Asus Pro WS W680-ACE IPMI

[Scala]

Hi everyone

I recently acquired the Asus Pro WS W680-ACE IPMI motherboard.

However, when I attempt to install Windows 11, I encounter an issue during the step where I need to select a drive for the installation. No drives are listed, and I am prompted to install drivers.

The drives are visible in the BIOS, but I cannot find a way to format them, for example.

I have downloaded all the drivers available for this specific motherboard from the Asus website, but none of them have worked.

The M.2 drive previously had TrueNAS installed from an older server, and everything was working fine. However, after formatting the M.2 drive externally and attempting to install Windows 11, the issue persists.

I kindly request your technical expertise regarding which drivers are needed or any steps I can take to resolve this problem.

Obs: I tried to create a M.2 external with a Win11 instalation but when I added to the MB I get blue screen:

Add images

Thanks

[EfPe]

I honestly have no experience with latest Intel devices, but maybe try to switch NVME SSD to different socket?
Also, look into bios, disable “CSM (Compatibility Support Module)” / ROMBIOS compatibility.
In general with win11, you want to disable all options implying “backwards compatibility”.

Next thing - try to boot into linux live cd/usb - does it detect NVME drive?

EDIT: corrected CBS → CSM

[Scala]

Hi, thank you for time.

I can install Ubuntu Desktop and use all disks like a normal PC.
Only with windows it don’t show the discs, only the USB drive with the SO.

Yes, CSM is off by default; tried different slots for the M.2

[EfPe]

Well, I’m sorry to say I have no more ideas
Hopefully you’ll manage to get it to work.

EDIT:
Maybe… two more things…
1st - you mentioned drivers. Did you mean you load NVME drivers (using files from Asus) during win11 install and it still doesn’t work?

2nd - There is also a very slight possibility that win11 “dislikes” nvme drive due to prev. installed OS/format on it.
To exclude this:

• boot into ubuntu
• find nvme via lsblk - most likely it will appear as nvme0n1 or sth. like that
• clear “header” of this nvme by executing: dd if=/dev/zero of=/dev/NVME_FROM_LSBLK bs=1M count=10
• try win11 again

[Scala]

Ok, what did I try so far:

A) yes, in the Win11 instalation I try to load the drivers for the controllers (DRV_RST_Intel_ARL_TP_W11_64_V20211016_20241204R) lastest version in the Asus website and he says that no controllers/drivers were found

B) installed Ubuntu Desktop, works like a charm. After started Win11 from USB instalation and the disks cannos be found (with Linux Instaled)

C) on Ubuntu tried what you said; rebooted try install, no discs

D) installed Win11 on the nvme still blue screen

E) with the win11 instaled in the nvme I used a live ubuntu and tried again what you said and still blue screen

F) with the win11 on the nvme tried boot on the USB and try install Win11 but discs cannot be found

Obs: the Secure Boot was in “Other OS” and the Secure Boot Mode was as “Custom” all the time; then I changed to “UEFI” and the secure boot to “Custom” but the results are the same

Question: what the f#ck is going with this MB

[EfPe]

Maybe some kind of software raid / “rapid storage” or whatever intel forces on people these days.

Looking at the MB manual at https://dlcdnets.asus.com/pub/ASUS/mb/LGA1700/Pro_WS_W680-ACE_IPMI/E23138_Pro_WS_W680-ACE_BIOS_Manual_EM_V2_WEB.pdf?model=Pro%20WS%20W680-ACE

• page 43 - disable VMD
• also, disable “Rapid storage” or “IRST” or “RAID” wherever it occurs.

Win11 setup is running on Win10 IIRC.
If, after disabling VMD and IRST, it still does not work, try to chck if stornvme driver is loaded during setup:

1. Run setup
2. Get to the “choose disk” stage
3. Open CMD prompt (used to be possible via SHIFT-F10)
4. Execute cmd: sc query stornvme Should output something like this:

SERVICE_NAME: stornvme
        TYPE               : 1  KERNEL_DRIVER
        STATE              : 4  RUNNING
                                (STOPPABLE, NOT_PAUSABLE, IGNORES_SHUTDOWN)
        WIN32_EXIT_CODE    : 0  (0x0)
        SERVICE_EXIT_CODE  : 0  (0x0)
        CHECKPOINT         : 0x0
        WAIT_HINT          : 0x0

5. STATE: RUNNING is crucial here
6. if it is not running, try: sc start stornvme

[Patata]

I had a similar issue with a b760. I tried different drivers, uefi settings etc, but nothing worked and then i downloaded again the same iso from microsoft, created the bootable with rufus and for some reason it worked.

[EfPe]

They tend to constantly update the iso even within the same edition of windows. 23H2 today might be different than one from last week.

Still, wild that they managed to break nvme.

[Scala]

@EfPe

page 43 - disable VMD

Yeeees, yes, yes my friend!

page 43 - disable VMD

This solved the problem!!!
After installed should I turn on again?

A millions thanks for your time

[EfPe]

I’m glad to help

No, do not turn on VMD, I do not know what it is (other that some BS taking over nvme).
Only turn it on after studying it and finding a need for it. Probably windows won’t boot after enabling it.

[Scala]

Asus had finaly anwsered:

Thank you for reaching out to us with your inquiry.
My name is Christine, and I am happy to assist you with your request.

To address M.2, SSD, HDD not found issue, please consider the following troubleshooting steps:

1. Check if the TPM (Trusted Platform Module) option is enabled in the BIOS settings. If not, follow the provided method to enable TPM 2.0 in the BIOS.
2. Create a Windows 11 installation media on a USB storage stick with more than 8 GB capacity, following the instructions provided.
3. Boot the system from the USB stick in UEFI mode by pressing the F8 key during startup and selecting [UEFI: USB stick].
4. During the Windows 11 installation process, when prompted to select a drive for installation, ensure that the M.2, SSD, or HDD is recognized.

If not, consider checking for specific storage drivers for the motherboard on the ASUS website and load them during the installation process if necessary.

Interesting link they gave also: https://www.asus.com/support/faq/1046970/

[EfPe]

Looks like they gave a generic response, which is given without reading.

Funny that:

• This board has (likely) TPM enabled by default
• This board has VMD enabled by default (If I remember MB manual correctly)

And yet:

• Their response focuses on TPM
• They do not mention VMD at all, nor a method to install VMD drivers during win11 setup (which could also possibly work)

There is a section at the end of MB (BIOS) manual which focuses on installing drivers during win10/11 setup, however it does not provide a link to said drivers.

[Scala]

Exactly. When I read that I was thinking what a copy paste.

And all the drivers they have for this MB don’t wor when installing windows; I tried windows 7, 10 and 11 and only your answer worked.

I believe I have a ‘lot’ of MB to learn now
I just wanted to come and leave their response, I had already sent it some time ago.

Thanks again

[EfPe]

For what it’s worth - their manual on BIOS is still far more useful than Gigabyte docs for my board. They at least try to explain what things do and what the relation between them is.

Thanks for getting me an opportunity to learn of yet another Intel BS to disable: VMD