Installing Windows 8.1 on Samsung Chronos 7 (2012) Laptop from USB

Hi Guys,
I have been in trouble Installing Windows 8.1 Enterprise update 1 on this second hand purchased samsung chronos 7 laptop,
its 15.5" | i7 | 8GB
It had 1TB but I could never install windows on that drive in any way, recovered system and it stucks on boot with blank screen after new install of original windows 8 factory reset and after 2 3 restarts.
I bought another HITACHI HDD 500 GB and fitted it in place of 1TB HDD.
It has express cache of SSD 16GB and windows 8 factory installed machine.
Now I have created Insall Media of Windows 8.1 Enterprise update 1 in USB Stick of 8GB and tried to install from it, it stuck on Installation Step of "Installing Updates" for many hours than It gives some error, Otherwise once it was forcefully long pressed shut down by me and than gave error of boot/bcd missing, than I used hiren boot cd / used bcdboot / used XCOPY to copy the files from system reserved to OS Partition, it gave ntoskrnl missing error, than some other errors in blue screen in all tries.
What is the resolution to this issue? I am going insane with this problem.
I even tried, Win 8.1 pro, Win 8 pro update 1 almost all windows 8 versions from USB, but no success.
And I have tried all possible bios setting as you guys suggested in other posts, I don't know where I am doing mistake.
I tried GPT convert, I tried MBR convert, almost everything.

Currently, I am fed up, and made one of nice ISO DVD for win 8.1 enterprise and installing, lets see if it works, I will update the post.

Edited: DVD Install is stuck on Step 2, Installing Windows, and Installing Updates option, waiting for it to work almost 30minutes now pas

Please suggest a solution.
Thanks

 

Hello oct4v3, welcome to NBR. Sorry to hear you had so much trouble.

My guess is you ran into a combination of the ExpressCache issues described here (which I can hear you read) and UEFI related changes in BIOS settings (made by you or the previous owner).

I suspect that your computer may be one of the late 2012 NP700Z5C models that were originally designed for Win7, then converted and sold with Win8 after its release.

We need to know what type of BIOS you have: In BIOS settings, Do you have SecureBoot and a choice of different OS Mode Selection options when you disable SecureBoot?

Try not to experiment too much further yet, as these models can brick if you're not careful. I'll watch for your response, but it's a busy day for me...

 

Hi Dannemand,

I have seen that you came across every solution to Samsung different series and I appreciate it so much. Awesome. You are really very dedicated.
All right, the system with the DVD in it is still running and stuck on "Installing updates", I am worried If I am over charging the laptop battery as it is plugged in. Well, I don't think it is from those 2012 models which came with windows 7 and than resold as win 8, I can't see the bios but as I am well aware of many tries on bios options changing, let me recall on it, because currently the dvd is in and system is stuck. but In its bios, I saw the purchased date is somewhere in 2013 and it has license / certificate of windows 8, and it seems that it is latest bios, it has these options:
fast boot
ahci setting
Secure boot enable / disable, if disabled, choices are UEFI Mode / CSM OS / UEFI and CSM OS

I won't take further steps on my own and experiment many things, will wait for your suggestions.

Quickest reply very much appreciated.

 

Thank you for the update.

I didn't mean to say that your computer was repackaged and resold, merely that the NP700Z5C model was originally sold with Win7 (using a BIOS with a simple UEFI implementation) and later updated to be sold with Win8 (using a BIOS with more complete UEFI implementation, including SecureBoot). Yours was a model sold with Win8 and the newer UEFI, and that's what we need to know.

You have two options:

A) Install Windows in UEFI mode ( SecureBoot=disabled, OS Mode Selection=UEFI OS). Make sure to convert the disk to GPT before you being installation (using the commands in this post). I highly recommend you install from DVD (not from USB) to avoid the issue with Setup trying to create the boot partition on the ExpressCache drive (iSSD). Hanime's guide to avoid that issue doesn't work with an UEFI installation. If you MUST install from USB, you need to make sure the installation source is formatted as FAT32, not NTFS (as described here) but it may place the EFI boot partition on iSSD, and I cannot give you exact steps to fix this. Installing from DVD eliminates all that problem. Once everything is up an running, you can enable SecureBoot.

