Install error 0x80300024 on machine with 2 drives

You probably get these threads all the time, but I did google it first.

I am trying to do a fresh install of Windows 7 on a machine with two harddrives. A friend just helped set me up with a new motherboard, CPU, RAM, basically a whole new computer. When we moved the harddrives however the Windows drive (250 GB) refused to boot no matter what we did, so I thought it would just be easier to wipe and reinstall, since all my files are on the other 3TB drive. However, I didn't realize I'd run into so many problems with a reinstall...

The way I had it set up last time was that my Users folder was on the 3TB, which I call 'X', and Windows was on 'C'. I also had my Programs folder on 'X' instead of installing my programs to Program Files. The system worked for me without issues (I followed this tutorial if it helps: Move the User Folder To A Separate Drive/Partition (The Right Way) | Idealistically Caspan ). This is why I do not want to follow the advice I found most often when googling for this issue, which is to disconnect the other drive...because then I cannot install the way I need to. I need both drives in the machine to work, and I know it is possible because I did this the last time.

First I just wiped the Windows 7 partition and tried reinstalling there, but the error kept coming up. I've now even removed the Linux partition I had on the bootable drive and the system reserve partition so the drive is 100% unallocated space. Still Windows 7 will not install to this space, and gives me the error.

My 'X' drive, Storage, is set as Disk 0, and the Windows drive is set as Disk 1. I thought this could be the issue but I didn't see anyone mention that when I googled it, nor am I sure how to change this. Would changing this help, if so can I do that from BIOS? How? What can I do to get around this error and install Windows on the drive WITHOUT disconnecting my 3TB drive, where I'd like to put my 'Users' folder?

Unplug the other drive during install. It isn't needed until afterward when you again link the User Folders - Change Default Location.

Then boot the disk to follow these steps for Overcoming Windows 7 Installation Failures - Windows 7 Help Forums.

Install Programs to C only. They write keys to the registry and thus should remain part of C until uninstalled. This time save a backup image of your completed install so you never need to reinstall again, just reimage the drive in 20 minutes and you're back up and running.

Take the time to look over these same steps for Clean Reinstall - Factory OEM Windows 7 which compile everything that works best in tens of thousands of installs we've directly helped with here since beta. You'll get and keep a perfect install to the exact extent you stick with those steps, tools and methods.

That seems to have done the trick. Thank you very much!! How would I go about making a backup image of the C drive in case of a reinstall? Is there a way to automatically back it up onto my storage drive?

That's one of the steps from Clean Reinstall - Factory OEM Windows 7.

Posting also here my reply from another topic
reinstalling windows 7 0x80300024 error

I had this 0x80300024 error with Windows 7 installation yesterday. It should be mentioned that the laptop was shipped with Windows 8 but I turned off safe boot in the BIOS and enabled CMS OS there, after that I only needed an MBR disk.

But in my case there was a second unremovable disk: it was designed by some inventive Samsung engineer to be soldered into the notebook motherboard.

Solved this by physically disconnecting HDD and inserting it into another notebook, running installation from a bootable USB there until first restart but supressing restart by entering BIOS immediately and shutting down by pressing power key. Then I unplugged both USB and HDD from the second laptop; plugged them to the first one; changed boot priority to HDD first, USB second and from that installation run smoothly.