Windows 8 Install Borked My Computer

Cromulent · 26 Oct 2012 at 18:12

So I bought the upgrade to Windows 8 Pro this morning and stupidly decided to format my hard drive so that I could do a clean install and get everything running as I wanted. I used the OCZ utility disk to secure erase both my SSDs and then preceded to boot the computer from the DVD I had burned from the Windows 8 Upgrade Assistant.

Unfortunately when running the installer it refused to install on my hard drive giving the error 0x80300024 which after some Googling appears to be a problem with Windows when you have multiple drives installed in your computer.

Before I faff about removing SATA cables from my motherboard to get this to install properly does anyone know of any other fixes at all?

Also as a side note rather interestingly the Windows installer creates new partitions in the MBR style now when before it used to create them as GPT partitions. I have an ASUS Sabertooth X79 motherboard with the latest BIOS (3009) installed.

This is the first time I have experienced this issue. I installed Windows 7 just fine with multiple drives in the machine (multiple times in fact). Now even Windows 7 gives the same error when trying to install. The only thing I have changed since the last Windows install was the BIOS version.

Chaos · 26 Oct 2012 at 18:58

I think you need a version of windows running when you do the upgrade, then you can clean install during the installation.

ste-sim2x9 · 26 Oct 2012 at 19:28

Chaos said:
I think you need a version of windows running when you do the upgrade, then you can clean install during the installation.

I think thats how it works, thats why its callied a upgrade.

Trox · 26 Oct 2012 at 19:33

Chaos said:
I think you need a version of windows running when you do the upgrade, then you can clean install during the installation.

I downloaded windows 8 and took the USB options, formatted the drive and booted from USB.

No need to have windows installed.

robinbredin · 26 Oct 2012 at 19:40

Trox

Originally Posted by Chaos View Post
I think you need a version of windows running when you do the upgrade, then you can clean install during the installation.

Click to expand...

I downloaded windows 8 and took the USB options, formatted the drive and booted from USB.

No need to have windows installed.

That a good idea, wish I took that route.

linktoinsanity · 26 Oct 2012 at 23:08

robinbredin said:
That a good idea, wish I took that route.

Doesn't help. Still getting issues. Glad I stuck with Windows 7 on my main PC now.

Phal · 27 Oct 2012 at 10:40

Two thoughts

1- Disconnect all other drives other than the SSD you want Windows on
2- Depending on your motherboard and which SATA port you are using, it might need drivers to work properly.

Cromulent · 27 Oct 2012 at 16:08

OK fixed the issue.

I had to remove all the SATA cables apart from the primary drive. Then I could install. Then I reconnected all the cables and all was good. Until I noticed that Windows 8 was not activated. Turns out that you can do a clean install with the upgrade media but it won't let you activate. So I booted from Windows 7 reformatted the hard drive (again) installed Windows 7 and then immediately upgraded to Windows 8. It then activated properly.

Strangely even though Windows 7 and Windows 8 would not install previously with all my hard drives connected, the second time it worked perfectly so I have no idea what the problem was originally.