B) Install Windows in good old Legacy BIOS mode ( SecureBoot=disabled, OS Mode Selection=CSM OS). Convert the disk to MBR before you begin installation (use OS Mode Selection=UEFI & CSM OS while you convert, then switch to CSM OS before you install). You pretty much want to follow the exact steps in this guide, including BIOS settings, DISKPART commands etc. That guide is mainly for Win7 (including users who downgrade from Win8) but it includes comments for Win8 as well. You will, again, find it much easier to install from DVD, but if you MUST install from USB, you can use Hanime's steps ( here) or mine ( here).

In either case should you set AHCI=Auto and Fast Boot=disabled before you start, in order to boot the DVD (or USB). You can enable Fast Boot once everything is running, which will limit BIOS to boot from the main HDD.

Do not connect to the network and accept any updates during Setup until the installation is running and booting all right. Set Windows Update to Manual (again just initially, you can change it later). You should be able to skip activation until everything is running -- or use a temporary Product Key, as described in this article.

I realize that you already tried several combinations of these. But it is two fairly narrow paths, and important not to mix and match them. I think the issues you had may have been caused by a combination of the different gotchas of this model and the restrictions of UEFI, hitting you at different times, even when you followed otherwise proper steps.

If you still have problems, it may be worth trying a reset of the BIOS and CMOS data tables as described in this post (notice the disclaimer).

Please keep us posted on your progress.

 

Dannemand, Thank you for awesome support. Well, I am going to take step A as it looks more good to me with windows 8.
OK, I converted the disk to GPT. Disabled Fast boot, AHCI=Auto, First Boot HDD, Secure Boot=Disabled, UEFI OS selected.
Now, I forced F10 to boot from DVD but, it won't allow DVD to run as UEFI OS is enabled. Firstly, the laptop restarts itself when I try DVD and than 2nd time, it stucks on boot Device Selection, Nothing happens if I select DVD to run. What Must I do to take step (A) Now?

Update-1: OK, for now I changed it to UEFI OS and CSM but the disk is converted to GPT already, Now I rebooted into External DVD Drive with Install Media DVD and Ran the Setup, It is ON now. Installing. I will keep you posted if it worked complete.
Once the Windows is installed Correctly, I must the Secure boot and Fast boot = ON right?

Update--2: It finished Installing windows, It booted into HDD after auto restart. and there is a Blue screen with error displaying:

File: CLFS.SYS
Error code: 0x000000e9

I tried Booting, Secure Boot : Enabled, Secure Boot disabled and UEFI OS Selected, and it never booted in those modes. Its only booting into CSM mode and UEFI OS and CSM mode.

Isn't it was suppose to be bootable with UEFI OS enabled?

What to do Next?

 

Hmm... I am surprised it wouldn't boot your DVD with OS Mode Selection=UEFI OS.

You did the right thing, choosing UEFI & CSM OS instead. With the disk already converted to GPT, we'll just have to hope Windows installs in UEFI mode. If it created an EFI boot partition you should be good. You can then switch to UEFI OS and verify that it still boots OK.

And yes, you should be able to enable SecureBoot and Fast Boot once everything is running (although these are not required).

Sounds like you're doing well there

 

Oh, you just posted your update as I posted my response. Too bad with that error

Are you saying you use an external DVD, not the internal DVD of the NP700Z5C? Which disks (or SSDs) are currently installed?

Edit:

I would suggest trying (A) again, having ONLY a single HDD (or SSD) installed and using the internal DVD. No external devices. Start converting the HDD to GPT again (since the last attempt may have converted it to MBR if Setup detected wrong). It is best if you can make it work with OS Mode Selection=UEFI OS, but if you must, use UEFO & CSM OS.

Also, make sure your installation media is good. The error you are getting is the kind of thing I could see happen from a corrupted (or hacked) installation media.

Otherwise, (B) should be a lot simpler (still assuming the installation media is good).

I run my Win8 (and now 8.1) in Legacy BIOS mode and have no problems. The much hyped difference in boot speed (between UEFI mode and BIOS mode) is really minimal, when everything is running properly.

 

Dannmand, Its all right. I am really appreciating your best of the support.

Yes, I used the External DVD Drive from LG for Windows 8.1 Installation through DVD.

