Installed an SSD in my laptop, now it won't install new OS

NIMAN

My laptops HDD gave up the ghost last week. It started making a clicking noise and the laptop beeped constantly when I tried to start it.

So I bought a 120gb SSD and installed it as carefully as I could, following YouTube instructions.

When I booked it back up again, there was a screen which shows the SSD listed, but when I insert an original win10 cd, it says something about no partition being available.

What have I done wrong and is it fixable?

Alanstrainor

NIMAN wrote: »

My laptops HDD gave up the ghost last week. It started making a clicking noise and the laptop beeped constantly when I tried to start it.

So I bought a 120gb SSD and installed it as carefully as I could, following YouTube instructions.

When I booked it back up again, there was a screen which shows the SSD listed, but when I insert an original win10 cd, it says something about no partition being available.

What have I done wrong and is it fixable?

The SSD is probably unformatted from the factory. With the Win10 disc can you go into advanced settings/formatteing and format the SSD first before proceeding? That should sort you.

TomOnBoard

Check in your BIOS and make sure the CD/DVD drive is 1st in the boot order. If the SSD is first, it won't boot from CD.

NIMAN

How do I do that, is that pressing f1 on boot up?

Alanstrainor

NIMAN wrote: »

How do I do that, is that pressing f1 on boot up?

From your first post it read like you had gotten to a Windows 10 install screen? Is that correct? If not then you have to play with boot order and such things, but otherwise you can proceed by following my advice.

EDIT: And F number you need to hit depends entirely on the laptop in question... You should be able to select a boot device before boot.

verycool

NIMAN wrote: »

How do I do that, is that pressing f1 on boot up?

Usually F12, but the key should appear on startup. (My Toshiba it's F12, but on the Dell it's Esc or F1).

EDIT: Found this link if it's any use?

https://windowsreport.com/we-couldnt-create-a-new-partition/

TomOnBoard

NIMAN wrote: »

How do I do that, is that pressing f1 on boot up?

What is the make and model?

NIMAN

It's a Dell Inspiron 15z

Haven't had a chance yet to get a look today, will update later if I still need help.

Thanks for all the replies so far folks, much appreciated.

TomOnBoard

NIMAN wrote: »

It's a Dell Inspiron 15z

Haven't had a chance yet to get a look today, will update later if I still need help.

Thanks for all the replies so far folks, much appreciated.

Take a look at the posts on this if you need any more help re. Boot Order

https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/forums/t/533375/how-do-i-change-the-boot-order-sequence-in-a-dell-inspiron-15-using-windows-8/

NIMAN

I got into the option to boot from HDD or disk, tried Both but they lead me to same point.

I get to select language and keyboard, laptop goes off and looks like it's going to load but gives an error. Asks me if I want to trouble shoot what is stopping windows from loading. But doesn't find anything.

One message I did get was: unable to reset PC as a reg drive partition is missing.

I also seen a message saying: check cable connection, exiting Intel PXE ROM.

I assumed this meant I had left a cable unattached, but I went through them all three times and still same message.

TomOnBoard

NIMAN wrote: »

I got into the option to boot from HDD or disk, tried Both but they lead me to same point.

I get to select language and keyboard, laptop goes off and looks like it's going to load but gives an error. Asks me if I want to trouble shoot what is stopping windows from loading. But doesn't find anything.

One message I did get was: unable to reset PC as a reg drive partition is missing.

I also seen a message saying: check cable connection, exiting Intel PXE ROM.

I assumed this meant I had left a cable unattached, but I went through them all three times and still same message.

Ok. So you're able to boot from CD. Have you done what Alanstrainer suggested re Advanced settings above?

If further help is needed, a photo of the screen before it fails and while it is failing would be useful.

NIMAN

I was in advance settings, didn't see anything to format new drive.

I'll check it again and take photos if I can, thanks

DopeTech

Where are u based? Maybe someone nearby can help.

NIMAN

Here is the advanced options screen

https://flic.kr/p/27gUp6N

I've tried a couple of options here, none lead me anywhere that works.

