Builds & Upgrades - Karmi's Musings & Tech

ASUS Prime Z790M-PLUS D4 mATX MoBo: Restore an Image and/or do a Clean Install

August 12, 2025January 31, 2024 by Karmi

The Intel® Rapid Storage Technology (Intel® RST) driver holds the controllers (?) and storage drivers I needed to do a Backup and Restore (Windows 7) of a Win11 Pro saved image, and/or to do a clean installation of Win11 Pro – on an ASUS Prime Z790M-PLUS D4 MoBo.

I am no expert at motherboards, but I sometimes do more ‘Tinkering’ with my main computer (‘Apevia’) than I should—hence the reason for using the Backup and Restore (Windows 7) utility that comes with Windows 11 before actual ‘Tinkering’ starts.

Long story, but I don’t really want to go thru the ‘Nightmare’, in great detail, again. Doubtful that I could remember all the details anyway, since a lot of the experience involved luck, searching, banging away, more searching, more banging away mixed in with deep thought & pondering, experimenting & testing, and a stroke of good luck in the home stretch. 👍😳👌🙂

Windows 11 23H2 update – Win11 Installation Media & Disk Image (ISO)

August 12, 2025November 5, 2023 by Karmi

Should’ve made this a three ‘Parter’. 🙂 Anyway, my Dell XPS 13 and three desktops I ‘Built’ have all been up graded to Windows 11 Pro—Version 23H2 and OS build 22631.2506.

Everything went fine – except for two minor issues. One issue was with an app, but resolved that (more on that later). The other issue was with the Create Windows 11 Installation Media that was tested (more on that later).

Windows 11 23H2 update – Dell laptop got it already post covered the standard Windows Settings > Windows Update method – when an update notice “popped up saying that the 23H2 update was ready”. That update method used – ‘How to get it: servicing technology (like that used for the monthly update process), providing a fast installation experience.’ That method took only a few minutes—very FAST!

Windows 11 23H2 update – install it using the Installation Assistant post covered using the Windows 11 Installation Assistant method. That method was much slower than the standard Windows update delivery—taking between 35-45 minutes on different desktops, and at different times. ISP connection speeds could make the method faster or slower, but still not as fast as the standard delivery.

Windows 11 23H2 update – install it using the Installation Assistant

August 12, 2025November 3, 2023 by Karmi

In yesterday’s Windows 11 23H2 update – Dell laptop got it already post, I mentioned that the standard Windows Settings > Windows Update method had “popped up saying that the 23H2 update was ready,” and that the update went very fast.

That update method uses ‘servicing technology (like that used for the monthly update process), providing a fast installation experience.’ The Installation Assistant method I used this morning was much much slower—taking about 45 minutes.

Your internet connection may make it quicker or slower than my 45 minutes, but still doubtful that the Installation Assistant can do it in a few minutes like the ‘servicing technology’ of the standard update delivery method, IMHO.

Also, Windows OEM PC built computers may be in line to get the 23H2 update sooner than someone like me who builds their own desktop computers—Here. Dell may be the first OEM in line for the update, e.g., my Dell XPS 13 got it on the first day.

Windows 11 23H2 update – Dell laptop got it already

August 12, 2025November 2, 2023 by Karmi

My Dell XPS 13 got the 23H2 update on 10/31/2023, but my three home built desktops still haven’t gotten the update. My computers are listed Here.

Was doing a daily update on ‘XPS13‘ and a notice popped up saying that the 23H2 update was ready whenever I wanted it.

ASUS Prime Z790M-PLUS D4 mATX MoBo – BIOS & Drivers

July 28, 2025June 24, 2023 by Karmi

I have found that finding the right ASUS Z790M PLUS D4 drivers can be frustrating for this one. Since 2005/2006 I have purchased $60-$90 motherboards for my builds, but decided to ‘splurge’ on the ASUS Prime Z790M-PLUS D4 mATX MoBo – $171.89 + $12.03 Tax = $183.92.

Requirements were – Micro ATX, Intel Z790, LGA 1700, and 1Gb LAN motherboard. Have moved away from the big ATX & small ITX boards, and prefer the mATX boards and cases now—fact is, I was going to be removing (intact) an older board from my favorite case, a APEVIA X-QPACK3 mATX case, and building a new Intel® Core™ i9-13900K system in it.

I didn’t find a huge mATX selection, and PCPartPicker only had TWO listed, and I went w/ the ASUS Prime Z790M-PLUS D4.

(*1/31/2024 UPDATE: new info in ASUS Prime Z790M-PLUS D4 mATX MoBo: Restore an Image and/or do a Clean Install post*)