Problem re-installing Win7 on Samsung np530u3c

Hi,

I'm helping a friend re-installing Win 7 on his Samsung np530u3c laptop, but I've run in to some problems.

I've tried searching for my exact problem on here but haven't found it.

It started like this:

Windows started to boot but wouldn't boot fully.

I made a bootable Win7 usb-stick.

I managed to get the computer to boot from the USB,
but when I choose the 500GB disk to install Win7 on the installer said it couldn't write files or make partition or something,
(this was before I knew that the PC had 2 separate disk, one SSD one standard).

A while here I gave up, and when I was quitting the Win7 installer the computer just started rebooting over and over.
Boot -> Samsung (where I can press F2 and F4 -> Reboot.

I returned the BIOS settings to their normal state, but it didn't help.

After that I tried installing Win7 on the smaller of the two disk and that worked, however the computer still won't boot.
It will only boot if I leave in the Win7 USB, and then it boots off of that.

Can anybody give me some advice? I don't have a clue what to do.

Thanks in advance,

nejo

 

I think ExpressCache is confusing the Windows installer.

IIRC the fix is in this thread.

John

 

Hi,

thanks, just tried it but I can't get the standard hdd formated or partitioned, just says "Failed to create a new partition on the selected unused space. [Error: 0x80042556] ?

 

I booted up the Win7 installer again to try and format the 500GB HDD, but still no success, so I thought I'd have a look in the cmd. Started diskpart, and for some reason the only disks I can see is the 22GB SSD and my 4GB USB-stick. Shouldn't I be able to see all three, HDD, SSD & USB ?

 

If the computer came with Win 8, it is setup for the newer UEFI mode and the disk is GPT style. Check the guide linked below (within the thread John gave you) for how to convert before installing.

http://forum.notebookreview.com/sam...windows-7-8-via-usb-np700z-4.html#post9191509

Even if the computer came with Win7 originally (so you don't have that UEFI/GPT issue) you still need to overcome the ExpressCache issue John mentioned. The easiest fix is to install from DVD instead of USB. Otherwise you'll have to use the workarounds on the first page of that thread. The guide I linked will still get you started.

 

Hi again,
the computer came with Win7.

I just tried to install Win7 using a external DVD, but it still won't work.

When I try to make a partition on the SATA HDD it says, it was unable to do so. And if I just select it and press next, it says Windows wasn't able to be installed on the unallocated space.

Any ideas are appreciated.

 

Thanks for the update. It still sounds like an UEFI/GPT/MBR issue to me.

In your BIOS (F2) check that UEFI is disabled and AHCI is set to Auto. Then try again.

If it still won't let you create a partition, then try the DISKPART steps in the install guide to convert your disk to MBR. Then close out, turn off the computer; now try again, so BIOS can detect the converted disk.

That's all I can think of.

Edit: Come to think of it, if the problems came suddenly (no changes or updates that could have caused them) and now you cannot create partitions, it could be a disk error.

Also, is the Recovery partition still intact? If so, you can try booting F4 and restore to factory. It that works, you'll be up and running in 20 mins.

 

Thanks,

a few questions:

I'm know in the cmd with diskpart, I see two disk, disk 0 (ssd) and disk 1 (sata hdd).

I just can't figure out how to make a partition, the guide assumes that I aldreay have one?

Is it right I need two partitions on the sata hdd, one 100mb and one for the rest?

 

Update, just tried to make a 100mb partition with this command line: create partition primary size=100 no err

I got this: Virtual Disk Service error: The service's cache has become corrupt.

Diskpart has referenced an object which is not up-to-date.
Refresh the object by using the RESCAN command.
If the problem persists exit DiskPart, then restart Diskpart or restart the computer.

What should I do?

EDIT: Just did a rescan, and now the list disk command only gives that there one disk present, the SSD disk.

I guess the SATA HDD is broken?

 

I didn't mean to create partitions using DISKPART, just use it to convert to MBR. Use the normal partition screen in Windows Setup to create and format partitions. The guide also covers creating a new Windows partition on a blank disk, just read a bit further.

There is one more possible explanation for the vanishing SATA HDD: If UEFI was ever enabled and the disk was partitioned as GPT: In that case Setup may not be able to see it if UEFI is later disabled. It's best to never mess with the UEFI setting on WIn7 machines, unless you know what it means and what it does.

If you think this may have been what happened, the steps are the following:

1) Enable UEFI in BIOS, save, power off.

