Can't install Windows on new SSD

Pitbull said:
What partition have you got on that SSD. Which did you selected on first boot?

I recall that also being an issue on mine. I had to re-format and load a GPT partition
Click to expand...

Not too sure hey. I haven't been able to access the partitions on the drive so I don't know what is default.

Rocket-Boy said:
Is it a new SSD?
Was it not used in a raid array if it isnt new?
Had that once with a drive where I had to manually remove the raid headers from the boot sector.
Click to expand...

Nope, brand new out the box.

Qrox said:
You would want to download the newest version, so the one that says: M4A78-EM BIOS 2102, Update LAN option ROM.
Haven't updated bios in a while, but if I remember correctly you then put it on a flash drive that is formatted to FAT32.

Either in the bios or on a screen just before that, you should find a option that says flash bios or update bios. Should be relatively easy from there.
Just make sure there isn't loadshedding scheduled for your area :D
Click to expand...

Ok, will check it out. Haha, 10/4 on that loadshedding check! :D

ponder said:
BIOS - Version 2102
BIOS Utilities - Version 2.38

First check if you don't have the latest version already. Make sure you are gonna have power for the duration of the update!!!

You might even have a hardware compatibility issue with the sata chipset worse case scenario.

What happens if you boot from a linux livecd and try to format it via gparted?
Click to expand...

Not sure about the Linux boot option hey. Never even considered it and honestly, wouldn't know where to start (Linux noob :) )

CamiKaze said:
Did you receive a driver disc with your SSD? There should be an option during the install where it asks if you want to install a driver.
Click to expand...

Nope, no disk, just the drive and a plastic separator thingy.
 
worth mentioning that the first time you put it in you managed to get to the format stage (of the windows install) and it froze???

from there the problems have been even worse :)
 
OK, next question.
Upgrading your bios.
Do you have a bios with a built in bios update application?
You can download the .cap file to update your bios.
Hold on, will see if I can find the driver download page for your mobo.
 
techead said:
worth mentioning that the first time you put it in you managed to get to the format stage (of the windows install) and it froze???

from there the problems have been even worse :)
Click to expand...

If you didn't get this the SSD is dead. You should have had the option to choose type of format and format the drive.
If that didn't happen the drive seems to be dead. Have a spare PC you can plug it into and see if it works?
 
Use Win7 installation media with integrated service pack 1. Or:

Download drivers from Asus support page: Chipset and AHCI drivers. AHCI drivers are under 'Other' section. Put drivers on the USB stick and point Windows 7 installator to the chipset, then AHCI driver. You might need to prepare (or just decompress) drivers for 'F6' installation method.
http://www.asus.com/Motherboards/M4A78EM/HelpDesk_Download/

Hope it helps. AMD 780G/SB700 AHCI support is problematic, some say it doesn't support TRIM or doesn't do it correctly. Also try to change in BIOS to RAID mode, but do not create RAID volume. In RAID mode there will be no support for TRIM, but at least SSD will be recognised.

On another thought, also try drivers from AMD WEB site. You might have better luck with hybrid drive instead.
 
Last edited:
Agent_Smith said:
unable to detect the drive during the drive selection portion of the Windows installation process.
Click to expand...

Set the SATA mode to AHCI and then manually load this driver during the installation as suggested above.

AMD Raid/AHCI Driver files for Windows 32/64bit XP & 32/64bit Vista& 32/64bit 7.(WHQL)
Make AMD Raid/AHCI Driver Disk for Windows 32/64bit XP & 32/64bit Vista& 32/64bit 7.

PS, the Windows 7 installations should have detected your drive in SATA (IDE) mode though :erm:
 
dualmeister said:
PS, the Windows 7 installations should have detected your drive in SATA (IDE) mode though :erm:
Click to expand...
Agreed, but some chip revision might suffer from bugs, it is why I suggested the latest drivers and to try both (from ASUS and AMD).
 
Ok, so some success. I brought the drive to the office to install on another rig and it worked (but not straight away). I had to first go into Diskpart and convert the drive to GPT. Once done, I deleted all the partitions, selected the complete unallocated space and clicked next. Next thing I see it installing Windows. I used a Windows 8 disk (since I didn't think to bring my 7 disk).

My question now is: Can I take the drive, plug it back into my pc at home, and boot from my Windows 7 disk? Does the conversion to GPT still take effect if it gets reformatted or will a format erase that change and revert the drive back to original state?

