Solved Can't boot to USB

[Laith]

I'm sick and tired of this. Ever since i got my SSD i haven't been able to install any OS on it because my computer won't simply boot to my USB. It's till today i took this problem seriously and was tired of my 7-minute long bootup time on my HDD. I've tried everything to make it boot, everything! I've installed many different flavours of Linux on my USB, and those who worked only got me into the selection of 64-bit, memtest etc then crashes when i choose to boot and install. Windows dosen't even work to boot from, it just gives me the little white line in an infinite loop. So I'm begging you guys on SF to help me as this is extremely frustrating and i just want a 30-second bootup time. I'm desperate.

 

[Layback Bear]

Exactly how do you hook up your SSD?

Please complete this tutorial by Golden so we can have a look.

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/274797-disk-management-post-screen-capture-image.html

 

[ThrashZone]

Hi,
Usually I just use option 2 here with rufus
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/2432-usb-windows-7-installation-key-drive-create.html#option2

You have to suspect the usb is bad or the iso ?
Formatting the ssd is pretty easy via WHS's tutorial
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/149969-ssd-install-transfer-operating-system.html

Diskpart
List disk
Select disk n (where n is the number that was given for your SSD in List disk)
Clean
Create partition primary align=1024
Format fs=ntfs quick
Active (assuming you want to install an OS)
Exit

 

[Laith]

@Layback Bear As any other person does it, SATA Cable + SATA Power connector. Also I've attached a picture.

@ThrashZone I'll try that, but i suspect the USB, i mean it works, i can copy stuff from it and put things on it perfectly but i suspect it because I've tried out alot of .isos, both the ones supplied by Microsoft and 3rd party ones. Also about Rufus, that's how i do it all the time, i use Rufus to burn all my images to USB. Lastly i followed your instructions.

Also for all of you: I wrote wrong in my first post, i can't boot into the USB to install an OS on the SSD, i guess i was too frustrated that i couldn't concentrate.

 

[Layback Bear]

Most other people but not all people. That is why I asked.

Let me know if I'm understand you correctly.

1. You are trying to install Windows 7 on Disk #1.
2. You are using a ISO that you have installed on a usb flash drive. (thumb drive)
------------------------

Things I have noticed.
1. Unallocated space in front of the Windows 7 (C) on Disk (0). We can fix that later when this problem is solved.

2. Disk one is Active without a partition letter, which means Windows 7 can't see it.

** Is their anything on Disk #1?
** Is Disk #1 where you want to install Windows 7 again? (SSD)

What I'm trying to do is know for sure what you have and what exactly you are trying to do.

If you are trying to do a clean install of Windows 7 to Disk #1 this turorial by Brink works just fine. First unhook Disk # 0.

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/1649-clean-install-windows-7-a.html

Every time I do a clean install I take a refresher course using Brinks tutorial and it always works for me.

This is also very helpful if you are using a usb flash drive.

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/2432-usb-windows-7-installation-key-drive-create.html

Just in case I'm not understanding correctly I have requested another member to take a look.

 

[AddRAM]

Why not make your life easy and just use a dvd, they are so cheap.

And cd`s for Linux versions that will fit on a cd, which is getting rarer.

Until you get a new usb stick, which are also dirt cheap.

There is not 1 benefit of installing windows by usb, and a lot of people can`t even figure out how to do it.

And I hope you are disconnecting any other drives when you are doing your install.

 

[ThrashZone]

Hi,
Is disk1 the ssd ?
Unless you have uefi bios and secure boot is messing with you seems odd if files copy to it okay....
Default settings on the tutorial for Rufus always works for me.

 

[Layback Bear]

I also prefer DVD for installing Windows 7.
It just makes it a lot simpler and quicker.
Thanks Brian for answering my request.

I don't think that old motherboard bios has such a thing as UEIF or Secure Boot.

From Laith System Specs.

Motherboard ASUSTeK Computer INC. M4A785TD-V EVO

https://www.asus.com/us/Motherboards/M4A785TDV_EVO/specifications/

 

[Laith]

@Layback Bear
Yes and yes. Please do note that I've tried multiple ISOs. That space was for the boot manager when i accidentally wiped it No, there's not anything on Disk #1 and yes again, I want to install to Disk #1. Although when I install Windows I don't plug out Disk #0, it has worked in the past before to not plug it out with my old 840 EVO, but when I got my 850 EVO it wouldn't want to boot from USB which is quite odd.

@AddRAM
Thing is that if you want to buy CDs/DVDs here in Sweden you must buy them in 10-packs or 20-packs which can be pretty darn expensive.

@ThrashZone Yes it is, I do not have secure boot or anything on my motherboard as it's old.

 

[ThrashZone]

Hi,
Yea I don't either
What I did was just changed the boot order so usb was first instead of dvd and seemed to work good.
Default I would image is dvd then main os
Pushing usb first will allow the press any key to boot to usb to be shown.

 

[Laith]

I have that as my boot option, no luck.

 

[ThrashZone]

Hi,
Weird indeed

 

[Layback Bear]

If I understand you correctly. The first problem that needs to be fixed is being able to boot using USB.

You have a Asus motherboard. If it's
like my Asus boards you can use (Delete or F2) to get into the bios to verify your boot order.
You can also use (F8) to access a one time boot.

If you unhook Disk (0) and try to boot into your USB Windows 7 ISO it should only see your SSD only.
If your ISO is proper it should start your process of installing Windows 7 on your SSD.

***Can you boot anything else from USB. Example. Memtest 86.

Please read this again to make sure you understand everything and don't miss a step.


USB Windows 7 Installation Key Drive - Create

 

[Laith]

@ThrashZone Yup, very odd.

@Layback Bear I use F8 and a customized boot order. I'll try to unplug D0 and see if that works. Also about the USB, yes I'm doing it correctly, I've been using #2 all the time for making my USB sticks.

Remember this: This all started when i got my new SSD, before that i could boot and it worked.

 

[Layback Bear]

I do understand. Before condemning the new SSD I'm thinking all option should be tried.
I like many have tried 850 EVO and had nothing but problems. I finally got rid of it.

 

[Laith]

Tried to unplug Disk #0 with no success. Still the same infinite command prompt thingy that does nothing. I'm really losing hope now...

 

[torchwood]

really dumb thought is the cable USB3?

Roy

 

[Layback Bear]

With Disk "0" unhooked and your ssd hooked up, do you see your USB ISO stick in the F8 boot order?

 

[ThrashZone]

Hi,
I don't know but I have 2-500gb 850 evo's and it was easier than falling off a log to format and install on :/
Could be a defect no doubt though ?

 

[Laith]

@torchwood What cable? My USB? Because my motherboard doesn't even support USB3 nor is my USB USB3.

@Layback Bear Yup. I checked the boot order when i unplugged it, my flash was always the first one.

@ThrashZone At this point I really don't know. It's just plain weird to me that when i plug my SSD in, it doesn't want me to boot from a DVD/USB. It doesn't make sense to me.

I just noticed in Magician that there's an firmware update available for my SSD. I'll try to update and see what happens.