Windows Installation gone horribly wrong!

[Fgtfv567]

So if you've seen a few of my posts, you'll know that I've gotten an SSD upgrade, and of course, I reinstalled Windows on it. Problem is, after the Windows installation, the PC would not connect to the internet regardless of the ethernet connection, refused to use 2 monitors at the same time, and whenever I used my 1080p monitor, there would be these big black bars around the perimeter of the screen similar to Linus' review of the Y50

Pause at 6:03 for an example, except my black bars were a tiny bit smaller than that.

 

But, oh boy, here's the real fun part! After a few restarts of Windows on SSD, and plugging in my 1 TB HDD back in, all the text on the screen turned into illegible symbols and boxes! Hooray! If it wasn't for the fact that I could still use Windows off of my HDD, I wouldn't be writing this post on my PC....

 

So what the fuck do I do? I've thought about reinstalling Windows, but lately I haven't had the time to do that.... I wonder if I have a bad SSD, or if the disc I got was messed up for the amount of time that it wasn't in my care....

[strykeofdesign]

I would unplug the hdd and re install windows only to the ssd, that's all that I can think of. Windows probably got confused af with the two drives, just unplug and re install, simple solution.

[Fgtfv567]

I would unplug the hdd and re install windows only to the ssd, that's all that I can think of. Windows probably got confused af with the two drives, just unplug and re install, simple solution.

That's what I did the first time.... Dunno if it'll happen twice tho

[strykeofdesign]

That's what I did the first time.... Dunno if it'll happen twice tho

I have no idea, i guess just try a re install and if that doesn't work call up Microsoft.

[Guest]

Dumb question, but you did install all the latest drivers after the new installation of windows, right? Especially if it's a laptop ethernet connectivity and wireless probably won't work without the specific drivers from the vendor.

[Fgtfv567]

Dumb question, but you did install all the latest drivers after the new installation of windows, right? Especially if it's a laptop ethernet connectivity and wireless probably won't work without the specific drivers from the vendor.

Couldn't connect to the internet! How am I supposed to download drivers and Windows updates without a working connection?! Mind you, it was an ethernet connection

[Guest]

Couldn't connect to the internet! How am I supposed to download drivers and Windows updates without a working connection?! Mind you, it was an ethernet connection

 

Seriously? You either use the driver CD from your motherboard or you download them beforehand and put them on a USB drive. Of course internet connection won't work without drivers, and of course graphics support will be limited (limited resolution and no second monitor) without the actual drivers. Download the drivers on a different machine or on the working installation to a USB drive, then just install them. I doubt that your SSD has issues, but you can also wipe it and reinstall windows if you want to be sure.

[Fgtfv567]

Seriously? You either use the driver CD from your motherboard or you download them beforehand and put them on a USB drive. Of course internet connection won't work without drivers, and of course graphics support will be limited (limited resolution and no second monitor) without the actual drivers. Download the drivers on a different machine or on the working installation to a USB drive, then just install them. I doubt that your SSD has issues, but you can also wipe it and reinstall windows if you want to be sure.

Yes Seriously! I'm as big of a moron as you imagine me to be! I don't have a driver CD, but I guess I could get the drivers beforehand....

Regardless that still doesn't explain all the text turning into illegible symbols and shit

[Guest]

Yes Seriously! I'm as big of a moron as you imagine me to be! I don't have a driver CD, but I guess I could get the drivers beforehand....

Regardless that still doesn't explain all the text turning into illegible symbols and shit

 

But you want to use the SSD as a system drive, right? So why care about the (seemingly) broken installation on the HDD when you're going to wipe that anyway? Get the drivers, install them on the SSD and you should be good to go.

[Fgtfv567]

But you want to use the SSD as a system drive, right? So why care about the (seemingly) broken installation on the HDD when you're going to wipe that anyway? Get the drivers, install them on the SSD and you should be good to go.

No, I already have a WORKING installation on the HDD, and am not wiping any Windows files on it should anything like this happen again. And, eh, I'll do that when I have the time. Also, where do I put the drivers and how do I get them onto my flash drive?

