CF-18 Mk.5 Windows 7 Installation Boot Problem

Good afternoon!

I have a CF-18 Mk. 5 that I am trying to install Windows 7 on. I have never had this process be so difficult.

I recently installed a 32GB IDE SSD in the machine.

Windows installs fine from bootable USB (W7 Ultimate x32, made by Rufus).

However after installation, it will only boot to Windows with the installation media inserted! Once I boot to Windows, I can remove the USB and all is well. But I want it to boot normally, of course.

I tried a lot of things to fix this, from Easy BCD to Windows repair tools on the bootable USB.

Anybody have any idea what is going on here?

Thanks,

 

The internal drive doesn't have the proper boot sector installed. Back in the xp days you could run the command sys c:\
You probably need to reinstall Windows.

 

I have reinstalled windows about four times, using two different ISOs.

I believe Easy BCD is supposed to address that exact problem, but so far it hasn't worked.

Thanks for your willingness to help.

 

Have you tried deleting all the partions before or during the install process?

 

Yeah, I use a bootable of Ubuntu x32 and erase the drive with GParted whenever I start a new install.

Also probably worthy of note, I also tried UnetBootIn to make the bootable Windows USBs. I suppose I could try Etcher too, but somehow I don't think that's the problem.

 

Try deleting the partitions in the windows install process. The installer will make a 500mb partition at the front of the drive for boot info.

 

Interesting.

When I try to do this, Windows doesn't see any drive. But when I boot into Ubuntu (USB), it sees the drive fine.

I also tried "repair your computer" from the Windows USB boot menu, and it did not find my installation of Windows 7.

Yet I am absolutely certain that when the Windows boot media is installed, it is running on the copy of Windows on the hard drive.

P.S. the drive is recognized in the BIOS as well and shows up properly.

 

Use Woeusb to make your boot usb. It really works. The others,not so much.

 

Had some thing like the same issues with mSATA 32gb SSD on a CF-M34. Did this using 2nd computer via USB link:

In Command Prompt; diskpart
Open diskpart;
list disk (this will give you all drives on your computer).
select disk * (*= the number drive you are working on)
clean
convert *** (MBR or GPT what ever your computer is set to. Think MBR)
exit
exit

The drive should now show up in Disk Management and you need to Initialize it. Make sure you set it to correct drive letter, in my case it was L.

Make sure when you type in "clean" you have the right disk as it will wipe all content.
You may have to wait a short time between commands till it allows you to go to next line.

 

Assuming you created the USB installation media with the correct BIOS configuration (MBR or UEFI with CSM) for your system, you can also try this to avoid removing the drive and installing it in another system.

Boot from your Windows u USB installation media.

When you get to the first screen that waits for you to click next, press Shift+F10 to open a command prompt, then follow the steps Brother @Waldeck posted above.

Then proceed with Windows 7 setup.

 

Thanks Mr.Fox, also you say you fitted an IDE 32gb SSD, is that what you say or is it a mSATA SSD in a IDE adapter unit?
If it is the later you may find that the adapter is being recongized but the SSD is not and is marked as 0gb or 32gb in BIOS and not recongized in Windows. I am not a 100% sure but I think that Windows gives the adapter and not the SSD the drive letter. Its like your DVD drive is drive D, but it doesn't show up untill you put a DVD disk in it. If the mSATA SSD is not ininislize it will not show up.

 

For what it’s worth if all else fails:
Start over and use factory restore media for CF-18 and then upgrade to Win 7. Follow the directions exactly and all your features will work including the front buttons.



Sent from my CF-M34