Asus Z97-Pro (WiFi ac) bios update fail

[trodas]

My Asus Z97-Pro (WiFi ac) have bios v2303:

So I load the new bios (all the more recent bioses anyway) on USA flash:

I picked up the latest one (v2702) and tried...

...to upload it, then I get "not a proper BIOS" message:

NONE of the bioses I tested (v2401, v2501, v2601 and v2702) worked. All I download directly from Asus site:
http://www.asus.com/cz/Motherboards/Z97PROWiFi_ac/HelpDesk_Download/
...so could SOMEBODY tell me, what is going on?!



Next thing - let's try the mainboard function of USB BIOS Flashback - I put into the proper port (page 2-14 "bottom port supports USB BIOS Flashback") USB drive with file in the root directory, renamed by the BRenamerl.exe utility to "Z97P.CAP")

After power up, I hold the BIOS_FLBK button for 3+ seconds and I expected to see 3 blinks of the LED and beggining of the flash proces, but ABSOLUTELY NOTHING HAPPEND.



The last attempt to flash bios update on Asus Z97-Pro (WiFi ac) was my attempt to boot from USB flash. Formated as DOS bootable device (or DrDOS) and in both attempts failed. Even afer disconnecting both SATA devices (HDD + DVD).



So the mainboard works, but it did not see the Samsung SM951 (MZ - HPV1280) M.2 128G SSD is not seen as device in bios or HDD prep programs like Mini Tool Partition Wizard Pro. Any help is need:

...perhaps it is just me, doing something wrong?

 

[silentbogo]

Wrong board

http://www.asus.com/Motherboards/Z97PROWiFi_acUSB_31/HelpDesk_Download/

 

[Bill_Bright]

Why are you trying to update the BIOS anyway?

It is very rare for a BIOS to "need" updating. The vast majority of updates simply add support for new hardware (typically new CPUs and RAM) that came out after the board left the factory.

I don't update the BIOS unless (1) the update addresses a problem I am currently experiencing, (2) it adds support for a new CPU or RAM I am installing, or (3) it addresses a security issue - very rare!

Did you read the update descriptions to see if they address a problem you are actually having?

 

[jsfitz54]

Before flashing clear cmos and revert to default settings.
Also disconnect any extra usb cables and I like to disconnect HD's and SSD's.
Reboot.
Flash.
Reboot.
Restore your settings.
Reboot.

 

[trodas]

silentbogo - Ooops, my epic fail, lol...

Bill_Bright -

Why are you trying to update the BIOS anyway?

Because it did not see my M.2 SSD drive...

jsfitz54 - I did not disconnected anything. Maybe I should disconnet the M.2 SSD drive...


Now I finally have the bios updated! I completely forget, that my mainboard is not "Asus Z97-PRO (WiFi ac)", but a "Asus Z97-PRO (WiFi ac)/USB 3.1" and that means, that I tried different BIOSes. Witch end up with the "impossibility to update" the bios.

Now I running at bios v2702, yet the M.2 SSD (Samsung SM951) is still "not present" in bios, or for HDD prep program (Mini Tool Partition Wizard Professional) or visible for Windows 7 install:
http://www.techpowerup.com/forums/threads/asus-z97-pro-wifi-ac-not-see-my-m-2-ssd-drive.218470/

 

[F-Zero]

I'm not sure what options you have in your UEFI but on my Maximus VII Ranger i need to change this (Advanced > Onboard Devices Configuration > PCI Express X4_3 Slot (Black) Bandwith > M.2 Mode ) in order to see the M.2 Card.

Please try to see if you have the same option on your motherboard.

 

[silentbogo]

According to ASUS your board does support NVMe since BIOS version 0501.

Not sure about your SSD, but for XP941 I see that it only works in UEFI RAID (per QVL sheet)
Try to boot the OS installation in UEFI mode and see if the drive appears there. If everything is OK and you were able to install Windows, you should be able to see it in BIOS.

If not, then you need to do the following:
1) go to boot options and disable CSM
2) on the same tab set Secure Boot to OtherOS, if installing Linux or Windows 7 x64, or leave as-is for Windows 8 or above
3) save changes and shutdown the PC
4) disconnect all SATA drives from motherboard, leaving only M.2 connected
5) boot from UEFI disk again and see if it works (make sure you boot in UEFI, and not legacy mode)

 

[trodas]

Disabling CSM lead to reboot!

