For the next two months, my Geeky roommate & I plan to upgrade our computers. What does this mean? Buying hardware from websites like Newegg & Tigerdirect, waiting eagerly for them to arrive, and then assembling them into beastly, gaming computer powerhouses!
On step 3 of the process (assembling), John ran into a roadblock (well, several roadblocks, but this one was a little harder then the others), windows failed to start! After an hour of searching on Google for the answer, watching Windows BSOD multiple times, attempting to resinstall (to multiple errors), I was able to solve the problem. I decided I would take the opportunity to document and share the solution with anyone having a similar problem.
How to successfully boot windows 7 after it fails to start on a new ASUS motherboard without having to reinstall:
1) go into the BIOS and change the SATA controller to IDE.
2) boot windows.
Problem solved. I can’t believe it took me an hour to find this information! I have a guess as to why it worked, the SATA AHCI drivers weren’t loaded with the motherboard (we installed them afterwards from the disc that came with it). I’m assuming legacy IDE controllers don’t require drivers. Such an annoying problem! Hopefully this is able to help someone else searching the vast internet for solutions! 
source: http://www.w7forums.com/configure-sata-ide-ahci-t6435.html
9 Comments
Thanks so much!!!!!
I tried it but didn’t work for me, I must have missed something. You say you changed the controller from sata to ide, does that mean you were booting off an IDE drive or a sata drive?
Click the source link and read up
awesome. Thanks!
-lj
Yw :]
THANK yoU THANK YOU THANK YOU!!!!!
You are a lifesaver, so simple yet you saved me from a complete reinstall. Thank you so much, Will spread this
Dear god thank you…this saved me so much hassle.
Glad it helped someone