MSI Z97 Gaming 7 User Guide

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EZ Smart Connect
A.	System	Requirements
1. Intel® Smart Connect Technology enabled in BIOS Setup
2. Windows 7 with SP1/Windows 8/Windows 8.1
3. Intel® Smart Connect Technology utility installed
4. Properly-working network connection
5. Programs added to the White List must be turned on	(Note)
B.	Using	EZ	Smart	Connect
Select EZ Smart Connect. Under File Name, select the apps to be auto-updated by Smart Connect. Double-
click the app to add it to the Application permission list.	(Double-click		to	 return	 to	the	 previous	 directory.)
(Note)	 This	 feature	works	best	with	programs	 designed	to	work	 automatically	 with	the	Internet	 to	obtain	 their	
data such as Outlook®, Windows Live™ Mail, and Seesmic®.
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XHD
With GIGABYTE XHD	(Note	 1),	users	 can	quickly	 configure	 a	RAID-ready	 system	for	RAID	 0	or	 RAID	 1	when	 a	
new SATA drive is added. All with a simple click of a button, XHD helps to enhance your hard drive read/write 
performance	without	the	need	for	complex	and	time-consuming	configurations.
A.	System	Requirements
1. An Intel® Chipset motherboard supporting RAID
2. Intel® SATA controllers set to RAID mode
3. Intel® Rapid Storage Technology utility installed
4. Windows 7 with SP1/Windows 8/Windows 8.1
5. Intel® SATA controller driver installed
B.	Using	XHD
Select XHD and click Create	RAID	0 or Create	RAID	1 based on your need	(Note	2).
(Note	1)	 The	XHD	utility	only	supports	the	SATA 	connectors	controlled	by	the	Intel® Chipset.
(Note	2)	 Except	for	the	 operating	 system	drive,	all	data	 on	other	 hard	drive	 will	be	deleted.	 Back	up	your	 data	
before using the XHD utility.
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5-2-4 Fast Boot
Through the simple GIGABYTE Fast Boot	(Note	 1) interface, you can enable or change the Fast Boot or Next Boot 
After AC Power Loss setting right in the operating system.
The Fast Boot Interface
Using	Fast	Boot
 •BIOS Fast Boot:
 This option is the same as the Fast Boot option	(Note	 2) in BIOS Setup. It allows you to enable or disable the 
fast boot function to shorten OS boot time.
 •AC OFF Mode: 
 This option is the same as the Next Boot After AC Power Loss option	(Note	 2) in BIOS Setup. It allows you to 
select	 the	system	 bootup	mode	upon	the	return	 of	an	 AC	 power	 loss.	(This	 mode	 is	configurable	 only	when	
BIOS Fast Boot is set to Fast or Ultra	Fast.)
After	 you	configure	 the	setting,	 click	Save to save and click Exit. The settings will take effect on next boot. If you 
click the Enter BIOS Setup Now button, the system will restart and enter BIOS Setup immediately.
(Note	1)	 This	function	is	supported	by	Windows	8.1/8	only.
(Note	2)	 For	more	details	about	this	function,	refer	to	Chapter	2,	"BIOS	Features."
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5-2-5 Smart TimeLock
GIGABYTE Smart TimeLock allows you to effectively manage computer or Internet usage time with simple 
rules and options.
The Smart TimeLock Interface
Using	Smart	TimeLock
Click the lock icon  on the bottom left corner and enter the password	(Note). Set the time when a user can or 
cannot use your computer for weekdays and weekends. The Lock Mode on the bottom right corner allows you 
to	 choose	 to	turn	 off	the	 computer	 or	only	 close	 the	Internet	 connection	 during	the	specified	 time	period.	 Click		
Save to save the settings and click Exit to exit.
An alert will appear 15 minutes and 1 minute prior to the default shutdown time. When the alert appears, you 
can enter the password to extend the usage time or click Cancel to close the alert. If you respond Cancel, you 
will be requested to enter the password to extend the usage time again w\
hen the default shutdown time arrives, 
or the computer will shutdown right away.
(Note)	 You	 can	set	the	 User	 Password	 in	the	 system	 BIOS	Setup	 program	 to	prevent	 the	system	 time	being	
changed by other users.
