Z87-HD3 Re-installation of W7

[lauradoom]

I'd like to re-install W7 Pro x64 in UEFI/GPT mode, having originally installed in legacy (BIOS/MBR) mode. The intention is to remove the SSD with legacy W7 and do a fresh installation on a new SSD, keeping the initial o/s installation on the original (& removed) SSD in case it all goes spiral on me. My present firmware/BIOS version is F8.
Q. Should I flash it back to the F2 version for the installation, and then re-flash to F8 once the board/chipset/other system drivers have been installed? I'm asking because I previously flashed the BIOS to F6 after having updated the Intel USB 3 driver, as advised on the GB download page, and wondered if there would be other compatibility issues if installing these drivers with the F8 firmware/BIOS in place.
Does anyone know the reason why the USB driver has to be updated before the update to F6? (I'm assuming the advice  also relates to versions beyond F6).

[dmdilks]

Does F7 or F8 tell you to update the drivers NO. If your drivers are all up to date just flash to F8. If you want to install win 7 using UEFI you have to have the windows disk in the drive or a windows USB drive and plug in. That way the bios will see it and then you can choose the UEFI DVD or UEFI USB drive in the boot option.

[lauradoom]

dmdilks
Thanks for that information.
I don't need to flash to F8; I'm on F8 now.

MY new SSD hasn't yet been delivered.
I'm just researching potential issues before doing the fresh installation, and wanted to know why Gigabyte suggested the USB driver should be updated (from the original on the driver/utility disc that came with the board) before updating to F6 (from F2 on the board when it was shipped).

From your answer, I assume I can leave the F8 in place and install the latest Intel USB Driver immediately with no adverse effects.

The 8 series boards seem to have displayed a variety of USB 3 problems, and my present set up still refuses to run certain devices at the designated speed (accompanied by the ubiquitous 'This device can perform faster...' message) when attached to USB 3 ports (front or rear) despite driver and BIOS updates/settings.

All I want to do is avoid any possible errors in setting up the new W7 installation where firmware drivers are concerned, including the sequence in which updates should be performed. The UEFI-related stuff was merely background detail, and I guess I should have omitted it, as it's not directly relevant to my query.

I'm sorry if my question wasn't well articulated, or if the answer should have been obvious to me and thank you for taking the time to respond.

[dmdilks]

There is always a grey area with Gigabyte. All I can make out on that is if you are doing it through windows at the time of the update. If you have a board that has F8 on it how the hell you going to install the USB-3 drivers.

As far as I know that all USB-3 drivers don't come into play till they get pass the windows Logo screen. That is when all drivers start working. When you get the SSD just make sure you have it set to AHCI and what I said about the UEFI drive. You should be fine.