SSD - Windows cannot be installed on this disk

Mangelwurzel

Mangelwurzel

Mangelwurzel

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104
Really want to help out a dear friend who is having issues installing Windows 10 on a new SSD. Rather than post a link to their request for help on another forum - which I'm unsure whether or not is allowed on here - I will paste their original query instead.
Thanks for reading and any help you may be able to offer.

Okay, so I bought a Samsung 850 EVO 500gb SSD. Originally, I was going to clone the data from my HDD, however the byte sectors were different and I couldn't, so I thought a clean install of windows would be good anyway. I have downloaded and put onto my USB drive the installation files required for a clean windows 10 install. Like many other people, I encountered the "Windows cannot be installed on this disk. The computer's hardware may not support booting this disk. Ensure the disk's controller is enabled in the computer's BIOS menu." error message.

The strange thing is is that when I load straight from the USB in my boot order, I can install windows onto the SSD fine, however, if I try to boot from the SSD, it says that I need to put in a bootable drive. I thought that this implied that it had installed incorrectly and tried again, to no avail. When I boot from the SSD in my load order, I get the error stated above.

I have compared the windows folders of both my HDD and SSD and the folder in the SSD has less files in it. I have no idea whether this is relevant or not, however I though that I would say this anyway.

These are the methods that I have tried (and can remember) so far:

-Setting the disk to MBR and trying to install again. Didn't work.

-Setting the SATA mode from AHCI to IDE. Didn't work.

-Clicking the select drivers option on the windows installer and putting in my motherboard disk to see if I needed any drivers. It didn't even pick up on any drivers at all, so obviously, this didn't work either.

The Samsung Magician thing that came with the SSD has nothing about installing any type of operating system so this seemed to be of no help at all.

Thank you in advanced for any replies.​
Click to expand...
 
I'd try a DVD ISO instead, worth a shot in the dark (to eliminate any possible USB issues). And make sure only SSD is plugged in.
 
From all accounts the system goes through the install process ok from the USB drive, it just doesn't boot to the SSD after install.

I'm still using an old socket 775 build (no laughing), so am not familiar with Z97 BIOS. Are there any other BIOS settings worth checking?
 
May sound silly but try a different USB Port, make sure USB is boot 1 and SSD is boot 2 in the Bios boot order if having install troubles.

When doing my dads machine during the setup process it said windows couldnt be done on the drive so I just changed to another port on the back and next time it went flawlessly.

Also make sure the SSD is the ONLY hard drive conencted when installing, it may sound silly but when my dad put his old drive in it wanted to boot from that first but because it was all changed it said insert boot device.

If you get insert boot device with both the hard drives in go into bios and make sure the boot priority has not changed in the bios.

Also since you changed from ACHI to IDE make sure to set it back if not done so already :)
 
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All other drives were removed when installing onto SSD.

System bought with Windows 10 preinstalled and AHCI set in BIOS. They just changed it to IDE to see if it helped, then changed back.
 
Windows will always install disk and class it as drive C: unless PC has been configured before hand.
DVD is not a problem as that is usually drive D:

Have you formatted the SSD?

Install windows 7 on SSD, remove old drives reboot again and then upgrade to 10.

I am moving to win 10 soon but still learning and watching other peoples problems.

I have always had problems with a USB install as Windows classes it as drive C: on installation. The is more to it but on a fresh HD it wont work.
Take it out and according to windows C: has gone windows tells you to GTFO here.

I think it is impossible to clone from mech to SSD as far as I know I could be wrong.
 
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When you get to the disk formatting screen, press shift+F10. Now type in

Code: 
diskpart

Then...
Code: 
list disk

Assuming the SSD is the only drive, it should be disk 0. Type

Code: 
select disk 0

Make absolutely sure you have the right disk selected because this next command will wipe everything. Type

Code: 
clean

You may need to refresh the windows setup disk screen and you should be able pick your disk.
 
Thanks for all the suggestions. I will pass this info on and post back with the outcome.

itchy said:
<snip>....I think it is impossible to clone from mech to SSD as far as I know I could be wrong.
Click to expand...

I've never tried that myself, but just seen JayzTwoCents latest video on youtube where he does just that. He uses Acronis TI, which I've only ever had great success with cloning in the past.

I'm assuming they have formatted the disk, otherwise I can't see how it'd go through the install process.

What is strange is how the system apparently goes through the Windows install fine, then gives this message on first boot:

"Windows cannot be installed on this disk. The computer's hardware may not support booting this disk. Ensure the disk's controller is enabled in the computer's BIOS menu."
 
Just realised I didn't read the first post properly at all. My post was all about the SSD not being recognised during setup. :o
 
Wasn't there an issue about installing using USB 3.0?... I know I had an issue like that anyway. As soon as I installed using a USB 2.0 port it worked perfectly.
 
They have tried using USB 2 port, no luck.

Also has said this: "apparently I can't download the iso for windows 7 because I have a copy which has come preinstalled by a company"

That was on MS website when entering license code I believe

Any other suggestions most welcome
 
Only thing I can think of is that the SSD is in GPT format some how and needs to be changed to MBR. You can do this using diskpart.

edit: looks like this was tried in the OP.
 
Firmware

Hi

I had a similar issue with a Samsung SSD when trying to install Linux on it. It flatly refused, stating it couldn't find the disk.

I had to update the firmware on the SSD. After that it worked fine.

Maybe the same issue.
 
Thanks for the suggestions. A little more info if it helps

"under the main partition, my HDD has "Healthy (Boot, Page File, Crash Dump, Primary Partition)" But my SSD just has "Healthy (Primary Partition)"

Disk%20Management_zpslbrnz9cb.png
 
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