Zenbook UX32VD Bios Issue (Post 213 Flash)

Cross-post from (post #712): http://forum.notebookreview.com/asus-reviews-owners-lounges/680787-asus-ux32vd-owners-lounge-72.html

I received a Zenbook Prime ux32vd on Monday. I cleared both drives, erased Windows 8 and successfully installed Windows 7 on the 24GB iSSD. I was able to get all the drivers installed and working perfectly.

Lastly I flashed the bios to 213 using Windows Flash utility downloaded from the Asus website. Everything went fine according to the flash utility. After rebooting it went straight into the bios. There are no boot options listed. Under advanced/SATA both drives are listed there. I've tried holding down escape and no boot drives are listed. I tried to use the USB stick with Windows 7 on it and it showed up as (GEUI: PNY 8.0GB....), when I chose to boot from it, it when straight to the bios again. It doesn't even show the ASUS screen it just goes straight to the bios.

I've tried to roll back the bios to a previous version using the flash utility in the bios but it says they are too old.

Previously the drives were both set to MBR I believe, but was booting to the iSSD. I am sure the drives are working as they are listed in the bios/SATA section. How can I get this ultrabook to boot to the iSSD again?

Any help would be appreciated.

 

Did you try resetting the BIOS via removing the CMOS battery for a minute? I've never come across this sort of issue before.

 

Hi

I exactly have the same issue
after a BIOS update using the asus BIOS utility (that claimed to be successful), I rebooted, and the PC boots straight into BIOS setup.
Did you have any info/response to your problem ? I've asked asus support, am waiting for their answer. if I get any useful information, will post it back here.
Thanks, any help welcome !

Franck, Micro38
France

 

I'd like to know as well. I'm hoping a reset (by removing the CMOS battery temporarily) will fix it. No response yet, though from OP.

 

I have _exactly_ the same issue.

I can't remember what ive done exactly... I think I turned off fast boot and turned on the ?CML thing in the boot menu (+++ desperate) then rebooted with my windows 8 recovery stick... then managed to get past bios, then removed the usb stick, rebooted again, and im typing now... im scared to reset my computer lol.

EDIT:
OK, so I have reset my computer and everything still works fine, so whatever I have done I have fixed it

Not for the faint of heart (but you're screwed anyway) but I reset factory defaults, then played around with a whole bunch of bios settings especially in the boot menu.. specifically I wonder whether turning on/off fast boot and whatever the boot optimiser is called... whatever I have done it has worked.. sorry i can't help more... wish you guys the best luck

 

Fast boot opt in means you allow the POST to skip certain diagnostic tests to speed up the boot process.

Glad you got it working. :thumbsup:

 

I've the same issues as yourself. After upgrading the HDD to a SSD and the BIOS from 212 to 213 my BIOS won't boot from the defaults. The defaults enable the Secure Boot Management and disable the CSM, I found that by changing these two defaults to (Secure boot disable and CSM enable) I can then load the OS. The ASUS technical support gave me several different options to rectify this but unfortunately none of them worked! This included 1: Restore defaults in BIOS; 2: Changing the BIOS to an earlier version; 3: Using EZ flash (pre-installed in BIOS under Advanced) and win-flash; 4: Installing the ATK driver; Any attempt at flashing the BIOS resulted in " The BIOS file version does not match the BIOS ROM version" or The BIOS version is older already installed or words to that effect. I did suggest taking out the CMOS battery (to reset the BIOS) but the technician advised me against this as it would invalidate the warranty. (The case has already been taken off to install the SSD and surely one can upgrade the ram without invalidating the warranty!) He also said that the CMOS battery is "fixed" to the MB, surely you must be able to change this as and when needed? The last correspondence from ASUS suggested I return the unit but I"m a bit reluctant to do this after all it is still working - just that annoying BIOS problem. Maybe 214 if and when it comes out will fix these issues

 

Off fast boot, Enable CSM, off secure boot

viola. worked for me

 

*EDIT*
I was thinking of the quick boot option in some BIOS, not the fast boot from the OS.

