached 100%
  • Rebooted itself started booting from DVD and asked me to press a key - chose not to.
  • Got the little Windows 8 splash screen with the 4 cyan windows appearing.
  • DVD kicked in and found myself at a non UEFI Windows 8 (I can tell because it's got crapper graphics) install screen asking me to choose locale options. Hmmmmmm. :confused:
  • Clicked on Repair and if I go through to advanced their is no option to access UEFI settings.
  • Chose option to shutdown
  • Powered up and removed DVD
  • Black screen and then booted into a cyan-blue screen (definitely not a "bsod" it was clearly meant to be part of a menu or something)
  • Sat there for 20 seconds or so and then PC switched itself off :cry::cry::cry:
  • Booted back up and checked BIOS, there are 3 entries listed )
  • 1st entry is "Windows Boot Manager (P1: OCZ-ARC100)" has a UEFI graphic above it but is not explicitly named as UEFI.
  • 2nd entry is "P0: OCZ-ARC100" not listed as UEFI
  • 3rd entry is my DVD Writer "HL-DT-STDVD+-RW GSA-H31L" not listed as UEFI
  • Chose the 1st entry and booted - fairly instantaneously received error 0xc0000185.
  • PC switched itself off.

And this is where I have now stopped awaiting some assistance from you knowledgeable people. :)

My Thoughts[DEL]
  • I no longer have a UEFI entry to boot from for my DVD[/DEL]. Ignore that it was just because the DVD drive was empty.
  • I have two bootable choices P0 and P1 for the same drive.
  • Fast Boot has switched itself back on in the bios
 
Last edited:

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 Pro N 64bit
Just to add I ran through the repair later this evening booting from the UEFI DVD. I ran through it 3 times in total as mentioned elsewhere on these forums and each time it simply said it couldn't repair it. So just whilst there I took a note of what it said in diskpart incase that would help anyone spot an obvious problem.

IMG_20150518_224927237_HDR.jpg

I can guarantee that though that if I switch the disk to IDE in bios the Win 8 install will kick off exactly like it should of before as if nothing had ever happened, the problem will be (or at least one of them) though that I can never switch it back to ACHI. I don't want to accept that this time.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 Pro N 64bit
Ok so I got impatient again because I really need a working PC and decided to try the install on IDE instead and perhaps try to fix it retrospectively....again!

Hardware setup



  • SSD connected to Sata #1 on mobo
  • DVDRW on Sata #2
  • No other drives connected
  • UEFI booting from DVD media
  • Only keyboard & mouse connected

Bios setup


  • SB Sata Configuration - IDE
  • Fast Boot - Disabled
  • Secure Boot - Disabled
  • Platform Key State - Unloaded
  • OS Type Windows UEFI
  • CSM - Enabled
  • Boot Device Control - UEFI & Legacy OpROM

Here we go....

  • Install completed first time with no problems, from within Windows it has Secure Boot switched off and has installed with the EFI mode
  • Rebooted a few times and all seemed well however whilst it was applying updates and restarting I noticed it came up with the "Reboot and select proper boot device" message. In the bios I disabled the boot option for "P0: OCZ-ARC100" and left only the following disk and the DVD Writer as bootable choices "Windows Boot Manager (P1: OCZ-ARC100)"

  • From within Windows I entered msconfig and set the boot mode to safe boot and restarted.
  • In the bios I set the SATA mode to AHCI and restarted
  • Then Windows black screened with error status 0xc0000185 for file \EFI\Microsoft\Boot\BCD
  • I launched windows recovery and tried startup repair three times it failed each time, I have no option for startup settings.

So at this stage now I'm not sure how I can get to safemode to then be able to switch safeboot off again, that is what has been suggested is required but this issue suggests I'm not even getting as far as safeboot in the first place. I know I could switch back the SATA to IDE but that's not the point. Are the AHCI drivers missing somehow?
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 Pro N 64bit
Ok so I got impatient again because I really need a working PC and decided to try the install on IDE instead and perhaps try to fix it retrospectively....again!

