Windows cannot be installed to this disk

[BrightonBob]

I purchased a new Seagate 240 GB SSD to install Windows 7 64 bit on. I am unable to do so, getting the message "Windows cannot be installed to this disk. The computer's hardware may not support booting top this disk. Ensure that the disk's controller is enabled in the computer's BIOS menu." I have the BIOS set to AHCI and the SSD is the only drive in the machine. I tried partitioning and formatting and making the partition active in my Windows 7 32 bit installation, but still no success.

I cleaned the disk with diskpart, then attempted again. As soon as I get to the page with the drive listed, windows shows the exclamation point and says "Windows cannot be installed on this drive." I loaded Intel(R) ICH10R SATA AHCI Controller from Intel the download refreshed, but still the same. I also tried the drivers from the ASUS site (slightly different filename), same result.

As a point that I don't understand but may be relevant, Windows 7 loses the drive, then reacquires it over and over. I have watched it in BIOS and it seems to be stable there. I also have a Windows 8 installation and the drive is stable there,also.

 

[trowieuk]

Create the partition with diskpart and mark it as active like this

 

[theog]

As a point that I don't understand but may be relevant, Windows 7 loses the drive, then reacquires it over and over. I have watched it in BIOS and it seems to be stable there. I also have a Windows 8 installation and the drive is stable there,also.

Is Windows 8 installed?
If YES.
Can you post a screen shot of Disk management?
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/9733-screenshots-files-upload-post-seven-forums.html
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/274797-disk-management-post-screen-capture-image.html

What is the make & model of the motherboard?

 

[BrightonBob]

Suggestion by trowieuk was not successful. Same error message.

I presently have a dual boot system with Windows 7 32 bit and Windows 8 64 bit. My motherboard is Asus P5Q Deluxe. I am trying to install Windows 7 64 bit on a new SSD. I have one essential program that will not run on W8, but I want to go to 64 bit for Adobe Photoshop CC. I will attempt the screenshots requested, but I need to boot into W8 first. Will make new post.

 

[theog]

Suggestion by trowieuk was not successful. Same error message.

I presently have a dual boot system with Windows 7 32 bit and Windows 8 64 bit. My motherboard is Asus P5Q Deluxe. I am trying to install Windows 7 64 bit on a new SSD. I have one essential program that will not run on W8, but I want to go to 64 bit for Adobe Photoshop CC. I will attempt the screenshots requested, but I need to boot into W8 first. Will make new post.

Vista, Windows 7 & Windows 8/8.1, will not install to a FAT32 formatted HDD.

 

[BrightonBob]

Yeah, I caught that. I formatted NTFS. Still the same error message though.

Do you still think the screen shots will help?

 

[whs]

Set the BIOS to IDE and only once the system is running set it to AHCI - but set Windows 7 also to AHCI.

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/61869-ahci-enable-windows-7-vista.html

 

[user31]

If it is a SSD you can simply copy your contents over via firewire cable (if it contains one). Also, it has to be formatted NTFS for it to work with 64 bit.

 

[theog]

Is your SSD SATA2 or SATA3, as your motherboard has SATA2 ports, no SATA3.

 

[BrightonBob]

Set the BIOS to IDE and only once the system is running set it to AHCI - but set Windows 7 also to AHCI.

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/61869-ahci-enable-windows-7-vista.html

I have already done that. Everything is running in AHCI

 

[BrightonBob]

Is your SSD SATA2 or SATA3, as your motherboard has SATA2 ports, no SATA3.

Still should work even though MB is SATA2.

 

[BrightonBob]

Here are the screenshots.

 

[theog]

You only need one ACTIVE Partition on disk 0, you have four all over the place.

 

[BrightonBob]

You only need one ACTIVE Partition on disk 0, you have four all over the place.

Actually, there are no active partitions on disk 0.

I don't think that that speaks to my problem as I only have the 240 GB SSD connected when I try to install Windows on it.

 

[whs]

I think your problem might be one of the other disks onto which the installer is trying to put the new bootmgr. Disconnect ALL disks except the SSD and try to install then.

Note: the installer always tries to install the bootmgr to the first active disk it finds. But you do not want that.

 

[BrightonBob]

I think your problem might be one of the other disks onto which the installer is trying to put the new bootmgr. Disconnect ALL disks except the SSD and try to install then.

Note: the installer always tries to install the bootmgr to the first active disk it finds. But you do not want that.

I have NO other disks connected when trying to install Windows on the SSD.

 

[whs]

Hmm, you are doing the right thing. But then I have no clue why you get this trouble. I have installed 7 on a dozen different SSDs and never seen that.

 

[BrightonBob]

Well, the problem is definitely in the BIOS. When I set to ATI or RAID, the error message goes away. I was able to load Windows with the MB configured as RAID, but Windows wouldn't run. Said installation could not be completed on this computer. I'm tired of messing with it now. I'll try again tomorrow with MB config as ATI and see if it will install.

 

[BrightonBob]

Does anyone know whether or not I will immediately lose my 32 bit installation? I'm installing both on the same serial number. I on,y want one installation, but I'd like a little time to get programs loaded and configured before I lose the 32 bit installation.

 

[AddRAM]

You will loose your 32 bit install if you format it. Unplug all other drives ( as already suggested )

What are you talking about, " I`m installing both on the same serial number " ???