Testing OS on another internal drive?

After weeks of frustration I am now suspecting that my Kingston 60gb SSD may be somehow going bad. After following this forum's instructs I diskparted the SSD and tried reinstalling Windows 7 on it. After numerous attempts, Windows install keeps stalling at the "expanding Window's files" screen, then cancels the install. (Bios checks ok, disk has no scratches, and both DVD writers return the same results.)

To help prove the integrity of the SSD (still under warranty) I would like to now try doing a temp OS install on another internal HDD. There are 2 of those, each with data on them. Each HDD has only one large partition, as in drive D & drive R.

What is the detailed procedure in preparing one of those HDDs in order to accept a temporary OS install, while still preserving the existing data on that physical disk?

I must also be able to identify which disk is which (new partition?) when it comes to finding the "new" disk when loading the Windows 7 install software

Thanks.

There is no OS on the comp anymore. It was on the SSD ..which then failed to reinstall Windows ..so it's now formatted.

What's left are 2 large 1T Seagate HDDs. Of which I wanna then partition one to take the OS. However, the HDDs are indistinguishable from one another in Diskpart. Gee, which one do I click on ..Disk 1 or Disk 2 (0 is the SSD)? -- I do not wanna lose my data

FYI, SSD (was OS and progs) on Disk C, Backups and some data on Disk D, large data pool on Disk R.

Probably a useless thought but I remember my original 7 install had a similar problem. I could not get it to install until I reset the BIOS from ACHI to IDE. Have no idea what that was about but it worked for me.

I remember your earlier thread concerning the reinstall to SSD, where I advised you not to use Diskpart Clean All because it is hard on an SSD.

Since you have a Kingston SSD I suggest you call Kingston Tech Support which is some of the best in the business. Kingston backs all of their products and will RMA if necessary after helping you test the drive to determine with certainty it's status.

As to your test install on one of the HD's, easiest would be to shrink whichever partition has the most free space to do a test install. Once you do the shrink, when you Create the Partition, label it during the create process so you know for sure it is the partition you want to choose during install.
Partition or Volume - Shrink
Partition or Volume - Create New

Unplug all other drives during install: Clean Install Windows 7

Outlander said:

Probably a useless thought but I remember my original 7 install had a similar problem. I could not get it to install until I reset the BIOS from ACHI to IDE. Have no idea what that was about but it worked for me.

Are you sure you went from ACHI to IDE & not IDE to ACHI.

Are you sure you went from ACHI to IDE & not IDE to ACHI.[/QUOTE]


I tried ACHI first and no go. Switched to IDE and all was well. Then had to do the registry trick to get Windows to see AHCI, then rebooted and changed to AHCI in the BIOS. I just Googled the problem and there were a lot of others with the same issue using the same work around. I never learned the why of this problem?