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    Issue installing windows after SSD install

    Discussion in 'Alienware' started by Stormwatch342, Apr 17, 2011.

  1. Stormwatch342

    Stormwatch342 Notebook Consultant

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    Hi All,

    Just installed a new SSD and now I am trying to install a fresh copy of windows. When I use the Alienware MS Windows 7 cd that came with my laptop it does not appear to boot up correctly. Eventually gives up and tries the hard drive and says no OS installed.

    If I use a windows 7 cd I have at home to do the install it boots into the setup but then after the language selection it prompts for missing drivers. Not sure what driver or where to get it.

    Any assistance would be great.
     
    Stormwatch342, Apr 17, 2011
    #1
  2. svl7

    svl7 T|I

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    What do you mean with "does not boot up correctly"? Does anything appear on the screen after booting from the CD? Like "Loading Windows files" or something similar?
     
    svl7, Apr 17, 2011
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  3. Stormwatch342

    Stormwatch342 Notebook Consultant

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    Says nothing.. I hear it reading form the alienware cd but then nothing and in tries to boot from HD and fails since its a new ssd and no os is installed.

    Using another windows 7 cd i get into the windows install menus but then it starts asking for some drivers.. and Im stuck there.
     
    Stormwatch342, Apr 17, 2011
    #3
  4. martinroshak

    martinroshak Notebook Consultant

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    Do you need to format a solid state before use? I know when I installed a hybrid drive into my m11x I had to format it beforehand...
     
    martinroshak, Apr 17, 2011
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  5. The Revelator

    The Revelator Notebook Prophet

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    Try this. Load your Win 7 disk into the DVD-CD drive and reboot. At the boot screen (Alienhead logo) press F2 to enter the BIOS. Right-arrow to the Advanced Section and down-arrow to SATA Operation. Hit enter and select AHCI, and then F10 Save and Exit. The Win 7 x64 installation disk includes AHCI drivers, which should allow Win 7 to see and format your SSD. The Win 7 disk also includes the chipset drivers needed for the M15x. Then proceed to install W7 as usual.

    DO NOT INSTALL ALIENWARE COMMAND CENTER FROM THE RESOURCE CD. iT WILL BRICK ALIENFX (the lights) and require a motherboard replacement. Download all drivers from the Dell M15x support web page.
     
    The Revelator, Apr 17, 2011
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  6. Stormwatch342

    Stormwatch342 Notebook Consultant

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    Ended up having to use load my old hd back in.. then use datasafe to make a dvd. Then installed the SSD and used the DVD to do a install.

    Once installed, i had a missing bootmgr error.. so i had to use a windows 7 dvd i had to repair my boot sector.. Googled it and saw many people with boot sector issues after using datasafe
     
    Stormwatch342, Apr 17, 2011
    #6
  7. thegh0sts

    thegh0sts Notebook Nobel Laureate

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    does the HDD that come with the M15x have a little adaptor the power and SATA connectors are? the M11x does and I hadn't noticed until i installed an SSD into my M11x and the connectors weren't touching and there was a good sizable gap.

    don't you any of the discs that come with the computer :)
     
    thegh0sts, Apr 18, 2011
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  8. The Revelator

    The Revelator Notebook Prophet

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    Yes, it's called an interposer. Take it off the installed drive and put it on/connect it to the new drive to connect it to the board.
     
    The Revelator, Apr 19, 2011
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  9. thegh0sts

    thegh0sts Notebook Nobel Laureate

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    so it is on the M15x: i wonder why they use that? probably easier and takes less space than giving the HDD space to fit in and slide the connectors together.
     
    thegh0sts, Apr 19, 2011
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