Windows – unable to install windows 7 in the laptop with no os

First, some background. This laptop comes with a 1TB HDD and an 8GB iSSD, which is used as a cache to speed up Windows and apps. Samsung uses Diskeeper's ExpressCache software for that purpose. This SSD causes a rather large problem to the Windows installer. For whatever reason, Windows refuses to install its "System Reserved" partition on the HDD, downright refusing to proceed with the installation if the SSD is already partitioned for ExpressCache. But, repartioning the SSD and just letting Windows install itself, doesn't make things easier. In fact, it causes major troubles. It appears that the BIOS really doesn't want to boot off the SSD, which is where Windows decided to install its boot partition. So, here's the thing- how to get the HDD into a state where both Windows and Samsung's BIOS were happy, and the SSD free for ExpressCache use.

Before installing Windows and things to keep in mind

1. For your convenience, you might need to print this guide and read once before proceeding.

2. Backup your drivers to an External Flash Drive or DVD, using Samsung Recovery Solution. (Bear in mind that you don't have any network connection after a clean install and neither a backup partition at your pc)

3. Make sure your BIOS are set to boot from DVD or USB Drive, by changing priority. If you choose to use a USB, you have to disable "Fast BIOS Boot" as well.

4. In case of using a bootable USB for the installation, a message might emerge, implying that drivers are not installed and cannot proceed further. Just click "Cancel". Then, you will be brought back to the welcome screen. At that moment, remove the USB drive and plug it back in, to a different USB port this time. Click "Install Now" again. The installation should proceed as usual.

Installing Windows

1. Insert the istallation media on your laptop.

2. At the Windows Setup Wizard, select "Custom Install" to view all disks.

3. At the "Advanced" option, choose to format all disks and delete the SSD.

4. Press "Shift+F10" to launch cmd. Otherwise, reboot into the Windows Setup wizard and choose the "Repair" option, in the bottom left corner, and in the tools menu choose cmd.

5. Type in diskpart to get into the partition tool.

6. Use the commands list disk and list part to determine which disk is what (check size parameters). For me, Disk 0 was the HDD and Disk 1 was the SSD. The following instructions assume this.

7. Select the HDD: sel disk 0

8. Delete all partitions on it: clean

9. Create a 100MB partition for Windows 7 (or 350MB for Windows 8): create part primary size=100 (or size=350)

10. Format it: format fs=ntfs quick

11. Assign it a letter: assign letter=f (if F: is in use, pick another one. Use the list vol command to see all volumes and their letters)

12. Create a partition that fills the rest of the disk: create part primary

13. Format the large partition: format fs=ntfs quick

14. Assign it the letter C: assign letter=c

15. Exit both Diskpart and cmd.

16. Reboot back to Windows Setup Wizard to install Windows into the large partition that was just created. !!CAUTION!! When Windows restarts your machine to complete the installation, do NOT change priority at the BIOS menu as usual, but instead boot from the installation media, once more, and choose the "Custom Install" option.

17. There is a great chance that Windows installed its System Reserved partition on the SSD, so choose the "Advanced" option and delete the SSD. Launch cmd (Shift+F10) and type diskpart.

18. Use the commands list vol and assign to ensure that both the system (F:) and the boot partition (C:) still have drive letters.

19. Select the system partition (sel vol f) and mark it as active: active

20. Exit diskpart and at cmd type the command: bcdboot c:\windows /s f:

21. Reboot and you're good to go.

After the installation

1. The easiest way to have Samsung's Easy Settings and ExpressCache installed to your machine is through the backup created by Samsung Recovery Solution, since you don't have an internet connection after the clean install. (Even when you get to have one, do not connect during this proccess (because of Windows Update interference) and wait till it finishes)

   1. Browse the DVD or External USB Drive to find the "SystemSoftware" file and launch the "SecSWMgrGuide.exe".

   2. Install "Easy Software Manager".

   3. Install everything from the "Drivers" tab.

   4. From the "Miscellaneous" tab, install "Windows 7 SP1 Critical Updates" and "Windows 7 SP1 common patches".

   5. From the "Utility" tab, install "Easy Settings" and ExpressCache".

   6. Finally, choose any other software you might need.

   7. You are ready to connect the internet and install Windows Updates.

2. In case you didn't backup your drivers using Samsung Recovery Solution, you need to manually download and install these drivers from the Samsung's website.

3. To find out if ExpressCache is working, run cmd as administrator and type ECCmd -INFO. If it's marked as mounted and gives you the application's information then you're fine.

Answer text copied from from notebookreview.com.

Alright, I finally got this working. But this is what I have tried so far. After reading a lot of suggestion I downloaded the GParted Live bootable image and then created a bootable usb drive using this small portable tool Rufus.

Followed this tutorial on youtube to partion the disk for primary(c:) and extended disk(d: & e:). Since I had 465.8GB HDD, I partioned the primary with 200GB and half for the other two drives. After the partioning steps are over, I shutdown the PC and removed the USB containing the GParted Live USB bootable image.

Now I inserted the Windows 7 DVD for starting the installation in my primary partition. Went till the partition window step and again it was showing Unallocated space Disk 0 partition 1.

And solution provided at Microsoft forum suggested to change the boot option for SATA disk and disable the AHCI, or Advanced Host Controller Interface and changed it to Compatible mode.

So deleted all the partions and it become 465.8GB once again and divided that into two partitions by using Advanced options in the Windows drive partition step window. So I had two primary drive. Partition 1 having 265 and another partition 2 having (465.8-265 =) 200.8GB.

After disabling AHCI, agan I rebooted the system to see if the warning message Windows can't be installed to drive 0 partition 1 - which is 265GB. But then when I click the Next button it proceeds to the Installation steps further only to show the Error Code 0x8007045D message popup again after loading windows file til 85%.

Finally, I had one more option to try which is select the second partition of the Disk which is itself a primary drive and had 200.8GB space left in it. So again rebooted the system, and ignored the warning "Windows cannot be installed to drive 0 partition 2" and clicked Next to see that Windows files loaded 100% successfully without the Error Code 0x8007045D. At this point I thought may be that my first partition of the HDD was having some memory related issues and this explains the reason why windows couldn't load the files in this part of the harddrive.

UPDATE:

The above windows installation steps worked for me. However, in few days time while booting windows an error window popped out saying that I have to replace my Harddisk drive.

So finally, I replaced my old one with a new Western Digital 500GB HDD.