AsRock not booting directly into Windows 7

Hi...

I'm having an annoying problem with my ASRock not booting directly into Windows 7.

My system:

Windows 7 (64-bit Home Premium) with an Intel i7 chip on ASRock H61M/U3S3

2 x 500Gb hard drives + 2 x DVD-Rewriters + Card Reader slot + a few USB2 and 2 X USB3 ports

I still have the original ASRock installation CD if that could help with the problem

Here's the story:

I recently did a fresh install of Windows 7 and never introduced any new programs other than those that were in force before my fresh install. All these programs ran flawlessly.


I now find that when I start my computer desktop the following screen window appears:


Vers 2.02.1205 Copyright 2010 American Megatrends Inc
H61M/U3S3 UEFI P1.10
CPU Intel (R) Core (TM) - i7 - 2600 CPU@3.40GHz Speed: 3400MHz
Total Memory: 7934Mb
USB Devices Total: 1Kbds, 1 MICE, 1 MASS, 2 HUBS
USB MASS #0: Generic-Card Reader 1.00
Detected ATA/ATAPI Devices:
PRI - MASTER 0 - ATAPI iHAS224 B
SEC - MASTER 0 - ATAPI iHAS224 B
3RD MASTER 0: ST3500413AS
4TH MASTER 0: ST3500413AS
Press 'F11' for Boot Menu
Bios Defaults have been loaded
Press 'F2' or DEL to run setup
Press 'F1' to continue

When I press 'F1' to continue, Win 7 loads and all is fine.

However, when I boot from cold, I get the above again.

Now I know that on Restart, if I press 'DEL', then I can get into the 'Boot' menu.

The standard boot sequence for me was:

Option 1: USB Card Reader
Option 2: ST3500413AS
Option 3: iATAPI 224

Now: since I was re-installing from my original Win7 disc, I had to first change the above options so that the system would bood from the Win7 disc

This I did and everything ran fine. I then returned to the ASRock boot menu and set is as per my original options above. The result is as already stated.

I tried putting the hard drive 'ST3500413AS' as Option 1 then iATAPI, then USB

This appeared to solve things, Win7 loading fine as normal fine.

However, I found that after a few cold boots the problem re-appeared.

On checking the Boot, I found that the original sequences had been introduced again.

Please note: yes I did Save & Exit and OK'd the configuration

Normally, on startup the ASRock name etc pops up, but I've noticed after the changes it doesn't appear at all...I

Is that significant, I wonder?

It seems then that, for some reason, ASRock is not 'holding' the changes made to the Boot sequence.

This is proving really annoying for me having to press 'F1' to start my computing when before nothing of this nature had ever happened.

I'd greatly appreciate any advice or comment especially from anyone who's had and importantly solved the problem.

I just hoped my keyboard doesn't fail me, particularly that bloody 'F1' key!


Many thanks for your patience

Hugh