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Missing SSD in UEFI BIOS - ASUS z97-A

Tags:
  • Asus
  • SSD
  • Components
  • Motherboards
  • BIOS
Last response: in Motherboards
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September 13, 2014 7:08:41 AM

I built a new rig with a combo of new components and older ones salvaged from my prior build. Decided to reinstall Windows 7 x64 on my old SSD for a fresh start, but the SSD intermittently appears or disappears as seen by the UEFI BIOS and/or Windows install DVD. The secondary HDD and optical drive both show up fine in the UEFI BIOS.

Specs:
New components:
Motherboard: ASUS Z97-A
CPU: Intel Core i5-4690K
GPU: ASUS GTX780-DC2OC-3GD5

Old components salvaged from prior build:
SSD: G.SKILL Sniper Gaming Series FM-25S2S-120GBSR 2.5" 120GB SATA II
RAM: G.SKILL Ripjaws Series DDR3 1600 - 16GB (4x 4GB)
PSU: CORSAIR HX Series HX850 850W
Optical: ASUS DRW-24B1ST/BLK/B/AS

What I've done:
Switched around SATA cables & ports for the affected SSD. (Multiple times!) Currently the setup is as follows:
P1: SSD; P2: HDD; P3: Empty; P4: Optical; P5: Empty; P6: Empty; SATA express: Empty (Note: P1-4 are designated as ‘gray’ and P5-6 are ‘black’; also, ASUS labels the SATA ports starting from #1 instead of #0)

Changed SATA mode selection between AHCI and RAID back & forth.

On the one instance where I installed Windows & managed to boot into it OK, I removed the 100 MB system reserved partition before the installation as per other forum articles. I installed the drivers from my support DVDs, rebooted, updated my GeForce drivers (only the GeForce driver has been updated beyond the stock drivers from the box), even managed to install Skype and chat for an hour before shutting down for the night.
This morning, the rig is back to the SSD disappearing and throwing faults and/or BSOD on the instances where I manage to boot the SSD. I’ll try to document the error code if I can.

Theories:
1) I shunted a lot of Windows' temporary junk over to the HDD to reduce the SSD read/write load. Perhaps this is interfering? I doubt this, since the SDD still disappears half the time with the HDD unplugged.
2) SSD is too damn old and the SATA II drive is somehow incompatible with the UEFI or Intel SATA 3 controllers. I just bought a Samsung Evo 840 (250 GB) that is coming on Tuesday, but I’ve been seeing threads about that SSD also disappearing in UEFI on this mobo.
3) Inherent mobo issue with SSDs, nothing to be done but RMA.

I’ll continue to search for answers and check this post.

Thank you for any assistance.

More about : missing ssd uefi bios asus z97

September 13, 2014 7:23:03 AM

Well, this thread suggests an answer: http://www.tomshardware.com/answers/id-1755027/asus-z87...

Quote:
Nathan 76:
Ok I have been having exactly the same problem and the solution I figured out (for me anyway) was that I was using a first generation sandforce SSD (OCZ vertex 2 SATA II 100GB) as boot drive and it turns out these are not compatible either with the chipset or Haswell.

Changed to Samsung 840 EVO SATA III 120GB and everything working fine.

ASUS H81I-PLUS, i3-4130, MSI R9 270

===

So, I guess just wait for that shiny new Evo, then. :/ 
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September 13, 2014 11:40:40 AM

Switched back to RAID again and managed to boot into Windows. Funny thing, everything I installed last night is gone. Probably because of Windows restore. Now, I'd prefer to use AHCI so I'll be re-re-re-reinstalling Windows 7 x64 I guess? I'll switch it back to AHCI to confirm. Man, when did this get so arcane?
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