How do I boot my Samsung Series 7 Ultra from USB DVD drive?

Hello

How do I get my Samsung Series 7 Ultra to boot from an external USB DVD drive?

I have tried “Boot to device”, but that doesn’t work. The (external) DVD drive does come to life when plugged in making a whirring noise but the PC fails to boot from it.
It now keeps saying: “All boot options are tried.
Press F4 to recover with facdtory image using Recovery or any other keys for next boot loop iteration”
Pressing F4 just makes reboot to the exact same message. Pressing any other key has no effect.

many thanks

J

 

Tapping F12 a few times immediately after pushing the power button should get you to the one time boot menu. If the optical drive isn't listed (it should include a bootable disc) then try turning off Secure Boot in the BIOS.

John

 

Hello
Thanks yes, I got into Samsung's BIOS everntually using F2, but F12 also has the same effect it seems.

I am doing a fresh install of Windows 10 from a Windows recovery DVD (that I created on a Windows 7 PC using MediaCreationTool) and the new problem is that Windows can't seem my SSD. I think it needs new drivers for my Samsung mSATA 512GB SSD (which I added in instead of the 128GB one that came with it).

According to my records it is a:
"Samsung 512GB mSATA PM841 Series MZMTD512HAGL-00000 SATA III MLC Internal SSD".

I have tried searching Samsung's various sites and found it to be intensely confusing!

Many thanks

J

 

Is the SSD listed on the BIOS Info screen? Was your Series 7 originally shipped with Windows 7 or 8.1? Is the SSD new and unformateed or used previously?

It shouldn't be a matter of Windows 10 needing a special driver for the PM841. It's more likely to be something with the UEFI / MBR / GPT / legacy mode etc settings which I've never fully got to grips with. @Dannemand understands these things much better than I do but, while you are waiting for him to pass by, you could read through the Windows 10 on Samsung notebooks thread.

John

 

From memory it was a Window 8 and I upgraded to 8.1 and then Window 10.
I purchased it in August 2013 in the UK.

Currently BIOS says:
SATA Port 1: Not installed.
AHCI Mode Control is set to Manual
Set AHCI Mode is set to off
Secure Boot is off
OS Mode selection is "UEFI OS"

With thanks

J

 

How do i upload images on my local PC here?!

 

Here are some photos of my BIOS

 

Hi @ship69,

Your BIOS settings look correct for a new UEFI installation. Personally I would leave AHCI on Auto, but I doubt that is what's causing this. Worth a try though.

I wasn't sure if you solved the inability to boot the external DVD. Otherwise three things are the most common reasons that might cause that problem:

1) Fast BIOS Mode is enabled, which makes the computer skip trying to boot external devices. But yours is already disabled (good).

2) Your Windows Installation media is not UEFI compatible. This used to be a common problem, particularly with DVDs. Microsoft's old Windows7 USB DVD Tool is NOT able create UEFI compatible DVDs and USB sticks, so if that is what you used, most likely there is your problem. But you said you were using their newer Win10 MediaCreationTool, which I assume must be working now with UEFI. Otherwise Rufus is good.

3) The NVRAM (used by BIOS and UEFI) has become corrupted, which happens frequently on early Win8 generations of Samsung laptops. The two symptoms of this are (i) inability to boot external devices (or anything at all) and BIOS Boot Priority settings not being respected. And (ii) F-keys not working during boot, so inability to enter BIOS settings with F2.

The fact that you were able to enter BIOS with F2 indicates that you probably do NOT have this problem. But if you have persistent problems booting external devices (AND Fast BIOS Mode is already disabled AND you know that the boot media matches your OS Mode selection, UEFI or CSM) it may be worth clearing your NVRAM. You do so by downloading the latest BIOS for your model ( download P07ABW), extracting its contents using the steps described in @isosunrise's BIOS rollback guide, then running the flashing utility (usually sflash64 or WinFlash) with the /cvar /patch parameters. The procedure is discussed at great length in this guide and that entire thread.

To do this, however, you need to run some form of Windows. If you are able to boot your original SSD (or HDD for others) that is a good way.

As for why the computer (BIOS and Windows Setup) will not detect your new SSD, the most common reason is that it is not partitioned correctly for UEFI, as John mentioned. Make sure it is partitioned using GPT (NOT MBR). You can do this from inside Windows Setup by opening a Command Prompt (Shift-F10) and using the DISKPART as follows:

DISKPART (to start the Disk Partition manager)
LIST DISK (to show all your disks. Notice which one is your disk)
SELECT DISK x (replace x with the disk number found above)
DETAIL DISK (just to verify that you selected the right disk)
CLEAN (to wipe the disk)
CONVERT GPT (to convert the disk from MBR to GPT)
EXIT (to close DISKPART)
EXIT (to close Command Prompt)

Obviously this will wipe everything on the disk. Reboot after changing the partition style.

