Asus Laptops, UEFI and Secure Boot (model UX32VD-DH71)

I just acquired Asus UX32VD-DH71 and I am planning to replace the internal hard drive with a SSD. However, I read on forums different stories on what one might encounter in this process.

Ideally I would like to do a clean instal using a generic Windows 8 disk and then activate it using the product key that is mentioned stored in the BIOS Is this possible assuming I can find a generic Windows 8 disk? Some people are saying they could not find drivers for all the hardware in the laptop even on Asus website! This is worrying me about this process.

Other people are warning with UEFI and Secure Boot system, it is not even possible to boot the system from an USB or DVD! So if this is the case, then how one can do a clean install.

Some mention this booting is possible, but one has to go first to the UEFI and BIOS to enable booting from a USB device. However, some are saying even with this, the system still does not allow them to boot from a third party device (USB or DVD).

Moreover, I have also read the OS (Windows 8) product key is coded into the bios. Some people have mentioned it is printed on the power adapter. I do not find any Windows key the power adapter. Should I assume once I find the product key, I can use it to activate the new Windows installation?

An alternative solution would be creating recovery disks and using it to reinstall the system on a new disk or, cloning the system. I would rather much stick to the first solution (if it works) to avoid all the annoying bloatware. Moreover, moving a Windows system that is configured for a HDD to a SSD might not provide the best optimal configuration for a SSD.

As a side note: I noticed the Secure Boot option in the BIOS and it is disabled by default. I could not find any entry that show the Windows product key.

Your feedback is appreciated.

 

For peace of mind and simplicity's sake, I recommend staying with Windows 7 for now.

If you have Windows 7 installed, then you can't do that for obvious reasons. But if you would simply like to activate a fresh install of Windows 8 using a Windows 8 key that is embedded in the firmware, then yes, you can do that (and it's probably best you do, given the latest SLIC). What you read is correct; the product key is in the BIOS.

The booting issue I believe has to do with the UEFI secure boot option - which can be disabled, if needed.

 

My laptop has come with Windows 8 which is what I am planning to reinstall in order to get rid of the bloatware. Right now, it is too slow. I cannot believe Asus shooting themselves in the heel by releasing their product in such an unusable state. Obviously, this is one thing they have not learned well from Apple yet!

I am staying with Windows 8. I am happy with it and I need it to install my Adobe suite software anyway. On my desktop I have Linux too but I cannot install it on the laptop considering the limited storage space of SSD drives (I will install a 256GB one).

I think I am starting to understand things. The BIOS I have access by pressing the DEL key during boot time, is indeed the UEFI BIOS. However, as I mentioned Secure Boot option is disable that is why I can enter it by pressing the DEL key. Now if I enable it, I won't be able to access it without starting off Windows 8 first (settings -> change PC settings -> Advanced Startup to restart the system in UEFI mode). It's interesting that they have disable Secure Boot by default. Obviously, they thought it would freak out the users who want to have access to BIOS.

Now I have read when installing Windows, I have the option to install it in UEFI Secure mode or in old traditional way. I have actually installed Windows 8 in the traditional way before (on my desktop). My questions:

1- Is there any advantage to install Windows 8 in the UEFI mode?
2- If I install from a generic Windows 8 disk, does it automatically use the product key stored in the BIOS to authenticate and activate the OS?
3- If the answer to the second question is no, how can I retrieve the Windows product key from the BIOS? It doesn't show up by itself or I can find where it is located. Perhaps I should use a key finder program to uncover the OS product key, right?



Thanks, Ramin

 

1 - There are several that would probably affect you indirectly, but some of the biggest advantages you'd see directly are a simpler POST and the support for disk capacities greater than 2 TB.

2 - Yes, although you will still need to know the product key, as you will need to input it during installation. The system will refer to the key inserted during the install process per SLIC, and if it matches, then your install will proceed.

3 - (You can - and perhaps should - use a key finder program to extract your OS key. Also, if you have programs that required a key on install - such as MS Office - then you can get the key for those as well and download the installer to re-install them.)

 

When I use a restart option I get a standard boot on that restart. If I power off and on I get the UEFI boot.

 

I just tried the Belrac Adviser on my desktop and it gives precise information. Impressive.

I think I am on the track now after finding Windows 8 iso file.

Thanks.

 

Glad to help! If you ever need additional info that Belarc doesn't provide, try Speccy or HWInfo, or SIW for your system information.

Cheers!

 

I just got a new Asus and also a SSD drive to swap in. I was told by Asus to download a copy of windows 8 from 'where ever' and install it on the SSD. On first boot the copy of Windows was supposed to activate automatically. No go.

Making a system image I was told would not work because the OS would recognize a new HD was put in and say no.

