Frustrated with z170 extreme+, need help
Printed From: ASRock.com
Category: Technical Support
Forum Name: Intel Motherboards
Forum Description: Question about ASRock Intel Motherboards
URL: https://forum.asrock.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=5398
Printed Date: 27 Jul 2025 at 12:41am Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 12.04 - http://www.webwizforums.com
Topic: Frustrated with z170 extreme+, need help
Posted By: MichaelA2014
Subject: Frustrated with z170 extreme+, need help
Date Posted: 22 Jun 2017 at 8:58pm
" rel="nofollow - Hello. I recently purchased a z170 extreme 7+ motherboard. I am trying to install windows 7 x64. I follow the tutorial on Windows 7 patcher however when windows finally installs and it comes to setting computer name and password the keyboard and mouse are not responsive.
How do I connect the optical drive to the motherboard to install needed drivers? There is no sata connector that I can see on the board.
Please help me with Windows 7 installation and making it recognize all my usb devices.
If I could get it to recognize my usb flash drive I can install the drivers via BIOS but again, the USB devices are not recognized.... Even the ones plugged in to USB2 port.
Any help would be appreciated.
Thank you
------------- Michael G Albert
|
Replies:
Posted By: Dogmifier
Date Posted: 23 Jun 2017 at 12:37am
" rel="nofollow - There are sata connectors...see the heatsink near the front of the board that says "Asrock"? they're right there in front of it on the leading edge...
http://www.asrock.com/mb/Intel/Z170%20Extreme7+/
------------- X99X Fata1ity 5930k 16GB Crucial 1200W Corsair evga GTX 1080 Samsung 950 Pro
|
Posted By: parsec
Date Posted: 23 Jun 2017 at 3:20am
MichaelA2014 wrote:
" rel="nofollow - Hello. I recently purchased a z170 extreme 7+ motherboard. I am trying to install windows 7 x64. I follow the tutorial on Windows 7 patcher however when windows finally installs and it comes to setting computer name and password the keyboard and mouse are not responsive.
How do I connect the optical drive to the motherboard to install needed drivers? There is no sata connector that I can see on the board.
Please help me with Windows 7 installation and making it recognize all my usb devices.
If I could get it to recognize my usb flash drive I can install the drivers via BIOS but again, the USB devices are not recognized.... Even the ones plugged in to USB2 port.
Any help would be appreciated.
Thank you
|
As an owner of the Z170 Extreme7+, I can assure you it has SATA ports. Actually, ten of them, six from the native Intel Z170 chipset, and four more from the ASMedia add on chipsets.
From our board's manual:

The Intel SATA ports are labeled 15, 16, 21, and 22 in this picture. I suggest using them instead of the ASMedia SATA ports.
The Intel 100 and 200 series chipsets, like a Z170, will only use USB 3.0 drivers for ALL of the USB ports. That is an Intel restriction, and has nothing to do with ASRock. Any and all Z170 mother boards have this restriction, regardless of the manufacture of the board.
The problem with using Windows 7 is, it does not have a built in USB 3.0 driver. That is why the USB ports do not work with Windows 7. The only way to fix this is to use the Windows 7 patcher tool. I assume you have followed the guide on this page:
http://www.asrock.com/microsite/Win7Install/index.html" rel="nofollow - http://www.asrock.com/microsite/Win7Install/index.html
You use the 100 Series link, and then the optical disk drive and USB keyboard and mouse link. Have you been able to get into the UEFI/BIOS, to set the PS/2 simulator in the Advanced, USB Configuration screen?
Using an optical drive and Windows 7 disk, you should be able to install Windows 7. You will need to install the Intel USB 3.0 driver from our board's download page after the installation, in order for the USB ports to work.
Please let us know if you were able to connect your Optical drive, and get into the UEFI/BIOS to set that option. If you have a PS/2 keyboard, you can use that, or a PS/2 to USB adapter, which were very common at one time. You should have no problem connecting an optical drive to the board.
What keyboard and mouse are you using?
------------- http://valid.x86.fr/48rujh" rel="nofollow">
|
Posted By: MichaelA2014
Date Posted: 24 Jun 2017 at 1:52am
Parsec,
Thank you for your help. I am using PS2 keyboard and a usb 2 mouse. I installed windows 7 from USB drive however I spent half a day researching how to patch manually the installation files. The Asrock patcher does NOT work. I tried it several times, I tried making an ISO, I tried making the bootable USB thumbdrive - the USB3 drivers just wouldn't install. Thank you for pointing out SATA connectors. I read through the manual and I don't know how I overlooked the data. I feel stupid. Anyways, I was able to log in to bios and enable ps2 and usb 2 support.
Again, thank you for your help.
Have a good day!
------------- Michael G Albert
|
|