I am quite rushed today, but let me know if you need more details on any of this.

 

Hi Dannemand
Thanks for the above. To get clear the state of play is that
A) I have access to an 8 year old PC that is running Windows 7 x64, with Internet access
B) I managed to download Media Creation Tool (MCT) on this PC and with it I managed to create a Windows 10 disk.
The first problem is that it may not be Window 10 Pro, but never mind that.
C) If I reboot my laptop it says "Samsung" but then fails to load windows
D) If I put the Windows 10 DVD into the external (USB) DVD of my Samsung Laptop (that was until very recently running Windows10), the laptop does see it an attempts to boot. It finds "Windows setup" which asks which language to install etc and then "Install Now" (or "Repair your computer")
E) If I Choose "Repair your computer" followed by "Troubleshoot" I get a command prompt saying "X:\sources"
F) If I enter DISKPART and then "LIST DISK", it only shows "Disk 0" which has zero bytes free, so I am assuming that this disk is the DVD drive with the Windows 10 DVD on it.

i.e. The core problem seems to be that my laptop can't actually see the SSD.

G) The other problem is that although my Windows 7 x64 PC can see my memory stick, even though I have tried using DISKPART on it, and converted it to GPT, and then rebooted that PC, MCT simply can't recognise that memory stick at all.

H) UPDATE: Having converted the memory stick to GPT, I now find that Windows 7 can no longer see the memory stick

With thanks

J

PS I have tried contacting Samsung support but they say:

"We do not provide SW support for our OEM drives. Please contact the system manufacturer."

I replied saying that they are they system manufacture, but the are refusing to reply, which is frankly pretty disgraceful.

 

OK I seem to have some sort of windows running on drive called X:
And D: is whatever is on my DVD drive.
I tried burning the .exe file that appears when I followed your link "download P07ABW" but it says it is "not compatible with the version of Windows that you are running"

I discovered a file called "SETUP.EXE" in the root of my X: drive, so I ran it and I got a blue screen saying "Install now", but it says "No signed device drivers were found."

Conclusion:
I still need to find some device drivers - for my SSD presumably.

 

Hi @ship69,

Only just got home, and I'm afraid I only have a few mins.

It is great that you are able to boot the Win10 installation DVD. That means NVRAM corruption is probably not the issue here (although I am not completely ruling it out). That also means you don't need to bother with that BIOS Update file. (But just in case, simply running that BIOS update file won't do you any good. You'd need to follow the exact steps in the guide I linked to extract its contents, then run the flashing utility inside it with the right parameters. Again, the links I gave are key.)

As you say, next problem is to make the computer see the SSD on which you want to install Windows. For that to happen, that SSD must be GPT (since you are installing in UEFI mode). But of course if the SSD hardware itself is not visible to the BIOS, GPT or MBR doesn't matter.

Did you try changing AHCI mode as suggested? It could make a difference.

It sounds like you managed to boot some form of Windows (from that USB stick you mentioned?) which is great. Now you can install Minitool Partition Wizard (google it) and use that to convert the SSD to GPT and verify that it is visible to the OS.

Otherwise try connecting that SSD to another computer (if possible) and verify that it is actually working and convert it to GPT from there.

 

Yes I set AHCI Mode Control to Manual and Set AHCI Mode to On

No, irritatingly I have managed to boot from the USB external DVD.
My memory stick can now be seen by the laptop but I can't write to it from my old Windows 7 PC at all. And the MediaCreationTool on Windows 7 certainly can't see it.

I am running out of time myself now, but re Minitool Partition Wizard, that sounds like something I would need to download and burn onto a DVD, yes?

 

Good about AHCI. I would leave it on Auto, as previously suggested.

I am sorry, but you kind of lost me on what is going on here:

1) Why is it irritating that you were able to boot Windows Setup from external DVD drive?

2) What is the memory stick you have problems with? Is it another Windows installation source? If so, I wouldn't spend time on that if you are able to boot Windows Setup from DVD. If it is a WinPE memory stick, I see the point.

3) Minitool Partition Wizard is a disk and partition management tool that needs to run from Windows. You said you were able to boot Windows (I thought maybe you meant WinPE from that memory stick). Otherwise you can run Minitool on your other PC.

4) Did you try verifying your SSD on the other PC? If there is a problem with the SSD itself, you're simply wasting time looking for software solutions. That's why I suggested that.

