Serie 5 NP530U4C-A06VE - Win8 Clean Install

Hello, I bought this laptop like a week ago from my friend, I let him take the HDD, because installing Windows can be really easy (and also I wanted to use a 1TB HDD).

Since this model comes with UEFI and is "locked" with Windows8, just disable the UEFI mode and Secure Boot, or choose "OS Mode Selection" to CSM or Legacy Mode is what I thought first, but now I'm struggling with that.

I read a few post about boot priority or fixing the UEFI boot, but It made me confuse a bit more, since I already disabled many things to install Windows 7, and enabled them to install Windows 8. But nothing..

(Just a note: I don't have the "original" HDD, I bought a new one and I'm trying to install Windows 8 on it)
First, I can get into the BIOS without problems, the only "F" options I only have when the Samsung logo appears is "F2" to enter Setup and "F4" to enter Recovery Mode.

When I press "F2" it shows a window with 2 options, "Boot Menu" and "App Menu", the first one is empty and the second one only shows Setup.

My real question are this two:
*Which options (AHCI Mode Control, Secure Boot, OS Mode Selection, PXE OPROM, or others) should I enable/disable to install Windows8???

*And how can I make the BIOS to show where to BOOT (for example from external USB, HDD, Optical device, etc) ????

The BIOS and MICOM version are P03ABH (if this helps a bit)....


Thanks for reading...

 

Hi Archyyy, welcome to NBR.

We normally recommend that Win8.x models (which come with UEFI enabled) be kept in UEFI mode when re-installing Win8.x: Switching to CSM mode will wipe the disk (including Recovery), and there may be some features relied on by Samsung drivers (particularly the Settings app) that require UEFI.

OTOH, when installing Win7, we recommend switching to CSM mode (legacy BIOS mode) to maximize compatibility. Samsung delivers all Win7 models (even new 2014 models) in CSM mode.

However, this affects how the installation source (such as a USB stick) must be formatted: UEFI can only boot from GPT/FAT32, while CSM can boot from MBR/NTFS. On models with ExpressCache (which yours may have) it is highly recommended to install from DVD instead of USB stick. It will save a lot of hassle and boot problems.

The Samsung Forum Sticky List has links to install guides for both Win7 and Win8, including correct BIOS settings.

 

Hello and thanks.

I've read that thread and found this guide of yours ( Windows 8 clean install guide (comprehensive) and followed each step.

But my main problem is, whenever the Boot Menu shows (in my case by pressing F2), it shows empty. And on Boot Device Priority inside the BIOS, it's empty as well.

Just a few notes:
*I want to install Windows8
*I don't have the original HDD, and I've cleaned and formatted a new HDD to GPT format (connecting it to another laptop and running diskpart)
*These problems have something to do with the so called ExpressCache?

 

Got it, thanks. Yes, I believe your model has ExpressCache, which means you should install from DVD. See more discussion about that in the thread where the Win7 install guide is located (linked in the Sticky List).

 

I'm trying to install Windows 8 from DVD, I also used a USB DVD, but whenever I try to boot from HDD, DVD, or USB, etc. It doesn't show anything, not even inside the BIOS...
Those this have something to do with the ExpressCache, or it is a problem related with the BIOS, or the Mainboard?

 

I see. If you cannot boot the Windows Setup DVD, that is probably NOT caused by ExpressCache. The issue with ExpressCache happens after Windows Setup has copied files to the HDD and tries to boot Windows for the first time. That boot fails, because Windows Setup mistakenly places the boot partition on the small ExpressCache SSD (which isn't bootable).

Instead, your problem might be your Windows Setup disc isn't UEFI compatible. Official Win8.x discs (or ISOs from TechNet/MSDN) are UEFI compatible and should boot. But some OEM discs and ISOs downloaded as part of Microsoft's upgrade programs have been known NOT to boot from DVD in UEFI mode. (They can boot from USB, but that's not ideal on your computer because of ExpressCache.) You can also try downloading an ISO from Microsoft using the link here and see if that works.

You should have the following BIOS settings during installation:

AHCI=Auto/Enabled
Fast Boot/Fast BIOS=disabled (can be changed back after installation)
SecureBoot=disabled (can be changed back after installation)
OS Mode Selection=UEFI OS

Instead of changing Boot Priority in BIOS, you can use F10 immediately after power on to temporarily select a boot device. But still, the disc must be UEFI compatible.

If you cannot make the disc boot in pure UEFI mode ( OS Mode Selection=UEFI OS), you can try hybrid mode ( OS Mode Selection=UEFI & CSM OS). That might fool the system to boot a non-UEFI DVD, and Windows Setup may still (hopefully) make an UEFI installation on the HDD (which you correctly converted to GPT). If all fails, you can make a legacy BIOS installation ( OS Mode Selection=CSM OS).

I notice the Win8 install link you gave me is not the one marked "comprehensive" on the Sticky List (which links to member Obyboby's guide here) but rather my brief summary ( here). I generally recommend Obyboby's guide for its great detail. Just note that it doesn't take ExpressCache into account, and assumes installing from USB stick.

 

I doubt about the disc I have, because with it I installed Windows 8 on Toshiba/HP/Lenovo laptops that are UEFI "locked", I could always choose from where to boot. But on this specific Samsung laptop, the boot list is always empty...

One question, the ExpressCache is like a SSD rigth?. If yes, then, this model I have, it doesn't have one.

And inside the BIOS, the boot priority option, it should show a list, but it doesn't show any bootable device. And F10 doesn't work at startup, As I said before the only available option are F2 and F4, for startup and recovery.

I'll read the guide and try the options you said for BIOS. But if still I can't choose a bootable device, you think this can be an issue with the Mainboard??

 

You're right, you should be able to boot that disc if you know it is UEFI compatible -- although we've seen frequently how Samsung has a much harder time with UEFI than some other vendors. Are you able to boot it if you use OS Mode Selection=UEFI & CSM OS or OS Mode Selection=CSM OS?

And yes, ExpressCache is implemented as software (a disk driver overlay) using a small SSD on the motherboard (so-called iSSD). But you won't be able to see that iSSD until you have an OS up and running. It is not visible to BIOS. I am fairly sure that your model has it.

Have you tried restoring BIOS default settings (F9 in BIOS)? That sometimes fixes things. Otherwise there is a procedure to clear NVRAM which seems to fix a lot of problems. But you need a running Windows to do it, either on the HDD/SSD or a WinPE USB stick. It is discussed in the thread linked below:

Unbrick when F-keys don't work at boot, cannot enter BIOS

I will be out until the weekend and only get to the forum from my phone. Do check the links in the Sticky List if you haven't already.

 

Ok I'll check the links.

And no, even if I change to "UEFI & CSM OS" or "CSM OS" and enabling/desabling Secure boot... whenever I get into the window to choose a Bootable device, the list is still empty..
I even tried to restore the default settings pressing F9, but still nothing..

This two images ( Image 1 & Image 2) show my real problem. (NOTE: the images are only for representation, and doesn't show how my real BIOS look, BUT the problem is the same)
"Boot Device Priority" inside BIOS empty and "Select Boot device" empty as well

 

Thx, got it. It does indeed sound like you need to reset NVRAM. We get a lot of those in the Samsung forum, 2-3 other cases just this week.