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5-2-6	 Smart	Recovery	2
Smart	Recovery	 2	allows	 you	to	back	 up	a	partition	 as	an	 image	 file	every	 hour.	You	can	use	these	 images	 to	
restore	your	system	or	files	when	needed.
 •Smart	Recovery	2	only	supports	NTFS	file	system. •You need to select the destination partition in Settings	the	 first	 time	you use Smart Recovery 2. •The Backup Now button will be available only after you log in Windows for ten minutes. •Select the Always run on next reboot checkbox to automatically enable Smart Recovery2 after system reboot.
Creating a backup:
Click the Settings button on the main menu. In the Settings dialog 
box, select the source partition and destination partition and click OK. 
The initial backup will start after 10 minutes and regular backup will b\
e 
performed hourly. Note: By default, all partitions on the system drive 
are selected as the backup source. The backup destination cannot be 
on the same partition as the backup source.
Saving the backup to a network location:
If you want to save the backup to a network location, select Browse 
network location. Make sure your computer and the computer where 
you want to save the backup are in the same domain. Choose the 
network location where you want to store the backup and enter the user 
name and password. Follow the on-screen instructions to complete.
Recovering	a	file:
Click the File	 Recovery button on the main menu. Use the time slider on 
the top of the popped out window to select a previous backup time. The 
right pane will display the backed-up partitions in the backup destination 
(in	the	My Backup	folder).	Browse	to	the	file	you	want	and	copy	it.
The Smart Recovery 2 main menu:
ButtonDescription
SettingsAllows you to select the source and destination partition
Backup NowAllows you to perform the backup immediately
File Recovery...Allows	you	to	recover	your	files	from	the	backup	image
System Recovery...Allows you to recover your system from the backup image
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Recovering	your	system	with	Smart	Recovery	2:
Steps:
1. Click the System	Recovery button on the main menu.
2. Select the location where your backup is saved.
3. Use the time slider to select a time point.
4. Select a partition backup created on the selected time point and 
click Restore.
5. Confirm	whether	 to	restart	 your	system	 to	proceed	 with	the	restore	
immediately or later. Once you respond "Yes" the system will restart to 
the Windows recovery environment. Follow the onscreen instructions 
to restore your system.
All	of	your	 files	and	programs	 will	be	deleted	 and	replaced	 with	
those on the selected backup. If needed, be sure to make a 
copy of your data before the restore.
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5-2-7	 USB	Blocker
GIGABYTE USB Blocker provides you with an easy-to-use interface that allows you to bl\
ock certain USB device 
types on your PC. Devices classes that are blocked will be ignored by th\
e operating system.
The	USB	Blocker	Interface
Using	USB	Blocker
Select the class of USB device that you would like to block or unblocked\
. Double left-click to change the Blocked 
or Unblocked status and click OK. Then enter your password and click OK to complete.
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5-2-8 Smart Switch
GIGABYTE Smart Switch provides you with the conventional Windows start m\
enu, allowing you to easily access 
to the apps that you frequently use. You can also select the default screen displayed after you enter Windows. 
The Smart Switch Interface
Using	Smart	Switch
The Smart Switch icon  will appear on the bottom left corner of the traditional Windows desktop screen after 
Smart Switch is installed. Left-click the icon to see the screen as that shown above and you can set the defau\
lt 
screen displayed after you enter Windows.
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5-2-9 Game Controller
GIGABYTE	 Game	Controller	 allows	you	to	define	 your	own	hotkeys	 and	change	 the	mouse	 sensitivity,	 helping	
you make the most out of your keyboard and mouse in games.
The Game Controller Interface
(Note)	 It	 is	recommended	 that	Game	 Controller	 be	closed	 if	it	violates	 the	end	 user	 license	 agreement	 of	
your game.
Using	Game	Controller:
 •Hot Key:
	 Create	macro	commands	and	define	your	own	hotkeys	to	quickly	perform	the	function	your	want.
 •Speed:
 Using the Sniper key you can switch the mouse sensitivity when you are in sniper mode for better sniper 
accuracy.
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Unique Features