Windows 7 - SSD / HDD : Optimize for Windows Reinstallation

This will show how to remove / over-write all existing data from a Solid State Drive (SSD) or a Hard Disk Drive (HDD), it'll work...

Hello again.




Yes disconnect all other drives and only leave the HDD you want to install Windows to connected; if you want to, after W_7 is booting good you can reconnect the other HDDs and use the PC BIOS to choose which you want to start Vista or W_7.

Just keep track which HDD was connected where so you can put them back exactly as they are/were.

As I'm sure the BIOS is set for the RAID configuration you will need to set the "Storage Configuration" to AHCI; I believe this is the reason you are getting errors, you are trying to install W_7 while it's set to RAID and the BIOS is detecting that.

Hi BFK, please correct me if I'm wrong. He will need to keep the RAID setting if he wants to boot back into Vista, which is on an array.

The AHCI functions will still work in RAID mode. If the other HDDs aren't configured in an array then they will be listed as a non-RAID volume.

Hi

many thanks for all that. I will try that and get back later to let you know how I got on!!!

Thanks again

Stephen

Hello Dave.



On my motherboard setup it's either AHCI or Raid, don't you feel having it set at RAID and trying to install to a single HDD is causing the errors?



I assumed he'd have to choose AHCI or RAID when he chooses which OS to boot after he has 7 installed and everything reconnected.

Hi thanks to both for all this wonderful advice.

Just one last question before I go ahead and disconnect everything - since I am now happy that I dont particularly need Vista anymore, would there be any value in trying to install Windows 7 to the RAID config that currently has Vista installed (this is Drive 0 in my configuration)? One reason I didn't do that before was because the Windows 7 installer didn't allow me to (as you know it will just give me a message saying that you can't install it there). A different error message than the other one I keep getting on the single drive.

My other hesitation was I am not too familiar with RAID, but if you guys think that it would be OK to format the RAID config I would be happy to put the Windows 7 on that... which would avoid the need to unplug the other drives and also I wouldn't have to change the BIOS settings? Sorry again for the very basic question but can a RAID config just be formatted in the same way that a single drive can? Namely could I use the BFK tutorial instructions to clean that in the same way? Obviously that would delete all the system restore points and everything...

THANKS AGAIN

BFK, It worked on my Dell Desktop.

Only choices were IDE and RAID.

Just lists the HDD as non-RAID volume. Never had any issues with it.

I assume you could do the "clean all" on the RAID array, in fact that would be best to over-write all the previous data on the system and if that fails you can always set the single HDD to install to; TBH people are finding that RAID is more trouble than it's worth with the price of HDDs any-more.



If I were you I would not create a partition smaller than 100GB to install Windows 7 to, I think you mentioned 40GB earlier, that is way to small.

More great advice, thanks - I'm virtually all set to go at this now! Will do it this evening when I have enough spare time and I'll let you know how it all goes. I agree with you about RAID - it all sounds fancy but I can't see much or any difference to be honest. And I will try the 100GB partition. I guess I was following your tutorial a bit too lierally and I just copied all the commands to do 40690MB or whatever it was. Is there a specific formula to arrive at exactly a 100GB partition, I noticed that you didn't say exactly SIZE=40000MB but a bigger number? This is just curiosity as I'm guessing it won't matter if I don't have exactly 100GB

Do remember to keep us informed.




1024MB = 1GB so 1024x100 = 102400

Dear BFK and Dave76

Almost there! Thanks so much for all the advice. I'm pretty sure the only thing standing in the way now is Microsoft 9 to 5 opening hours!!

Anyway a quick update ...

I decided to go for broke and cleaned ALL the discs. This fixed the install issue - THANKS!!!

Clear now that the issue was that the BIOS was expecting Disc 0 to be the install location. I decided not to change the BIOS but to just make every disc ready and capable.

Once all the discs were cleaned, I got the same error when trying to install to Disc 1, or disc 2, but it sailed through on Disc 0 - SUCCESS!!!

Only remaining issue - it now is giving me "this is not a valid Windows 7 product key" error. So not QUITE there yet.

I'm pretty sure I know the reason for this - the edition of Windows 7 Ult x64 that I have is genuine but it's an UPGRADE edition. So it's expecting to find the previous O/S still on the computer - which we have just wiped clean......

This shouldn't be an issue, I would hope the folks at MS will fix this when I call them up. I guess they can unlock my product key. So the only frustration I have left is that here in England, for consumer product support the MS helpline is only open Monday - Friday 9 to 5pm!!! So I'll call them on Monday first thing and should be OK.

Unless of course you guys know a miracle solution for fixing MS Product keys?

Thanks again for all your help, you guys have been a blessing!!!

Cheers

Stephen

from Richmond, London, England