Solved 1st Build - Major help needed

[Britton30]

A couple of points. Greg's tutorial should answer all questions on a fresh install for w7.

Only connect the SSD during install.

The w7 installer will do the alignment for you, no need for the diskpart dance.

 

[ChrisPbass]

I'm using my friends USB DVD.

That message "a required CD/DVD device driver is missing" can occur in a system with a UEFI Bios and you are trying to boot from an unsupported device for the boot mode you are in.

To boot from a USB device I have found that the device must be plugged into a USB 2 port. If I try and plug a USB installation stick into a USB 3 port I get that message. The reason is that my system board has a separate Asmedia USB3 controller and that controller is not native to the UEFI/BIOS. It only works in Windows using the ASmedia Drivers. To boot in UEFI you must use the native USB ports.
So try the install with the USB DVD in a USB 2 port.

U DA Man! The USB DVD was in a USB 3 port. I assumed it was 2.0 . This board has a lot of 3.0 ports it turns out.

OK...1 hurdle jumped. I'm sure it will install w/NO problem now.

 

[ChrisPbass]

I am not clear.
I have 2 DVD devices. The SATA, PC powered DVD is most def hosed. The USB, wall outlet powered, DVD works fine. It wants to load windows and its been used fairly recently.
I have done everything you said to do and the BIOS sees everything and the boot order is OK.

"It wants to load Windows". I am not clear on that. It sounds like your problem is solved.

Do you mean: "It starts to load windows but I am still getting the error message"?

Even after resetting defaults and switching to a USB 2 port?

Sorry I was replying to Ranger4 and had not tried your suggestions yet. The USB 2 port worked.

 

[TVeblen]

Excellent!

 

[ChrisPbass]

Next Step: Spinners

How should I proceed? The last time I took this next step I started getting crashes and BSODs etc...however...I'm pretty sure the MB was broken.

One of the HDs had Win7 installed on it and it does have the small 100/200 Mb partition. The other drive is formatted for storage, no OS.

After I started having problems adding the 1st (OS) spinner I decided to use Gparted to remove the partition to see if that would help. I never had a chance to try it.
Is that a good idea? If not, how should I proceed?

Also, I'm sure this has been covered on 7F.com so should I just go research or continue here?

 

[TVeblen]

On the spinner - use GParted to delete the small 100/200 partition (System Reserved). No OS partition - no System Reserved partition on the spinner.
(Later you can create a new data partition with that extra space.)

Clean or Wipe (write all zeros) the SSD. Nothing on it.

When you get ready to install W7 on the SSD, disconnect all other hard drives - only the SSD and DVD connected (Very Important!)

Then reset the BIOS defaults. After, make sure the SATA controller is set to AHCI (Very Important!)

Then install W7. The tutorial Gregrocker posted is excellent. Either run through it to be familiar, or print it out.

If you follow all these instructions it should go without a hitch.

 

[ChrisPbass]

I really need to give more info.

I have successfully installed W7pro and have done all 9 billion updates.

I did change to AHCI before installing.

So...installed and only the SSD is running at this point.

Drop in the spinner OS HD and boot to Gparted, delete the small partition, reboot?
Hopefully everything works and then add the 2nd spinner...

 

[gregrocker]

I do not see a screenshot for Disk Management - Post a Screen Capture Image so we can see what you're talking about. Point out the partition you're asking about deleting.

As long as you installed to SSD with all other HD's unplugged, and the SSD remains set first to boot then adding back the other HD's should not interfere. But let us see a pic with all drives connected, tell us exactly what you want to do, and we will give you the steps.

 

[ChrisPbass]

OK. The SSD is the only drive installed. The only reason I'm moving slow and asking questions is because the last time I got to this step everything went haywire. I added the spinner and started getting all kinds of errors.
But again...that was probably related to the board malfunctioning.

 

[TVeblen]

I do not see a screenshot for Disk Management - Post a Screen Capture Image so we can see what you're talking about. Point out the partition you're asking about deleting.

As long as you installed to SSD with all other HD's unplugged, and the SSD remains set first to boot then adding back the other HD's should not interfere. But let us see a pic with all drives connected, tell us exactly what you want to do, and we will give you the steps.

Hey Greg! I think we established (about 60 posts back) that the old spinner had an OS partition (C) and a System Reserved Partition (the 100MB one). The OP deleted the OS Partition but not the SR.
So this sounds like that oldie but goodie where you add a second ACTIVE partition to a system. And with a smidgeon of missing OS to boot! (or not boot - as the case would be )

 

[ChrisPbass]

I'm at a loss again. There are 4 3.5" spaces for HDs. 2 are in a cage that comes off. I can put the 2 spinners in there. The other spot for HDs is right in front of the memory and when I slide the SSD in, which is on a 2.5 to 3.5 adapter, it actually hits the memory before it clicks into place??? There's no way a 3.5" HD would fit in there. It's close but won't click. If there were 4 sticks of memory in there it wouldn't even be close.
Case is a R363 Rosewill. I'll need to look at this later.

