14 replies to this topic

[renee]

Pardon me but I'm new and confused.

Last night I added a 256 GB Samsung SATA SSD to my Lenovo W520 and attemped an install, only to have it fail on the first reboot. That was using Lenovo repair and recovery DVDs.I have lots of confusion. Much of the confusion comes from inconsistent use of "USB" disk and sata disk and SSD that I have seen plus I have a SATA to USB adapter also. A sata drive will work with a USB adapter.

Would some one point me to the best tutioral? By best, I mean one that gives the big picture and then executes the steps.

Renee

Edited by renee, 13 November 2011 - 07:40 AM.

[cdob]

a 256 GB Samsung SATA SSD to my Lenovo W520

A sata drive will work with a USB adapter.

Which steps did you take so far?
Did you attached SSD internally?
Did you connected SSD to a USB adapter? Prepared SSD and swapped to internal connection?

There may a different drive layout at USB adapter (255 heads) and internally connection (240 heads).

[renee]

So far, I've tried the gen or installation driven by the Lenovo DVDs. It was always attached internally since last night. I did not use an adapter internally. The Samsung SSD plugged directly into the interface of the W520. Also I did not prepare the SSD other than formatting it. The lenovo recovery disks used the entire disk as a single partition. If preparation is required i'll do it. I was technical and in computer development. But beware, I've literally been hit by a car and will need patience and specifity. By the way, my Lenovo is 64 bits. I hope that doesn't make a difference.

Renee

Edited by renee, 13 November 2011 - 10:48 AM.

[renee]

What would also be most helpful is a big picture, an overview, of what we are doing. The Windows world get's caught up in 'doingness' and there's little theory. Are we really just taking the disk out of AHCI mode? Or what?


Renee

[Wonko the Sane]

The recovery discs can be (generally speaking) of four "main" kinds:

• install discs (UNlikely)
• disk or partition images (more probable)
• file-based backup (also UNlikely)
• mixed-mode (part image, part file-based backup - also probable)

Lenovo's again generally speaking have often a "queer" BIOS that may "impose" a 240 head geometry on any disk (or SSD) internally connected.
If you partitioned (besides formatting it) the SSD device when it was connected through an adapter or on another machine, it is likely that the device was partitioned/formatted using a 255 Head geometry (the "standard").
Depending on the actions performed by the Recovery disks, it is possible that this different setting may have "passed through" UNmodified.

This will typically cause problems like an unbootable disk (completely black screen or a message error), or sometimes a flashing cursor (or a "g" or a "j") flashing in the top left of the screen (white on black background).

Please describe EXACTLY what happens (what you see on screen) when you try to boot from the SSD.


Wonko

[renee]

Hi Wonko!

Any partitioning was done by the lenovo disks. I didn't do it. I doing the installation.Well there is ir is now.... Whem the lenovo goes to reboot apparently it doesn't know to boot. I see a bios screen giving mr three choices. Isee a boot menu.

Atapi CD0: Hl-Dt-StDVDRAM GT##N
ATA HDDO Samsung SSD 830 Series
PCI LAN: IBA Ge SloT 00C8 v1366

But to me..things seem different tonight. I think the correcy choce is item 2....
I'm going to try it..

Renee

Edited by renee, 13 November 2011 - 11:17 AM.

[renee]

It reads the SSD for perhaps six seconds and returns me to the same boot menu. I've tried it a couple of times.
Renee

Edited by renee, 13 November 2011 - 11:18 AM.

[renee]

Hmmm, I've tried ESC after choosing the SSD and it takes about 30 seconds and says
PXE E61 Media Test failure.
PXE M0F Exiting Intel Boot Agent

There is a lot of white cursor on black back ground before it quits.
I also have an older Extreme than I'm writing to you on. I can reformat on that if you need. If need be I can repartition it also BUT I fear that the partioning is be redone by the Lenovo Disks.

Renee

Edited by renee, 13 November 2011 - 11:45 AM.

[Wonko the Sane]

The PXE relating boot message seems like an attempt to network boot (through PXE), this may be a "fallback" setting (IF the hard disk - SSD in this case - doesn't boot, THEN attempt booting from network).
You need to access the BIOS and set is so that this does not happen (disable PXE or Networkbooting or "something like that").
If we can understand what you get just when the booting from HD (SSD) fails maybe it will be easier to find the issue, though most probably you will need anyway a boot CD or bootable USB device of some kind.


Wonko

[renee]

Hi wonko!
I got your note but I am in the midle of a reinstallation. I certainly shall try your sugestions after I get some sleep. It's curious why the lenovo is falling babk to
I tried a second installation tonight, with the Samsung internal at all times. The recovery set has 3 DVDs. Will a reair disk with CMD do for a bootable DVD?
Im about 3/4 of the the way through the third disk. It's getting close!

Renee














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Renee

Edited by renee, 13 November 2011 - 12:55 PM.

[cdob]

@renee
Do you have a installation DVD for testing?
Boot Windows 7 DVD, press shift f10:
diskpart
list disk
select disk 0
clean

disk 0 is a example. Verify your number at list output.

Continue installation.

[renee]

^{Yes I have a repair disk and an imstallation disk. By the way these are MSDN Disks. My installation has started another file on the disk. All testing will come later as I must get some sleep.
Renee}

[renee]

It rebooted and now WINPE is running. It adding internet explorer and that was successful. There are lots of packages. I should add that I been through this phase before.It rebooted. It's now installing devices. Rebooting...And it's up. I've also been here before. It's seems like not much can be bad. Basically it's working as a computer and preload customizations are going in. It got further than this before. The screen is working. It's on Dowork.cmd. It finised, rebooting. Blue back ground...that says welcome. Preload Customizations.....all on the Samsung SSD.....still going. These preload customizations take forever. Rebooting. Welcome. Rebooting again....It returned. Welcome....
Preload customizations again...Wonko you last question was an astute one.
Renee...continuing watching the system.

Edited by renee, 13 November 2011 - 01:43 PM.

[renee]

It says 6.34 mins left. it's 17 percent of the way through now.....now it's 33% through. 44%, 68% 85% 92%.. 11 Seconds left. Reboot. Starting Windows Checking Video performance Connects my network after i gave it the code. Reboot Now it's preparing the Desktop. Activating

I've been inside windows for several minutes now...

Renee

[renee]

I'm at the helm and have. My password is giving me some trouble because I thought I told it right password but it says I didn't. I may have to go throught this again.
Phew...it was capitalized. I fixed that in a hurry. I guss it's all working.........Thanks for being here with me. I like you guys....Think i'll stck around....

Renee

Edited by renee, 13 November 2011 - 02:28 PM.