Tom's Hardware > Forum > Motherboards & Memory > MSI-Microstar > [Solved] Windows won't load at setup

[Solved] Windows won't load at setup

Forum Motherboards & Memory : MSI-Microstar [Solved] Windows won't load at setup

Bringing up brand new DIY system - Msi z68a GD80(G3) mobo- I5 2500K processor, 8 gig Corsair Vengence, MSI 560gtx Ti
DEAD
oh - 1.5 TB WD caviar black and samsung 830 64G ssd

Got to windows, installed drivers AND THEN read I have to change Sata drive to RAID and re-install windows to implement Intel SRT - Smart cache of SSD

So I got into the bios and changed the Sata to "raid"

Windows DVD in place - loads and stops - can't get to windows directly, can't reload windows from DVD

I'm hoping there's a way to reformat the drives and start over

Any thoughts would be appreciated.

Reply to tanoosh

Sure, if you restart with the install disk in the DVD drive and hit a key to boot from it you can choose to do a custom install, delete the old Win 7 install partition and start fresh.

Using a 64gb SSD as a cache is a waste of such a large drive IMO though -- I would just use AHCI mode, install Windows to the SSD, and place a few key programs and smaller data files on SSD with the paging file, other programs, and large data files on the HDD.

Message quoted 1 times

Reply to Realbeast

Realbeast wrote :

RealBeast Thank you for responding

But

I don't get that OPTION! With the windows DVD in - it advances directly to copying files and then stops! I've tried (just now) hitting F8 to get to safe mode with command line - and that stops as well.....

I remain puzzled - but grateful for your attempt.

Reply to tanoosh

Best answer

It sounds like you had an incomplete installation that is trying to finish but cannot.

I would use HIREN'S BOOT DISK to boot and then use one of the disk erasers on it to clean the SSD. Then set your bios options to what you want and use the install DVD to do a fresh install.

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Reply to Realbeast

Realbeast wrote :

I'm going to call MSI support first - thanks for the response and info - perhaps I'm being optimistic but since I bought it Thursday and this is Monday I'm expecting MSI to step up and assist.

I'll post the results.

Reply to tanoosh

MSI, assist? That is optimistic.

One thing that I didn't ask (but should have): is your HDD disconnected and SSD attached to SATA0 port -- that is the best way to do the initial Windows install and could resolve the issue.

Reply to Realbeast

Success!

While I DID follow the MSI Tech suggestion to DL and Flash the latest Bios - I believe the "FIX" was running my IOLO Drive Medic to return the HDD to it's original state - basically I took your Advice Realbeast (except I had the iolo Drive Medic CD in hand).

However, AFTER getting the system up and running with SRT (Smart Response Technology) active - I got all outstanding 102 Windows updates - AND ran Easy transfer to retrieve settings and apps from my old pc and.....

voila! SRT out the window (bios SATA setting switched back to IDE)

However, my system is up - I can play SW:TOR powered by the 560GTX Ti, versus my old 9800GT -

After I backup my system, and maybe eat something - I'll flip the BIOS Sata setting BACK to RAID, and see if SRT lives once again.

Thanks again for your responses..