Alternatively, if I bring my Windows 7 disk in to the office tomorrow and redo the process with that disk, will I be able to reconnect the drive to my home pc and start it up? Will the new hardware be detected on startup and install itself or does that not work (like it did back in the days of Windows 98)?
 
Crucial ssd's.. gotta love how they work on so few motherboards/laptops.
 
Pitbull said:
What partition have you got on that SSD. Which did you selected on first boot?

I recall that also being an issue on mine. I had to re-format and load a GPT partition
Click to expand...

Agent_Smith said:
Ok, so some success. I brought the drive to the office to install on another rig and it worked (but not straight away). I had to first go into Diskpart and convert the drive to GPT. Once done, I deleted all the partitions, selected the complete unallocated space and clicked next. Next thing I see it installing Windows. I used a Windows 8 disk (since I didn't think to bring my 7 disk).

My question now is: Can I take the drive, plug it back into my pc at home, and boot from my Windows 7 disk? Does the conversion to GPT still take effect if it gets reformatted or will a format erase that change and revert the drive back to original state?

Alternatively, if I bring my Windows 7 disk in to the office tomorrow and redo the process with that disk, will I be able to reconnect the drive to my home pc and start it up? Will the new hardware be detected on startup and install itself or does that not work (like it did back in the days of Windows 98)?
Click to expand...

I called it :p

Eish, I don't know. Did you activate the Windows yet? Because the Windows activation is linked to the BIOS (I might be wrong).

If not activated yet it should boot fine on the home PC if you select that drive as boot and then only activate it.
 
Pitbull said:
I called it :p

Eish, I don't know. Did you activate the Windows yet? Because the Windows activation is linked to the BIOS (I might be wrong).

If not activated yet it should boot fine on the home PC if you select that drive as boot and then only activate it.
Click to expand...

So you did bro, thanks! :D

Well that's the weird thing. It just went straight into Windows. Didn't even prompt for a cd key but under the 'My Computer' management console, it prompts me to activate Windows. The PC that I tested on is an OEM copy of Windows (where the product key is embedded into the BIOS) but I installed from a retail disk so the licenses shouldn't match up.

Anyway, will plug it into my pc tonight and see if I can reformat it with Windows 7. If not, then I bring my install disk and drive BACK to the office tomorrow and try again. :)

At least the drive is ok which is the main thing.
 
Agent_Smith said:
So you did bro, thanks! :D

Well that's the weird thing. It just went straight into Windows. Didn't even prompt for a cd key but under the 'My Computer' management console, it prompts me to activate Windows. The PC that I tested on is an OEM copy of Windows (where the product key is embedded into the BIOS) but I installed from a retail disk so the licenses shouldn't match up.

Anyway, will plug it into my pc tonight and see if I can reformat it with Windows 7. If not, then I bring my install disk and drive BACK to the office tomorrow and try again. :)

At least the drive is ok which is the main thing.
Click to expand...

Why dont you pop Windows 8.1 on there?

Windows 7 is getting a bit long in the tooth now :p
 
techead said:
Why dont you pop Windows 8.1 on there?

Windows 7 is getting a bit long in the tooth now :p
Click to expand...

Ag, I got a paid for version of Windows 7 and don't to have to rely on cracked versions of Windows if I don't have to. The Windows 8 copy I tested on is the company's and if they come auditing and want to know where the license has gone, I'm going to have a hard time explaining I used it for personal use. Easier to do it the way I want to (in the long run).
 
Agent_Smith said:
Ag, I got a paid for version of Windows 7 and don't to have to rely on cracked versions of Windows if I don't have to. The Windows 8 copy I tested on is the company's and if they come auditing and want to know where the license has gone, I'm going to have a hard time explaining I used it for personal use. Easier to do it the way I want to (in the long run).
Click to expand...

Now you can easily upgrade to Windows 10. I upgraded the other day and it was quite painless.
 
Right, so the update. Updated the BIOS to the latest version based on you knowledgeable fellows' suggestions! Result? Can install Windows on my new SSD!! Issue now though is that I can't connect my old drives as for some reason, the system is trying to always boot off the other storage drive (with no OS). When you look in the disk config screen in the BIOS, the SSD displays there, as does my storage drive. But when you go to the boot order section, the SSD doesn't list (only the storage drive does).

Still, this is the least of my worries now and I'll get it sorted eventually I'm sure. Just glad to have a working SSD.

Thanks for all the assistance chaps.
 
just want to add that I have had no issue with my BX100 or MX100, bootable immediately, installed windows on the MX100.

Gigabyte H1 board of sorts, nothing amazing, mid range about 2 years old.
 
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