Win7 won't install onto SSD correctly

gregrocker · 19 Dec 2012

I'd have to agree it's the installer, but if you've confirmed the HASH then its the burn or write. Burn the ISO to DVD using ImgBurn at 4x, or write the flash stick using UltraISO Software To Create Bootable USB Flash Drive which always work for me.

Unplug all other HD's and peripherals,

Boot into BIOS setup to enable Legacy BIOS if present. Next check BIOS Boot order for an EFI Boot Disk and if present remove it, set DVD drive first to boot, HD second. Then set SATA controller to AHCI. Save changes and Exit.

At first installer screen Press Shift + F10 to open a Command Box, type:

DISKPART
LIST DISK
SELECT DISK 0 (after confirming Windows 7 target HD #)
CLEAN
CREATE PARTITION PRIMARY SIZE=102400
FORMAT FS=NTFS LABEL="WINDOWS 7"
ACTIVE
EXIT
EXIT

Next click Install Now, then Custom install to Clean Install Windows 7 to the partition you created. If it fails then report back at which step and the verbatim error message.

In addition read over these steps to understand the tools and methods which work best to get and maintain a perfect Clean Reinstall - Factory OEM Windows 7. The steps are the same for retail.

theboypugh · 19 Dec 2012

I haven't got another HDD that I can use, however I've just run the install on a Virtual Machine that I've created on my existing HDD and all is well - so I guess this rules out a bad iso download or bad burn. This would then indicate a bad SSD, however I sent a previous one back because of exactly the same behaviour. I'm really stumped????

gregrocker · 19 Dec 2012

Please run through the steps I gave you which solve half of the install issues we've dealt with here.

If those fail then use the manufacturer's tool to test the SSD with their tech support's assistance so it is ready to be RMA'd if necessary. We do regularly see bad new SSD's here.

theboypugh · 19 Dec 2012

Ok did as you suggested.windows starts to install fine gets to completing installation then says windows needs to restart. Upon restart it says setup is updating registry components then setup is starting services and then I get an error dialogue saying windows setup experienced an unexpected error.to install windows, restart the installation.

gregrocker · 19 Dec 2012

Enter Device Manager during install to disable any erroring devices until install completes when you can update them from the desktop: Device Manager - Access During Windows 7 Installation

theboypugh · 19 Dec 2012

Disabled everything that had errors and restarted then got the following error after through restart the computer restarted unexpectedly or encountered an unexpected error.windows installation cannot proceed.to install windows click ok to restart the computer and then restart the installation.
Did you see the example of the errors i am getting in the setup log - one of my first posts on this thread.does this Shed any more light on what's happening
Many thanx
Dave

essenbe · 19 Dec 2012

Greg would probably be much more qualified than me to answer. But, several possibilities exist. The files could be corrupted, The installer could have put them in a different place than the OS is looking for them, The SSD could have unreadable (to the OS) sectors. Those would be my explanations. 1 and probably 2 are not very likely as the ISO was verified as correct.

gregrocker · 19 Dec 2012

Do you have an BIOS update available, or are there firmware updates or hotfixes for the SSD, or bulletins such as we sometimes see where manufacturers advise to install in IDE mode?

Earlier you said you couldn't boot when trying USB Flash stick install after setting USB HDD first in BIOS setup. Try this again with SSD set first to boot in BIOS, then trigger the stick to boot using the one-time BIOS Boot Menu key given on first screen, under USB, Removable or HD's. You may need to expand one of those listings to see your stick which is normally listed by it's make or model.

If this fails try writing the stick again using UltraISO Software To Create Bootable USB Flash Drive. Be sure to format the stick first with the format button, then Write.
which has always worked when all others fail, if USB can work at all.

If USB still won't boot, unplug the DVD drive. Remember to have all peripherals and other HD's unplugged.

If all else fails, can you install to the SSD in another PC, move it back to problem machine with your current Win7 HD plugged in, run from there Paragon Virtualization Manager (formerly Paragon Adaptive Restore) to PNP Adjust the SSD's Win7, supplying the SATA controller driver from chipset in Manual mode.