In the end I bit the bullet and just bought a fresh copy of Windows 8. Figured it would be easier in the future, for fresh installs or whatever, then having to deal with trying to figure it all out.

I've since read you can call Microsoft and have them activated your OEM copy despite the hard drive swap, but again, what a hassle.

Let us know how it turns out.

 

Asus told you "from wherever"??

Microsoft does not activate it over the phone per se, but they can issue you a code once you provide your serial key, and if it's valid, you can use said code to proceed with activation. I believe it's an automated system too, so not a total hassle really.

 

Just don't install the windows media center on a phone activated system as it currently makes it impossible to activate it (installing WMC temporarily de-activates windows so you have to reconnect to authenticate).

 

A summary of my actions:

Before doing a clean install which was my principal plan, I wanted to try a few things to see if they work. I wanted to make a repair disk and a system image just to see how things go. I used 'Windows 7 File Recovery' from control panel. However right at the beginning, I got an error message in creating the system image that there is not enough space for .... Weird since this was 1TB external hard drive. After reading online, it seemed it is about the recovery partition being too small. I also got an error in creating the repair disk on a CD. Not a good start.

Next, I moved to metro and typed 'Recovery Drive'. This opened a windows where I could create a recovery drive in a drive of my choice. I used it to create one on the external usb drive. I chose to include the recovery partition in it This worked without an error message.

So I replaced the hdd with the brand new ssd and booted from the external recovery drive to check if I could use it to install the system on the new ssd. It didn't work complaining there is no file system on the drive and there was no option to create it on the drive.

So I moved on to my original goal which was a clean installation. I created the installation media on a USB flash disk and proceeded with the installation. An error happened during the installation but I found the solution online.

I was not asked for a Windows key during the installation and once I logged in, I noticed the brand new system has already pulled the key from BIOS. I connected to the Internet and my system was activated. Windows is installed in UEFI mode.

Now I need to decide what drivers/software are needed to be installed.

 

I believe the new windows does that and installs the version for your system by looking at the bios, though inserting a valid key for a higher edition should work in upgrading it.

Hope it all goes smoothly.

 

Nice! Sounds like you ended up doing exactly what Asus told me to do, only it worked for you! Congrats!

Ehhh... it only cost me an extra 93 bucks and I have the Windows 8 disk forever. Frustrating but gotta look at the positives!

 

Well, your system must be using the Windows product key that is stored in BIOS. You can check this using a free key finder program such as Belrac Adviser. If the product key of your Windows OEM disk is not used, then you must be able to install it on another system if you happen to have one around needing a Windows 8 OS.


If the key of your OEM Windows 8 is currently used in the OS, there are programs that can change the product key of the OS so that you can free the key of the OEM disk you bought and use it in another system.

After I installed the OS and all the drivers, I created a restore image using the recovery utility. I stored the image on the internal iSSD drive. So in the future, I will have a fast recovery option,

 

Thanks for taking the time to point this out, it seems you might be correct. The Belarc Advisor is showing a different key than on my OEM disk packaging.

But, it's also showing as a Windows 8 Professional key, and the laptop did not come with professional. I had to call Microsoft to activate the free media center I downloaded. I'm wondering if whatever they did updated to professional and added a new key, and the OEM disk's key will show active. That would be assuming when I did the fresh install using the OEM disk it activated using the disk key, and not the BIOS key.

What a mess........ I'm going to call Microsoft. I don't want to sell a disk that is activated.

So... say I sell this OEM disk because I'm using the key that I bought with the computer, would it be best to copy this disk to have a fresh install option?

 

OEM disk's key has never been activated.

So, looks like I'll sell it. What's the best way to ensure I always have a fresh install option in the future?

Copy the OEM disk, or?? I see you made installation media on the USB flash drive. Is your installation media the windows 8 OS?

 

I found Windows 64bit standard version online and downloaded it. I used Belrac Adviser and it confirmed my Windows product key is the one that was in used by the factory Windows installation. I installed an 8GB external USB flash drive for installation. I placed the Windows files as well as all drivers on the same flash card and proceeded. I only encountered a bug during the installation. Right at the beginning I got an error message that some driver (USB or CD/DVD or hard driver) is missing and the installation stalled. I learned online that t a trick fixes the issue. I need to move back to the welcome installation page and move the USB flash drive to another port. It did the trick and no complain was made about lack of driver.

If you checked with MS and your OEM Windows is not activated, I guess it means you can sell it. Just to be safe, you can do a new clean install using another Windows iso file just to make sure the OEM you want to sell won't end up being on two systems (which if happens, MS may complain). Even if MS complains this OEM is already used, if you have wiped your laptop of your OEM disk, you can always call back later saying you made a mistake and now want to use it on a new system. Most of the time, they accept it the first time it happens. However, I am no expert in that so all the usual disclaimers.

