New SSD won't boot Windows

Hey guys,

So I pretty much wasted my past weekend trying to get this SSD working correctly (Samsung SSD 840 EVO 250 GB). Maybe it just isn't in the cards and will be returned but I figured I'd ask on some forums to get some help that I might have missed. Been combing threads here looking for an answer that works for me and I haven't quite figured it out.

First I tried to install my SSD without reading the instructions first and when I did that, all hell broke loose. I couldn't even get my computer to start and it took me hours to straighten it out again. Eventually I managed to get back into windows and I re installed my old hard drive again and used the software provided with the SSD to mirror my C drive, with the 7 OS on it to my new SSD. I went into the BIOS and changed the SSD to the ACHI setting and put the SSD first in the order of bootup in there and when I go to startup, it gets to a black screen and I can't go any further. I have to hit the power on my computer to get out of there. From what I have read, I have followed the instructions correctly, not sure where I went wrong.

One thing that I am wondering is if my motherboard even handles SATA 3 which is what I read this SSDs uses. I have an Asus p7pssd-e pro- the motherboard does say Sata 3 on there but I'm not sure if this is the same thing.

Anyway, I have a SATA 3 cable hooked up to the SSD and my system can get into the SSD hard drive (when I boot with my other drive as the OS) so I think that I SHOULD be able to boot with the SSD, but now I'm not so sure.

I read somewhere someone had an issue with have more than one power chord attached will cause it not working but I doubt this is it as I can still access the SSD when I am not trying to boot with it.

Not sure what else I can do except to return this hard drive and just keep using my old hard drive to boot. I was hearing all the talk about how great these things are, but it seems I have to upgrade to be able to use them. I hope this is not the case. What do you guys suggest? New to SSDs and somewhat know how Bios works, no clue on the registry stuff and the like.

Greg, Thanks for the quick reply. I do not have the LX I have the Pro motherboard. Gee whiz those steps are nasty, but I will give it another go with what you say and see what happens.

One other thing, I have Windows 7 Ultimate, but it is the upgrade disk, for upgrading from XP/Vista to 7. Will this method still work with that? Looking at the ISO download page and I'm not quite sure which one to pick. I don't want to pick the wrong one.

I see:

Windows 7 Professional x86 SP1 U (media refresh), Windows 7 Professional N x86 SP1 U (media refresh) ... (what does the N stand for?) and then there is one for non bootable and old, I'm assuming I don't want those.

I guess I'm going for the first one I listed.

Edit: oops, I see I didn't scroll down far enough, there is a ton more, and I think those are actually in English!

Do you have less than 4gb RAM, or Have you tried 64 bit to know you want 32 bit for sure? If not I'd try 64 bit first. 32 bit vs 64 bit Comparison - Windows 7 Forums
64-bit More than just the RAM bit-tech.net

If you wipe the HD first then skip the Product Key during install, afterwards do the quick Option 3 registry workaround in Clean Install with Windows 8 Upgrade to activate Upgrade version on a cleaned or new HD.

In addition if you're going to try to start the SSD which was cloned from HDD and which was installed in IDE mode, then changing it to AHCI in BIOS before attempting to start it would not work. It would need to have the same SATA controller setting in BIOS to start, although if IDE you can change it after it starts to AHCI : Enable in Windows 7 / Vista - Windows 7 Forums

I was focusing on troubleshooting a Clean Install to the SSD, which should be tried first in AHCI mode. Is this what you want to do? We can help you try to start the clone if you'd prefer do that first.

gregrocker said:

Do you have less than 4gb RAM, or Have you tried 64 bit to know you want 32 bit for sure? If not I'd try 64 bit first. 32 bit vs 64 bit Comparison - Windows 7 Forums
64-bit More than just the RAM bit-tech.net

If you wipe the HD first then skip the Product Key during install, afterwards do the quick Option 3 registry workaround in Clean Install with Windows 8 Upgrade to activate Upgrade version on a cleaned or new HD.

You know what? All these years I always thought 64 bit was a motherboard or a CPU issue. I didn't realize that to get 64 bit all you needed was more memory. DUH! I feel like slapping myself right now, cause I bought 16 gigs 2 years ago and then I thought I could only use a 32 bit system because I thought that is what my systemd was. Well heck if this is the case I will be going 64 bit then. Damn, I guess I should have looked into it more. Me and my dum assumptions. I need it too, cause I have some audio programs that crash my system running out of memory.

gregrocker said:

In addition if you're going to try to start the SSD which was cloned from HDD and which was installed in IDE mode, then changing it to AHCI in BIOS before attempting to start it would not work. It would need to have the same SATA controller setting in BIOS to start, although if IDE you can change it after it starts to AHCI : Enable in Windows 7 / Vista - Windows 7 Forums

I was focusing on troubleshooting a Clean Install to the SSD, which should be tried first in AHCI mode. Is this what you want to do? We can help you try to start the clone if you'd prefer do that first.

hmmm yeah, I'm pretty sure I changed it to AHCI before I switched it. That could be the issue here.

I'm going to clean install first, so no problem on that, it's good to know anyway. Great tutorials here for sure.

Regardless, I'll report back tomorrow with my findings. I'm sure with all these fixes I'll get it working. :)

Thanks guys.