Install Window 10 on a Samsung NP530U3C

Hi! After suffering from the infamous NVRAM corruption, I managed to fix it (Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences on the forum, you're all my saviors). Now that the laptop is in a usable state, I want to install Windows 10 to it, but I can't manage to make it work. If I install it on CSM mode, I get the damned boot sector installed on the iSSD, but even after copying it to its own partition on the hdd it still refuses to boot. If I install it on UEFI mode, the EFI partition is installed correctly, but it still doesn't boot. I've tried installing Ubuntu 20.04 (CSM mode, I'm not brave enough to try to install it on UEFI again and brick the laptop another time) but it also refuses to boot with the following error: "error: attempt to read or write outside of disk 'hd0'". Any help is appreciated, cause I'm seriously lost here.

 

Hi MwenDavo,

Welcome to NBR. Good job fixing your NVRAM corruption.

The easiest way to avoid the iSDD during Windows installation is to install from a disc using an optical drive. That normally does it.

Alternatively, copying the boot files from the iSSD to the boot partition on your actual boot drive should work as well, but you have to also mark that partition Active as a boot partition. Use FDISK or similar.

We have a thread specifically about this linked in the Samsung forum sticky.

Edit: Check the thread linked below. It was based on Win7, with some updates for Win8, but I believe it applies to Win10 as well.

http://forum.notebookreview.com/thr...tall-windows-7-or-8-via-usb-on-np700z.697841/

I have not installed Windows on my Samsung in many years now, but it still runs just fine with Win8.1 and Win10 on two different partitions. Both using CSM (legacy BIOS mode).

 

Hi Dannemand,
Unfortunately, I wasn't able to find any Windows 10 ISO that is under 4.3GB (the size of the DVDs I have). I've tried following the guide on the thread you posted, both the main guide and 2 of the 3 alternative guides, but none of them worked. Now I'm facing problems while installing Windows: Either the installer can't format my system partition (the one with the rest of the SSD space) or if I do it manually using DISKPART it fails at the last step. I've tried installing it with UEFI disabled using an MBR/NTFS (wich rufus suggests should work with both BIOS or UEFI-CSM) and with UEFI enabled and using GPT/NTFS, but neither of them seem to work.

 

I see, about the size of Windows 10 ISO. I wonder if it's possible to create a custom installation that fits on a DVD. Otherwise I think the only solution is one of the procedures in Hanime's thread.

I always used Alternative #1 myself, as described in post #3 of that thread. But that was with Win7, Win8 and Win8.1. I don't think I ever clean installed Win10 on my Sammy. I do have it installed on a 2nd partition, but it was an update from Win8.1.

If you re-enabled UEFI and tried to install Windows, that could explain why you are now facing problems again, even if you since disabled it. You probably need to clear NVRAM anew. I suggest doing so while you are still able to boot USB. And then NEVER enable UEFI again on this PC.

Once you (hopefully) succeed with that, I suggest the following:

1) Install Win7 or Win8.1 from DVD. Use DISKPART CLEAN during Windows Setup to completely wipe the HDD. Then let Windows Installer do its thing. You don't have to finish updating drivers and everything, just make sure Windows boots properly from the HDD.

2) Install Win10 from USB, deleting the Windows partition during Windows Setup but DO NOT delete the 100MB MSR partition. Setup will probably place a new Win10-compatible MSR on the iSSD. But the Win8.1 MSR will still be on your HDD and marked Active (Boot). I assume it won't boot because it doesn't match the new Windows version. But I guess it couldn't hurt to try.

3) Use a partition imaging tool (Acronis, Macrium or similar) to copy the MSR partition from the iSSD to the HDD, overwriting the old MSR. Windows 10 normally creates a smaller MSR than Win7/8/8.1 so it should fit.

4) Now see if you are able to boot Windows 10 from the HDD.

