ASRock Forums : Z170 Extreme7+ Problems https://forum.asrock.com/ Copyright (c) 2006-2013 Web Wiz Forums - All Rights Reserved. Thu, 04 Jun 2026 08:48:18 +0000 Mon, 19 Dec 2016 02:05:11 +0000 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss Web Wiz Forums 12.04 360 https://forum.asrock.com/RSS_post_feed.asp?TID=3871 <![CDATA[ASRock Forums]]> https://forum.asrock.com/forum_images/web_wiz_forums_black.png https://forum.asrock.com/ <![CDATA[Z170 Extreme7+ Problems : I just wanted to give an update....]]> https://forum.asrock.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=3871&PID=20909&title=z170-extreme7-problems#20909 Author: mchrist152
Subject: 3871
Posted: 19 Dec 2016 at 2:05am

I just wanted to give an update.  I returned the board and ASRock promptly sent me a replacement.  In the meantime, I reinstalled my old ASUS board and upgraded the OS to windows 10.  I also installed every driver for that board from ASRock's download page.  Then I installed the replacement board and everything went pretty smoothly.  The biggest problem I had was setting up the RAID system.  I believe this is mostly due to the Intel Rapid Storage Technology software and drivers.

I installed the Intel Rapid Storage Technology software from the ASRock webpage but when I turned on RAID in the bios, the Intel Rapid Storage Technology software would suffer an unknown error and not start.  The Rapid Storage Technology service would not start automatically either.  After much soul searching, google searching and pulling out hair I started to suspect drivers.  But when I looked in device manager under IDE ATA/ATAPI controllers, the version of the Intel driver was the latest.  However, when I turned on RAID in the bios this driver would move from IDE ATA/ATAPI controllers to Storage controllers and then the version of that driver - iastorav.sys - was old (9.something).  So I uninstalled that driver making sure to check the checkbox about removing it from the system and then the system found and installed another driver - iaStorAV.sys version 13.2.0.1022.  This still seems old since I'm using version 14 of Intel's RST but things are working well so I decided to leave it alone.

I guess the main takeaway here is that the Intel Rapid Storage Technology drivers do not update properly and it's a little tricky to detect given the way the device class and driver version changes once raid is enabled in the bios.

But I'm pretty positive on this board so far.  We will see how it lasts over time.
]]> Mon, 19 Dec 2016 02:05:11 +0000 https://forum.asrock.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=3871&PID=20909&title=z170-extreme7-problems#20909 <![CDATA[Z170 Extreme7+ Problems : mchrist152 wrote:Therefore,...]]> https://forum.asrock.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=3871&PID=19578&title=z170-extreme7-problems#19578 Author: wardog
Subject: 3871
Posted: 25 Nov 2016 at 4:00pm

Originally posted by mchrist152 mchrist152 wrote:

Therefore, I'm trying to figure out if the motherboard is still good or not.  I can install win10 on this machine but, of course, the board has to be good.  So is there a good way to tell?


Unfortunately no there isn't.

And 'sides, reinstalling Windows isn't like pulling your own teeth.
]]> Fri, 25 Nov 2016 16:00:46 +0000 https://forum.asrock.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=3871&PID=19578&title=z170-extreme7-problems#19578 <![CDATA[Z170 Extreme7+ Problems : The 8 pin connector is connected....]]> https://forum.asrock.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=3871&PID=19577&title=z170-extreme7-problems#19577 Author: mchrist152
Subject: 3871
Posted: 25 Nov 2016 at 3:50pm

The 8 pin connector is connected.  I don't have a video card as I was planning on using the onboard graphics.  I mostly remote desktop into this machine so high end graphics don't make a lot of sense.  Besides the onboard graphic with the i7 processor should be equivalent to a low end card and I can always buy a card later if I find I need one.  Anyway, it did show something on the monitor but now does not.  I did have a PS2 keyboard plugged in but it was/is a good keyboard.  I didn't do anything to the board that should have caused this change in behavior unless you consider rebooting the computer to be a cause.  It just went from booting into windows to not booting into windows.  Therefore, I'm trying to figure out if the motherboard is still good or not.  I can install win10 on this machine but, of course, the board has to be good.  So is there a good way to tell?]]> Fri, 25 Nov 2016 15:50:30 +0000 https://forum.asrock.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=3871&PID=19577&title=z170-extreme7-problems#19577 <![CDATA[Z170 Extreme7+ Problems : mchrist152 wrote:My situation...]]> https://forum.asrock.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=3871&PID=19576&title=z170-extreme7-problems#19576 Author: wardog
Subject: 3871
Posted: 25 Nov 2016 at 3:32pm

Originally posted by mchrist152 mchrist152 wrote:

My situation was that I already had an OS on the SSD drive (Windows 7).  I just wanted to update the processor, motherboard, and memory.


Oh if were only that easy.

Problem lies in the fact that all the "old" drivers have already loaded even before you get to the Windows Log In screen.
]]> Fri, 25 Nov 2016 15:32:19 +0000 https://forum.asrock.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=3871&PID=19576&title=z170-extreme7-problems#19576 <![CDATA[Z170 Extreme7+ Problems : mchrist152 wrote:I clear the...]]> https://forum.asrock.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=3871&PID=19575&title=z170-extreme7-problems#19575 Author: wardog
Subject: 3871
Posted: 25 Nov 2016 at 3:28pm

Originally posted by mchrist152 mchrist152 wrote:

I clear the CMOS, then power it up but see nothing on the monitor.  The dr. debug screen is blank. The cpu fan is turning normally and the leds on the board appear normal. 


Mike, you didn't by chance overlook the 8-in power connection in the upper left quadrant of the motherboard did you?

EDIT: Or any power connection the video card requires?


