Windows 8 Clubhouse

[TheMailMan78]

So, I've been suing Windows8 since the launch, with not a single issue noticed. I did have some hardware issues, a bad VGA, but it was problematic in Windows7, too, and I have two of these cards, and one was working fine.


So, anyway, things are going good, I like the new OS and how it's different. Very much so, actually. Been gaming without issue, and all my old apps are working just fine.


So, yesterday, I'm working on a review. In the middle of writing, actually, with all my testing and everything else done and ready to rock. Every afternoon, I take a break from doing whatever I'm doing to go and help my youngest son, who is in Kindergarten, work on his spelling and reading. We sit for half an hour, do some "homework", and then back to review stuff I go. So, I shut down for this break, go do my thing with my son, and come back to finish writing this review.

Hit the power button, system boots up, I see the Win8 splash screen...and then nothing.


Blackness. NO HDD activity light. Just a black screen.

I reboot. Same thing. Reboot again, Win8 does a recovery, says it cannot recover, reboots.

Board boots, Win8 splashes up, blackness. Nothing but blackness.

Well, I regularly back up my OS to an extra SSD, I pop this in...boot...Win8 splash, ...


BLACKNESS.


WTF!!@!!!!@@!@##$$%!#$!#%R$^@#$%@!!!!

Of course, I'm here, typing now, so I got it fixed, albeit 6 hours later. Any guess as to what happened?

How did you fix it?

 

[cadaveca]

How did you fix it?

Actually, the issue persists. I have merely mitigated the issue by alternate system configuration.


I check Windows update to see if it tossed in an update, it says no, last was the 24th. It lied.


Yesterday, it installed the Intel IGP driver for some odd reason, which then enabled the disabled iGPU, and I can now not disable it in BIOS. Since it's enabled, and the driver has been installed, it will not boot into Windows unless the IGP is the primary VGA device, meaning I have to plug my monitor into the IGP to see the BIOS.

Why the heck BIOS settings are adjustable from within Windows8..I dunno. I have quite a few issues with Windows8 and UEFI BIOSes on ASUS boards right now, and none are directly related to ASUS, as far as I can tell, other than having that ability available. VGA driver crashes can reset the BIOS, and then making changes in the BIOS does not always take until the CMOS is cleared...kind of a nightmare, actually.


So now, I cannot disable the IGP in BIOS. nothing I have tried has worked. I left it in a forced CMOS clear overnight...no luck.

So now, I have monitor plugged into my 7950, and the Windows login screen shows up fine, and it boots fine, but the IGP is still enabled, and is the primary boot device.

 

[TheMailMan78]

Actually, the issue persists. I have merely mitigated the issue by alternate system configuration.


I check Windows update to see if it tossed in an update, it says no, last was the 24th. It lied.


Yesterday, it installed the Intel IGP driver for some odd reason, which then enabled the disabled iGPU, and I can now not disable it in BIOS. Since it's enabled, and the driver has been installed, it will not boot into Windows unless the IGP is the primary VGA device, meaning I have to plug my monitor into the IGP to see the BIOS.

Why the heck BIOS settings are adjustable from within Windows8..I dunno. I have quite a few issues with Windows8 and UEFI BIOSes on ASUS boards right now, and none are directly related to ASUS, as far as I can tell, other than having that ability available. VGA driver crashes can reset the BIOS, and then making changes in the BIOS does not always take until the CMOS is cleared...kind of a nightmare, actually.


So now, I cannot disable the IGP in BIOS. nothing I have tried has worked. I left it in a forced CMOS clear overnight...no luck.

So now, I have monitor plugged into my 7950, and the Windows login screen shows up fine, and it boots fine, but the IGP is still enabled, and is the primary boot device.

Can you dissconnect all drives and blind flash the bios via USB?

 

[Techtu]

So, I've been suing Windows8 since the launch, with not a single issue noticed. I did have some hardware issues, a bad VGA, but it was problematic in Windows7, too, and I have two of these cards, and one was working fine.


So, anyway, things are going good, I like the new OS and how it's different. Very much so, actually. Been gaming without issue, and all my old apps are working just fine.