That's all I got. I hope you get it working. Either way please post an update here so others down the road may benefit from your experience

 

After upgrading the BIOS to the last version (thankfully I installed the previous version, so I just installed the new BIOS and the NVRAM was cleaned) I managed to find and burn a Windows 7 ISO to a disk. I've tried installing it, but again it fails with an error mentioning that the installer can't format the partitions it creates on the HDD (Error 0x80070057). Trying it from DISKPART doesn't work either, showing the same error: "Parameter is incorrect". I've tried both normal and quick format, but it didn't work.
Aditionally, I noticed that the laptop is getting increasingly slow on while booting, BIOS menu and Windows installation. This happens sometimes and is not consistent (happened when loading W10 from USB, but not with W7 from DVD). Just pointing it out.

 

Do you have another drive to test with? Kind of sounds like a dying drive. Problems installing Windows / Linux to me sounds like a drive issue. Linux isn't as picky when it comes to getting it installed. Maybe a low level format could get it up and running. It could be the drive isn't fully seated and the controller is spitting errors.

 

@MwenDavo: It does indeed sound like there is something else going on other than NVRAM corruption (which should be cleared now) and the iSSD installation issue (which wouldn't prevent formatting the HDD partitions).

Do another FDISK CLEAN to make sure we're not dealing with a messy MBR or partition table. Then perform a full format (not quick). Again, you can do these using the command line from inside Windows Setup.

If you decide to boot a Linux live disk or similar (understandable, there are some good tools) then DO NOT enable UEFI. It is too risky on these old Samsung models, as you can easily get NVRAM corruption that prevents you from booting anything. If that happens your laptop is finished unless you have a programmer and the knowledge to re-flash the BIOS chip directly.

 

This is the second drive i've tried with this laptop. Both are Kingston A400 120GB SSDs, and both had the same errors.

 

I've tried booting Linux from a USB and it had no problems. It even installed correctly, but again it coulnd't boot due to the following error: "error: attempt to read or write outside of disk 'hd0'." I've made sure to disable UEFI and I'll never enable it again.

 

Understood. I agree that with two different SSDs it's unlikely to be disk errors.

To my knowledge, the only two Windows Installation issues with your laptop model are (A) NVRAM corruption when using UEFI and (B) Windows Setup mistaking the iSSD for a boot device when installing from USB (but NOT when installing from ODD).

But it is many years ago since I last installed Windows on my Sammy, so it's possible there is a twist that I forgot. I suggest you check the Samsung FAQ (which I just posted recently) and the Samsung forum sticky lists for any related discussions. There is A LOT of knowledge gathered in this forum, it just takes some time to dig it out.

Again, please keep us posted on your progress

 

Well, then the next thing i would look at is the USB drive and the image you're suing whether or not it's corrupted or not. ODD can have the same issue if the download was corrupted as well.

Looking at the specs on this thing though being from 2012 i.e 10 years old at this point sometimes it's just easier to cut your losses and move on. If you keep putting time / money into this thing it's just going to become a money pit of disappointment. I realize we like challenges around here but, you could buy another one for $150 on ebay.

 

If it were me, I'd buy an XPS 13 and throw this to the bin, but I live in Argentina where the economy is practically ruined because of poor management and corrupt governments. I managed to get this laptop used and it was practically free, that's why I'm investing so much time to it. I was planning to use it for university lectures, as it's smaller and lighter than my 15 inch dell inspiron.
I think I'll keep struggling with it, something has to be the culprit of the error. Anyway, thanks for the help.

 

I recently found out that I'm not on the latest BIOS version, and that latest updates have improved compatibility with both Windows 10 and Linux. I have P10AAJ, which is the latest I could found on the bios list thread. The Bios Update software detects that BIOS version P15AAJ is available, but it fails to download it. Does anyone have a way to get the newest BIOS update?

 

After investigating a bit I managed to find one of the files that BiosUpdate.exe created and found out the name of the bios I was looking for. Using this guide I got the file and run it through a USB on the laptop, and now I'm on the latest BIOS version. The file was called "BUContent.xml". I'll try using the latest BIOS and see if I can get Windows running.