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I can't install Windows 8 on my SSD!
Hello,
I just received my new Alienware Aurora R4 yesterday. It
came with a 1 TB hard disk with Windows 7. I’ve been trying to install Windows
8 to my SSD, with no luck. I have a Win 8 Pro version downloaded to a DVD.
Initially, I was getting this error: “Windows cannot be
installed to this disk. The selected disk has an MBR partition table. On EFI
systems, Windows can only be installed to GPT disks”. Sounds simple enough, so I
went back to Win 7 (on hard disk) and reformatted the SSD and converted it to
GPT. After trying to reinstall Windows 8, this time I got a different error:
“Setup was unable to create a new system partition or locate
an existing system partition. See the setup log files for more Information”.
And since then, I just haven’t been able to install Windows
8 on my SSD. Here is what I have tried so far:
- Changing the SATA mode to AHCI. I’m not sure why
it was set to RAID initially, because I don’t have a RAID setup. Anyway, when I
set the mode to AHCI the PC doesn’t boot properly. It simply says it can’t
detect a boot drive. And even if I try to boot on my hard disk (factory installed),
it gives me a BSOD. - I tried installing my old version of Windows 7.
And it gives me a strange error saying that it can’t find the drivers for my
CD/DVD (I have a blu-ray disc, btw). So neither version of Windows can be
installed on the SSD! - I tried installing Windows 8 on the 1 TB hard
disk, and it worked! (This actually happened unintentionally. I ran the
installation from Win 7, thinking it would ask me on which drive I’d like Win 8
installed. To my surprise, it didn’t. It just upgraded my Win 7 copy, which is
a pain but that’s not the issue right now). - The installation does work if I switch to legacy
mode. But I don’t want to use legacy, and I see no reason why UEFI wouldn’t
work, given that it works on my hard disk.
PLEASE help. Much appreciated.
Tesla1856
8 Wizard
8 Wizard
•
17K Posts
1
April 24th, 2013 14:00
Set BIOS to:
SATA Mode = AHCI Mode
Boot Mode = UEFI
Win7-DVD, Win-8-DVD, or USB should now boot. Use F12 one-time-boot menu.
The Win-8 DVD you created might be bad or done incorrectly. Try a USB flash drive using Microsoft Store USB Tool.
Install to blank drives (no partitions).
If you want Dual-Boot, better to get Win-7 working again first (due to Windows boot-loaders).
godfather666
14 Posts
0
April 24th, 2013 18:00
Hi Tesla,
I did exactly as you said and it's finally downloading!
I wasn't expecting it to work because I had tried it before with a DVD and it failed.
So I went and bought a USB drive, with very little optimism, but amazingly, it works flawlessly now.
It's a bit early to declare total victory as the installation isn't complete yet, but I'm definitely on the right track.
Thank you VERY much.