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I have been trying a handful of times over the last few months to install Windows 10 onto my new SSD. Originally I had tried transferring Windows 10 from the hard drive to the SSD, but couldn't because of the format of my old hard drive. I then tried to do a clean install of Windows 10 using a USB Drive. Everything had gone well, it gets through the install screen, but when it restarts, (if its even supposed to restart), it puts me back at the beginning of the setup rather than moving forward at all. I then gave up, and attempted to be content with having Windows on my hard drive. Unfortunately, when I had attempted the previously mentioned transfer, it botched up a bunch of my apps and hardwares necessary drivers and files. So I am now attempting the clean install method again, this time using an ISO burned onto a DVD. I backed up some important files and completely deleted everything but Windows from my computer. The setup with the disk does the same thing as the USB. Please help me get out of the infinite setup loop.
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When you attempt installing Windows onto the hard drive, on the first reboot does the installation start from the beginning.
If so this is usually caused by changing the boot order to boot form the Installation Media. On the first reboot, you must go back into BIOS and change the boot order, so your SSD is at the top of the boot order and the installation will complete . . .
Kurt, here is the process I use when I install Windows 10 onto an SSD
Disconnect existing Hard Drive from the motherboard
Connect the SSD to SATA port 1 on the motherboard
Insert the bootable Media
Enter BIOS and change SATA Mode to AHCI - Very Important !
Change boot order to boot from Installation Media
Start installation
During Installation, on first reboot, change boot order so system boots from SSD
Complete the installation
When the installation has completed and reaches your Desktop, you can shut down and re-connect your hard drive if you intend to use it as a data drive
I hope this helps resolve this issue - please check the SATA Mode in your BIOS, it must be AHCI and must be set that way before installing Windows
After the Windows install is complete on the Unallocated Space on the drive, it no longer lists the SSD as a boot drive.
I do, but i unplug it when I am attempting to boot from the SSD.
When I select the SSD as the only boot option, it does not boot at all. When I boot off of the hard drive to check whats on the SSD, it shows that Windows files have been downloaded onto the drive. When I boot using the installation media, it restarts the setup process.
