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

NIMAN · 19-06-2018 04:22PM #1

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 · 19-06-2018 04:25PM

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 · 19-06-2018 04:27PM

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 · 19-06-2018 04:35PM

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

Alanstrainor · 19-06-2018 04:36PM

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 · 19-06-2018 04:36PM

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 · 19-06-2018 04:38PM

NIMAN wrote: »

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

What is the make and model?

NIMAN · 19-06-2018 06:45PM

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 · 19-06-2018 06:56PM

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 · 19-06-2018 08:03PM

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 · 19-06-2018 08:13PM

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 · 19-06-2018 08:20PM

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 · 19-06-2018 08:27PM

Where are u based? Maybe someone nearby can help.

NIMAN · 19-06-2018 08:35PM

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 · 19-06-2018 08:41PM

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

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

TomOnBoard · 19-06-2018 08:54PM

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..

19-06-2018 08:57PM

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

Go into command prompt and type:

format c: /fs: ntfs

NIMAN · 19-06-2018 09:11PM

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 · 19-06-2018 09:14PM

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 · 19-06-2018 09:29PM

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 · 19-06-2018 09:36PM

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 · 19-06-2018 09:44PM

It formatted the c drive ok.

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

19-06-2018 09:49PM

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

TomOnBoard · 19-06-2018 09:51PM

[Deleted User] wrote: »

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

I agree. There's nothing there to recover.

19-06-2018 10:00PM

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

NIMAN · 20-06-2018 12:18AM

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 · 20-06-2018 12:24AM

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 · 20-06-2018 12:27AM

Reset this PC

TomOnBoard · 20-06-2018 12:29AM

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

TomOnBoard · 20-06-2018 12:41AM

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 · 20-06-2018 08:57AM

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.

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

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