Win 7 won't install on SSD

[mendopaul]

I'm trying to finish a new build with an ASUS P7P55D-E Pro with an Intel I7-860. I'm trying to install Win 7 (64 bit) onto an Intel X-25 SSD which is already formatted and has the latest firmware revision. The machine POST is perfect and the BIOS shows all hardware just as it should be...........but when the Win 7 DVD has loaded the files into RAM and shows "Starting Windows" the whole process just stops and sits there with nothing happening. Apparently the software can't see or recognize the SSD which is powered and ready (according to the BIOS and tests on another machine) and I can't figure out what is the problem. Anybody recognize this problem or have any thoughts? Thanks in advance.

 

[richc46]

Will these help?

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/91339-ssd-hdd-optimize-windows-reinstallation.html

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

 

[mendopaul]

Thanks but no luck.

Those pages you suggested were for systems that were already working or would permit the Win DVD to load to the hard drive. On my new machine Win 7 won't install past the "Starting Windows" screen on an empty hard drive in a brand new machine. Everything should be in shape for a normal install but it just won't load the install on the hard drive. Thanks!

 

[whs]

Intel X-25 SSD which is already formatted

Does that mean you only formatted the SSD to NTFS or did you do more to it? Can you see it in "Computer" and what does it say regarding free GBs?

 

[mendopaul]

Since it won't boot there is not any chance to "see it" in any case. I used another machine and an adapter to format in in NTFS and then upgrade the drive's firmware to the latest revision. the install is NOT complete, just barely started in RAM and not in the hard drive.

 

[rap33042]

Did you check your Boot Order in BIOS?

 

[eldinv]

Where did you get your Windows 7 DVD?

 

[whs]

Since it won't boot there is not any chance to "see it" in any case. I used another machine and an adapter to format in in NTFS and then upgrade the drive's firmware to the latest revision. the install is NOT complete, just barely started in RAM and not in the hard drive.

Yaeh, I meant checking it in Computer when attached to another PC. It would be interesting to know whether there is a problem with the free space. Flushing the firmware can be pretty tricky too. But if it did format to NTFS, I guess then it should be OK.

 

[mendopaul]

Intel X-25 SSD which is already formatted

Does that mean you only formatted the SSD to NTFS or did you do more to it? Can you see it in "Computer" and what does it say regarding free GBs?

I used a USB adapter and hooked it up to another machine and upgraded the Intel firmware to the latest version and then formatted it with NTFS. It now looks like an empty hard drive on the other machine but it's back installed in my new machine and NOT available somehow to the Win 7 DVD. (It can't be seen in "Computer" because Windows isn't running......won't install......but it is seen correctly in BIOS.

 

[mendopaul]

Where did you get your Windows 7 DVD?

I got the "System Builders" version of Win 7 64 bit Home Premium from either Newegg or Amazon..........non-shrinkwrapped version. I tried another DVD of Win 7 32 bit and it won't load either. That reinforces the belief that it's a hardware problem, right?

 

[mendopaul]

Since it won't boot there is not any chance to "see it" in any case. I used another machine and an adapter to format in in NTFS and then upgrade the drive's firmware to the latest revision. the install is NOT complete, just barely started in RAM and not in the hard drive.

Yaeh, I meant checking it in Computer when attached to another PC. It would be interesting to know whether there is a problem with the free space. Flushing the firmware can be pretty tricky too. But if it did format to NTFS, I guess then it should be OK.

While checking it in the other computer it showed up as drive K. Would that make a difference in a new build with no other drive connected?

 

[sygnus21]

What SATA port is the SSD connected to?
What mode is the SATA port set to.... IDE/RAID/AHCI?

Try swiching thing around to see what happens.

While checking it in the other computer it showed up as drive K. Would that make a difference in a new build with no other drive connected?

No. That's just saying the drive can be recognized and is working. Sounds like a problem between your system and the drive.

 

[whs]

Yeah, it looks like a hardware oddity.

Try this: define a partition on the SSD using the whole space. Use the bootable CD version of this program (see in the left pane of their website) BEST FREE Partition Manager Software for Windows supports all 32-bit & 64 bit Windows No-server OS. Then try to install to that partition. One advantage will be that you do not get the 100MB seperate boot partition.