Edited by wardog - 25 Nov 2016 at 3:30pm]]> Fri, 25 Nov 2016 15:28:55 +0000 https://forum.asrock.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=3871&PID=19575&title=z170-extreme7-problems#19575 <![CDATA[Z170 Extreme7+ Problems : My situation was that I already...]]> https://forum.asrock.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=3871&PID=19573&title=z170-extreme7-problems#19573 Author: mchrist152
Subject: 3871
Posted: 25 Nov 2016 at 3:16pm

My situation was that I already had an OS on the SSD drive (Windows 7).  I just wanted to update the processor, motherboard, and memory.  My thought was I could update the drivers on the OS later.  Of course, that assumes one can at least get a keyboard working so the system can be brought up and drivers updated.  Sounds like that may not be the case here.

That brings me to that PS2 connector.  It's different from the PS2 connectors I'm familiar with because it appears to support both a keyboard and/or a mouse.  Can somebody tell me how that is supposed to work?  Is it one or the other? Is this compatible with legacy PS2 type keyboards?

Finally, how can I tell if the board is good or bad?  I clear the CMOS, then power it up but see nothing on the monitor.  The dr. debug screen is blank. The cpu fan is turning normally and the leds on the board appear normal. 
]]> Fri, 25 Nov 2016 15:16:12 +0000 https://forum.asrock.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=3871&PID=19573&title=z170-extreme7-problems#19573 <![CDATA[Z170 Extreme7+ Problems : Xaltar wrote:Hehe, it looks...]]> https://forum.asrock.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=3871&PID=19572&title=z170-extreme7-problems#19572 Author: wardog
Subject: 3871
Posted: 25 Nov 2016 at 2:45pm

Originally posted by Xaltar Xaltar wrote:

Hehe, it looks like we posted on top of each other Parsec LOL


I've quite often wondered if you two were "curious'.

I guess I know now. Embarrassed Tongue
]]> Fri, 25 Nov 2016 14:45:34 +0000 https://forum.asrock.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=3871&PID=19572&title=z170-extreme7-problems#19572 <![CDATA[Z170 Extreme7+ Problems : Hehe, it looks like we posted...]]> https://forum.asrock.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=3871&PID=19571&title=z170-extreme7-problems#19571 Author: Xaltar
Subject: 3871
Posted: 25 Nov 2016 at 2:20pm

Hehe, it looks like we posted on top of each other Parsec LOL]]> Fri, 25 Nov 2016 14:20:02 +0000 https://forum.asrock.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=3871&PID=19571&title=z170-extreme7-problems#19571 <![CDATA[Z170 Extreme7+ Problems : mchrist152 wrote:It&#039;s...]]> https://forum.asrock.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=3871&PID=19569&title=z170-extreme7-problems#19569 Author: parsec
Subject: 3871
Posted: 25 Nov 2016 at 2:18pm

Originally posted by mchrist152 mchrist152 wrote:

It's a USB mouse but a PS2 keyboard.  Even if your theory is correct, at least the keyboard should work then.  And that's really all I need to work on the bios.

But also, there are USB 2.0 ports on the back panel which I am using with the mouse.  Hopefully, that wouldn't be a problem with the 2.0 ports, right?  


wardog's statement is not a theory, it is a fact with any Intel 100 series chipset board, such as your Z170 Extreme7+. I own one too.

Your Z170 board will ONLY install USB 3.0 drivers for ALL the USB ports, including the USB 2.0 ports. Intel did that. Yes, this affects the USB 2.0 ports, as I said above.

Windows 7 does not have a native USB 3.0 driver in it installation package. This situation was recognized when the Intel 100 series chipsets were released. That's been known for over a year, since the release of the Skylake platform. This really is not discussed very much in the PC media for some reason, so unless you own a Skylake system you won't be aware of it. This issue does not affect Windows 8.1 or 10.

If you go to your board's information page, you'll find a link just under the pictures of the board, How to install Windows 7. Not particularly obvious, but it is there. Here's a direct link to that page:

http://www.asrock.com/microsite/Win7Install/index.html

This guide for installing Windows 7 gives you a few options, depending upon the hardware and Windows 7 installation media available to you.

If you happen to be using an NVMe SSD as the OS drive, you have another issue waiting for you.

The Windows 7 installer suggesting a repair might simply be a side affect of the lack of the USB 3.0 driver, or your OS drive might have an OS on it now.
]]> Fri, 25 Nov 2016 14:18:25 +0000 https://forum.asrock.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=3871&PID=19569&title=z170-extreme7-problems#19569 <![CDATA[Z170 Extreme7+ Problems : The issue does not effect UEFI...]]> https://forum.asrock.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=3871&PID=19568&title=z170-extreme7-problems#19568 Author: Xaltar
Subject: 3871
Posted: 25 Nov 2016 at 2:15pm

The issue does not effect UEFI operation. The reason this happens is that windows 7 does not have native drivers for the USB controllers used on intel 100 series based motherboards, this includes the USB 2.0 ports from what I recall. The OS is old and as such cannot support hardware that did not exist at the time of it's release.

If the PS2 keyboard isn't working in BIOS (UEFI) then it is either not compatible with the system or damaged. If you have a USB keyboard to test with I would try that, it will allow you into the BIOS (UEFI) and function correctly there. Once you are ready to install your OS you will then need to follow the steps listed in the link below to ensure your USB devices work in windows 7:

http://www.asrock.com/microsite/win7install/ ;

If you are not able to get past POST try clearing CMOS and see if that brings the system back to life. By your original post it looks like your PS2 keyboard may be electrically incompatible and caused issues. Let us know how it goes.
]]> Fri, 25 Nov 2016 14:15:47 +0000 https://forum.asrock.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=3871&PID=19568&title=z170-extreme7-problems#19568