GA-Z87X-UD5 TH - Clover - Windows 8.1 won't boot (but will on USB)

Crazylegsmurphy said:

Hello All,

I have decided to give Clover a try, but before making the final leap, I decided to test it out on a spare SSD to make sure everything works.

I have a pretty much fully functional Clover install of Yosemite on one SSD. On the other SSD I have a fully functional install of Windows 8.1.

When I boot the computer, the Windows volumes (Boot Legacy 1 & 2) show up, but selecting them results in a blank screen with blinking cursor. In an attempt to get it working, I followed some advice on some websites which had me adding/removing NTFS.efi, and messing with the BIOS settings.

Nothing worked.

Then, I decided to try booting from the Clover USB drive. Low and behold, it booted into Windows without issue. I then figured why not and copied the entire contents from the USB to the EFI folder in OS X, and then rebooted.

Nothing....

So basically I am stuck. Windows is obviously bootable from Clover, but something in the way the Clover Bootloader is set up in the EFI on the SSD is preventing it from loading.

I hope someone can give me some idea of what I might try next. If I can get this working and everything remains stable, I can install Clover Yosemite on my main SSD and give it a go.

Thanks,

CLM

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Going Bald said:

If you have been messing with the Windows files and deleting some, verify Windows will still boot by itself. This is important. Is Windows installed Legacy or UEFI? Second, how many Windows icons do you see when you boot with the USB? Did you make a note of the icon description that actually worked to boot Windows?

The Yosemite SSD does not have a bootloader installed?
Do you still have the Clover install .pkg file you used on the USB drive?

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Crazylegsmurphy said:

Nope, the Windows files have remained untouched since I installed it way back when I installed Mavericks. Windows will boot by itself without issue if it is the only SSD plugged in (or if I set it as the first boot drive).

As as for whether it is installed Legacy or UEFI....I'm not sure actually. It is a stock install from a USB. it does say "Boot Windows Legacy 1 & 2

I see two icons, named Legacy 1 & 2. On Chimera I saw Windows and System Reserved (used to boot into Windows).

The Yosemite SSD has Clover installed, and will boot to OS X without a USB drive. That seems to be working.

All that said, I got it working by changing a setting in Clover Configurator under the "Boot" section called "LegacyBiosDefault". The only problem is that I'm not sure it is the right solution. It does work, but I don't actually know why....and I don't like not knowing why.

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