New Rig can't install Windwos 8

[DeadheadDuke]

I put together a new rig with an Asus Z97-A motherboard, 3.5GHZ Intel i5-4690 processor, 8 GB GSkill DDR 1600 RAM, GE Force GT 650 and a Samsung 500GB EVO SSD plust two Western Digital 1TB mechanical hard drives. Both my Windows 7 and 8 DVDs are legitimate updates. Windows 8 came from Microsoft. I first tried to install Windows 7 and that would seemingly install but would never run past the opening screen when the colored balls spin and join. I then cleaned the SSD with diskpart to stop it from trying to boot to 7 and put the Windows 8 DVD in the drive. Following all the normal steps of a custom install it appeared that installation was going just fine. It installed all files without incident, then went to initializing devices and that went okay. On the next step, called "getting started," the computer shut down to a black screen. The option I am now given is to restart the computer and complete the installation. That action results in another attempt to totally reinstall and ends he same way. In the UEFI BIOS I have it set to default values. I have tried a second new SSD replacement and that one did the exact same thing. I also have re-seated the RAM and that didn't help either. Finally I downloaded a fresh copy of Windows 8, installed it on a thumb drive and tried that. I got the same result. Does anyone know what the Windows 8 installer is attempting to do when it goes into the Getting Started step. My assumption is that it is loading hardware drivers but that it just a guess.

 

[Ketchup]

I have found Windows 8 and 10 to be quite mysterious as to what it is doing the last few steps of an install.

I agree though, sounds like a driver, based on where it is stopping each time. Are you using the gray sata ports, or something else for your SSD?

One thing you can try is removing the video card and seeing if the same thing happens with the Intel video.

In the BIOS, which SATA mode are you using (IDE, AHCI, RAID)? I don't think this would cause your problem though.

In the BIOS, what do you have selected for OS type?

 

[DeadheadDuke]

I checked again and the SATA mode is set to AHCI and I have Windows selected as the Operating System type.

 

[Ketchup]

If you haven't already, install Windows with just one SSD plugged in (no other SSD or hard drive).

 

[DeadheadDuke]

I have never had two SSDs installed at the same time. I pulled one out and put another in. I'm just before trying to install while using onboard video, if that doesn't work I'm going to take known good DDR3 RAM from another computer and install it. If none of that works I'm down to the motherboard and the processor.

 

[Ketchup]

Considering the state it stops at on each installation, I am thinking this could be a motherboard problem (hardware or configuration), or an odd software issue.

RAM issues would normally show themselves at a greater variety of instances, however it wouldn't hurt to go in and manually set your RAM timings to be very conservative and/or adjust RAM voltage. How much voltage is the board supplying your RAM modules now?

 

[DeadheadDuke]

I just filed a trouble ticket with Asus. I agree that it probably is a faulty motherboard. If it were RAM or the processor I can't believe it would ever get to the stage that it does.

 

[DeadheadDuke]

Just to provide a conclusion to this thread I can say that the problem turned out to be a bad out of the box motherboard. I have used a lot of Asus boards and never had a bad one until now. I hope I never have another because the RMA process is a PITA and unnecessarily slow to resolve. I may try another brand in the future but they are all probably just as bad as Asus has been?

 

[Ketchup]

Asus is pretty well known to be the best when there isn't a problem and the worst when there is. Of course, I am sure none of them are really great when it comes to issues. I am glad to here this one got taken care of, even if it did take a while!

 

[Steltek]

Just to provide a conclusion to this thread I can say that the problem turned out to be a bad out of the box motherboard. I have used a lot of Asus boards and never had a bad one until now. I hope I never have another because the RMA process is a PITA and unnecessarily slow to resolve. I may try another brand in the future but they are all probably just as bad as Asus has been?

Pretty much in my experience. I once had Gigabyte return a RMA'd board to me twice. The kicker was that they sent it back in the same packaging I mailed it in -- it was obvious that they never even bothered to open the package but rather just slapped a return label on it and sent it right back to me with a warranty invoice marked as repaired. The third time was a charm, but I'll never buy one of their boards again as a result.

Now, I make it a point to build and burn in any new system within the return period for the retailers I happen to buy my parts from. It is far preferable to do returns with retailer than deal with a manufacturer -- you'll get quicker results with far fewer headaches (and some of them will miraculously even have employees that speak English!).

 

[DeadheadDuke]

I haven't received the replacement board yet but was warned that it might be a refurbished product. That doesn't bother me but I sure hope that they at least don't return the same package I sent them. I guess that the luck of the draw will get a person a faulty piece of equipment now and then so I hope I have just satisfied the odds for my final time.