Need help trying to install Windows 8 on SSD

swansem

New Member
Messages
21
Hi,

I'm new to these forums, I registered to see if you guys could help me out with this issue.

I recently bought a 120 GB SSD to upgrade from my old 640 GB HDD, since I didn't want to install Windows all again I was planning on just migrating everything to the new SSD, ok what I did was that I backed up all the data to an external hard drive, then I started deleting some of the music, videos, photos from my HDD to slim it down and make it fit into my SSD, I was able to bring it down to 77.9 GB (SSD has a free space of 111 GB), so then I migrated everything to the SSD using the software that came with it.

I restarted my PC and booted from the SSD and then an error on a black screen showed up, saying something among the lines of "Windows failed to start. A recent hardware or software change might have caused the issue..."

Thinking that it was something wrong with the connection I tried with different SATA cables and even different ports(even connected the SSD to the port were the HDD was before) and the error kept showing up. I made the SSD the primary source of booting...nothing.

Then I used another program called EaseUs Todo Backup and tried cloning the disk again, and nothing happened, still the same error...so I gave up, I downloaded Windows 8 again (I currently have Windows 8.1 but since the version I bought was 8 it wouldn't let me download the most recent one), saved it to a USB drive as an ISO, and I booted from the USB, I did the "Automatic Repair" and it kinda fixed the problem, now the error doesn't show up anymore but I believe it created a dual boot since it gives two different options when I boot, one that says Windows 8.1 and the other one doesn't say anything.

Thinking that everything was fine now I went to My PC to format the HDD and I found that I was still using my HDD and not the SSD, it shows that Windows 8 is still installed on my HDD, I tried formatting the SSD again and doing all the steps one more time....nothing.
So this time I booted again from the USB and tried to do a fresh install of Windows 8 on the SSD, when I get to the screen where it says to select the partition I select the SSD and it comes up another error saying that there wasn't enough free space on the selected volume.

Here is a picture of my Disk Management, I don't know why but it created another partition "J" that has 100 MB which is filled to almost it's full capacity, maybe that's the reason why it doesn't let me install Windows, I tried formatting that partition but it doesn't allow me either.
dddd.png
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 10 Pro X64
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Lenovo IdeaCenter K450
    CPU
    Intel Quad Core i7-4770 @ 3.4Ghz
    Motherboard
    Lenovo
    Memory
    16.0GB PC3-12800 DDR3 SDRAM 1600 MHz
    Graphics Card(s)
    Intel Integrated HD Graphics
    Sound Card
    Realtek HD Audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    HP h2207
    Screen Resolution
    1680x1050@59Hz
    Hard Drives
    250GB Samsung EVO SATA-3 SSD;
    2TB Seagate ST2000DM001 SATA-2;
    1.5TB Seagate ST3150041AS SATA
    PSU
    500W
    Keyboard
    Wired USB
    Mouse
    Wired USB
    Internet Speed
    3GB Up, 30GB Down
    Browser
    SeaMonkey
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender; MBAM Pro
    Other Info
    UEFI/GPT
    PLDS DVD-RW DH16AERSH
ok, now I ran into another problem.

I was able to install Windows on the SSD and everything going smooth but now when I try to switch to the HDD(at the boot menu) it says "An operating system wasn't found. Try disconnecting any drives that don't contain an operating system"

I don't know what else to do, I want to recover all the files, programs and settings that I had on my HDD, I'm so frustrated right now, I had very important stuff saved in there and now I'm afraid that I lost it...

Please someone help me!
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
The easiest way to save your data at this point is to download a linux distro (Ubuntu) and create a live CD. From there you will be able to access your HDD and retrieve your data. :)
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    64-bit Windows 8.1 Pro
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Asus CM5675
    CPU
    IntelCore i5 3.20Ghz
    Motherboard
    Asus CM5675
    Memory
    6.0Gb
    Graphics Card(s)
    Intel HD integtrated
    Sound Card
    SB Audigy
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Samsung 24'
    Screen Resolution
    1900x1080
    Hard Drives
    Segate 1tb
    Intel 120Gb SSD
    Internet Speed
    100mb down /10mb up
The easiest way to save your data at this point is to download a linux distro (Ubuntu) and create a live CD. From there you will be able to access your HDD and retrieve your data. :)

OK, but then once I get into my HDD how do I transfer all the data to the SSD? I mean just the data, since I already have Windows installed on the SSD and I don't want to mess with that again.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
You should be able to access the HDD and the SSD from the Linux live CD so just copy (not move) from one to the other.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 10 Pro X64
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Lenovo IdeaCenter K450
    CPU
    Intel Quad Core i7-4770 @ 3.4Ghz
    Motherboard
    Lenovo
    Memory
    16.0GB PC3-12800 DDR3 SDRAM 1600 MHz
    Graphics Card(s)
    Intel Integrated HD Graphics
    Sound Card
    Realtek HD Audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    HP h2207
    Screen Resolution
    1680x1050@59Hz
    Hard Drives
    250GB Samsung EVO SATA-3 SSD;
    2TB Seagate ST2000DM001 SATA-2;
    1.5TB Seagate ST3150041AS SATA
    PSU
    500W
    Keyboard
    Wired USB
    Mouse
    Wired USB
    Internet Speed
    3GB Up, 30GB Down
    Browser
    SeaMonkey
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender; MBAM Pro
    Other Info
    UEFI/GPT
    PLDS DVD-RW DH16AERSH
When you make a fresh installation on the SSD, you have to disconnect all other disks - else your bootmgr can end up on a HDD. You better check that first. The disk/partition with the Windows flag is the active partition and contains the bootmgr (see picture).