2) Boot Setup and convert the disk to MBR using DISKPART as described in the install guide. Exit Setup and power off.

3) Disable UEFI in BIOS, save, power off. Power on and go back into BIOS, verify that the SATA HDD is visible and selected under Boot Priority. If not, try again from step (1).

4) Assuming the SATA HDD was visible in BIOS, run Windows Setup again (from DVD!), create a new Windows partition (using the normal partition screen, not DISKPART). I recommend at least 60GB, leave the rest for a Data partition to be created later. Again, as covered in the guide.

5) Follow the rest of the guide, including drivers etc. You should already have downloaded and saved WiFi driver and SW Update.

If this doesn't bring the SATA HDD to life, I have a strong feeling it may be defect.

I am sorry to be so terse, I really don't have much time today (or the next days).

Please keep us posted.

 

Hi,

I've been busy with school and haven't gotten around to trying to fix the computer until now.

I followed these steps (found here: http://forum.notebookreview.com/sam...windows-7-8-via-usb-np700z-4.html#post9191509)

You can convert the disk to MBR by opening a Command Prompt in Windows Setup (Shift-F10) then type the following commands:

DISKPART (to start the Disk Partition manager)
LIST DISK (to show all your disks. Notice which one is your HDD)
SELECT DISK 0 (assuming 0 was the number of your HDD)
DETAIL DISK (just to verify that you selected the right disk)
CLEAN (to wipe the disk)
CONVERT MBR (to convert the disk from GPT to MBR)
EXIT (to close DISKPART)
EXIT (to close Command Prompt)

However I didn't get further then CONVERT TO MBR. After I ran that command DiskPart told me this:

"Virtual disk service error:
The service’s cache has become corrupt.

Diskpart has referenced an object which is not up-to-date.
Refresh the object by using the RESAN command.
If the problem persists exit Diskpart, then restart Diskpart or restart the computer."

I did a rescan, and now the disk is gone. The only one showing is the 22GB SSD disk.

Any ideas on what to do ?

Thanks

//nejo

 

Hello nejo, welcome to NBR.

Just to make sure: The command is "CONVERT MBR" not "CONVERT TO MBR".

Unless there is an actual hardware defect causing this, the disk should show up next time you boot and load Setup and go into DISKPART.

I would try and proceed with the steps in the guide, and disable UEFI in BIOS (SecureBoot=disabled, OS Mode Selecion=CSM), save that and reboot Windows Setup. Now see if the disk shows up. Sometimes it takes a cold reboot (power off/on) before BIOS detects the drive.

Keep us posted.

 

Hi again,

If i run CONVERT MBR, it says that somethings wrong. If I reboot the computer the disk is visible again, but if I check DISK DETAIL, it says that it isn't bootable.

I tried finding Secureboot and OS Mode Select in BIOS, but can't find them?

//nejo

 

Anyone knows?

 

I am sorry, my attendance here is sporadic at the moment.

No, your BIOS doesn't have SecureBoot (a BIOS setting in newer models), just the simple UEFI on/off switch. When I responded the other day, I didn't bother reading up first on all our previous conversation from October, which I had forgotten all about. My mistake

What I originally suggested, was to enable UEFI (cold reboot), CONVERT MBR (cold reboot), disable UEFI (cold reboot), then check if Windows Setup can see the disk.

I only meant to enable UEFI temporarily while you performed the CONVERT MBR. Sometimes BIOS won't see a GPT disk at all if UEFI is disabled. I assume it's converted to MBR now (if it wasn't already MBR to begin with).

Given where you are now, disable UEFI (if you haven't already), cold reboot, and if BIOS can detect the disk, I would try to just install Win7 using the steps in the Win7 install guide (the same one you linked). Forget about DISKPART, we're done with that. Just run Setup and use its Advanced screen to create a Windows partition. If that fails too, I have to wonder if you have a disk error.

Assuming you are able to create a Windows partition in Setup, just proceed with the installation steps.

If you can install from a DVD, it will make everything MUCH easier, because it avoids the boot problem with the small iSSD. This is what John referred to in his very first response to you.

Otherwise (if you MUST install from USB) you will have to follow the steps in this post to copy the boot files (which setup incorrectly places on the iSSD) to the Windows partition, and marking it Active. You do this by booting Setup a second time after it is finished copying all files.

I'll try to keep an eye on this thread the next couple days, so I don't forget the context again