Building a gaming rig! Need assistance

[BarTmaN]

Well I'm not home at my computer right now, so I will try when I do get home then.

 

[ezeht]

Ya this should be simple man- again we can be telling ya to right click the wrong place. I would click all over it until I got the option. As long as you do not try and format the ssd or c:

I can click on my e any place and have the option- might be different because yours show unallocated space or because it has the reserve on it something- this should not be so hard tho. we are missing something.

When format pops up and then click quick format it will be a window [ or volume size might show as soon as you click format- not sure] and show the volume size etc you are trying to format or it thinks you are trying to format any way.

Just make sure it is not trying to let you only format just the 100mbs reserve. It should be showing as the rest of it 9999 gigs what ever it is. quick format takes lil time- my 320 gig drive was like 45 seconds maybe. It was fast I know that.

I will check back a lil laters- Maybe you can say how long before you will be home and ready to do it- I can check back about that time.

Ha ha I really want to see you happy and it going right- Ha ha I am ready to kick your drives butt for ya. Ha ha got me all worked up. This should be simple stuff. I know ssd are different tho. Never defrag that sucker either- best I know you are not supposed to any way and can ruin them or something like that.. I do not have one so I have not really read much about them- or yet any way.

Just do not go reinstalling your os until very last thing- take another day what ever it takes- You will not die if it takes a lil longer to add your music or what ever. It is something simple we are just missing it is all. I will bet you will thank me laters..

 

[BarTmaN]

I will be home anywhere between 9:30-10 EST

Yes I will try, and I will even post screenshots of everywhere I am right clicking!

I appreciate your help too

 

[ezeht]

No probs man- Id guess you would help me to so.

I was not trying to give that other fella a hard time- but reinstall the os is the quick answer and he seems to not know for sure just like us- and might be a real waste of time and be right back where you are and have to install everything again.

If we can not get this working I have another idea- just waiting to see if we can get it and do not care to worry ya or confuse you more.. But ssd are weird man and not always easy. It is millions of threads and posts about them..

We will see.

 

[Squid]

thiI nk your last sentence is your best move.

Disconnect the 1 TB drive before you begin.

I'd do things in this order:

1: set your PC BIOS to boot from the DVD drive first.
2: insert your Windows installation disc in the DVD drive.
3: shut down
4: disconnect the 1 TB drive completely
5: restart. The PC should boot from the installation disc
6: Continue with Windows install as you did before.
7: When Windows is back up and running on the single drive, reconnect the 1 TB and reformat it, wiping out the 2 partitions that are now on it.

^ This is what you are going to have to do. I made the mistake of having my 640GB drive (I was going to use for storage) connected when I installed 7 on my older rig with an 80GB drive. Funny thing was, it installed part of the OS on my storage drive and I could not format it (exact same situation). I disconnected the 640 and it would not boot. Do what ignat states above and you will be fine.

 

[Wishmaster]

You really should have the system partition with the OS.
Either as a partiton, or in the OS partition itself.


You have 2 options:

First:
Follow ignatzatsonic's suggestion, and disconnect the 1TB, and reinstall.

This will set the SSD as it should be, with a 100MB system partion, and a secondary partition for Windows with the remainder of the space.

((This method would be my suggestion as well, as it will make sure everything is setup and aligned properly.As well as far less probability of headaches in the future.))



Second:
Shutdown and Disconnet the 1TB drive.
Try to boot from the SSD, It will fail to boot. (or should)
Put in your Windows DVD, and run a system repair. It should fix the boot problem but your system/boot files will be with the OS itself.

Then format the 1TB drive.




If you choose to leave it as it is....
You can not format Unallocated Space. Youll need to right click the unallocated space, and create a Partition first. However many you want, Then format them.
Honestly, I wouldnt do this. Those system files really should be on the OS drive.

 

[ezeht]

Cool my bad- the other fella was right. Maybe you should turn on AHCI support in the bios before you reinstall the os tho. It would be best. If you have not already done so during first build?

Ha ha now I really feel stupid or sad. As said tho- I was not trying to give him a hard time. Sorry man.

It sucks w7 did that tho. I really though or sounds like it would be natural maybe and to free up space on the ssd- I know they are different. Reinstall windows is the last thing I care to do. I have read it is not good to clone or image to a ssd- fresh install is best. I know a format should not have been so hard tho..

I learned something. I will never make this build mistake in the future.. Thanks for that..

Me kicks me self for trying so hard. Hope I did not upset the other fella- I am very sorry if so. I will run away now feeling like a true idiot. Kicking self- head up own butt--> stupid stupid stupid..

 

[BarTmaN]

Okay, I will reinstall windows on my SSD without my other 1TB drive connected.

And nah it's all good ezeht. What exactly is AHCI, as I am new to that term as well.