Recovering the data is easy with a live Linux disc as was said above, and if you have none, you can use my method:

Emergency Kit - save your files from a dead OS - Windows 7 Help Forums

2014-04-10_2111.png
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Vista and Win7
    System Manufacturer/Model
    2xHP, 2xGateway, 1xDell, 1xSony
    Hard Drives
    5 SSDs and 12 HDs
When you make a fresh installation on the SSD, you have to disconnect all other disks - else your bootmgr can end up on a HDD. You better check that first. The disk/partition with the Windows flag is the active partition and contains the bootmgr (see picture).

Recovering the data is easy with a live Linux disc as was said above, and if you have none, you can use my method:

Emergency Kit - save your files from a dead OS - Windows 7 Help Forums

View attachment 41307

Yeah I believe that's what happened, I didn't know that I had to disconnect the other disks in order to make a fresh installation, I checked and it's all good now, the Windows flag is now over the SSD disk. Before it was on my HDD that's why I couldn't boot from the SSD...:doh:

I'll try now with the Linux Live CD, I let you guys know how it went...Thanks! :thumb:
 
Last edited:

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
I am glad you skinned that cat. If you have trouble retrieving your files, post back. There are many options.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Vista and Win7
    System Manufacturer/Model
    2xHP, 2xGateway, 1xDell, 1xSony
    Hard Drives
    5 SSDs and 12 HDs
ok, it seems like I would have to try that second option, I downloaded Ubuntu Desktop, saved the iso to my USB drive, tried booting from the USB and the same error that I was having before came up, "An operating system wasn't found....." I have no idea why this error keep showing up....
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
OK, I was able to get Ubuntu running but now when I try to access the HDD it doesn't let me, it says that Windows is hibernated and it needs to be shut down in order to mount it, I read somewhere that if I disable "Fast Startup" it would let me do it but I'm not quite sure how to do this since I'm not able to get into that disk to begin with, I could do it on the Windows installed on my SSD though, but I don't think that is going to solve the problem since it's a different partition.


download.jpg
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 Pro
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Home made
    CPU
    AMD Ryzen7 2700x
    Motherboard
    Asus Prime x470 Pro
    Memory
    16GB Kingston 3600
    Graphics Card(s)
    Asus strix 570 OC 4gb
    Hard Drives
    Samsung 960 evo 250GB
    Silicon Power V70 240GB SSD
    WD 1 TB Blue
    WD 2 TB Blue
    Bunch of backup HDDs.
    PSU
    Sharkoon, Silent Storm 660W
    Case
    Raidmax
    Cooling
    CCM Nepton 140xl
    Internet Speed
    40/2 Mbps
    Browser
    Firefox
    Antivirus
    WD
Hi there
I made a post on creating totally portable Linux systems including building a Virtual Windows machine which run TOTALLY off external devices.

I started with OPENSUSE but it works for any distro you like.

It also shows what to do if the boot on your main computer gets hosed up and how to fix it -- removing GRUB from the main HDD. My portable system method should not TOUCH the internal HDD at all.

http://www.eightforums.com/installa...make-portable-windows-system-any-version.html

I'm now using Linux Mint 16 (KDE version) -- you can access Windows files directly from Dolphin (equivalent to windows / file explorer).

These days Linux has plug'nplay, and usb devices also are recognized when you plug them in .

Simply click in Dolphin the "basic Data" partitions - and this will open these windows files without any further configuration needed.

It even recognizes the cards in my dual card reader on a Sony VAIO laptop (both the SD slot (29 GB in the file browser, and the Sony pro duo - the 1.9GB device also shown in the file browser).

Cheers
jimbo
 

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My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Linux Centos 7, W8.1, W7, W2K3 Server W10
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Monitor(s) Displays
    1 X LG 40 inch TV
    Hard Drives
    SSD's * 3 (Samsung 840 series) 250 GB
    2 X 3 TB sata
    5 X 1 TB sata
    Internet Speed
    0.12 GB/s (120Mb/s)
OK, I was able to get Ubuntu running but now when I try to access the HDD it doesn't let me, it says that Windows is hibernated and it needs to be shut down in order to mount it, I read somewhere that if I disable "Fast Startup" it would let me do it but I'm not quite sure how to do this since I'm not able to get into that disk to begin with, I could do it on the Windows installed on my SSD though, but I don't think that is going to solve the problem since it's a different partition.


View attachment 41322

To access all partitions/disks on the system, you are probably better off with a Ubuntu on a stick. Here is an installatio guide I made (it is for Mint but would be the same for Ubuntu).
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Vista and Win7
    System Manufacturer/Model
    2xHP, 2xGateway, 1xDell, 1xSony
    Hard Drives
    5 SSDs and 12 HDs

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 Pro
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Home made
    CPU
    AMD Ryzen7 2700x
    Motherboard
    Asus Prime x470 Pro
    Memory
    16GB Kingston 3600
    Graphics Card(s)
    Asus strix 570 OC 4gb
    Hard Drives
    Samsung 960 evo 250GB
    Silicon Power V70 240GB SSD
    WD 1 TB Blue
    WD 2 TB Blue
    Bunch of backup HDDs.
    PSU
    Sharkoon, Silent Storm 660W
    Case
    Raidmax
    Cooling
    CCM Nepton 140xl
    Internet Speed
    40/2 Mbps
    Browser
    Firefox
    Antivirus
    WD
OK, so then I just copy and paste all the files from the HDD to the SSD? can I do that? sorry if this looks like a stupid question, I'm not very familiar with these things.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
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