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    Samsung NP700z7c - Can't install Win7

    Discussion in 'Samsung' started by Kruai, Jan 20, 2014.

  1. Kruai

    Kruai Notebook Guru

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    Hi all,

    I recently had my laptop sent to the shop to have the optical drive switched out of my laptop: they put an SSD where the old 1TB drive was, and moved the 1TB drive to a caddy and put it where the optical drive was. I am trying to install Windows 7 from USB, but I am running into some serious issues. I get to the first reboot, and then I get taken to my boot menu. The boot menu says the following:
    1. SATA HDD 1:: Samsung SSD 840 PRO Series

    However, when I select it, nothing happens. It flashes black for a second, and then redisplays. I have tried the following fixes in the BIOS:
    -Disabled Fast BIOS Mode
    -Set AHCI Mode [Enabled] (manual)
    -The Samsung SSD is first in the Boot Priority Order
    -UEFI Boot Support [Disabled]

    Please help as soon as possible… I need this laptop working with Win7 for class. Thanks in advance.
     
    Kruai, Jan 20, 2014
    #1
  2. Dannemand

    Dannemand Decidedly Moderate Super Moderator

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    This happens all the time on models with ExpressCache when you install from USB. What happens is Windows Setup gets confused by the small drive (so-called iSSD) used by ExpressCache, and thinks it is the boot drive, then places its boot partition there -- even though the iSSD isn't bootable at all, and you selected your main drive (SSD or HDD) first in Boot Priority. The result is no boot partition on the main drive, and boot fails after setup has completed copying files.

    The simplest solution is to install from DVD whenever possible -- that avoids the problem completely. If you have an external DVD drive, I highly recommend doing that -- because it makes installation so easy.

    Otherwise (if you don't have an external DVD drive) you have to use one of several possible workarounds. They are gathered in the first two posts of the thread linked below.

    http://forum.notebookreview.com/samsung/697841-guide-how-install-windows-7-8-via-usb-np700z.html

    The essence is either to manually create a boot partition on the main drive during Windows installation, or to simply copy the necessary boot files from the iSSD partition created by Windows Setup to your Windows partition and make it the boot partition. Again the guides in that thread cover it.

    As for general Windows 7 installation, including recommended drivers to install using SW Update, and ones to install manually, check this Windows install guide later in that same thread.

    Please keep up posted on your progress.
     
    Dannemand, Jan 20, 2014
    #2