[Guest]

No, I already have a WORKING installation on the HDD, and am not wiping any Windows files on it should anything like this happen again. And, eh, I'll do that when I have the time. Also, where do I put the drivers and how do I get them onto my flash drive?

 

Did you unplug the HDD when you were installing windows on the SSD? If you plug it back in you suddenly have 2 system drives with 2 seperate windows installations, yes that is going to mess something up.

 

Go to your motherboard vendors website and search for your specific model, then download the appropriate drivers (which windows version, 32bit or 64bit, etc.). After you've downloaded all the drivers that you need (you could download ALL drivers and then install them all at once, or you could just get the LAN drivers and then download them) just put them on your USB stick.

Then you should run the windows installation with both drives plugged in (if you want to use them both), wipe both system partitions and install a fresh version onto your SSD. Once booted into Windows on your SSD you just plug in the USB drive and install the drivers. Done.

 

Alternatively you could clone your old drive onto the new one, but a fresh windows installation is usually not a bad idea once in a while.

[MourningSouls]

Clone your mechanical drive.

 

Most companies that have SSD's have cloning software available for free.

 

If you have problems after that, then I would think the SSD is the problem.

[Fgtfv567]

Did you unplug the HDD when you were installing windows on the SSD? If you plug it back in you suddenly have 2 system drives with 2 seperate windows installations, yes that is going to mess something up.

 

Go to your motherboard vendors website and search for your specific model, then download the appropriate drivers (which windows version, 32bit or 64bit, etc.). After you've downloaded all the drivers that you need (you could download ALL drivers and then install them all at once, or you could just get the LAN drivers and then download them) just put them on your USB stick.

Then you should run the windows installation with both drives plugged in (if you want to use them both), wipe both system partitions and install a fresh version onto your SSD. Once booted into Windows on your SSD you just plug in the USB drive and install the drivers. Done.

 

Alternatively you could clone your old drive onto the new one, but a fresh windows installation is usually not a bad idea once in a while.

The HDD was unplugged while I was installing Windows on the SSD, and I replugged in the HDD, and yes, I have 2 seperate drives with 2 different OSs. I don't see how that would cause issues tho, I expect the two to be separate and not interfering with one another...

 

Clone your mechanical drive.

 

Most companies that have SSD's have cloning software available for free.

 

If you have problems after that, then I would think the SSD is the problem.

Can't. 500 gigs used up on the HDD, 120 GB SSD, no spare drives or backups whatsoever. And yes, I am aware I am a moron.

[Guest]

The HDD was unplugged while I was installing Windows on the SSD, and I replugged in the HDD, and yes, I have 2 seperate drives with 2 different OSs. I don't see how that would cause issues tho, I expect the two to be separate and not interfering with one another...

 

Can't. 500 gigs used up on the HDD, 120 GB SSD, no spare drives or backups whatsoever. And yes, I am aware I am a moron.

 

It probably was the issue. If you can't clone the drive because it's all one partition then just do as I said. Get the drivers beforehand, copy them to a USB drive, and then wipe all system partitions. On your fresh windows installation you just install the drivers via USB, done. If you want to save some data that is on the HDD then create a second partition beforehand and copy everything there. Then only wipe the C drive during the installation and you're fine.

[Beltboy]

The HDD was unplugged while I was installing Windows on the SSD, and I replugged in the HDD, and yes, I have 2 seperate drives with 2 different OSs. I don't see how that would cause issues tho, I expect the two to be separate and not interfering with one another...

 

Windows really hates running like this, if you have both drives plugged in during install (you can have 2 installs of windows) there will only be 1 system drive it will boot from that and then work out which windows to use, if it sees both it will get confused.

 

It's surprisingly common that laptops have network devices that have no basic drivers on a clean install. I always download drivers before I start a re-install and stick them on a USB stick.

[techguru]

I kinda get the idea someone who doesn't know about drivers and stuff...should probably be getting a more knowledgeable friend or someone to do this clean install for them