I tried to recover from a drive, and used both the cd that came with the laptop, the reinstallion dvd, and a brand new window 10 disc. Each time I end up at this screen
https://flic.kr/p/28i7rGQ

And when I tried the reset PC option I got this screen, the one mentioning missing partition
https://flic.kr/p/LexfHd

NIMAN

Edit: seems the new windows 10 disc might have done something.

I now have the RECOVERING THIS PC with an % on the rise!

TomOnBoard

NIMAN wrote: »

Edit: seems the new windows 10 disc might have done something.

I now have the RECOVERING THIS PC with an % on the rise!

Hopefully this gives you a working OS..

Could you format the ssd in command prompt anyway if that fails?

Go into command prompt and type:

format c: /fs: ntfs

NIMAN

Ok, I'll try that, but I was previously in the command prompt and when I typed c: <enter> it said invalid drive or something similar.

TomOnBoard

NIMAN wrote: »

Ok, I'll try that, but I was previously in the command prompt and when I typed c: <enter> it said invalid drive or something similar.

It doesn't yet have a formatted c drive, so you can't change to it. CQD's post helps you to create that formatted drive.

NIMAN

So despite all the RECOVERING it basically ended up back where I was.....and it made me wait about 45min too!

I am now formatting c: as advised, thanks for that info.

Just wondering what it was recovering for 45min.

TomOnBoard

NIMAN wrote: »

So despite all the RECOVERING it basically ended up back where I was.....and it made me wait about 45min too!

I am now formatting c: as advised, thanks for that info.

Just wondering what it was recovering for 45min.

If it formats ok, see if you can now access c: if you can, return to the windows installation step.

NIMAN

It formatted the c drive ok.

Got me back into the windows disc, and it's now at 20% again on the Recovery process.

Should you not just do a clean install?..not recovering like..

TomOnBoard

[Deleted User] wrote: »

Should you not just do a clean install?..not recovering like..

I agree. There's nothing there to recover.

Restart..tap f12 at startup..boot from disk..should be good to go..

NIMAN

My head is wrecked!

Tried everything mentioned. No good.

Trying one more time as I've lost track of every error I've come up against.

I have now restarted, pressed f12, and selected boot from cd....in the cd drive I have a new original copy of windows 10 pro.

I'll update and take photos as it progresses with installation and where it stops.

Ok, it has now got to selecting language and keyboard. Done that and it brings me to 2 options.

1) trouble shoot, which says reset your PC or see advanced options
2) turn off your PC

Selecting 1) gives me this screen
https://flic.kr/p/28nGs2e

TomOnBoard

Hang in there. The would head gets wrecked from this stuff alright.

Folks will be willing to help, but they can't see your screen. So its extremely difficult to provide such help without a step by step sequencing of events..

TomOnBoard

Reset this PC

TomOnBoard

Select a clean install when you are asked, rather than an upgrade or keep files

TomOnBoard

Watch this Youtube vid from 1:30

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=https://www.youtube.com/watch%3Fv%3DRxecJmjj0Sw&ved=0ahUKEwiRq_2P8ODbAhVFZKwKHeI4CEkQwqsBCG0wDg&usg=AOvVaw2s2T-hNVml_ViEGTE5aSRx

Adjust your inputs as appropriate for your machine.

NIMAN

TomOnBoard wrote: »

Select a clean install when you are asked, rather than an upgrade or keep files

I'm nearly sure I have selected this at some stage! I think I have tried every option and combination.

Anyway, I thought if you had a windows disk in and a fresh hard drive installed it would just install withiut hassle.

I don't need to recover anything. I want it to basically go from scratch.

I have started again now. Currently have the win 10 disk in, hit f12, booted from disc and I have a black screen with 4 little cyan coloured windows in centre of screen.

Now after 5 min I have choose language and keyboard again.

After selecting those I get the 2 options of trouble shoot or turn off your PC.

Assuming I want option 1, it gives me 3 more.