 

Worked for me too after flashing 213 BIOS update caused booting to BIOS.

 

I can not find any Fast Boot option in my BIOS (213).
Any help is appreciated!

 

Dear all,

I had updated my BIOS from 212 to 213 yestarday, and I'm facing the same problem as all of you. I can boot only after changing Fast Boot option in BIOS. Of course, we have a BIOS update problem !

Would some of you have any final solution to fix this problem and come back to the optimal BIOS configurations with no boot problems ?

I noticed that this forum has a " Asus Zenbook Bios and Firmware Modding Thread", which seems to be very radical, but maybe a solution while ASUS does not fix the BIOS by itself.

I would be very glad to have your feedback.

Rodrigo

 

People, the BIOS 214 was released today ! I hope it solves the problems caused by 213.

Please post your impressions !

Rodrigo

 

Disapointed ... After installing BIOS 214, the same problem still remain ...

 

I found this thread after flashing v.214, and experiencing boot to bios problem, I did disabled secure boot and enabled CSM and now it boot to windows.

 

If you need to oll back to an older BIOS follow the instructions on this link.
How to downgrade your Bios using Winflash

So happy to have found it. I didn't want to have to take the thing apart to get at the cmos battery or potentially replace hardware.

 

Hey guys,

First post. Was very happy to stumble upon this thread. Was going crazy (it's currently ~5:30am here) after updating my BIOS to 214. Nothing seemed to work.

I even went back into EasyFlash from the BIOS and my OS drive would appear, and I was able to browse it successfully. But the boot options (holding Esc. and turning on the laptop) wouldn't show the OS drive as an option. It wouldn't even show my Windows 8 USB Setup drive.

I had tried CSM and Secure boot enabled/disabled separately, to no avail. However, both disabled did the trick.

Wanted to say thanks to everyone on these forums that helped to find a fix for this issue.

 

Makes sense, since Windows 8 machines typically are installed with UEFI (CSM disabled). Secure Boot seems to be more of a hindrance to end users than a boon, too.

Thanks for following up, Quicksand.

 

I just registered for this forums to let you know, this fixed it for me.
You are my personal hero.
I was close to tears, because I had the UX32VD for just one day and thought i just broke it.
Thank you very much!

 

Same! Thanks for this. The joys of interwebs... solutions for almost everything!

 

Hi,

I'm a french owner of a Asus Zenbook UX32V.

I want to setup a Linux distribution on my PC.

Unfortunately, I don't have a "Fast boot" option, or a "Launch CSM".

I have BIOS 214...

See these pictures :

https://www.dropbox.com/s/6uosra23ynqtrcv/2013-10-03 18.19.59.jpg

https://www.dropbox.com/s/jgb9g88zh2czvos/2013-10-03 18.22.44.jpg

Can you help me please ?

 

Did you unit come with Windows 8? If yes and if the BIOS doesn't have SecureBoot options shown then it is enabled by default and set to hidden.
If this is the case, then you will need to figure out how to deploy Linux via UEFI mode.

 

Hello,

No, my unit come with Windows 7 .

Ordinateur portable - Zenbook Prime UX32VD-R4002X - Asus

 

Cool, then you don't have to worry about UEFI issue, and just load whatever you like onto the PC then.

 

Cool !

But, do I need a "UEFI" partition ? When i'm setup Elementary OS (based on Linux Ubuntu), my Grub is not working...

 

You don't need it, that's why you need to use diskpart to purge it clean, or else it may interfere with Grub.

 

Ok... I'll test this tomorrow.

But, i have 2 disks :

- 1 SSD 24 Gb
- 1 HDD 500 Gb

What table of partitions I choose ? GPT ? MS-DOS ?

 

You should choose 500GB because the 24GB is used as SSD Cache (via Asus ExpressCache from driver disc or driver download page).
MBR is your only choice and GPT isn't available for your boot drive except data due to non-support by BIOS.

 

Oh. My plans was to :

- use the SSD for my /, /boot, et /boot/uefi
- use the HDD for /home.