 

[ChrisPbass]

I do not see a screenshot for Disk Management - Post a Screen Capture Image so we can see what you're talking about. Point out the partition you're asking about deleting.

As long as you installed to SSD with all other HD's unplugged, and the SSD remains set first to boot then adding back the other HD's should not interfere. But let us see a pic with all drives connected, tell us exactly what you want to do, and we will give you the steps.

Hey Greg! I think we established (about 60 posts back) that the old spinner had an OS partition (C) and a System Reserved Partition (the 100MB one). The OP deleted the OS Partition but not the SR.
So this sounds like that oldie but goodie where you add a second ACTIVE partition to a system. And with a smidgeon of missing OS to boot! (or not boot - as the case would be )

YES. But I never deleted the 100MB partition because everything went haywire.

 

[TVeblen]

You need to consider that a wasted HDD bay. The designers did not anticipate the MASSIVE RAM sticks we use today.
You can Jerry-rig a SSD in there without the 3.5" caddy, but that is just wrong, so use the other 3 bays and get a new case if you ever want to install a 4th hard drive.

 

[TVeblen]

I do not see a screenshot for Disk Management - Post a Screen Capture Image so we can see what you're talking about. Point out the partition you're asking about deleting.

As long as you installed to SSD with all other HD's unplugged, and the SSD remains set first to boot then adding back the other HD's should not interfere. But let us see a pic with all drives connected, tell us exactly what you want to do, and we will give you the steps.

Hey Greg! I think we established (about 60 posts back) that the old spinner had an OS partition (C) and a System Reserved Partition (the 100MB one). The OP deleted the OS Partition but not the SR.
So this sounds like that oldie but goodie where you add a second ACTIVE partition to a system. And with a smidgeon of missing OS to boot! (or not boot - as the case would be )

YES. But I never deleted the 100MB partition because everything went haywire.

What I would do is disconnect the SSD, connect the problem spinner, boot to GParted (I am assuming you have bootable media for GParted), then delete the partition from GParted.

(I would also create my new data partition at the same time.)

After it is all cleaned up then you can connect the SSD and the old spinner together and not need to worry about Windows throwing a hissy-fit because of the second ACTIVE partition.

 

[ChrisPbass]

You need to consider that a wasted HDD bay. The designers did not anticipate the MASSIVE RAM sticks we use today.
You can Jerry-rig a SSD in there without the 3.5" caddy, but that is just wrong, so use the other 3 bays and get a new case if you ever want to install a 4th hard drive.

Yeah this is ****. I think i'm going to drill a hole in one of the cages and attach the SSD bracket to it. If need be I guess I'll use the 5.25 slots to install HDs.

I wanted a learning experience and I'm getting it!

 

[ChrisPbass]

Hey Greg! I think we established (about 60 posts back) that the old spinner had an OS partition (C) and a System Reserved Partition (the 100MB one). The OP deleted the OS Partition but not the SR.
So this sounds like that oldie but goodie where you add a second ACTIVE partition to a system. And with a smidgeon of missing OS to boot! (or not boot - as the case would be )

YES. But I never deleted the 100MB partition because everything went haywire.

What I would do is disconnect the SSD, connect the problem spinner, boot to GParted (I am assuming you have bootable media for GParted), then delete the partition from GParted.

(I would also create my new data partition at the same time.)

After it is all cleaned up then you can connect the SSD and the old spinner together and not need to worry about Windows throwing a hissy-fit because of the second ACTIVE partition.

Sounds like a plan. I do have Gp bootable on disc.

 

[TVeblen]

I need to admit something: sometimes I build a new rig and everything goes together perfectly and it starts right up and everything installs without problems...... and I'm depressed for a week! What the hell is the fun in THAT!

Learning is good. What you are going through is how all of us learned this stuff.

 

[matts6887]

In terms of a learning experience Chris; lets just say we have all been there done that. The computer im using now is my first build; and it didnt go off without a few snags along the way. But yea as far as finding space goes; I guess some computer case designers just may not have been thinking about the emerging tech coming down the pipe; so they just kinda threw stuff together. Granted some designers have done a much better job then others. So i guess i can say been there done that....

 

[ChrisPbass]

I'll make it work. I shall ~ ~ ~

 

[linnemeyerhere]

You need to consider that a wasted HDD bay. The designers did not anticipate the MASSIVE RAM sticks we use today.
You can Jerry-rig a SSD in there without the 3.5" caddy, but that is just wrong, so use the other 3 bays and get a new case if you ever want to install a 4th hard drive.

Yeah this is ****. I think i'm going to drill a hole in one of the cages and attach the SSD bracket to it. If need be I guess I'll use the 5.25 slots to install HDs.

I wanted a learning experience and I'm getting it!

SSD's can be mounted anywhere with a couple of velcro dots. Personally I like them behind the mobo.