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    Basics- Installing Windows on blank hard drive

    Discussion in 'Windows OS and Software' started by ycon, Aug 5, 2014.

  1. ycon

    ycon Notebook Consultant

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    I just received my brand Clevo W230SS without an OS. It has a blank 1TB 5400RPM drive (mech.). Will be getting an SSD in the next few months.

    I feel silly- I can't get windows to install (neither 7 or 8). I'm installing via a USB, and when I select the partition it says "We couldn't create a new partition or locate an existing one".

    I can create new partitions but when I click 'format' it seems to do nothing.

    I tried using DISKPART (command line) to format as NTFS but that did not help. I later tried converting the mbr to gpt (and vice-versa) but no luck.

    I enabled UEFI booting but that wouldn't even boot to the installer (says: "insert media & press a key")

    I disabled Intel Rapid start technology and still nothing.

    I must be doing something majorly wrong.

    Can anyone help? Thanks
     
    ycon, Aug 5, 2014
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  2. ycon

    ycon Notebook Consultant

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    I think I've made progress- I'm creating the bootable USB using Universal Boot installer.

    I just used Rufus instead, and I got to the installation phase (but it crashed at 2% saying it couldn't find files!)

    What is the most reliable program to create a bootable USB drive?
     
    ycon, Aug 5, 2014
    #2
  3. MrDJ

    MrDJ Notebook Nobel Laureate

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    MrDJ, Aug 5, 2014
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  4. KLF

    KLF NBR Super Modernator Super Moderator

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    I would start by redownloading the install media. Just in case it actually is corrupted. They sometimes do funny things.
     
    KLF, Aug 6, 2014
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  5. Apollo13

    Apollo13 100% 16:10 Screens

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    It does sound kind of like your image may have been corrupted. Re-downloading may help. You could also try burning it to a DVD and installing that way, in case there's an issue with the USB stick. Or trying a different USB stick if you have one.

    Once you have reliable boot media, the install should be relatively straightforward. Other than Windows 8 having issues on my relatively-old-by-the-time-Windows-8-came-out laptop, I've found Windows installs to be reliable and flexible if the media is good.

    I suppose the other possibility is a hard drive issue if you just received the unit and it didn't have any OS installed on it previously. Have you tested the hard drive in an external enclosure?
     
    Apollo13, Aug 7, 2014
    #5