Installing UEFI-based Windows 7(x64) on the HP Z420, Z620, and Z820 Workstations

Installing UEFI-based Windows 7(x64)

on the HP Z420, Z620, and Z820

Workstations

This document describes the steps required to install the Unified Extensible Firmware Interface (UEFI)

version of Windows 7(x64) on the HP Zx20 (Z420, Z620, and Z820) Workstations. UEFI is a

replacement for BIOS that provides a 64-bit interface between system firmware and the operating

system.

The Zx20 firmware is capable of booting in UEFI mode by enabling the storage controller’s EFI driver

in Computer Setup. These instructions assume that you are starting from a blank disk drive, or single- or

a multiple-drive RAID volume, or one that contains a BIOS-based operating system (OS). To simplify the

installation, you should unplug all disk drives except for the one you intend to use to install Windows.

Note that installing from an optical drive connected to the Intel C602 SCU controller is not supported.

In UEFI mode, Windows requires a disk partitioning mechanism known as GUID partition table (GPT).

GPT was introduced with UEFI, and allows for volumes larger than 2.2 TB. See the Windows and GPT

FAQ at

http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/hardware/gg463525 for more details.

NOTE: The Zx20 restore DVD only supports BIOS-based OS installs. You need a Windows 7 (x64)

DVD (for example, a retail DVD) to perform this installation in UEFI mode.

Installing the UEFI version of Windows 7

IMPORTANT: If the install disk drive is currently partitioned using Master Boot Record (MBR), the

standard mechanism for BIOS-based boot disks, the Windows installer states that Windows cannot

be installed to this disk. The MBR partition table must be removed, which destroys the contents of

the disk. Back up the disk before installing UEFI-based Windows 7 (x64).

1. If the target volume is a RAID array, then the array needs to be configured before the installation

process.

a. With all drives for the target volume installed, power on the workstation and press CTRL+I

(Intel) or CTRL+C (LSI) to enter the RAID configuration utility.

b. After RAID configuration, the system will automatically reboot.

2. To set the embedded controller option ROM selections to EFI:

NOTE: For the BIOS 1.x, the embedded AHCI SATA controller is identified as SATA RAID

Option ROM Download. The embedded SCU controller is identified by SCU Option ROM

Download. The embedded SAS controller, Z820 only, is identified as SAS Option ROM

Download.

Installing the UEFI version of Windows 7

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Installing UEFI-based Windows 7(x64) on the HP Z420, Z620, and Z820 Workstations This document describes the steps required to install the Unified Extensible Firmware Interface (UEFI) version of Windows 7(x64) on the HP Zx20 (Z420, Z620, and Z820) Workstations. UEFI is a replacement for BIOS that provides a 64-bit interface between system firmware and the operating system. The Zx20 firmware is capable of booting in UEFI mode by enabling the storage controller’s EFI driver in Computer Setup.
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NOTE: For the For BIOS 2.x, all embedded storage controllers can be configured to EFI mode by toggling Mass Storage Option ROM's from Legacy to EFI. 3. a. Power on the workstation and press F10 to enter the Computer Setup menu. b. Using the arrow keys, select the Advanced menu. c. Press Enter to select the Device Options menu. d. Change the state of all embedded controller Option ROM selections from Enabled to EFI. e.
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After you download the drivers, click Load Driver from the Windows 7 Setup menu. 7. Windows requires a GPT partition for installation. If all drive space is unallocated space, then continue with the installation of Windows 7. NOTE: The standard partition for BIOS-based boot disks is the Master Boot Record (MBR) partition. A Windows cannot be installed to this disk error message is an indication that the disk has a MBR partition. Remove the MBR partition before installing Windows 7.