Solved My issues with UEFI and Fn Keys in Post

[mag3]

OK then, that makes sense because it is probably not where you need to be at this point. With that said, there has to be a menu that allows you to add items to the boot menu. See this screenshot of the Boot Optons and tell me if it makes any sense to you at this point:

View attachment 27741

Apparently, my version of Aptio is more recent than what's described in your screen shot (which is the same as the PDF I downloaded). My main boot tab (see 1st picture in my gallery) does not offer me all the options as depicted in the document. In particular, the only one that appears the same is the "Fast Boot" option, which I have "disabled." There is a "Launch CSM" option (also disabled) which is not in the documentation. I do have a "Driver Option Priorities" section and, below that, "Boot Option Priorities" (as does the documentation). But it (Boot Option Priorities) has only one option, the "Windows Boot Manager." Nowhere do I see the other screen items like:

1) Set Prompt Timeout
2) Boot NumLock State
3) Gate A20 Active
4) Option ROM Messages
5) Interrupt 19 Capture (etc. etc.).​

I think this PDF needs to be updated to reflect the most recent changes in the Aptio BIOS utility.

 

[my2cents]

So, you don't have any of these options? Are the option rom and interrupt 19 options set like the image?

 

[mag3]

So, you don't have any of these options? Are the option rom and interrupt 19 options set like the image?

View attachment 27743

No, I do not have any of those options on the screen. I don't see Option ROM or Interrupt 19 anywhere.

Again, here is what I see on the main boot tab:

 

[my2cents]

OK, sorry I couldn't help you. You really need to call ASUS. We're all just shooting in the dark at this point. Good luck.

 

[my2cents]

One more thought. Have you tried inserting a bootable disc into the CD tray to see if that forces the device to appear in the Windows Boot Manager or the add device area? No need to respond if you have tried that already. Cheers!

 

[mag3]

One more thought. Have you tried inserting a bootable disc into the CD tray to see if that forces the device to appear in the Windows Boot Manager or the add device area? No need to respond if you have tried that already. Cheers!

I did. Doesn't recognize it. I'll get on with ASUS and get back to you all. I'm thinking this might be a "customized" version of Aptio to suit the needs of the particular hardware.

Thanks much anyway for everyone's help.

 

[my2cents]

One more thought. Have you tried inserting a bootable disc into the CD tray to see if that forces the device to appear in the Windows Boot Manager or the add device area? No need to respond if you have tried that already. Cheers!

I did. Doesn't recognize it. I'll get on with ASUS and get back to you all. I'm thinking this might be a "customized" version of Aptio so suit the needs of the particular hardware.

Thanks much anyway for everyone's help.

I'm thinking that ASUS has customized the BIOS as well but it just doesn't make any sense they would lock the boot options. Let us know.

 

[Saltgrass]

You may need to enable the Launch CSM (Compatibility Support Module). If it is set to disabled, it probably restricts the boot options to UEFI only, as in a Windows 8 secure boot.

After it is enabled, there may be options to allow for UEFI and Legacy devices.

Do you show a boot device menu option on the bios page you can use for a one time boot device selection?

I do not know what the Add Boot Device option is supposed to do. It may be related to some type of PXE type boot or some other enterprise scenario. But I do not think it is related to what you are trying to do.

 

[mag3]

You may need to enable the Launch CSM (Compatibility Support Module). If it is set to disabled, it probably restricts the boot options to UEFI only, as in a Windows 8 secure boot.

After it is enabled, there may be options to allow for UEFI and Legacy devices.

Do you show a boot device menu option on the bios page you can use for a one time boot device selection?

I do not know what the Add Boot Device option is supposed to do. It may be related to some type of PXE type boot or some other enterprise scenario. But I do not think it is related to what you are trying to do.

Success!

Enabling CSM is what made magic happen. In turn, I also enabled PXE environment. On the next reboot into Aptio, the entire boot options appear, including optical drive and PXE. I was also able to change the boot order to CD-ROM first, but it didn't seem to have any effect on the boot order. However, I was then able restart again and press the "Esc" key during POST to get that boot menu and boot into my CD-ROM. Excellent!

Thanks to "my .02" , "Saltgrass," "David Bailey" and the others. I will still have a talk with ASUS, because I think this needs to be much more well documented. And, I haven't checked all the Fn key options that seemed to be "disabled." I'll do that shortly.

Thanks again, all.

 

[David Bailey]

Congradulations !!!

This was a tough nut to crack.

 

[my2cents]

You may need to enable the Launch CSM (Compatibility Support Module). If it is set to disabled, it probably restricts the boot options to UEFI only, as in a Windows 8 secure boot.

After it is enabled, there may be options to allow for UEFI and Legacy devices.

Do you show a boot device menu option on the bios page you can use for a one time boot device selection?

I do not know what the Add Boot Device option is supposed to do. It may be related to some type of PXE type boot or some other enterprise scenario. But I do not think it is related to what you are trying to do.

Kudos to Saltgrass and congratulations to msg!

 

[mag3]

Congradulations !!!

This was a tough nut to crack.

I attribute it to the sluggishness of W8 overall, and of UEFI as "the new BIOS." Once there are a few more laptops (and, hopefully desktops still ) out there with both, the mfgr docs & training will ramp up. It's just a matter of getting used to it. I've been building my own custom WINTEL desktops/towers for the last 20+ years. This is one of the 1st major overhauls to BIOS I've seen.

It's gonna take a while.

Thanks!