1) reset this PC, choose to keep or remove your files and then reinstall windows.
2) recover from a drive connected to this PC. This will remove all files and apps.
3) advanced options.

So going for 1)

Which gives me 2 options:
1) keep my files
2) remove everything

So option 2 it is. And off it goes, saying getting things ready.

And then it halts. Says unable to reset your PC. A required drive partition is missing. Only option to cancel.

Advice from here would be greatly appreciated.

user1842

I would think your SSD is not being detected by Windows.

Is it appearing in the BIOS as a detected drive (giving the model number etc)?

NIMAN

user1842 wrote: »

I would think your SSD is not being detected by Windows.

Is it appearing in the BIOS as a detected drive (giving the model number etc)?

It is showing I think

https://flic.kr/p/25CkWtE


https://flic.kr/p/25CkWtE

It's a 120gb drive, so I assume the fixed HDD is showing it.

NIMAN

And if I go into command prompt, it shows up as the c: drive ok, it tells me I have 111gb free, so surely it must be seeing it?

Alanstrainor

Where did you get this Windows 10 disc? It sounds like it is not correct.

Go to this link:

https://www.microsoft.com/en-gb/software-download/windows10ISO

Windows 10 home 64bit is the most likely option you need. You will also need the Microsoft media creation tool. For some reason all the links on Microsoft.com appear dead. But you can find it here:

https://www.techspot.com/downloads/6734-windows-10-installation-tool.html

You will need a USB that is around 8GB in size. This drive will be erased in this process, so you must take all your files off of it before proceeding.

The tool is easy to use. Then take you USB, follow the same process on your laptop as you did with the DVD and select the boot device to be USB and follow the install instructions. You will need to format the SSD during this process, but this should be relatively obvious when installing.

NIMAN

I got the windows disc from a friend, it is an official disc ok.

I think it was used for office pcs, is there any chance it is locked to his work pcs?

Alanstrainor

NIMAN wrote: »

I got the windows disc from a friend, it is an official disc ok.

I think it was used for office pcs, is there any chance it is locked to his work pcs?

I doubt it. But I have a feeling that this is some kind of recovery disc, or something along that line. Not meant for a reinstall. Windows provides these files for free, so your best bet is to take it from there.

Honestly, this process is super easy these days. All the trouble you have been going through is not the norm.

NIMAN

Cheers, appreciate the optimism!

I will try downloading the files, see how I get on.
Luckily I have another laptop to gain access to them!

user1842

NIMAN wrote: »

It is showing I think

https://flic.kr/p/25CkWtE


https://flic.kr/p/25CkWtE

It's a 120gb drive, so I assume the fixed HDD is showing it.

What is: Micron C400 RealSSD mSATA (32GB)

It looks like you already have an SSD?

Thus you have two SSDs now. Windows may be trying to install on the 32GB one.

Also Windows would have been installed on the 32GB SSD by Dell. So even if the secondary harddrive have up the ghost, Windows should have booted.

NIMAN

user1842 wrote: »

What is: Micron C400 RealSSD mSATA (32GB)

It looks like you already have an SSD?

Thus you have two SSDs now. Windows may be trying to install on the 32GB one.

The laptop originally was sold as a hybrid drive, so it looks like it had 32gb of flash and then a 500gb HDD, rather than a real hybrid drive.

Just reading the front of the windows cd, it says " already installed on your computer. Use this disc only to reinstall the operating system on a Dell computer. This disc is not for the reinstallion of programs or drivers"

So perhaps it's only for reinstall rather than full installation?

user1842

NIMAN wrote: »

The laptop originally was sold as a hybrid drive, so it looks like it had 32gb of flash and then a 500gb HDD, rather than a real hybrid drive.

Just reading the front of the windows cd, it says " already installed on your computer. Use this disc only to reinstall the operating system on a Dell computer. This disc is not for the reinstallion of programs or drivers"

So perhaps it's only for reinstall rather than full installation?

The you should install windows on the 32GB SSD drive. Use the 120GB as storage.