Hardware setup



  • SSD connected to Sata #1 on mobo
  • DVDRW on Sata #2
  • No other drives connected
  • UEFI booting from DVD media
  • Only keyboard & mouse connected

Bios setup


  • SB Sata Configuration - IDE
  • Fast Boot - Disabled
  • Secure Boot - Disabled
  • Platform Key State - Unloaded
  • OS Type Windows UEFI
  • CSM - Enabled
  • Boot Device Control - UEFI & Legacy OpROM

Here we go....

  • Install completed first time with no problems, from within Windows it has Secure Boot switched off and has installed with the EFI mode
  • Rebooted a few times and all seemed well however whilst it was applying updates and restarting I noticed it came up with the "Reboot and select proper boot device" message. In the bios I disabled the boot option for "P0: OCZ-ARC100" and left only the following disk and the DVD Writer as bootable choices "Windows Boot Manager (P1: OCZ-ARC100)"

  • From within Windows I entered msconfig and set the boot mode to safe boot and restarted.
  • In the bios I set the SATA mode to AHCI and restarted
  • Then Windows black screened with error status 0xc0000185 for file \EFI\Microsoft\Boot\BCD
  • I launched windows recovery and tried startup repair three times it failed each time, I have no option for startup settings.

So at this stage now I'm not sure how I can get to safemode to then be able to switch safeboot off again, that is what has been suggested is required but this issue suggests I'm not even getting as far as safeboot in the first place. I know I could switch back the SATA to IDE but that's not the point. Are the AHCI drivers missing somehow?

I read most of all this, Have you considered that the new SSD is defective? Really all you should have had to do was either clone your old SSD to your new SSD? Or Clean install windows 7 SP1 or 8.1. You mention Asus motherboard I had win 8.1 MBR installed on an old P7P55D Pro board 2008 era, but it didn't support UEFI for booting

It looks to me like you need to take a break, let your mind relax . Read through thoroughly the Tutorials on installing which ever version you want to install. in which format you want to install. If UEFI is what you want you'll have to set up your install media to boot UEFI. Your SSD will need to be CLEAN or converted to GPT. Your BIOS will need to be set UEFI. You obviously don't understand UEFI that's ok none of us did a couple of years ago. We have learned and some pretty sharp tools have written excellent step x step tutorials for us to use and learn with. http://www.eightforums.com/tutsearch.php?q=How to insall UEFI good place to start.
 
Last edited:

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 Pro MC
    Computer type
    Laptop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Asus G75VW / Z97 Pro
    CPU
    Intel Core i7-3610QM / I7-4790K
    Motherboard
    Z97 Pro
    Memory
    16 GB Hyundai HTM315156CFR8C-PB PC3-12800
    Graphics Card(s)
    nVIDIA GeForce GTX 670M (GF114M)
    Sound Card
    VIA 6.0.10.1600
    Screen Resolution
    1080
    Hard Drives
    Samsung 850 Pro 256, Samsung 850 Pro 1TB
    Internet Speed
    30 down 3 up
    Browser
    Explorer 11
    Antivirus
    NIS and Malwarebytes
You said the graphics card wasn't UEFI compatible. Have you tried removing the graphics card and just using the motherboard integrated graphics?
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 10 Pro x64
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Self build (Desktop) / Dell (Laptop)
    CPU
    Intel Core i5 4690k (Desktop) / Intel Core i7 5500u (Laptop)
    Motherboard
    Gigabyte Z97 (Desktop) / Dell (Laptop)
    Memory
    8GB DDR3 (Desktop) / 16GB DDR3L (laptop)
    Graphics Card(s)
    Nvidia GeForce GTX 970 (Desktop) / AMD R7 M270 (Laptop)
    Sound Card
    Onboard
    Monitor(s) Displays
    HP Pavilion 27bw
    Screen Resolution
    1920x1080 (Desktop) / 3840x2160 (Laptop)
    Hard Drives
    Samsung SSD 850 EVO 120GB
    WD Black 500GB
    WD Blue 1TB
    (Desktop)
    Samsung SSD 850 EVO 250GB (Laptop)
    PSU
    Corsair 750w
    Case
    Ultra atx
    Cooling
    Stock heatsink
    Keyboard
    Razer Black Widow
    Mouse
    Roccat Kone XTD
    Internet Speed
    250Mbps Down / 20Mbps Up
    Browser
    Chrome
    Antivirus
    ESET
You said the graphics card wasn't UEFI compatible. Have you tried removing the graphics card and just using the motherboard integrated graphics?