The Installed drives are:

SATA PORT 1: Hitachi HT2545050B9A300
SATA PORT 2: MATADVD-RAM UJ8A7AS

Window is booting nice but Nothing after the Windows 8 Logo, Only next thing is error screen as Mentioned above in Update-2.

 

Thank you.

Can you see if it created an EFI boot partition on the HDD? Or maybe on the iSSD?

If it created an EFI boot partition on the iSSD, that means Setup is confused and thinks the iSSD is your boot device. This should not be the case if you install from the internal DVD.

If it didn't create any EFI partition at all (neither on HDD nor iSSD) that means Setup thinks you're in Legacy BIOS (CSM) mode (because of OS Mode Selection=UEFI & CSM OS). Many others have clean installed Win8 in UEFI mode on your model, though I do remember a few reporting problems getting that EFI partition onto the HDD.

Either way should installing in legacy BIOS mode (CSM) be a lot easier. Again, assuming you install from the internal DVD drive AND your installation media is good.

Edit: For UEFI mode installation, it is also possible that installing Win8 will be easier, then updating to 8.1. I understand that's not ideal, but the alternative may be CSM mode in your case.

 

Hi Dannemand,

It has not created any hidden/visible EFI boot partition on any drive. I am using Hiren Boot CD and I saw with Disk Genious, I cannot see EFI Partition.
I don't think that my Laptop can have EFI partition, in short, cannot be installed in UEFI Mode?

So, please Layout the final guide or steps I need to take once again as per my Case. I am bit confused here. Kindly, give me one Option to do windows 8.1 with good media on this laptop and I will be doing it again.

Thanks

 

Yes, I know, it's been a lot of options I threw at you.

I suggest you install in non-UEFI mode (CSM) following these steps from my earlier post (I cut some text to simplify):

Install from the internal DVD drive, that should avoid any issues with the iSSD. Follow the steps in that linked install guide carefully.

You have been quite patient, I think this will work.

 

Dannemand,

Thanks for help. I have tried as you explained in this thread post and other thread posts also. I did exactly the same thing, but
I cannot boot DVD Windows Setup with CSM OS selected in secure boot Dropdown. I changed the drive to MBR already. Am I missing something?

Update: I was mistaking something. Now it is booting from DVD in CSM OS mode. Lets see what happens. I will update.

 

Hi Dannemand,

Because I didn't want to make different ISO DVDs. I skipped using dvd. Now that, I am using USB install with same as in DVD, I installed windows 8.1 enterprise update 1. Than used Partition Magic to cut paste the System Reserved Partition from iSSD and rebooted, removed any USB etc. Now I don't see any error. But when I restarted system, It is blank black screen and fan is ON. What is happening?

 

I still recommend installing from DVD instead of USB since there are already too many unknowns here.

Where is that MSR partition now? It should be just in front of the Windows partition, and it should be marked Bootable (Active). If that is the case, and it seems to be booting ok, then maybe it installed alright, and you're now dealing with pure Win8.1 compatibility issues.

Many users have reported black screen issues after updating to Win8.1. They were solved after recent Microsoft updates, but if your installation disk doesn't include those updates, then that could explain it.

If that is the case, I don't I know any other solution than to install Win8, then update to 8.1, as previously discussed, making sure to install any drivers from Windows Update before the 8.1 update. The benefit of that is you can make a backup of the working Win8 installation first, so you don't have to start over if 8.1 fails again. (I personally consider going back to Win8, even though my 8.1 works fine, simply because Win8 was faster and had better battery life.)

I am away from my pc now, but try and Google the following to locate what other owners of your model posted here about that problem: site:notebookreview.com/samsung np700z5c 8.1 black screen.

Edit: I just remembered: Did you have the latest BIOS update before starting this process? BIOS updates are required for Win8.1. If you don't have that, you will HAVE to install Win8 first so that you can download the update. Please use the advice in this post to make the safest possible BIOS update.

 

Hi Danneman,

I have tried my utmost Installing from USB and I was never been successful. I tried several ISO all end up in blue screen error after windows 8 logo.
I have tried only x64 and all Enterprise, maybe my sources were not right.

Now, that I wana try DVD Install once again, I am left with on DVD Empty, So, please give me download link of final Build of Windows 8.1 Enterprise update 1 that If I install from it, it should work without errors from DVD.

