Hi all,
I just finished replacing my HDD with SSD and put everything back.
As soon as I turn it on, it goes into BIOS mode, blue screen.
in BOOT Tab >>>
i saw
Boot configuration
fast boot [enabled]
launch CSM [disabled]
delete boot option
the only thing i can change in this option is fast boot and delete boot option.
Could you please tell me what to do next ? I'm stuck at the moment. :(
Thanks very much.
Did you clone everything from your old drive to the new one? Or is it just a blank drive?
Explain 'put everything back' :)
Did you ghost (ie clone or copy the drive) or did you do a fresh install of windows?
To check if the SSD is not faulty, check to see if it is connected (usually a tab within the bios to see what ATA / SATA are connected)
Also, if you put the original HDD back in does it operate normally?
I did not clone anything because i want fresh install.
What i did was i took out the HDD and put the SDD there.
and put everything back in (screws and everything).
and i only turned on.
it seems like OS is gone.
now, i found my old windows 8 pro cd and key which i bought long time ago.
i put it that CD in and it seemed to be installing.
can i get my windows 8.1 back which was included in this laptop when i bought it ?
I managed to find key with nirsoft software and i took photo of that key before taking out my HDD.
How did you expect the OS to be there if you took out the original hard drive? That's where the OS is located. You can retrieve your windows 8.1 by re-attaching the old hard drive. You can then perform a factory reset and clone the reset state to the SSD using an external enclosure or something similar.
Otherwise, if you are happy using your windows 8 pro then just update that to 8.1 and you'll be fine.
I'll assume you have a laptop. The original factory install is usually on a hidden partition on the original hdd, or in the days of old came on a 'recovery' disk.
If you want it to be how it used to be, i would suggest clone the ssd from the original hdd. It can be done a few ways, there a some hard drive clone docks out there, or if you have a trusty desktop pc, plug both into the motherboard and then clone with a program such as acronis or if you bought a samsung ssd, the migration software.
Otherwise, installing from an actual windows cd can be an advantage (avoid all the manufacturer bloatware). Don't forget to use windows update and check 'device manager' to make sure you install all of the drivers. Drivers can be downloaded from the manufacturer site.
Thumbs up on keeping a record of your key, good luck! :)
LOLZ@Kiera, it seems like you are having alot of fun. It's good you will learn a lot from this. Something I haven't done yet without an install disc.
Thank u all.
Yeah , it's fun when I see it works .
Otherwise, there will be few hundreds bucks will be out of my pocket :( .
I just realized my windows 8 pro key is not working. I don't know why.
can i still upgrade to win 8.1 without having windows activated in this current OS ?
Ok, just off the bat, which key are you using? as you have a windows pro cd, are you using the key from your photo that you pulled up from the nirsoft software or from the windows pro cd?
Assuming the windows that came with your laptop is just standard home premium, that means it is a standard key = won't activate for pro. All keys are bound to their particular version, i.e standard key won't activate with pro version. Pro version key won't activate to a standard version. Also is your windows 8 pro cd an upgrade version, OEM or retail product?
Depending on this, you could try using the windows 8 pro key that came with the disk, but then you may encounter an issue with the embedded windows 8 home premium key in the bios, meaning your original key is overriding the windows 8 pro key. This is becoming standard with windows 8 + laptops to embed the original keys.
For example, if your cd is a windows 8 pro cd, and the key embedded is the windows 8 standard, it will not allow you to change this key once you have done the install as it pulls the embedded key first, which will work for install but won't activate because the version of windows is different (pro not home premium).
The work around i have used for a customer is these steps:
Purchase a 4gb + USB flash drive
Use a program such as WintoFlash to then transfer your windows pro cd installation to the usb.
On the USB stick, create a file sources/PID.txt that contains:
[PID]
Value=XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX
Replace the XXXXses with your product key. * this would be the key that came with the actual windows pro cd you purchased.
Boot from the USB stick to install Windows. It will not prompt for the product key, but use the one you specified in PID.txt.
Otherwise if it is an issue simply with activation, see below just scroll down a bit:
http://support.hp.com/us-en/document/c03486254
Alternatively, if you are in Queensland come into Umart Online southside branch and we can do the job for $80 for you.
The windows key that comes with the laptop is a pre-installed generic OEM key and won't activate on retail copies of Windows. You must use the key from the bottom of your laptop, it might be hidden behind the battery. Take out the battery and you should see the Windows 8 COA which will look like this
there's a setting for the HDD, something about AHCI - play with that (turn it on if it's off, or vice versa)
sorry can't remember the exact details but hopefully it jogs the memory of someone who does know :)
maybe this helps? -> http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/281409-32-ahci-windows-ins…
or even this: http://forum.crucial.com/t5/Crucial-SSDs/Why-do-i-need-AHCI-…
there's stuff out there, it's to do with the switch from IDE to AHCI i believe.
good luck!
Little tip, don't use IDE if you have option in bios for AHCI. IDE mode is older than AHCI, and can cause blue screen, slow performance and you don't get full benefits from the ssd. If you have already installed windows on IDE mode, then you have to modify the registry to get windows to force install driver AHCI mode (slight annoyance and can easily be avoided by selecting AHCI before installing windows).
IDE = compatible with all older PC motherboards and Windows OS's (pre windows 7)
AHCI = higher throughput and able to access SATA features like NCQ and hot swap
Just guessing, but sounds like poster's problem is an issue with installation of the operating system/activation not the sata controller interface.
Thank you all for your suggestions.
problem with activating is key from my win 8 pro (CD) key . It's not working. I don't know why.
so, I upgraded to Win 8.1 pro without activating my win 8 pro.
Then, i bought Win 8.1pro key from ebay seller with 28$ and it worked.
now my Win 8.1pro is genuine and it's working.
What I'm doing now is upgrading to win 10. It's still in process of downloading and processing.
I'm actually quite happy with SSD . it's very fast compared to before.
my Win 8.1 is still in my HDD .
I am thinking to use it as external hard drive.
Where your OS at?