I don't think a graphics card cares one way or the other whether you system is UEFI or MBR, all that is necessary for the graphics card to work is the correct drivers being installed
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 Pro MC
    Computer type
    Laptop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Asus G75VW / Z97 Pro
    CPU
    Intel Core i7-3610QM / I7-4790K
    Motherboard
    Z97 Pro
    Memory
    16 GB Hyundai HTM315156CFR8C-PB PC3-12800
    Graphics Card(s)
    nVIDIA GeForce GTX 670M (GF114M)
    Sound Card
    VIA 6.0.10.1600
    Screen Resolution
    1080
    Hard Drives
    Samsung 850 Pro 256, Samsung 850 Pro 1TB
    Internet Speed
    30 down 3 up
    Browser
    Explorer 11
    Antivirus
    NIS and Malwarebytes
I read most of all this, Have you considered that the new SSD is defective? Really all you should have had to do was either clone your old SSD to your new SSD? Or Clean install windows 7 SP1 or 8.1. You mention Asus motherboard I had win 8.1 MBR installed on an old P7P55D Pro board 2008 era, but it didn't support UEFI for booting

It looks to me like you need to take a break, let your mind relax . Read through thoroughly the Tutorials on installing which ever version you want to install. in which format you want to install. If UEFI is what you want you'll have to set up your install media to boot UEFI. Your SSD will need to be CLEAN or converted to GPT. Your BIOS will need to be set UEFI. You obviously don't understand UEFI that's ok none of us did a couple of years ago. We have learned and some pretty sharp tools have written excellent step x step tutorials for us to use and learn with. http://www.eightforums.com/tutsearch.php?q=How to insall UEFI good place to start.

Hi,

Thanks for the input Clintlgm and Maltesespace, was talking to myself for a while there :)

As this is the 2nd OCZ Arc 100 SSD that I've now used, I don't think this specific drive is defective however perhaps the model is somehow? I suspected it should be easy too but clearly something is not right. You're correct in that I don't understand UEFI but I have been following the tutorials already, everything I've written above is based on following all the steps written by others here.

The most recent install above was with a clean disk converted to GPT and my bios is set to UEFI in Secure Boot but everything else is set as the tutorials say - Fast Boot off, Secure Boot off etc etc. The specific problem seems to be that I can't install Windows 8 unless I'm set to IDE and once I have done that and attempt to switch it to AHCI retrospectively after the install I break the install and get stuck in an endless loop of boot problems.

I'd love to take a step back really I would but without any new suggestions I'm not going to get a working PC back and I need one asap.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 Pro N 64bit
I'd just like to add that following that last comment about a possible faulty product line or at least an incompatibility I decided to bite the bullet and wipe my Windows 7 64bit on my Plextor PX-128M5S 128GB SSD. I was specifically trying to avoid doing this until I had a working Windows 8 system, so I accepted I would lose everything, set all of bios exactly as it was in the first attempt, including, most importantly with AHCI switched on. Stuck in the plextor, wiped it and did a GPT convert just as before.


  • Kicked off the Windows 8 install as UEFI, finished in 30 mins or so
  • Checked from msinfo32 and I was running it in UEFI mode with Secure boot disabled.
  • Restarted and AHCI was still on in the bios.
  • Turned fast boot on and it booted straight up.
  • Restarted, switched secure boot back on and loaded all the keys and it started up just fine.

So there you have it having tried two different drives from the same model line I can say categorically that there is an incompatibility with the OCZ ARC 100 line and the Asus M5A97 R2.0 motherboard specifically when it comes to AHCI.