In fact it was probably was not best idea to buy the 120GB SSD. Can you return it and get a much bigger spinning hardrive?

As advised don't use your win10 CD, download windows 10 using the above links.

TomOnBoard

At this stage, I think you need a dig-out from someone who's been through a couple of recovery/installs. There could well be a distribution on that 32GB ssd in a hidden partition. Someone needs to explore the partition table and really what you're trying to do through this forum may result in data being wiped. Take a step back, and get a bit of advice locally.

NIMAN

user1842 wrote: »

The you should install windows on the 32GB SSD drive. Use the 120GB as storage.

In fact it probably was not best idea to buy the 120GB SSD. Can you return it and get a much bigger spinning hardrive?

You see I bought the SSD drive as I wanted the fastest possible drive.

I had assumed the laptop contained a hybrid drive which died. I didn't realise it would have 32gb left.

How would I go about selecting the 32gb drive to do the install on to?

I'd prefer to keep the SSD rather than buy another spinner. There won't be much stored on this laptop, so don't need big storage. It was only 24.99 if you're thinking I could have got a spinner cheaper.

NIMAN

TomOnBoard wrote: »

At this stage, I think you need a dig-out from someone who's been through a couple of recovery/installs. There could well be a distribution on that 32GB ssd in a hidden partition. Someone needs to explore the partition table and really what you're trying to do through this forum may result in data being wiped. Take a step back, and get a bit of advice locally.

I know I'm a pain at this stage, but all my data is backed up, I can wreck all I want, nothing will be lost.

user1842

NIMAN wrote: »

You see I bought the SSD drive as I wanted the fastest possible drive.

I had assumed the laptop contained a hybrid drive which died. I didn't realise it would have 32gb left.

How would I go about selecting the 32gb drive to do the install on to?

I'd prefer to keep the SSD rather than buy another spinner. There won't be much stored on this laptop, so don't need big storage. It was only 24.99 if you're thinking I could have got a spinner cheaper.

Honestly looking at the BIOS im not even sure the SSD you bought is working correctly as it is not showing any model information.

You would not have got a spinner cheaper than 24.99 but 120Gb is not that much storage.

My advice to you would be this:

1. remove the SDD you bought
2. see will the computer boot windows
3. if not try to install windows using the download links and USB key
4. if this does not work then there is a bigger issue with your PC

If step 2 or 3 work then install the new SDD after windows is working.

Alanstrainor

user1842 wrote: »

The you should install windows on the 32GB SSD drive. Use the 120GB as storage.

In fact it was probably was not best idea to buy the 120GB SSD. Can you return it and get a much bigger spinning hardrive?

As advised don't use your win10 CD, download windows 10 using the above links.

NO. Look, the OP is having trouble enough as is. Forget the 32GB drive, and just work on the 120GB SSD. Installing Windows on a 32GB partition is a pain in the hole after a while when files and programs get too large.

OP. Just try and follow my steps from a few posts back and see how you fair. I bet it will go well. Forget the DVD you have.

TomOnBoard

I say again, get local help. Because that SSD is in there, it is likely that the laptop was originally set up using ISRT. It's not going to be a simple reinstall. ISRT drivers will be needed and I think this has gone beyond you, IMHO

user1842

TomOnBoard wrote: »

I say again, get local help. Because that SSD is in there, it is likely that the laptop was originally set up using ISRT. It's not going to be a simple reinstall. ISRT drivers will be needed and I think this has gone beyond you, IMHO

Probably a good idea at this stage as that SDD does change the situation.

NIMAN

Thanks all.
Currently downloading on to a USB stick.

I'll try to boot from there when it's finished, see what happens.

If the SSD isn't working properly, how come when I go into command prompt, c: drive shows up as being there and showing correct gb size?

CatInABox

Personally, I'd sooner remove the old hard drive, it's clearly dead. I'd then move the SSD to the slot that it was in.

NIMAN

CatInABox wrote: »

Personally, I'd sooner remove the old hard drive, it's clearly dead. I'd then move the SSD to the slot that it was in.

That's already done.