I have a desktop for which I bought an OEM Windows 8 Professional. It has a key on the label which I used for installation. Like you when I downloaded and installed Windows media center, it changed the Windows product key to something else. Belrac Adviser actually show both original and new product keys. That's the good thing about it. When I used another key finder program, it only showed the new one.

 

Did you use a win8 default iso? Where did you get it? What version of bios are you using? I did really got the win key from the BIOs? I've tryed and it didn't work. Also, did you manage to maintain fastboot working ? (I did a fresh install on win 7, and I can't manage to make fastboot to work, because of that the OS is on my SSD. BTW boot is around 20 seconds on my corsair ssd then in the default iSSD+HDD that is in about 3 to 5 seconds)..

 

Those programs work only if they are executed from the native win8 pre installed. In my case for example, when i change swaped the hdd to ssd and installed a win8 64bits pro finded on the net but not OEM (i think there is no WIN8 OEM available on the net) it just give me the serial included in the version. When i use those softwares as well on my win7 partition (issd) it just give me the win7 serial but never the one which is encoded in the BIOS

 

That is because they only reference the Windows registry. Hard coded serial key in the BIOS per OA 3.0 is implemented at a sub-OS level.

 

That is why to resume, if you have changed your HDD you can't reinstall win 8. Findind an OEM win8 64bits Pro is also not possible. You have to send you laptop to asus or buy a new win8 copy

 

Perhaps you could help me though. I have my original HDD in a usb rack so can access it. How i could extract my key from it without having to insert it inside the laptop (i don't have to good screw driver) ?

 

I upgraded to a SSD hard drive and installed a fresh Win 8 only to realize afterwards that I did not have the registration key.
To resolve that, I plugged the original drive into a USB adapter then ran Keyfinder ( magicjellybean.com). to extract the keys. Keyfinder is also included on the bootable "Ultimate Boot CD" collection, which can be burned onto a USB thumbdrive.

I did screw up my bios settings by accidentally deleting all the boot options and got to the point where the computer would boot only into the BIOS. The solution for me was to disable Secure Boot Control, enable Launch CSM, then restart the computer again. It then booted off the Windows install media and the rest went fine.
The Windows 8 install configuration does not use Secure Boot or GPT format, but with a 256GB SSD drive, the benefits are few anyway.

~Rolan

 

To get to the key embedded in the firmware/BIOS? That's outside of my scope of knowledge I'm afraid, but I gather it would take some serious programming language knowledge and software/command line knowledge.

 

So How do I access BIOS? Seems I am locked out. I did complete the pre-sintall of WIndows 8 on the machine - ion the HD they came ready to complete the WIn 8 setup.

Obviously I had the secure Boot enabled in BIOS and cannot access BIOS on Boot up using any keystokes.

How do I get into the BIOS menu to disable the secure boot lock. I want to install an ssd and then do a fresh install of WIn 7 Pro. But I cannot get any keystokes to work to get the BIOS menu on power up.

Any ideas?

Bios 214 running on UX32A Asus

 

secure boot enabled won't lock the BIOS.

here is the easy way to enter BIOS:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=55YbBsnrVtc

To install Windows 7 make sure disable secure boot and enable Launch CSM in boot section.

 

I just came back across my old thread and noticed some people have had difficulty with their fresh installation of Windows on a SSD drive replacing the stock HDD. I am sorry to read about that. For me the process was quite smoother. Following the information I found in the thread dedicated to UX32VD on this forum (I think pages 60/61), I found out where I can find a Windows 8 installation iso file. I downloaded it and used it for a fresh installation of Windows 8 on the new SSD drive. Belrac Adviser confirmed the product key in the fresh install is the same as the one on the stock HDD, confirming the product key being stored in the BIOS was used during the installation to validate and activate the new installation.
Trying to imagine why some people failed in the process, I imagine they probably used a different version of Windows: mine came with Windows 8 64bit Premium and that was the copy I used. If one uses a pro version, the product key in the BIOS won't probably used. Likewise, if you have Windows 7, you have to use the same version of Windows 7 that was already installed when the laptop was purchased. It means you can't probably install a Windows 7 pro on this laptop and have the Windows key coded into the BIOS being used.

Right now I have Secure mode enabled, CSM disabled and, fast boot enabled in the BIOS. It doesn't hinder me from accessing BIOS. I hold F2 while starting the system and I am right in the BIOS. Windows starts from a cold boot in about 12 seconds.

I will try to follow this thread if somebody else ask questions regarding installation though the UX32VD owners lounge thread is probably a better place to post our questions and problems since it is followed by many UX32VD owners.

 

Yes you would have to use an identical version of windows.