But before you do define the partition, align the SSD on another system using your enclosure. http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/113967-ssd-alignment.html?ltr=S

 

[ickymay]

I'm trying to finish a new build with an ASUS P7P55D-E Pro with an Intel I7-860. I'm trying to install Win 7 (64 bit) onto an Intel X-25 SSD which is already formatted and has the latest firmware revision. The machine POST is perfect and the BIOS shows all hardware just as it should be...........but when the Win 7 DVD has loaded the files into RAM and shows "Starting Windows" the whole process just stops and sits there with nothing happening. Apparently the software can't see or recognize the SSD which is powered and ready (according to the BIOS and tests on another machine) and I can't figure out what is the problem. Anybody recognize this problem or have any thoughts? Thanks in advance.

if windows doesn't see the drive or just talk to it correctly then I would pursue the driver angle ?

the relationship between chipset and device controller might need a driver that windows 7 doesn't have ?

maybe try in windows PE selecting "Have driver disk" during install process, and then try having Windows installation update the driver ?

It could be one of these drivers ?

let us know how you get on

 

[spyknee]

Since it won't boot there is not any chance to "see it" in any case. I used another machine and an adapter to format in in NTFS and then upgrade the drive's firmware to the latest revision. the install is NOT complete, just barely started in RAM and not in the hard drive.

Yaeh, I meant checking it in Computer when attached to another PC. It would be interesting to know whether there is a problem with the free space. Flushing the firmware can be pretty tricky too. But if it did format to NTFS, I guess then it should be OK.

While checking it in the other computer it showed up as drive K. Would that make a difference in a new build with no other drive connected?

Yes, the W 7 install disk will be looking for a C:\.

I do not believe you should have made and formatted the partition on another machine, Hence the k:\ notation. More than likely the other machine was up to K in its drive letter assignments. It treated the SSD as a new component in that system.
The SSD should have Intels version of a secure erase done to it, now. After getting drive back to a factory state plug it to SATA port 0. The CD rom should be plugged to SATA port 5, set as boot device. Allow the W7 install disk to do everything, do not format the partitions it creates. Choose a partition size if you do not want whole drive used. Then just step thru the process like normal. It will create a system reserve partition, just ignore it. W7 uses this on the sly.
It will create a large partition for OS.
luck

 

[whs]

While checking it in the other computer it showed up as drive K. Would that make a difference in a new build with no other drive connected?

No, it does not matter how it showerd in the other computer. K is probably one of the USB ports on the other computer.

 

[Wishmaster]

When you updated the Firmware did you follow the instructions exactlly as stated by Intel?

Perhaps I missed something but seems the drive disappeared after the FW update?


I would disconnect ALL SATA and IDE devices from the PC.

Connect only the SSD in the 1st SATA port, and if you need the DVD drive, connect it to the last one.

Boot up and see what the bios shows.




--> If it shows the SSD:
Switch to AHCI mode.
Boot from the DVD.

At the Install Screen, open a cmd prompt (Shift+F10)

In the cmd window type the following commands:
diskpart
list dist
select disk (number of SSD drive, likely 0 -- So it would be select disk 0)
clean
exit

close the cmd prompt and proceed with install as normal.

Do not create any partion, or format.
When it asks where to instal, just select the SSD and click next.
Windows will handle the rest.

See if that helps.

Intel drives have a Secure Erase feature if you need or want to run it. It is part of the SSD tools kit.

However, its usually not required, even for re-installs.
Clean or clean all prior to installation is generally all thats needed as performance is not affected.

 

[mendopaul]

My apologies for exercising you folks but I should have done this first: I installed the latest BIOS Rom file and that solved the problem. Apparently the ROM version I had downloaded still didn't recognize this SSD but the problem is solved. I thank you for your help!

 

[whs]

No problem, we all learned something.

 

[sygnus21]

My apologies for exercising you folks but I should have done this first: I installed the latest BIOS Rom file and that solved the problem. Apparently the ROM version I had downloaded still didn't recognize this SSD but the problem is solved. I thank you for your help!

Well there you go Glad to hear you got it fixed.

Happy computing.