Installing windows on SSD - new build

[jay_productions]

Hello guys how are you all


I have had a custom PC built, specs include:
- i7 4770 processor
- Asus H87M-plus Motherboard

and my two drives are:

-120GB Samsung 840 evo SATA3 SSD
- 1TB barracuda HDD

Now the system has been built by the company, but i have windows 8 professional already on CD, which i want to install when turning this PC on for the first time.

The problem is that i want windows 8 pro to boot from my SSD so i want that as my first bootable drive and then my storage on the HDD which wont have windows installed on it.

The problem is that now both DD's are plugged into the PC, im not sure which is number one and which is number two, but thats not my problem.

My problem is that if i install windows 8 fresh now, i will need to have my boot drive as the CD/DVD to read it to install new on my PC, and i am not sure if it will save its files onto the hdd or ssd, and also if it boots from the CD then my first bootable drive wont be the SSD will it??

How can i get around this? And im sorry if i sound dumb, im a beginner to this.

Thanks

 

[ronintexas]

The easy way - unplug the hard drive's cables, then power on, boot from DVD, finish installations, then plug the drive back in.

 

[HiTechObsessed]

You don't need to do that. Just change the CD/DVD drive to be number 0 (first priority) in the boot sequence. When you put in the Windows install disc, it will give you the option which drive you want to install to. It will show you either the name of the drive, or capacity so you should easily be able to find it. You definitely don't need to unplug and replug cables.

 

[USAFRet]

Having only the SSD connected prevents the OS from creating the System Reserved partition (boot info) on the other drive. Win 7 & 8 likes to do that.

 

[jay_productions]

Thank you guys this is what i needed to know. But when i do this, is there any other settings i need to refer to (i.e. from the motherboard manual) when on the BIOS menu?

I will unplug the HDD cable, turn on PC, set disk 0 as DVD for first boot drive, and boot windows 8 and install it, but then once its installed, wont the SDD be boot 1 drive (as dvd is 0) and then plugging in the HDD will make that boot 2??

 

[HiTechObsessed]

Don't unplug the HDD cable. All you need to do in the BIOS is set the CD drive to Boot 0, then when you install Windows, go back into the BIOS and set the SSD as first priority.

 

[USAFRet]

Don't unplug the HDD cable. All you need to do in the BIOS is set the CD drive to Boot 0, then when you install Windows, go back into the BIOS and set the SSD as first priority.

Yes, you can do it that way and it works perfectly. Until you want to remove that HDD, or if it dies.
The System Reserved partition generally gets put on another drive. And without it, no boot for you.

Prevent that by having only the one drive connected.

 

[jay_productions]

Ok but then if i set CD drive to boot 0, and all the other drives are intact, what if windows installs its files onto the HDD?

So i just boot the cd, then once windows is installed change boot 0 to SSD and boot 1 to HDD????

 

[USAFRet]

Ok but then if i set CD drive to boot 0, and all the other drives are intact, what if windows installs its files onto the HDD?

So i just boot the cd, then once windows is installed change boot 0 to SSD and boot 1 to HDD????

It will install the OS on whatever drive you tell it to. The SYstem Reserved partition may be installed on a different drive, tho.

After the install, change the boot order in the BIOS.

 

[HiTechObsessed]

Ok but then if i set CD drive to boot 0, and all the other drives are intact, what if windows installs its files onto the HDD?

So i just boot the cd, then once windows is installed change boot 0 to SSD and boot 1 to HDD????

Like I said above, Windows doesn't randomly select where to install to, it will give you the option to select where to install it. Simply select the SSD from the list, and it will install there.

Edit: To add, it doesn't matter what the remaining boot devices are, as the BIOS will see the Windows boot on the SSD and boot. Whatever comes after that doesn't matter. The boot priority is just the order it will look at until it finds something to boot from.

 

[jay_productions]

Hi guys thanks for all your replies.


I am having extreme trouble trying to launch Windows 8 Pro on my new built PC. All the specs of it above show that it is more then powerful to run it but i think some problems may be in the BIOS menu..

I just turned my PC on for the first time, and it shows the ASUS logo and goes to the BIOS section, the screen is blue and it has some temperature gauges and things, im not sure how much you are all familiar with the ASUS menu as you may have another motherboard.

My first problem is that the screen resolution is not correct at all, i only have one 37 inch LED TV and another LCD 1080p and i connected them both to my PC via HDMI, and the BIOS menu screen and start screen just do not look right at all...
First the colours kept changing like a green and blue colour and then eventually it stayed on the dark blue colour which i think it should be.
But the problem is that the screen resolution isnt right! I mean on the menu the whole text isn't displayed, like there is still text on the bottom and sides which i cant view, even if scrolling.

So basically does this mean i will HAVE to connect to a PC monitor via RGA cable to be able to view the whole BIOS menu? Due to all the text not being displayed i think i selected or changed one or two options on the BIOS menu, which i do not know have had an impact on installing Windows 8.

I put the windows 8 CD in, booted from disk and the logo came up, when it asked for the product key, i put it in and then it just crashed! Twice this has happened. The cd makes that spinning sound and then the sound just stops and then starts again like its just looping the sound, so i knew nothing was happening after putting in the product key. I am not sure if this is due to maybe changing a setting on the BIOS mode due to not being able to view all the on screen text properly, which must be due to screen positioning or resolution.
I tried changing the aspect ratio on my LCD/LED and still doesnt display the full ASUS screen to fit to the screen.

Please help guys!!!

 

[jay_productions]

My asus menu is a little bit similar to this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bjPEkO_sUpk

but it is no way as clear, or covering the screen as clearly as this

But i would of thought connecting via hdmi would have done the job but it doesnt

 

[HiTechObsessed]

Are you plugged in to the GPU or the motherboard? And do you have your SSD set to AHCI in the motherboard options?

 

[jay_productions]

Sorry im not sure how do I plug into gpu or motherboard or check which im plugged into??
Yeah im sure its set to AHCI.
Basically it boots up off the cd and then when it gets to the product key it crashes after iv put the product key.

Can you help?

 

[jay_productions]

Hi i have an update, it boots normally onto the windows screen, i put in the language, and then when i enter a valid product key correctly, it freezes for about 10 minutes and then says ''we couldn't verify the product key please check your installation media''

I really dont know what to do, please help? I have an asus h87-m plus motherboard, and the installation cd for it too

 

[ronintexas]

Skip the step with the product key - you have 30 days to register. You may have to manually do this with Microsoft via phone.

 

[USAFRet]

Skip the step with the product key - you have 30 days to register. You may have to manually do this with Microsoft via phone.

I don't think Windows 8 lets you do that anymore.