So, yesterday, I'm working on a review. In the middle of writing, actually, with all my testing and everything else done and ready to rock. Every afternoon, I take a break from doing whatever I'm doing to go and help my youngest son, who is in Kindergarten, work on his spelling and reading. We sit for half an hour, do some "homework", and then back to review stuff I go. So, I shut down for this break, go do my thing with my son, and come back to finish writing this review.

Hit the power button, system boots up, I see the Win8 splash screen...and then nothing.


Blackness. NO HDD activity light. Just a black screen.

I reboot. Same thing. Reboot again, Win8 does a recovery, says it cannot recover, reboots.

Board boots, Win8 splashes up, blackness. Nothing but blackness.

Well, I regularly back up my OS to an extra SSD, I pop this in...boot...Win8 splash, ...


BLACKNESS.


WTF!!@!!!!@@!@##$$%!#$!#%R$^@#$%@!!!!

Of course, I'm here, typing now, so I got it fixed, albeit 6 hours later. Any guess as to what happened?

Mine did this too, after hours of restarting hopelessly hoping for something to go right I was about to give up and reinstall Windows 7 and forget about 8 but I gave it a few more tries and what do you know, Windows seems to be repairing itself, very very slow in doing so but after around 10 more minutes it finally booted up! Was still slow for a few more boots after, all back to normal now though like it never happened.

 

[TheMailMan78]

This is good info to have. I will be getting a new GPU in this week. I didnt enable the IGP because I didnt want to mess with the bios so its been left off. Man I am glad I did now. When I get the new GPU in Im gonna boot right into my windows 7 disk, format and reinstall. This is madness Windows 8 can mess with bios settings.

 

[cadaveca]

Can you dissconnect all drives and blind flash the bios via USB?

Yep, flashing is no problem. That'll be next, but I have other stuff to dela with now. it boots, and gaming uses the 7950, so that's good for now.

And yeah, I supposed that it might be useful, hence my post.

 

[TheMailMan78]

Yep, flashing is no problem. That'll be next, but I have other stuff to dela with now. it boots, and gaming uses the 7950, so that's good for now.

And yeah, I supposed that it might be useful, hence my post.

I'm thinking your issue might be with windows 8 syncing settings maybe?

 

[cadaveca]

I'm thinking your issue might be with windows 8 syncing settings maybe?

Honestly, I haven't a clue, and that's why I'm leaving it as is. I'll figure it out some time this week.

 

[TheMailMan78]

Honestly, I haven't a clue, and that's why I'm leaving it as is. I'll figure it out some time this week.

Sounds like a pickle. It also sounds like one of those weird ass issues I seem to always find Keep us updated!

 

[Crap Daddy]

I will be getting a new GPU in this week.

What would that be if I may ask?

 

[TheMailMan78]

What would that be if I may ask?

EVGA 670 "FTW" Edition. Hate the name but its a 670 on a 680 PCB and when its all said and done Ill be out of pocket maybe 5 bucks.

 

[Crap Daddy]

EVGA 670 "FTW" Edition. Hate the name but its a 670 on a 680 PCB and when its all said and done Ill be out of pocket maybe 5 bucks.

As Borat would say: Niiiice!

 

[TRWOV]

So much for W8 being a flop: http://arstechnica.com/information-...reat-at-40-million-copies-in-the-first-month/

 

[H82LUZ73]

So much for W8 being a flop: http://arstechnica.com/information-...reat-at-40-million-copies-in-the-first-month/

That could be bloated 40 million from the cheap upgrade offer that was on.

Dave that sucks Windows8 would do that,You try just changing a extra Intel chip out to see if it would do it?
I have AMD and if I try to install any AMD north-bridge /south-brigde/achi drivers Win8 pukes them out and does not like them.I have to manually go in and do the system restore.Maybe try that just go to the last time it worked without the IGP driver installed.

 

[Drone]

MultiTouch Windows 8 Interactive Display. That's lush

 

[TheMailMan78]

Do you guys leave the auto update on or do you install/update your drivers manually? Im asking because of the Nvidia drivers. If I let the OS install the driver Im concerned that later down the line when I update them manually to a newer driver that it (the OS) will re-install the older version over it.

I always left auto update off in windows 7 but I got used to the ease of the auto update in windows 8.

 

[TRWOV]

If you have a newer version WU won't overwrite it.