Not good ?

Ok, SSD and HDD in MBR.

 

Yeah, that's actually fine since you are going to use Linux.
My mind was still set in Windows mode.

 

Oh no, actually, I have Ubuntu, but Grub is not working...

So, tomorrow :

- Boot on livecd Ubuntu :
- delete ALL partitions on both SSD and HDD.
- recreate a partition table in MBR type.

- Boot on livecd elementary OS :
- Create partitions :
- SSD : / and /boot
- HDD : /home

- Setup. Reboot. It should work. Right ?

 

Very well, you've covered all the grounds.

 

Perfect. Thank you for your support .

I'll post here tomorrow after my setup.

 

Oh ! So easy !!

Setup ok, but at the reboot, nothing. No grub option, juste a blanking dash.

But but but, I figured out ! In my BIOS, I need to choose the first boot option. It was the HDD. I choose the SSD, reboot, and now, all is working .

Thanks !

 

Well done! :thumbsup:

 

Hi
My zenbook 32VD doesn t boot anymore. Doesn t boot on the bios. My warranty is expired . Can you show me where is located the cmos battery on the motherboard?
Thank you for your help.

 

Doesn't look like it's on the D side (bottom), so it's likely to be on the C side (keyboard).

 

Holy moley! I've never been this thankful to anyone on Internet! I was sure that my laptop was a lost case but this worked.

 

hi kevin

i need help pls pls !!!!!!

i have the same problem with my asus ux32 vd as well.. cant see fast boot or csm on my bios..

i have a live ubuntu usb.. can you please go through in detail how you managed to get yr assus sorted..

thank you in advance.

 

hi kevin

i have the same problem.. can you please advice me on what to do.

 

Did you try turning off Fast Boot, Disable SecureBoot, and Enable CSM?

 

hi kev

thank you so much for your reply.

i dont have those options in my bios..
just like jeofrey..

i created a windows 7 bootbale usb

when booted from there is says secure boot violation.. invalid signature detected.. check secure boot policy setup.

i normally understand most bios's but this is so confusing ... i am losing my marbles.. lol

 

Take picture of every BIOS screen and then send them to me.

 

hi kev

sorry for late reply .

 

Thanks for providing the images.

Can you check the below two areas and find out what they have?
1. Boot -> Boot Configuration.
2. Save & Exit -> Restore Defaults.

 

Hi kev
Thanks again

On the boot configuration i cant select anything except delete boot option.. An there is nothing to delete from there..

When i default bios nothing happens.. Same settings are loaded.

 

Please check PM.

 

For those who are still having problems, I recently had this issue when I flashed my bios it hung and then when trying to boot into windows after. When I restarted would give me the "reboot and select proper boot device" error. I tried opening up the case of my UX31e and unplugging the CMOS battery, but with the same result.
I ended up managing to fix my machine by booting from a Windows 7 USB install and selecting the system restore (NOT format and install windows) function back to before the WinFlash Bios application was installed on my PC and.... Voila!! the machine booted back into windows, all my files were still there AND the Bios was still on the new version i'd installed.
A couple of things to mention: I found a windows ISO on the web and used a piece of software called rufus to create a bootable image on my USB stick.

Info on how to create a bootable windows USB stick is here (you only need to go up to the part where it says "Now that you have a bootable USB, you have to set your computer’s BIOS to boot from USB. Every BIOS is different, but it should be in a menu called something like BOOT."

http://www.howtogeek.com/forum/topic/how-to-do-a-clean-install-of-windows-7-8

One thing to note make sure it is the Rufus settings are: formatted in NTFS and it's set to MBR Partition scheme for UEFI computer. The rest leave as default.

This worked for me, so hopefully it will help a few of you out. I always check forums online to solutions but never post myself, but I saw this thread and as I got it fixed I thought i'd share.

 

I have the same problems as Yujel after upgrading to bios 214. Cant boot to usb or change the before-mentioned settings, because they are not available. Did you find an answer?