Inaccessible Boot Device error on new SSD with clean install

[DeNachtwacht]

Hi, I did about 10 attempts to install a fresh Windows 10 Install (Windows Education Edition) on my new 525GB Crucial MX300 SSD to replace my old 96GB Kingston V+100. Somehow, I keep getting the same Inaccessible Boot Device error. I have read a lot of topics about this issue here but these are all about a Windows 8 upgrade to windows 10, so I can't find solutions in them.

What I have tried:
- I have created different USB sticks with Windows 10 on it, tried to format+fresh install the disk multiple times.
- I disconnected the DVD drive, 2 RAM sticks and the HDD in order to prevent IRQ conflicts
- I tried to repair the (fresh) installation in all possible ways with the Windows 10 installation USB.
- I changed the BIOS settings to AHCI and back (did not do anything).

I still suspect it's some BIOS configuration but can't find out what exactly. My mainboard is the MSI DKA790GX. Anyone who has an idea how to solve this?

 

[photonboy]

I'm confused about the timeline.

Did you manage to install W10 then it reboots and you have issues, or does W10 installation not even happen?

Do you actually BOOT to the USB stick with W10 or are you not even booting that?

You said you repaired the W10 installation, so it sounds like it INSTALLS but then as I said it won't then bootup after installation finishes?

So...

I doubt it's BIOS related if you already had Windows installed on a different SSD.

I would suggest testing the SSD in a working computer as a secondary drive. Find the Crucial diagnostics software to scan and test the drive (or suitable tool if that doesn't exist).

 

[DeNachtwacht]

It's a clean SSD. I boot from USB, start the installation process, but as soon as the installation process reboots the first time to complete the installation, it fails. At that moment, the installer is trying to boot from the SSD to complete the installation from there.

So I basically can't get further than the first step of the installation.

 

[photonboy]

It's a clean SSD. I boot from USB, start the installation process, but as soon as the installation process reboots the first time to complete the installation, it fails. At that moment, the installer is trying to boot from the SSD to complete the installation from there.

So I basically can't get further than the first step of the installation.

My best guess then is a defective SSD.

The SSD is obviously seen since you installed to it. You already had the computer running, so it's not your system memory etc.

So again, I'd try to test it in another PC (not my area of expertise) or just RMA it but I can't think why it would be another issue.

 

[Colif]

wonder if its the iso... you could try this: https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/windows_10-windows_install/windows-10-education-edition-new-build-install/51ea7f15-6d50-4f30-ba4d-7620771afff2

 

[DeNachtwacht]

wonder if its the iso... you could try this: https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/windows_10-windows_install/windows-10-education-edition-new-build-install/51ea7f15-6d50-4f30-ba4d-7620771afff2

I reinstalled it 4 times, so I don't think that's the problem. I used Rufus and Unetbootin to create an ISO, and the media recover tool from microsoft, on two different USB disks. Both produce the same error.

It's a clean SSD. I boot from USB, start the installation process, but as soon as the installation process reboots the first time to complete the installation, it fails. At that moment, the installer is trying to boot from the SSD to complete the installation from there.

So I basically can't get further than the first step of the installation.

My best guess then is a defective SSD.

The SSD is obviously seen since you installed to it. You already had the computer running, so it's not your system memory etc.

So again, I'd try to test it in another PC (not my area of expertise) or just RMA it but I can't think why it would be another issue.

The SSD came new in a sealed box, that's the reason why I am reinstalling. there are no errors being reported on it and when I access it in Linux i can use it as normal. On another forum, I found this: http://superuser.com/questions/1177268/fresh-windows-10-education-gives-inaccessible-boot-device

My biggest problem is that I don't have a W10 PC around here (working on a MBA2010 now, so no option to install W10), else I would test this. I think this is the solution...

 

[photonboy]

1) You should be using UEFI, in SECURE MODE if possible. It's a bit confusing as every BIOS is different but on my PC this works by using DEFAULT setup in BIOS then make sure CSM (Compatibility Support Module) is disabled.

2) Accessing it in Linux doesn't prove it's fully functional, and I'm not sure what a definitive diagnostic would be.

3) Was W10 the same ISO image, or did you use different versions of THAT? If not, download another W10 image from here:
https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/software-download/windows10

Just choose HOME or PRO 64-bit. This is just to test if your Education version has an issue.

4) BIOS updated to latest?
Sometimes that helps.

5) SSD firmware updated to latest? (need Windows)
- probably not the issue but worth investigating

6) Contact Crucial tech support

7) Verify your system memory MEMTEST86 www.memtest86.com
- it's possible to have memory that produces errors occasionally that damages an installation but may not be enough to notice in normal usage (though likely data is getting corrupted). I doubt this is the issue but I should mention it.
- test for a full pass or until errors

8) BIOS settings can be an issue, but I don't think the INSTALL would work if there was an issue there. It's possible I'm incorrect.

9) Make sure no other SSD or HDD is attached.

10) If you can navigate to SAFE MODE, do that then reboot, if it fails try again then let it do Microsoft Updates and see if it can now reboot. Apparently it's worked for some people though don't ask me why.

11) reset BIOS to DEFAULT settings which may need to change to:
a) CSM disabled,
b) Secure mode on (if an option)

12) ***I noticed the motherboard is fairly OLD so I wonder if it's an SSD compatibility issue?*** (not every SSD works)
- the latest BIOS was from end 2010 and doesn't appear to have any SSD compatibility fixes.
https://msi.com/Motherboard/support/DKA790GX.html#down-bios

(that doesn't mean it won't work, though I've seen others with compatibility problems)

13) if really stumped, consider keeping the 90GB SSD for Windows (do a clean install) and use the larger SSD for your games (sometimes a drive can't BOOT but can work as a secondary drive as Windows may have the required driver or fix once it loads up), larger programs (and video editing scratch pad?... ) but put the Windows SSD image backup, downloads, videos etc. on an HDD if available

 

[DeNachtwacht]

Thanks for the detailed post photonboy. I have just solved the issue.
The problem is that on older systems (like mine) with BIOS, there is no support for the new GPT disk partitioning structure. With the Microsoft 10 Education ISO, the new formatted disk is set to GPT normally.

There are 2 solutions:
Easy one: use the Windows 10 media creation tool to create a normal Windows 10. When in Windows later, you can activate it with your Education serial.

The one I did: use the Windows 10 Education and start the installation, go to the second option (install completely new windows). When you arrive at the partitioning tool:

Step1: Click shift+F10
Step2: type "diskpart"
Step3: type "list disk" en look at the disk number you want to install windows to
Step4: type "select disk=YOURNUMBER"
Step5: type "list disk", there should be a * in front of your disk now (it has been selected)
Step6: type "convert mbr"

I did this, and with that, the Education ISO works fine. I will report this as a bug to microsoft, there seem to be quite a lot of people suffering from this bug with the education edition.