SSD Installation Trouble

EnderGraff · Jul 12, 2017

Hello,

I just purchased a Samsung Evo 500gb SSD with the intent of reinstalling Windows 10 on it and then using my old 1TB HDD as secondary storage for other things. I attempted to follow the directions listed here: https://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/1950-clean-install-windows-10-a.html

I was able to get Windows installed on the SSD and everything looked good, a nice fresh install. However, after Shutting down and reconnecting my old HDD, I got a crash before POST. I changed the boot order in the BIOS so that the SSD is the primary boot device and the HDD is the secondary boot device. This allowed the PC to actually load windows, but now my desktop appears the way it did on the HDD instead of the fresh install from the SSD.

Additionally, if I look at "This PC" and look at the drives, the HDD is listed as the C: drive and has the windows logo next to it whereas the SSD looks like a spare drive. The SSD does have the normal windows files (Program Files, Users, Windows folder, etc.) on it.

My question is, did I make a mistake somewhere here, or is this what is supposed to happen when reconnecting the HDD? My plan from here was to transfer some files over from the HDD to the SSD and then reformat/re-partition the HDD. I am worried that my PC is still running the copy of Windows from my former HDD instead of my SSD, which defeats the purpose of what I intended to do.

UPDATE: I managed to get the SSD loaded up with Windows 10 and things are working fine. I have not tried to add teh HDD back to the system yet, because that is what seemed to cause the start of the aforementioned problems. Any advice on how to successfully boot from the SSD while the HDD is installed so I can reformat it and then use it as storage?

I appreciate any assistance, thank you.

Barty1884 · Jul 12, 2017

If the HDD is the "C" drive, then you've booted from it.

What happens when you disconnect the HDD entirely? Will it boot from the SSD?
Make sure you're selecting "Windows Boot Manager" as the priorty, and not just the data aspect of the drive itself (that llikely shows as "Samsung SSD" or similar.

If that doesn't work (and the SSD isn't empty), then something has happened to the boot manager.

Leave the SSD attached, but not the HDD. Boot from whichever media you used to install (USB, DVD etc) and select "repair" and follow it through.

EnderGraff · Jul 12, 2017

Barty1884 :

When I first installed the SSD, I made sure it would boot by itself, and it does. When it loads up I see the default windows background and an empty desktop. When I plugged the HDD in, I got my old desktop, which makes sense if it is indeed booting from there instead of the SSD.

I'm not sure what you mean by "Windows Boot Manager", I don't recall seeing anything like that during the processes I've done so far. The closest thing was when I went into the bios and set the boot priority, which was SSD first and then HDD second.

Barty1884 · Jul 12, 2017

Yes, in the boot priority menu (where you selected the SSD), there's likely two entries. I'm not 100% sure why it does it, and may well vary BIOS to BIOS.

Within the options available, there's likely items to this effect with only the SSD connected:
*Samsung SSD
*Windows Boot Mgr (Samsung SSD)
*USB

If not, can you post a picture of what is available to you in the boot priorty menu (while only the SSD is connected)?

EnderGraff · Jul 12, 2017

Barty1884 :

Sure, here is a link to a few pictures https://imgur.com/gallery/oZJcP

However, after shutting down and removing the HDD and restarting to take these images, I can't get the SSD to boot at all despite the fact that it was able to boot like this previously and it even went through the windows installation process already.

Barty1884 · Jul 12, 2017

Hmmm, I can't help but think it's related to being an older BIOS..... but try leaving it as boot priority #1 and use the boot override feature to boot from the USB once. Then use the "repair" option. See if it'll rebuild the boot partition....... it's very strange that it's now not booting at all, but the lack of a "boot drive" means it's still looking for the HDD (as the only "bootable" option), despite it being priority #4

EnderGraff · Jul 12, 2017

Barty1884 :

I am still able to boot from the HDD with the SSD installed, but no other configuration could get it started. I will try to repair the SSD drive in a minute, but I also noticed that the time displayed by the windows clock is off by several hours now. Could it be that I need to update the BIOS? I don't think it has been updated in a long time.

mjslakeridge · Jul 12, 2017

You could try resetting the CMOS. Your motherboard may have a clear CMOS jumper, or you can unplug the computer and take out the CMOS battery for 5 minutes or so.

Visit the motherboard's website and see what BIOS versions are available. They normally state what issues each new BIOS update addresses.

EnderGraff · Jul 12, 2017

mjslakeridge :

I did examine the past updates, and none of them seem to address the issues I am having. Furthermore, I was not having any issues before trying to get the system to boot with the SSD + HDD.

mjslakeridge · Jul 12, 2017

If you are 100% sure you had the HDD disconnected while installing Windows to the SSD, then something must have gotten messed up with the Windows boot manager files on the SSD.

Try resetting the CMOS, and if that doesn't help, reinstall Windows to the SSD (making sure the HDD is not connected).

EnderGraff · Jul 12, 2017

mjslakeridge :

I am sure the only drive connected was the SSD and the install media I had loaded onto USB when I installed Windows.