Thank you

 

Dannemand,
I read your post more thoroughly just now. And I saw that you mentioned about updating the bios before update.

Anyway, I am using Rufus to create bootable USB and File system as NTFS and my laptop is UEFI enabled model.
I am using ORIGINAL Windows 8.1 Enterprise with Update 1 MSDN.

You can manually check the Hash for ISO file below here

Hash [ SHA1 ]

x86 : FE43558B4708B4B786BC3286924813B0AAD21106
x64 : 8FB332A827998F807A1346BEF55969C6519668B9

I don't think ISO is not valid and contains errors. I tried this ISO for x64 and windows installed ok and after restart I copied the SYSTEM Reserved partition. But now it is stuck on blue screen saying Error:

File:\Windows\System32\drivers\ACPI.sys
Error code: 0xc00000e9

I didn't update my BIOS and No windows is installed on this laptop.

My best ways to solve the problems are? Please let me know.

And If its about BIOS Update, can I quickly install windows 7, update the bios and than install windows 8.1 on top of it with updated BIOS? I have currently two USB sticks on me.

Thanks

 

Hi again oct4v3,

First of all, Windows is copyrighted software, and our forum rules strictly prohibit any discussion of piracy and sharing of "alternative" download links.

Because our rules are so strict, I usually also edit out files names and checksums in posts, since they are just thinly veiled hints on how to Google such alternative downloads. Your post didn't include filenames, so I'll leave those checksums there.

I realize that you were asking for an official, legal ISO download link. But to my knowledge, there is no public download of Win8 or 8.1 ISOs (although there are ways to get them from Microsoft by providing one's Product Key, or through MSDN as you mention). In this regard Win8 and 8.1 are different from Win7, which Microsoft has provided for broad download on Digital River.

We need to state this for any other members who may see this (or land here after a Google search). If other members are aware of official, legal and public download links for Win8.x ISOs, sanctioned by Microsoft, feel free to correct me.

Like most people, I too feel that sharing Windows ISOs shouldn't be an issue because you still need Product Keys to install them. But unless/until Microsoft arrives at the same conclusion, and either release those ISOs publicly, or state officially that they will allow them to be shared through other file sharing sites (doubtful) we are bound by the rule I quoted above.

OK, enough about that!

Next, I don't want you to think that I have a simple solution that I am just not giving you. I don't have this model myself, I am merely collecting information reported by other owners and passing advice to the best of my ability. As you will see in our Win8.1 Update thread and our NP700Z5C Owners Lounge thread many NP700Z5C owners have successfully updated to or installed Win8.1. In fact, they have had fewer problems than many other model owners.

Something is different in your case which is causing these problems. I am trying to eliminate any known issues (even when some of them have workarounds) so that you can complete the installation.

My recommendation to you (again) is to install Win8, which we know works on your model, then update to Win8.1. If you don't have Win8 installation media (and I presume you don't have a Recovery backup) Samsung can provide it to you, maybe for a small fee. Or get it from MSDN if you subscribe to that. Or you can try this to get a download from Microsoft using your Win8 product key.

Installing Win8 in UEFI mode definitely SHOULD work -- this computer was factory installed with Win8 in UEFI mode. But if you were installing in UEFI mode from a USB stick formatted as NTFS, that will fail right there. UEFI cannot boot NTFS, only FAT32, as described in this post. Still, I HIGHLY recommend you install from the internal DVD drive, which eliminates both this issue and the ExpressCache issue we discussed. Go get a few blank DVDs instead of wasting time messing with USB installation.

Once you have Win8 running, you can update the BIOS (following the guidance in this post). Then update to Win8.1 from there.

So that is my recommendation.

If installing Win8 is not an option (because you want to clean install Win8.1) I agree that installing Win7 in order to update the BIOS may be your best bet. Simply follow the Win7 install guide which includes conversion to MBR and installing in Legacy BIOS mode (CSM).

Once you have installed Win7 and updated BIOS (again, BIOS update guidance in this post) you can give it another try installing Win8.1. I would try UEFI mode first (convert the disk to GPT first). But still, install from DVD to avoid ExpressCache issues.

I hope you finally get it working this time.

 

Thank you Dannemand for clarification. I will get back to you on getting success, though it is long journey to go.