We have seen several cases of stubborn and random misbehavior resolve when users cleared their NVRAM. So if you feel the BIOS isn't doing what it should be, I would consider it. If so, follow the EXACT steps in my first response (or rather in the links I gave there). It does require booting some form of Windows, from memory stick or SSD or DVD or whatever. Unfortunately booting Windows Setup is not enough.

If you can help me understand what is going on and what you are trying to do, I'll be able to help you better. As I am sure you realized, I only swing by once or twice a day (at most) so I try to give enough information that you have several things to work with. But I also realize that can be confusing at times.

 

OK I have set AHCI back to Auto.

> 1) Why is it irritating that you were able to boot Windows Setup from external DVD drive?
What is irritating is that it doesn't work every time. Also that the memory stick was failing to be seen by MediaCreationTool.exe.

UPDATE:
I am now back at home and have access to my Windows 10 Pro x64 computer.
I have also had a small brainwave and found a utility on Kingston's website that allows me to format my Kingston memory stick, so that Windows including MediaCreationTool.exe can actually SEE the memory stick.
https://www.kingston.com/en/support/technical/downloads/111247

I have now downloaded Windows 10 onto my Kingston memory stick and tried to boot my Samsung laptop. It boots to the same place as before but still fails to see my SSD
[ Btw, should I be worried that I was not given the option of Windows 10 x64 Pro? ]

No, I am not able remove the SSD from my laptop.

EDIT
The weird thing is that my PC *WAS* running perfectly okay for a couple of years on the SSD, so it seems strange if I need to change its type.

More shortly

EDIT02
I have downloaded Minitool Partition Wizard. But when I try to copy it onto my memory stick it gives warnings about there being properties that will be lost if I copy it (WTF?). And now when I try to run it, it says:
"This version of c:\pw10-free.exe is not compatible with the version of windows you're running. Check your computer's system information and then contact the software publisher." [grrr]

 

Hello

I am trying to do a clean install of Windows 10 Pro x64, on my Samsung Series 7 Ultra Notebook (model: NP740U3E-S04UK).

The twist is that I replaced the original 128 SSD with a 512GB SSD (also from Samsung)
According to my records the 512GB SSD is a "PM841 Series MZMTD512HAGL-00000 mSATA 512GB SATA III MLC Internal SSD". This means that the Recovery thing when you hit F4 is failing. (I just get to "All boot options are tried")

I have managed to get this notebook to boot from a Windows 10 Recovery disk that I created on my memory stick (an external DVD also works), however I am unable to get Windows to see my SSD. I get as far as

I think I need a special driver for my SSD or possibly a storage controller driver?!

Annoyingly I can find no downloads for the NP740U3E-S04UK on Samsung.com
( http://www.samsung.com/uk/support/model/NP740U3E-S04UK)

Any suggestions?



EDIT:
P.S. I found this link
http://www.samsung.com/semiconductor/minisite/ssd/download/tools.html
But I'm not sure what to download. I managed to get Samsung "Magician" software to run, by downloading a 32 bit version of the Windows 10 Recovery disk onto my memory stick, but it still couldn't recognise & read my SSD.

 

Did you sort out the problem of the BIOS not recognising the SSD? The SSD model number should be listed against SATA Port 1 (I've just checked on my old NP900X3B which happily recognises a 512GB SSD). If the BIOS can't see the SSD then there's no chance that Windows will see it.

First remove/replace the SSD to be sure that it is installed correctly (remember to disconnect the battery while you do this) and if it still doesn't show in the BIOS then it's time to test the SSD in another computer or USB adapter.

John

PS: I'm merging this with the previous thread you started.

 

Hi
The news is that I finally put the original 128GB SSD back into my laptop. F4 still didn't do anything, but I managed to use a DVD to install Windows 10 x64 using a Recovery DVD that I created using MedioCreationTool.exe.

The problem is of course that the 128GB SSD is WAY to small for me, so I won't be keeping it. It does at least prove that the rest of the computer is working. But it is starting to look like the 512GB SSD is has blown up. I find it strange if that is true though because it was certainly still working right up until I decided to do a fresh Windows 10 installation.

I am pretty fed up with Samsung and doubt I'll ever buy from them again, because they offer almost no support. I can't work out where to find drivers, BIOS upgrades or anything. In truth they seem to be getting more and more like their dreaded arch enemies Apple - very nice kit but everything is dumbed down, batteries can't easily be swapped out, no BIOS updates, no drivers in sight... NOT good.

 

If the BIOS can't see the SSD then the next step is to check it in another computer. If that also doesn't see it then the SSD has died. Warranty?

John

 

I'll need to buy a USB to mSATA converter then.
No, I assume the warranty will have expired as I bought the thing in Aug 2013!