I reset cmos settings, but nothing has changed. I can't even attempt to reinstall Windows to the ssd. Having the boot USB and the SSD installed results in the windows logo getting suck after post. There are no spinning dots or any indication that the system is loading. I just get the frozen windows logo for several minutes and nothing happens.

mjslakeridge · Jul 12, 2017

Then I would suggest either a repair using the install media on the USB drive, or a complete re-install to the SSD. (I would prefer the latter, because you will be sure Windows creates all of the necessary partitions).

mjslakeridge · Jul 12, 2017

I didn't see your edit until I already posted my last response. It sounds like it is trying to boot from the SSD and not the USB device. Can you select only the USB device as the boot device in the BIOS? Maybe set as the 1st boot device, 2nd boot device, etc. If you are able to successfully reinstall windows to the SSD, then remove the usb device, and boot several times into Windows with only the SSD attached. Of course, you will need to change the boot priority back to the SSD.

EnderGraff · Jul 12, 2017

mjslakeridge :

I want to reinstall, but it seems to be unable to do so! I cannot even get the USB to boot. I have the USB and SSD plugged in but I either get stuck at the windows logo or I get a message telling me to the system can't find any bootable drive.

EnderGraff · Jul 12, 2017

mjslakeridge :

Just attempted setting the USB as priority for every possible slot. Still gets stuck at the windows logo with no loading icon. What if I load it without the SSD connected at all?

mjslakeridge · Jul 12, 2017

That is what I was going to suggest next, just to prove the USB port is still working and the files on the USB device are still there. If you do get it to boot from the USB flash drive, don't be tempted to "Hot Plug" the SSD with the computer still on. You may have to format the SSD using a different computer.

Edit: or you could format the SSD by reinstalling the HDD and boot from Windows on the HDD. Just be careful when selecting the drive to format, although I don't think Windows will allow you to format over itself.

EnderGraff · Jul 12, 2017

mjslakeridge :

Good tip, I'll try to reformat the SSD and I will double check that the install media on the USB still looks right. Would it be worth redownloading the install media?

mjslakeridge · Jul 12, 2017

If you were able to boot into Windows on the SSD initially, then the install media files are "probably" OK. I just think the boot manager partition on the SSD somehow got messed up after the fact.

EnderGraff · Jul 12, 2017

mjslakeridge :

So I loaded windows from the HDD, reformated the SSD (using the quick format setting) and then tried to boot with just the USB and SSD connected, but once again I am stuck at the windows logo with no loading indicators. I don't understand what is different, because this was the exact configuration in which I got the install media to load and install onto the SSD.

I forgot to mention it, but maybe it's relevant. I didn't use the included Samsung Navigator software disk. I assumed that this was just used for transferring the os from my old HDD to the SSD and since I wanted to do a fresh install of the os I assumed it wasn't needed.

mjslakeridge · Jul 12, 2017

Perhaps the install media on the USB drive got corrupted. Will it boot from the USB drive with only that connected? I guess you could download the Windows iso file again and start over.

Can you boot from the USB in a different computer? If not, then it may be messed up.

You don't need the Samsung Navigator disk if you are doing a clean install (which I would prefer rather than a clone).

EnderGraff · Jul 12, 2017

mjslakeridge :

I tried to re download the iso file and basically start over. But I still cant boot via the USB, I am still getting stuck on the windows logo. It's like everything worked fine until the moment I tried putting the other hard drive in. After that, the SSD and USB just refuse to boot at all.

A friend told me that the problem was having Windows on the SSD and HDD at the same time and that it was not possible for the PC to load correctly, but all of the guides I have followed showed that it would be ok to do.

mjslakeridge · Jul 13, 2017

I don't think having Windows installed on the SSD and HDD is a problem. The only issue I am aware of with respect to installing Windows is that if a secondary drive (your HDD) is connected while installing Windows to a primary drive (your SSD), Windows may install the boot manager files to the secondary drive (who knows why?). But even that wouldn't prevent Windows from booting from the SSD, unless the HDD is removed or formatted, in which case the boot files would not be located and the boot would hang up. But you are certain that the HDD was not connected when you installed Windows to your SSD.

It seems like setting your boot priority in the BIOS isn't working. What happens if you try to boot from the USB drive with the Windows installation media on a different computer? Another thing I would try is to download a LINUX operating system onto a USB drive and see if your computer would boot from that. If not, then it would appear that either something is now wrong with your USB port or the boot priority settings in the BIOS. Use a different USB drive for this, as the Windows installation media needs to be the only thing installed on the USB drive used for Windows installation.

I am assuming you don't have a CD/DVD drive in the computer. Also, try a different USB port on the computer, and make sure it is a USB 2 port, not USB 3, because the USB 3 ports usually don't work until Windows is installed.

EnderGraff · Jul 13, 2017

mjslakeridge :

I did try multiple ports for the USB and they all get stuck at the windows logo regardless of boot order. However I do have a CD /DVD player. And I just remembered I have a windows 7 install disk...
I was able to get Windows 7 installed, but it failed to obtain so many drivers it is basically unusable (missing the driver to even use Ethernet). I used a friends laptop to verify that the win10 install media does boot correctly. But when I use the USB now, I get a message saying the boot files are missing or invalid. I deleted everything from the USB and I'm reloading the tool from the laptop to see if that helps. If not, I may try to burn win10 iso onto a disk and load it that way, since it worked well with the win7 install disk.

UPDATE: I was able to get the SSD to boot after installing the win10 boot media from another PC. The SSD is working fine now, which is awesome. Now I am worried about what will happen if I try to put the HDD back in as a secondary drive. Thinking back on my previous attempt (I got to this piont, added the HDD, and then problems started) I wonder if I had the boot order set up with the HDD first and that caused the issues? Either way, I am going to do more research before adding the HDD back.

SSD Installation Trouble

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