Crosshair V formula, Windows 7 GPT Installation on a 3TB HDD

[Davthalas]

So basically I've been trying to install windows 7 on a 3tb drive with limiting it to 2.2tb. So far I've been unsuccessful.

I've managed to use DISKPART to convert the drive to GPT but once I go through setup it seems to revert it to MBR and limit it to 2.2tb.

I've also tried using diskpart to convert it to GPT and then trying to create a new partition on it before installing but I just get an error message saying I can't, followed by the drive being split up into MBR partitions again.

I was told that Windows setup reverts to BIOS instead of UEFI and that I should override the boot drive and select my dvd drive with an UEFI logo beside it, but I can't find the option to do this in the bios.

Any help would be appreciated. Thanks.

[Praz]

During Post press F8 to get to the boot menu. Is the optical drive listed there with the UEFI prefix?

[Davthalas]

During Post press F8 to get to the boot menu. Is the optical drive listed there with the UEFI prefix?

Nope, all my drives are listed but no UEFI prefix's.

[Kipper]

Have you tried to go into the BIOS and then into EZ Mode and see if the Optical Drive that you are using for the install is listed there with the UEFI prefix.

Using that Optical Drive or you could also use a USB thumb drive with the OS on it for the install but either device must have the UEFI prefix because that's what triggers the system to recognize the 2.2Plus drives.

[Praz]

I have not done any UEFI Win7 installs from disk but when done from USB requires some file prep before UEFI will be recognized as an install option.

[Davthalas]

Have you tried to go into the BIOS and then into EZ Mode and see if the Optical Drive that you are using for the install is listed there with the UEFI prefix.

Using that Optical Drive or you could also use a USB thumb drive with the OS on it for the install but either device must have the UEFI prefix because that's what triggers the system to recognize the 2.2Plus drives.

No option for UEFI in EZ mode either...starting to get worried lol.

EDIT: I just tried putting in a blank usb stick and it comes up with an UEFI option during boot so it seems its just my optical drive isn't compatible. Anyone know how to format a USB stick so it can install win7? Thanks.

[Praz]

You will need at least a 4GB USB stick. Format the USB stick to FAT32. I have not been able to get a successful install formatted to NTFS. Copy the Win7 64Bit disk to the USB stick. I don't believe 32Bit will work with UEFI.

On the USB stick go to efi\microsoft\ folder and copy the boot folder. Go back to the efi folder and paste the boot folder into it. The efi folder should now contain two folders. microsoft and boot.

Using 7-Zip on the USB stick go to sources\install.wim\1\Windows\Boot\EFI\ and locate the file bootmgfw.efi. Drag this file to the Desktop. On the Desktop rename bootmgfw.efi to bootx64.efi. Now copy bootx64.efi to \efi\boot on the USB stick.

Booting from the USB stick should now give the option to install Win7 as UEFI.

[Kipper]

No option for UEFI in EZ mode either...starting to get worried lol.

EDIT: I just tried putting in a blank usb stick and it comes up with an UEFI option during boot so it seems its just my optical drive isn't compatible. Anyone know how to format a USB stick so it can install win7? Thanks.

Here is a pretty easy tutorial on how to create a Win 7 install on a USB Stick.

[Davthalas]

You will need at least a 4GB USB stick. Format the USB stick to FAT32. I have not been able to get a successful install formatted to NTFS. Copy the Win7 64Bit disk to the USB stick. I don't believe 32Bit will work with UEFI.

On the USB stick go to efi\microsoft\ folder and copy the boot folder. Go back to the efi folder and paste the boot folder into it. The efi folder should now contain two folders. microsoft and boot.

Using 7-Zip on the USB stick go to sources\install.wim\1\Windows\Boot\EFI\ and locate the file bootmgfw.efi. Drag this file to the Desktop. On the Desktop rename bootmgfw.efi to bootx64.efi. Now copy bootx64.efi to \efi\boot on the USB stick.

Booting from the USB stick should now give the option to install Win7 as UEFI.

This method was working quite well, but when I click on 'Install Windows' in the setup it tells me it needs a CD/DVD driver before it can continue and then prompts me to locate it. i'm using a SanDisk Cruzer Blade and as such there is no driver for it. Any idea's how to get around this and continue with setup?

[Praz]

Do you have your optical and all other unneeded drives disconnected? I don't do anything special when installing from from USB as UEFI. I normally set the controller to AHCI for ports 1 - 4 and IDE for ports 5 and 6. With the hard drive and USB stick connected I set the boot device as the hard drive. During the first boot press F8 and select your USB stick identified as UEFI. Win7 64Bit should then install as UEFI.

One downside to installing as UEFI are UEFI updates. If you update the board's UEFI Win7 will see this as a new system and it will break the authorization requiring you to reauthorize with your product key.