...

I wanted to install the Win7 on the M.5 Samsung 951 and I failed I tried this:

As this method looks very promising, however it fail to work on Asus Z97-Pro (WiFi ac)/usb 3.1 - with Samsung SM951 M.2 SSD. Rufus easily create the USB boot install Win7 Pro drive, no problemo there. However when I use the recommended bios setup, it ALWAYS reset the computer right after the "Starting Windows" message on screen appears. After that, the Asus board tell me, that it adjusted my bios settings to make the problem "go away" (it re-enable the CSM!) and then the install works, however it did not see single drive (all except M.2 are unpluged)

Latest bios are now used. Asked Asus support and get funny message, that basically says, that Asus only support following M.2 SSD drives it list there: http://www.mediafire.com/?tgzauc1phpnu21w
And the best part of the message is: "Asus do not guarantee functionality of this manboard with other that listed M.2 SSD drives." WTF ...

Any help will be greatly appreciated.

I tried different bios settings regarding the CSM, but the rule seems to be that disabled CSM lead to reboot

The guide is basically about that for the first part of Win install on M.2 SSD drive, you need to:
- completely disable CSM (Boot/CSM)
- select Secure Boot to "Other OS"
- select Key Management to "Clear Secure Bootkeys"

...install Win thru first reboot, then...

Secure Boot: Windows UEFI Mode (instead of completely disabling CSM)
Key Management: Install Default Secure Boot Keys

So it was sound reasonable, however it failed completely

 

[silentbogo]

I still can't understand the symptoms:
1) Are you using a 64-bit ISO for Windows 7?
2) Did you boot in UEFI mode?
3) At which point did installation cause a reboot?
4) Was the SSD visible in partition management window during installation, or did you even get this far?

Windows UEFI mostly works for Win8/10. For Windows 7 (even UEFI) you still need to select OtherOS.

 

[silentbogo]

Here is the complete guide on how to create bootable media. Read it carefully and follow each step.
http://www.eightforums.com/tutorials/15458-uefi-bootable-usb-flash-drive-create-windows.html

If during installation your SSD is not visible in partition manager, then it's not working and needs RMA.

 

[P4-630]

Genuine windows version?

 

[trodas]

1) Are you using a 64-bit ISO for Windows 7?

I can only respond with a big "What?!" - no idea at all.

2) Did you boot in UEFI mode?

Both CSM and UEFI booting, however the M.2 SSD is *NEVER* visible in either more. It is simply "not there"...

3) At which point did installation cause a reboot?

In CSM mode as I write: "it ALWAYS reset the computer right after the "Starting Windows" message on screen appears"

4) Was the SSD visible in partition management window during installation, or did you even get this far?

As I write, it was never visible: "it did not see single drive"
I never ever ever seen the M.2 SSD drive in my mobo at all. As if it is not existing at all...

Windows UEFI mostly works for Win8/10. For Windows 7 (even UEFI) you still need to select OtherOS.

No idea what you are talking about, honestly. I already told you, that opions Secure Boot: Windows UEFI Mode + Secure Boot to "Other OS" + select Key Management to "Clear Secure Bootkeys" cause the install USB booting and working nicely to the poit, that it simply refuse to see my Samsung SM951 M.2 SSD drive, witch is absolutely flustrating thig.

Here is the complete guide on how to create bootable media. Read it carefully and follow each step.

Why should I even tuch the link, when booting is working fine?! The problem is invisible M.2 SSD, not booting...

If during installation your SSD is not visible in partition manager, then it's not working and needs RMA.

This is just stupid. Many others have same problem, so there is no reason to assume that the drive is bad. Faulty logic.

Genuine windows version?

Yes. And once again absolutely irellevant. This guy suggested a driver help him to see the Samsung SM950 M.2 SSD:
http://rog.asus.com/forum/showthread.php?81308-Asus-Z97-Pro-(WiFi-ac)-not-see-my-M-2-SSD-drive

 

[jsfitz54]

Have you tried the NVMe driver found here: http://www.samsung.com/global/business/semiconductor/minisite/SSD/global/html/support/downloads.html

EDIT: 950 Pro only. Worth a try?

EDIT2: Your mobo is on sale at Newegg.com frequently. There appear to be many revisions of this board. My take away on this is that the board is problematic. This includes new, open box and many refurbished.