MSI Motherboard Issues - Windows 8 Installing

[Livin in a box]

My friend has just built his PC and has got to the stage of trying to install Windows 8 - but for some reason, it isn't installing. He's got a disc that he's booting off and when he types in his product key, it tells him to check his installation media for some reason. I did some digging and a few people are saying to update the BIOS.

The motherboard he has is a MSI Z77A-G45 Thunderbolt. Apparently the BIOS version is 10.1, which I can't find on the website, so suggested updating the BIOS. Seeing as he doesn't have Windows installed, he's been trying to use the M-Flash utility with the BIOS update on his FAT32 formatted memory stick with the files on the root, yet it won't find it on any of the options under the M-Flash menu. I'm at a complete loss as he's tried different updates, different ports, different memory sticks, all with the same problems.

He's current having to download Windows 7, but in the meantime I'm trying to find a solution, so wanted to know if anyone else knows why it's doing this? It just seems weird anyway that Windows is declining his key anyway. Anyone had that problem before either?

Thanks in advance :)

[leesmithg]

MSI have a software package that updates all their software.

Maybe look for that.

Or I found this on one page: http://uk.msi.com/service/download/

Or try this: http://www.google.co.uk/#hl=en&tbo=d&site=&source=hp&q=MSI+updater&oq=MSI+updater&gs_l=hp.3..0j0i10i30l2j0i5i10i30j0i5i30j0i8l2j0i8i10j0i8i30j0i8i10i30.3731.7511.0.7807.9.7.0.2.2.0.89.499.7.7.0.les%3B..0.0...1c.1.2.hp.DLFKaE8pU7w&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.&bvm=bv.42080656,d.d2k&fp=b852e449ca8f86df&biw=1484&bih=764

[Detection]

Has he tried installing Windows 8 from a USB Flash drive instead of a DVD ?

[Livin in a box]

OK, I may have found the problem - he was using the BIOS version for the non-Thunderbolt version...now lets see if he can install Windows 8 after this BIOS install. I may or may not have played a part in choosing the wrong BIOS :p

[Brandon H Supervisor]

weird, i just got the non-thunderbolt version of that board and Windows 8 installed just fine for me right out of the box

and this may sound stupid, but did he actually extract the files to the usb drive or did he just put the zip file on the drive?

OK, I may have found the problem - he was using the BIOS version for the non-Thunderbolt version...now lets see if he can install Windows 8 after this BIOS install. I may or may not have played a part in choosing the wrong BIOS :p

lol just saw this after i posted xD that'd do it

hopefully things go better after the bios update :)

[Livin in a box]

Hmm, he's done the update yet it still won't verify the key. If a random one is entered, it'll still say that's wrong...I don't know why it's doing this :/

[Detection]

Hmm, he's done the update yet it still won't verify the key. If a random one is entered, it'll still say that's wrong...I don't know why it's doing this :/

Trying to do a clean install with an upgrade key ? (Should work)

Trying to install Win 8 Pro with a Win 8 key ?

[Radium]

Enable AHCI in the EFI menu and download Intel Rapid Storage software for floppy/F6 and put it uncompressed on a USB stick.

Insert the DVD and enter the EFI menu and tell it to boot UEFI Windows installer (this is the UEFI boot loader on the disc, I don't remember the exact name, but it's prefixed with UEFI)

Do what you normally do, and eith the USB stick inserted.

If you can't reach the step where you pick which drive to install to, then the install disc might be damaged.

If you reach that step of the installation process, load the drivers from the stick.

I highly recommend EFI/UEFI for fast booting and GPT and AHCI for higher drive speeds, native TRIM support etc.

I have a Z68A board from MSI and I have no problems what so ever.

Your short description of the problem seems to indicate that the installation disc is damaged.

The USB stick with drivers is so it can recognize the AHCI controller, if that's where the problem is.

Lend him a 64-bit disc if you have one, and try with that instead.

Otherwise, see if Microsoft have and ISO-file available for download and use that.

Disc seems to be damaged.

[Livin in a box]

OK, it's all been fixed - it needed formatting through GParted for some reason...as for the installation key, that was fixed when he updated the ME firmware in the mobo as well. Hooray!