Installation Issues on New SSD with W7 64-bit Ultimate

I posted this on another site but have not yet received a response, so I figured I'd try posting it here as well.

Here is the original post and replies.


Okay so I just bought this Intel SSD and a nice OEM copy of Windows 7 Ultimate 64-bit for my friend.

The computer is currently running on an i7 920 with 6gigs of corsair RAM, and a Diamond Radeon HD 4870 X2, which at the moment is loading on a 250gb seagate with XP 64-bit.

So the general fact that the computer is working under these circumstances (which is also allowing me to post here at the moment) leads me to believe that all of these components are functioning properly. I am even able to access the SSD while booting off this other harddrive.

However when I boot from the Windows 7 disk and do a fresh install (deleting and formatting any and all partitions on the SSD and starting from scratch) the installation gets to the point where it says "completing installation" which appears after restarting once I believe, and then after that it goes to the windows logo screen. After the logo screen the G15 keyboard lights up and says G15 which tells me that it's loaded to something, however the monitor says "entering power save mode" and turns off. Basically there is no signal going to the monitor.

Now I'm not able to tell if the computer actually froze at this point or is just no longer sending a video signal.

If this were a problem with the graphics card wouldn't it also be apparent with what I'm doing now?(booting XP 64 from the other drive)
At this point in the installation process I've tried booting into the SSD with safe mode, which works, BUT it tells me that it can't complete the setup process in safe mode and that it will restart so it can continue.
I tried Advanced Boot options like the low graphics mode, and some diagnostic mode. Neither worked.

So naturally I tried deleting partitions and reformatting and reinstalling windows about two more times, both with the same result, however on the second time it actually froze on the "completing installation" screen.

So right now I'm at a loss as to how I should proceed.
It doesn't look like the SSD is faulty since it's brand new and shows the so far installed windows files on it while viewing it from this other boot. So I'd like to avoid an RMA until I can be sure of the problem.
Unfortunately I don't have access to another video card to try in the computer, and the motherboard doesn't have on-board video, so that's out.

If anyone has any idea what I should try next that would be as simple and pain-free as possible please let me know!

I'm hoping this is something very simple and stupid that I'm just not thinking of...


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Alright so it happened again. I install Windows 7 and after it restarts to load in, logo comes up and then bam the monitor is no longer receiving signal...

It almost seems like it's sitting at some screen waiting for me to do stuff, but obviously that's not gonna happen if I can't see the damn thing...


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Something interesting that I noticed...
I loaded into the windows disk and tried a repair, and it had the drive listed as D: rather than C: for some reason...
Although it found no problems and is still not working.

I see no way upon creating a fresh install to set the drive letter... is this possible?

Also, I have the other drive unplugged at the moment so the SSD is the only one on. I don't see any reason it would have set it as D...




Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

Try removing all but 2 gb of RAM for the install. If neccessary try swapping that RAM stick. Test your RAM using Windows Memory Diagnostic for two passes.

Did you initialize the SSD? Read the literature which came with it or the manual on Support Downloads webpage for it.

You say you deleted any and all partitions during install - what is that about?

What type of monitor setup do you have? There have been problems using HDMI connections or dual monitors during install. There have even been some problems with older monitors.

I managed to get my hands on a different video card and was able to solve the problem. After boot up I installed the video drivers and was able to switch back to the original card which was giving me the trouble. I'm not going near dual GPU cards ever again...