fresh windows 7 issue

[talion83]

I just got a e5520 from Dell and put in an intel 320 SSD. Pop'd in the Windows 7 Ultimate disc and have been having issues since:

First started off with the dvd/cd driver issue - grabbed the drivers from Dell and loaded them from there. This appeared to work, but after the install (from DVD) it rebooted and couldn't find any bootable device.

Retried the install same issue. Noticed that after installing the SATA driver it no longer listed the DVD drive when I searched for other drivers (though it would install from it...). So I tried to switch over to USB install. I loaded the driver and tried again - still same issue.

When I boot up it indicates that no boot device is present. If I go back into the the installer and go to repair it recognizes the installation (shows it as on D, but I can survive that if it works) - but repairs don't work. I go into the command prompt and attempt to run bootrec.exe /scanos and it indicates that no windows installations are present. But I can navigate to the D drive and see all of the files present.

I have reinstalled it multiple times now from both DVD and USB always with the same issues. I tried using a few different versions of the SATA drivers.

Any thoughts?

 

[DirkGently1]

Is any of this hardware being seen by the BIOS?

List your PC specs too if you would.

 

[corkyg]

You may have a SSD alignment issue.

 

[talion83]

The BIOS is correctly recognizing the hard drive (and all other physical components) yes.

I am not familiar with the SSD Alignment issue and will look into that.

Specs:
i7-2620M
15.6" 1920x1080 screen
8 GB RAM
DVD +/-RW drive (hitachi)
120GB Intel 320 SSD

The SSD and 8GB RAM were added in after by myself - it was originally ordered with a standard HD and 2GB RAM. The RAM is kingston who makes the actual Dell branded RAM - just it was $34 for the 'kingston' and $94 for the 'Dell', so I ordered it separate and upgraded manually.

RAM and HD are seen properly in BIOS. I am not receiving any sort of issues installing which would indicate a RAM or HD issue. I have sat and watched the install finish 100%, go to the 'reboot phase' - then nothing.

 

[talion83]

I will use a hiren's disk tonight and see setting the alignment.

 

[talion83]

I used the repair console from the windows 7 install disk to do a diskpart and set the correct values on the drive. attempted a reinstall (as is) with no difference. Deleted the drive and tried to install it again, same issues (and it keeps setting the 'system created' drive to C: and subsequently the windows install to D).

When I go into repair console it shows the install at D, attempting to do a 'startup repair' doesn't find any errors. but still running bootrec /scanos shows no results.

I tried http://support.microsoft.com/kb/927392/en-us to manually delete and recreate the BCD. When I run it, it recognizes the install and asks if I want to add it. I indicate Yes, then do a /scanos and it still shows nothing (I have also tried to reboot immediately after doing it with no success).

I have used the built in diagnostics to test the hardware and it is all coming back as ok.

Not really sure where to go from here.