Steve Eckerman
asked on
Installing Samsung SSD into Vostro 1520
I am attempting to install a Samsung SSD into my Vostro 1520. The cloning of the original hard drive to the SSD went fine. I can see all of the cloned files on the SSD. However after installing the SSD into the laptop upon boot I get PXE Media Test Fail No Operating System Found. Could someone tell me why the SSD is not booting up? Thanks!
Last Comment
Seth Simmons
is the drive detected in the bios? is it configured to boot first?
ASKER
It is not detected in the bios and it is set to boot first.
What software did you use to clone? Could be that the cloning software is the problem. I recommend Casper, which has never failed me:
http://www.fssdev.com/products/casper/
You didn't say if your W7 is 32-bit or 64-bit, but Casper works on both. I have used it to clone many, many times to a new SSD, never having a problem with the cloned drive. It can clone to the same size drive or to a larger one or even to a smaller one, as long as there is enough space on the smaller one to house the used (non-free) space from the larger one. It's not free, but it's reasonably priced and worth every penny.
Two other well-regarded (also non-free) products are Acronis and Macrium:
http://www.acronis.com/
http://www.macrium.com/
I used Acronis previously, but now prefer Casper.
If you're looking for something that is free, I've heard good things here at EE about these (some may be free only for non-commercial use — check the licensing terms for each):
Clonezilla
DriveImage XML
EaseUS Disk Copy Home
Paragon Backup&Recovery Free
But I haven't tried them as I do all of my cloning now with Casper. Here's a 5-minute EE video Micro Tutorial, Cloning a Hard Drive with Casper, showing how to do it. As a disclaimer, I want to emphasize that I have no affiliation with this company and no financial interest in it whatsoever. I am simply a happy user/customer. Regards, Joe
http://www.fssdev.com/products/casper/
You didn't say if your W7 is 32-bit or 64-bit, but Casper works on both. I have used it to clone many, many times to a new SSD, never having a problem with the cloned drive. It can clone to the same size drive or to a larger one or even to a smaller one, as long as there is enough space on the smaller one to house the used (non-free) space from the larger one. It's not free, but it's reasonably priced and worth every penny.
Two other well-regarded (also non-free) products are Acronis and Macrium:
http://www.acronis.com/
http://www.macrium.com/
I used Acronis previously, but now prefer Casper.
If you're looking for something that is free, I've heard good things here at EE about these (some may be free only for non-commercial use — check the licensing terms for each):
Clonezilla
DriveImage XML
EaseUS Disk Copy Home
Paragon Backup&Recovery Free
But I haven't tried them as I do all of my cloning now with Casper. Here's a 5-minute EE video Micro Tutorial, Cloning a Hard Drive with Casper, showing how to do it. As a disclaimer, I want to emphasize that I have no affiliation with this company and no financial interest in it whatsoever. I am simply a happy user/customer. Regards, Joe
ASKER
I used the cloning software that came with the SSD. I think it might be some type of bios setting that needs to be changed so it can see the SSD. I can see the cloned files and access them on the SSD.
In that case, maybe this EE thread will help:
https://www.experts-exchange.com/questions/28338346/Samsung-SSD-840-EVO-won't-install-Windows-7.html
Btw, if your Samsung SSD is an 840 EVO, I recommend reading this EE article:
How to fix read performance on Samsung SSD 840 EVO and 840 EVO mSATA
Regards, Joe
https://www.experts-exchange.com/questions/28338346/Samsung-SSD-840-EVO-won't-install-Windows-7.html
Btw, if your Samsung SSD is an 840 EVO, I recommend reading this EE article:
How to fix read performance on Samsung SSD 840 EVO and 840 EVO mSATA
Regards, Joe
It is not detected in the bios and it is set to boot first.
How can you select it to boot first if it isn't even detected in the BIOS?
Make sure it is properly connected to the PC. Also, if the controller of the PC can be set for IDE/AHCI mode, make sure you have it set to AHCI, as you don't get most of the speed advantages of an SSD if you only use IDE mode.
Also make sure the firmware of the SSD is updated before you put it into the new PC.
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ASKER
Great answer! Thanks!!!
"... It is not detected in the bios and it is set to boot first. " ??? This is a very inconsistent statement !!
You certainly can't set something in the BIOS boot order if it's not seen by the BIOS !!
If it IS seen in the BIOS, I suspect noxcho's comment is correct ... the partition is likely not set as the active partition.
Change that and all should be well.
You certainly can't set something in the BIOS boot order if it's not seen by the BIOS !!
If it IS seen in the BIOS, I suspect noxcho's comment is correct ... the partition is likely not set as the active partition.
Change that and all should be well.
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