I'll send this one back to Amazon as well and get a Crucial or Plextor again! :mad:
 
Last edited:

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 Pro N 64bit
I read most of all this, Have you considered that the new SSD is defective? Really all you should have had to do was either clone your old SSD to your new SSD? Or Clean install windows 7 SP1 or 8.1. You mention Asus motherboard I had win 8.1 MBR installed on an old P7P55D Pro board 2008 era, but it didn't support UEFI for booting

It looks to me like you need to take a break, let your mind relax . Read through thoroughly the Tutorials on installing which ever version you want to install. in which format you want to install. If UEFI is what you want you'll have to set up your install media to boot UEFI. Your SSD will need to be CLEAN or converted to GPT. Your BIOS will need to be set UEFI. You obviously don't understand UEFI that's ok none of us did a couple of years ago. We have learned and some pretty sharp tools have written excellent step x step tutorials for us to use and learn with. http://www.eightforums.com/tutsearch.php?q=How to insall UEFI good place to start.

Hi,

Thanks for the input Clintlgm and Maltesespace, was talking to myself for a while there :)

As this is the 2nd OCZ Arc 100 SSD that I've now used, I don't think this specific drive is defective however perhaps the model is somehow? I suspected it should be easy too but clearly something is not right. You're correct in that I don't understand UEFI but I have been following the tutorials already, everything I've written above is based on following all the steps written by others here.

The most recent install above was with a clean disk converted to GPT and my bios is set to UEFI in Secure Boot but everything else is set as the tutorials say - Fast Boot off, Secure Boot off etc etc. The specific problem seems to be that I can't install Windows 8 unless I'm set to IDE and once I have done that and attempt to switch it to AHCI retrospectively after the install I break the install and get stuck in an endless loop of boot problems.

I'd love to take a step back really I would but without any new suggestions I'm not going to get a working PC back and I need one asap.
is it possible that your ISO is 32bit x86 and not 64Bit x64
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 Pro MC
    Computer type
    Laptop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Asus G75VW / Z97 Pro
    CPU
    Intel Core i7-3610QM / I7-4790K
    Motherboard
    Z97 Pro
    Memory
    16 GB Hyundai HTM315156CFR8C-PB PC3-12800
    Graphics Card(s)
    nVIDIA GeForce GTX 670M (GF114M)
    Sound Card
    VIA 6.0.10.1600
    Screen Resolution
    1080
    Hard Drives
    Samsung 850 Pro 256, Samsung 850 Pro 1TB
    Internet Speed
    30 down 3 up
    Browser
    Explorer 11
    Antivirus
    NIS and Malwarebytes
No, it's not, I had them on genuine OEM disks but I downloaded a fresh copy from MS and burnt to both USB and DVD. Tried installs from both with the same problems.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 Pro N 64bit
No, it's not, I had them on genuine OEM disks but I downloaded a fresh copy from MS and burnt to both USB and DVD. Tried installs from both with the same problems.

I'm so happy you solved your problem. Who would have thought not one but 2 SSD were NFG. I've had great luck with Samsung and Intel never seen a bad one yet "Knock Or Wood" for saying that my desk is wood.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 Pro MC
    Computer type
    Laptop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Asus G75VW / Z97 Pro
    CPU
    Intel Core i7-3610QM / I7-4790K
    Motherboard
    Z97 Pro
    Memory
    16 GB Hyundai HTM315156CFR8C-PB PC3-12800
    Graphics Card(s)
    nVIDIA GeForce GTX 670M (GF114M)
    Sound Card
    VIA 6.0.10.1600
    Screen Resolution
    1080
    Hard Drives
    Samsung 850 Pro 256, Samsung 850 Pro 1TB
    Internet Speed
    30 down 3 up
    Browser
    Explorer 11
    Antivirus
    NIS and Malwarebytes
From what I seen in disk info pic..
1 disk was UEFI-GPT and the other 2 disks where Legacy-MBR
 

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
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