Windows cannot be installed to this disk

[gregrocker]

Unplug all other HD's and peripherals, update the firmware on your SSD.

Boot into BIOS setup, reset to defaults, set SATA controller to AHCI, Hard Drive first to boot, Save changes and Exit.

If you notice UEFI Boot choices in BIOS Boot Priority menu then proceed with UEFI (Unified Extensible Firmware Interface) - Install Windows 7 with. If you don't want a UEFI install you can Bypass UEFI to Install WIn7. This video can help you decide: UEFI BIOS vs. Legacy BIOS - YouTube

Then boot into Windows 7 installer DVD or flash stick burned or written using tool and latest ISO for your licensed OS version here. I would use a fresh ISO written with tool in Step 2 as yours is in question.

At first installer screen Press Shift + F10, or enter System Recovery Options to open a Command Box, type:

DISKPART
LIST DISK
SELECT DISK 0 (after confirming Windows 7 target HD #)
CLEAN
CREATE PARTITION PRIMARY
FORMAT FS=NTFS LABEL="WINDOWS 7"
ACTIVE
EXIT
EXIT

Next click Install Now, then Custom install to Clean Install Windows 7 to the partition you created. If it fails then report back at which step and the verbatim error message. Test your SSD with the maker's tool.

In addition read over these steps to understand the tools and methods which work best to get and maintain a perfect Clean Reinstall - Factory OEM Windows 7. The steps are the same for retail.

You can wait until you are ready to delete the old OS partition before moving the Product Key to the new install. You'll have 30 days to do this.

 

[whs]

Greg, it's a SSD. The Create command should have Align=1024

 

[gregrocker]

Thanks, Wolfgang.

As I am forming that template into a tutorial now, should the align command be specified for SSD only? What if that command is inadvertantly applied to a HDD? Any other suggestions are appreciated and may also be helpful to the OP.

 

[whs]

1. HDDs need not be aligned but it does not hurt. If you want it for HDDs also, use an offset of 4096.

2. Select Disk 0 is not generic - it could be another disk to which the person wants to install. You have to select the disk that was shown in List Disk as the disk to which you want to install. I use this wording: Select disk n (where n is the number that was given for your disk in List disk)

3. This whole string of commands is only good for installation on disks that are (at least initially) dedicated to the OS (typically SSDs). If there are other partitions on the disk, they will be wiped out with the Clean command.

 

[BrightonBob]

I am now convinced that the SSD is bad. I installed Windows 7 64 bit on an HDD, updated the AHCI drivers and then made a backup copy with Acronis. I then restored the backup to the clean SSD and it worked beautifully. Until... the first time it started, it did some housekeeping and asked me to restart. When I did, it worked properly for about 60 seconds, then locked up. I did a Windows repair from the install disk, then restarted. Windows then ran chkdsk and locked up during the process. Another effort at chkdsk did the same thing, so I'm going to return it and start over or give up on SSDs until I upgrade my system.

 

[whs]

Yeah right, I have seen that scenario a couple of times with defective SSDs. The controller is kaputt. Just RMA it.