 

[erixx]

Dave, maybe it's Virtu MVP turned on by itself? I have tried to make that run and I can't. Black screens and nothings.

 

[remixedcat]

Decor8 puts the sexy back....

 

[erixx]

Yeah,

1) IF you want to use it, you have to put some ordering effort into the modern screen: delete most shortcuts and have your own, in groups. (DONE)

2) The modern backgrounds are plain boring horrible. Would love to put high def pictures (aka photos) there. (PENDING)

3) Still this whole Metro/Modern UI concept is still useless for me, a full day computer worker. It is designed for the occasional "check&look" into a phone screen.

 

[Mussels]

If you have a newer version WU won't overwrite it.

i've had it go weird where upgrades have failed in the past. would hate that if it happend automatically.

 

[Dos101]

Honestly, I haven't a clue, and that's why I'm leaving it as is. I'll figure it out some time this week.

I had the exact same issue, though in my case my BIOS was one update behind and updating it to the latest update fixed my black screen issue.

Do you guys leave the auto update on or do you install/update your drivers manually? Im asking because of the Nvidia drivers. If I let the OS install the driver Im concerned that later down the line when I update them manually to a newer driver that it (the OS) will re-install the older version over it.

I always left auto update off in windows 7 but I got used to the ease of the auto update in windows 8.

I update everything manually, but that's just cuz I'm a control freak I had it set to automatically download and install updates on the gf's PC and never had an issue with Windows 7 reinstalling an older driver so I don't think Windows 8 would do it either.

 

[Techtu]

I had the black screen again today, took just as long for it to sort itself out

I uninstalled the NVidia drivers as was using a PhysX card but just don't have the need for one and then restarted as usual to get the black screen in my face!

 

[cadaveca]

Do you guys leave the auto update on or do you install/update your drivers manually? Im asking because of the Nvidia drivers. If I let the OS install the driver Im concerned that later down the line when I update them manually to a newer driver that it (the OS) will re-install the older version over it.

I always left auto update off in windows 7 but I got used to the ease of the auto update in windows 8.

Dave, maybe it's Virtu MVP turned on by itself? I have tried to make that run and I can't. Black screens and nothings.

I had the exact same issue, though in my case my BIOS was one update behind and updating it to the latest update fixed my black screen issue.

OK, so final problem synopsis:


What happened:


A VGA died, RMA approved, I pulled VGA to test on it's own one last time to be sure.


VGA crashed, I shut down to pull it. When it crashed, it somehow reset the BIOS. This has happened before, even in Windows7, so not a Windows issue.


Resetting the BIOS by the crash re-enabled the IGP.

I had automatic updates enabled, so when Windows booted up, it automatically installed the Intel HD4000 driver, and since it was set to automatic, it didn't prompt me or notify it had done so.

I rebooted, with just one VGA, and it failed to boot, since the Intel driver could not find the Intel VGA as primary device.


So now, on this MVF board, I can now NOT disable the IGP, and so cannot see BIOS booting, just have working screen once OS loads. Disabling the IGP is not possible, BIOS reset doesn't fix it..nothing does, not even a flash.


Popped in another board, IGP disabled, OS booted right up.


Anyway, although I thought it might be Windows causing my issue, really, it's not.

 

[TheMailMan78]

OK, so final problem synopsis:


What happened:


A VGA died, RMA approved, I pulled VGA to test on it's own one last time to be sure.


VGA crashed, I shut down to pull it. When it crashed, it somehow reset the BIOS. This has happened before, even in Windows7, so not a Windows issue.


Resetting the BIOS by the crash re-enabled the IGP.

I had automatic updates enabled, so when Windows booted up, it automatically installed the Intel HD4000 driver, and since it was set to automatic, it didn't prompt me or notify it had done so.

I rebooted, with just one VGA, and it failed to boot, since the Intel driver could not find the Intel VGA as primary device.


So now, on this MVF board, I can now NOT disable the IGP, and so cannot see BIOS booting, just have working screen once OS loads. Disabling the IGP is not possible, BIOS reset doesn't fix it..nothing does, not even a flash.


Popped in another board, IGP disabled, OS booted right up.


Anyway, although I thought it might be Windows causing my issue, really, it's not.

So the bum VGA did something to your mobo?