 

[ignatzatsonic]

Advanced Host Controller Interface

Advanced Host Controller Interface - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

It isn't a huge deal, but most people say to enable AHCI in the BIOS, before installing Windows.

 

[ezeht]

Ya I was more saying sorry to sonic. Just seemed to me he was guessing like we others was. He was right though. I did not want you to waste your time- It was I wasting your time- again sorry.

AHCI support is the proper mode for sata and or ssd drives. You will not die with out it but some drives will not work at all or let you install them with out it. Even if you feel you do not need all the features ahci will insure they run at their fastest speeds possible and you do not need to set them up in raid either.

Mobos default to ide/ata mode and so folks can just pop in any hdd and get them going fast. AHCI is right for sata drives- just you have to manually turn it on in the bios- it is not hard- just different mobos bios is set up different- it has been a few months since I did it and my manual was no help- I think it is 2 places in the bios you need to check- 1 is integrated peripherals cant remember the other- you change ide/ata raid mode to ahci raid mode- and some wording can be different too- then save and exit- id go back to bios and check that it changed right etc. Then put your windows disc in your opti drive save and exit again it will boot to install disc- good to go.

You can always turn on ahci support after os install it is a easy guide here in the forums- you still need to know how to turn it on in your bios tho- maybe your manual has good instruction to do so- or others here can help or your mobos home site them folks can tell ya fast- it is not hard- I guess you know how to get around in your bios- you built the system and have to set time and date and maybe other things too so.. You can maybe live with out ahci support too- but your drives will not run as fast with out it..

I am hard on my self- and trying over hard I guess- my life is sad miserable and lonely- no friends etc. Guess I wish I could feel useful maybe. My heart is in the right place tho- I am trying to help - I am sure others would help me. It is a fella in my thread trying to help me now been at it for hours and hours and a few others have pop in ideas- I am not pressed on it tho- just did not care to high jack your thread here is all. It has been a post in my thread and I found some info that may help me. I just have not got to it yet and my system runs fine- just my marvel is not showing up in storage controllers like it did before but it all works. And feeling sorry for my self helps none either- so..

I am the first to admit when I am wrong- I do not choke to say I am sorry either.

I wish you all here the best and hope you get your rig up and going and how you like it soon and have fun gaming..

Take care..

 

[mlevy]

ezeht, you're missing a critical step on the UNALLOCATED SPACE. In order to format UNALLOCATED SPACE you need to create a partition TO ALLOCATE the space, THEN format. Right-click, create partition, format NTFS with default block size, DONE. The difference in your screenshot from his is that the space you right-clicked on contains a partition.

Now, you've sent this guy in a run-around for two pages on drive space allocation, either you're over-thinking this or you just don't know.

 

[Wishmaster]

Everyone makes mistakes, and sometimes its not a mistake so much as just a different opinion.

But, the important thing to remember here is this (IMO) ..
Was anything learned or gained from the solution of the problem?

If so, then we all come out ahead as a community.
After all, isn't that why we all hang out here? To help each other with what we have experience with and/or debate other viewpoints and possiblities?
Sometimes you learn something new, other times you help others learn something new.

My 2c for what its worth.

 

[ezeht]

1 I have humbled my self and gave up- other than maybe he should use ahci support

2 My photo was general trying to help

3 it is a partition 1 partition it is my e: drive my storage drive and already formatted and using it

4 I do not format drives everyday- I forget stuff or steps maybe.

5 I would run him around some more trying to help and if it saved him from a new os install.

6 I can be wrong about formatting in xp- been a few years now- You do not have to on macs.

7 He should be able to get it right now and is all that matters.

Have a great day..

 

[ezeht]

Yes wish

I did learn something and know not to make same mistakes when I go adding a ssd and make it my c: in the future. I hope to get 1 someday.

And yes argument or differences in opinion does not mean fighting or folks are upset or mad. I can try to hard maybe.

I know when I need help- I guess same for others- you need help right then and chomping at the bit. Some times it can be days or maybe never folks try and help. I try and jump in right away and help if I can or try to any way..

Out of all of this- I hope I did not upset sonic- I did not mean to if so.

And ya I like it here. Great folks here.

 

[BarTmaN]

Okay, so I reformatted my SSD without my HDD connected. Everything went well. Now I just need to know how to delete the System Reserved Partition from my HDD then format it.

Here are screenshots:

 

[Wishmaster]

You should be able to just Right click the Reserved on the spinning drive, and choose "Delete Volume".

Then, Right Click it again and create partitions ( "New Simple Volume" ) and format them.
make them whatever size you want, as many as you need .. or just one single volume.

 

[BarTmaN]

Ok thank you sir! Got everything up and running good! Have to start getting everything setup how I want it, then do some gaming!

I would like to thank everyone! You all rock, and helped me A LOT!