Solved Windows won't boot of SSD

I got a new SSD OCZ vertex4 few months back and replaced my HDD and installed Windows 7 64b on it and everything was fine until last week. I downloaded last weeks windows update and since then my computer would not boot. It will go to repair window and always fails with various reason ( corrupt driver files ( different everytime ) or OS bootloader not found etc). System restore or even format and re-install has not helped. I mean windows will install properly but as soon as i download the updates and reboot it will go into repair/recovery. I ran disk checker and everything looks ok. I replaced it with my old HDD and things came up fine and I can even access my SSD as disk. I even tried raw copy of HDD to SSD and tried to boot off of SSD and same issue. not sure if it is some kind driver conflict or what but after the initial install of windows 7, which seems to be ok, it goes into repair state after the update install.


Any idea

Have you checked that you have the latest OCZ firmware for your SSD?

I assume you are installing all the last Patch Tuesday (Oct 9, 2012) updates together and that is causing your problem.
Get a clean running OS on the SSD and then install one Windows update at a time to determine which update is causing your problem.
You probably need to set Windows Update to allow you to install updates rather than let Windows do automatic updates (see screen print below).
I also assume you don't have any personal data on the SSD OS partition that you can not afford to lose.

You should be able to create a System Image Backup of your HD OS partition and Restore it to the SSD.
This tutorial by whs explains this.
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/149969-ssd-install-transfer-operating-system.html

These tutorials explain how to create a System Image:
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/663-backup-complete-computer-create-image-backup.html by Brink
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/73828-imaging-free-macrium.html by whs

I reccommend Macrium over the Windows Backup Image utility.
It's easier to use and you have more control.
If you have a WD or Seagate HD you can also get a free version of Acronis for imaging.

When you do get a clean system you should initially and periodically create a system image backup.
That way you can recover without re-installing Windows and all programs.



Welcome to Seven Forums and hope this helps,
David

So configured it to update manually and selected my own update one by one. first I selected all 2011 update and it went fine ok i.e it installed and rebooted fine. Next I tried installing updates upto Mar 2012 and it blew up.

I thought I had it figured out and did a clean reinstall one more time ( diskpart, select disk 0, clean and install). i tried narrowing it down the offending update but unfortunately this time one of the 2011 update killed the windows .

So, you have no problems using the HD OS, right?
You only have problems when using the SSD as the OS partition?

To me that sounds like all PC hardware is ok when using the HD as the OS partition.
The problem is with the SSD, when using it for the OS partition.
And, you have run check disk and diagnostics on the SSD...?

Did you check that you have the latest SSD firmware?
Did you disconnect the HD when installing the OS on the SSD?

You could also try a BIOS reset after you connect the SSD for the OS install.
Just make sure you have the correct mode set (IDE, AHCI, or RAID) especially if you restore the OS.
AHCI is the preferred mode for an SSD, single drive.

You could also try downloading and burning a new OS ISO image with SP1 to use for an install.
This tutorial by gregrocker has instructions for this:
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/219487-clean-reinstall-factory-oem-windows-7-a.html

After a clean install you could run a System File Check to make sure there are no issues found.
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/1538-sfc-scannow-command-system-file-checker.html by Brink.

Beyond this, I'm out of ideas
If none of this helps I'd ask OCZ and RMA if needed.

Hi
Thanks for your response, after abt 3/4 days of struggle and wandering in dark, finally managed to figure that it was the BIOS issue. Once I flashed my BIOS yesterday from A06 to A12 ( on Dell latitude 6510) the SSD and dell and good friends again. SSD seems to be a happy camper

thanks all for your help