Windows 7 installation problem

G

GossamerBinLiner

New Member
Hi, I recently decided to use an SSD for my OS. Rather than boot from the windows disc as I usually do when installing, I decided to just try sticking the disc in while windows was running, putting a version of windows on the new drive, then deleting the old one after. It worked , kinda. On startup, I was given the standard dual-boot screen with the list of OS's.
However, when I removed the old drive from the system, I could no longer boot. After much trial and error, I discovered that I not only need the old drive to be in my computer, but also I need it to be selected at the boot drive, even though I definitely have Windows installed on the SSD.
Now, I'd like to be able to wipe the old drive or install a new one in its place, so went to reinstall Windows on the SSD the way I always used to: booting from the Windows disc at startup. However, if I select anything other than my old HDD as the boot device I get a message telling me to install a boot device or something. Basically, it says, "Dude, I can't boot from that!" or words to that effect. How can I install a fresh, independent copy of Windows onto the SSD given these circumstances? I've tried booting from the disc with and without the old drive in place, and nothing seems to work.
 
Remove the old drive and only have the ssd attached and then boot to the install CD and install windows. When you installed it before the boot files were on the other drive that's why it wouldn't boot up when you removed it from the system.
 
johnb35 said:
Remove the old drive and only have the ssd attached and then boot to the install CD and install windows. When you installed it before the boot files were on the other drive that's why it wouldn't boot up when you removed it from the system.
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I'm pretty sure I tried that. It's one of the first things I would have done. But I'll try again in case I had a blonde moment and just convinced myself I'd tried it.

Edit: Yes. I just tried it again and no joy. At first, I was trying to boot from a Walk Hard DVD. It's a great movie, but a lousy operating system. Anyway, I get the same message. Since I need the old drive in order to boot, can I just rip it out once Windows is running, then run the install disc to install a fresh copy onto the SSD? I'm not bothered about killing the old drive. It's a 10,000 rpm Raptor and is 6 months old so it's almost 6 months beyond its life expectancy anyway.
 
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Like said you need to remove the old drive and just have the SSD hooked up. Then you boot to the CD/DVD drive with the Windows OS in the CD/DVD drive. Sounds like your picking the SSD drive when booting, you pick the CD/DVD drive.
 
StrangleHold said:
Like said you need to remove the old drive and just have the SSD hooked up. Then you boot to the CD/DVD drive with the Windows OS in the CD/DVD drive. Sounds like your picking the SSD drive when booting, you pick the CD/DVD drive.
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No, I've tried with absolutely nothing but the SSD and dvd drive connected. I set the DVD drive as the first boot device. Also tried setting it as the only one. It worked with the same windows disc when I first installed on the old drive. It also worked fine to install on the SSD from within Windows.
I've also tried having the old drive connected just to start up (doesn't work if it isn't), then removing it, before running the disc from within the windows installation on the SSD (The one that needs replacing as it can't boot without the old drive being present) The first few times I got error messages when copying temporary files. I removed 1 RAM module, and disconnected all but the SSD and DVD drive. This time it seemed to be working...it was copying the files (No progress bar or percentage was displayed, so I dunno if it completed), then the system restarted, but I got the same old error message about installing a boot device or whatever. (The DVD drive was set as the boot device in BIOS)
I'm tempted to use the Windows installation on the old drive to wipe the new drive completely, then remove the old drive and try again, but if that fails, I have no computer till I figure this out.
 
Make sure the sata controller is in IDE or Ahci mode not raid. If its in raid you would need a raid driver installed. If you are having issues transferring files then its either a ram or install cd issue.
 
What OS are you trying to install? Will determine what mode your controller needs to be in. That is unless you want to try installing drivers durning the install. Yeah, if its throwing up errors when installing files you have a reading problem or maybe memory issues.
 
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GossamerBinLiner said:
then the system restarted, but I got the same old error message about installing a boot device or whatever
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Sounds like its still trying to boot to the incomplete install on the ssd? Even tho OD is set as 1st in BIOS?
Does this make sence?:
With only the ssd and OD connected, go to BIOS and set the port the ssd is connected to to ACHI. Set the port for the OD to IDE.
While in the BIOS, disable the ssd drive, and set OD as 1st to boot.
Insert 7 dvd and reboot.
Repair install..
If successful don't for forget to enable the ssd.
 
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I'm installing Windows 7 64 bit. I've installed it before off that disc, but it was a while ago and I'm beginning to doubt that it's bootable. I may have just stuck it in while windows was running. I seem to remember being told during the setup that it was moving my XP files somewhere or something to that effect. I'm pretty sure there was never an option to format the drive, or any of that stuff...Hmmm. How can I check just by looking at the files and folders on the disc?
The error message I get when trying to boot from the disc, or, in fact, if I try to boot off the SSD without the old drive connected is "Reboot and select a proper boot device or insert boot media in selected boot device and press any key"
I've tried loading windows as normal, THEN disconnecting the old drive before running the disc, but, at first I got error messages when copying temporary files. I removed one RAM module and unplugged any unnecessary devices, then tried again. It seemed to work, but with no progress bar, I can't tell. It just showed the "copying temporary files" message much longer and restarted after a while. Unfortunately, upon restart, I got the "insert boot device" message again. Though, come to think of it, the old (now disconnected) drive was selected as the boot drive. Once the temporary files are copied to the SSD, do I need to set THAT as the boot device at startup?
So much time passes between reinstalls, I can never remember what I did to overcome any problems I had the last time.
 
Sounds like for some reason when booting from the DVD drive, its skipping it and trying to go the SSD. What mode is the SATA ports in? For some reason, some SATA DVD drives you just cant boot from them if they are in AHCI mode.
 
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I'm not sure what my reading problem and memory issues have to do with my computer ;-P

I used the disc just fine yesterday to set up Windows on the SSD. The only problem was, I did it from within the Windows on my old drive, and, apparently, it copied some required files onto that drive. It's dual-boot, but I have to have the old drive connected to get the option to use Windows on the new drive.

By the way, I'm beginning to doubt that I ever booted off that disc. It's just been too long since I first used it, and yesterday, I just stuck it in the drive and autoplayed it while windows was running.
 
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Let me ask you this... Is this cd a burnt copy or an actual genuine microsoft install cd. Try the cd in another system and see if it will boot to it.
 
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