Can't install Windows 10 with USB Boot on SSD (Legacy BIOS).

I had the same, followed the same routine as laid out here, but ended up settling for SATA in IDE mode.

The SSD is fine in other hardware, but windows 10 refuses to install when set to AHCI in this Legacy machine with "0 allocated and 0 available" (if I remember the wording correctly) after the disk has been CLEANED in DISKPART.

I am guessing my issue is cause by my ancient motherboard's implementation of AHCI because I then chose to install Linux Mint instead and I had to create a small separate BOOT partition and "Do something else" because the standard install resulted in an "out of range" error while booting. This is not something I have ever had to do before. I don't remember if I had a drivers disk that could be used by the Windows 10 setup, but it does not install on my PC in AHCI mode, just IDE.

I suspect that when Vista (told you it was old) and then Windows 7 were installed, the interface was set to IDE because the system came with a HDD and was only replaced with an SSD as an upgrade. Perhaps this is why others are only encountering this issue on Windows 10.

Hi DM. I'm Greg, an Independent Advisor, here to help you until the problems are fixed.

I will give you all possible steps to troubleshoot Windows installation failure which work in about 90% of cases. If not we'll go from there:

Follow the illustrated Clean Install steps in this tutorial which compiles the best possible install that will stay that way as long as you stick with the tools and methods given: http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/wiki...

Make sure all other drives and peripherals are unplugged. Update the BIOS or UEFI firmware to latest, or reset to Defaults, set SATA controller to AHCI, SSD first to boot, Save changes and Exit. Access BIOS/UEFI Setup as shown here: https://www.mydigitallife.net/comprehensive-lis...

https://www.groovypost.com/howto/reset-pc-bios-...

Create the latest Windows 10 Installation Media by installing Media Creation Tool and following the directions here: http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-10/m.... If you're using another PC to do this uncheck the box for Recommended Settings to choose the exact version and bit rate for the target PC only.

Insert media, boot it by powering up PC while pressing the BIOS Boot Menu Key: https://www.sysnative.com/forums/hardware-tutor...

If the media won't boot you may need to enter BIOS/UEFI Setup (pressing key given in chart in link above) to turn off Fast Boot or Fast Startup first. If you can start Windows enter UEFI firmware here: http://www.isunshare.com/windows-password/four-...

The media may also be bad, so confirm it boots and queues up per these steps in another PC, or else recreate it. You can also try a DVD, or the alternate download site from MS TechBench here: https://tb.rg-adguard.net/public.php. Burn to DVD using WIndows Image Burner or create bootable flash using one of the options here: https://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/2376-create...

Choose the boot device as a UEFI device if offered, on first screen press Shift + F10 to open a Command Prompt, type the following commands, each followed by Enter key:

DISKPART

LIST DISK

SEL DIS # (replace # with the disk # of the Windows disk from list in previous command)

CLEAN

EXIT

Close Command Box, on second screen choose Install Now, then Custom Install, then at the drive selection screen choose Unallocated Space, click Next to let it create needed partitions and start install - this makes it foolproof.

Make sure to follow the setup steps in the first link tutorial to complete your install. Drivers are important enough that those steps are printed in red. If installation stalls or won't complete, try disconnecting from the internet.

You will get and keep the best possible install to the exact extent you stick with the steps, tools and methods in the first linked tutorial. It's a better install than any amount of money could buy and a great learning experience that will make you the master of your PC.

If all else fails you can move the hard drive to another PC to do the install with it plugged in alone. Windows 10 is remarkably adaptive to new hardware without needing adaptive restore. If it will start it will swap out all drivers requiring several restarts. You can also try applying a same-version System Image to the intact SSD/hard drive.

I hope this helps. Feel free to ask back any questions and let us know how it goes. I will keep working with you until it's resolved.

________________________________________________________

Standard Disclaimer: There are links to non-Microsoft websites. The pages appear to be providing accurate, safe information. Watch out for ads on the sites that may advertise products frequently classified as a PUP (Potentially Unwanted Products). Thoroughly research any product advertised on the sites before you decide to download and install it.

I did both ways, deleting and creating, none of them worked. By creating partition manually I tried to copy the solution from other forums just in case. I also did without creating it. When I don't create it the initial problem persists. Even when SSD was listed as an Unallocated space completely - no budge.

Can it be an issue with the gpt and mbr formats? Maybe latest Windows 10 installation requires the drive to be in gpt format? By drives I mean drivers, not physical drives, sorry for the typo.

Could it be faulty SSD since none of the instructions worked? Even though I can write and read from it in my old system.

The troubleshooting instructions I wrote out above specifically say to delete all partitions down to Unallocated Space and then click Next to auto-create and -format the needed partitions and begin - this makes it foolproof.

Instead you created a partition which it does NOT say to do, and then got that error. Did you even wipe the disk with Clean Command to get it cleanest?

You said you had all the relevant drives installed but the instructions also say to remove all other drives except the target SSD. This is crucial. Did you unplug the other drives?

Please go back to the top of the instructions I wrote out which work for almost everyone else, and make sure to do them all this time. If you get stuck I am here to help.

I did everything said in the instructions but nothing changed. When I try to install I still get the message that "windows can't install on this drive", more info still says that "hardware may not support". When I manually create the partition and then try to install it says that "windows can't be installed on disk 1 partition 1". I even tried installing on 2017 motherboard with eufi system (both legacy and uefi settings). It did not work on it and said same messages. Maybe the problem is the SSD itself? Device manager says that I have all the relevant drives installed and up to date. Windows itself recognizes the SSD inside my old Windows 10 system and can even format/write/read from it. So it all seems very odd to me.