Trying to install Windows 7 on Samsung 530u3c. Laptop won't boot

I just bought a Samsung 530u3c with Windows 8 installed,so it's a week old. From day one, I have wanted to revert back to Windows 7.

So I have created a USB bootable drive with Windows 7 on, and tried installing it both on the SSD 24GB drive and the 465GB SATA HDD. The laptop will not boot from either drive.

After trying to boot once, the laptop reboots and then presents me with a boot menu that only shows the SATA HDD. Selecting it does nothing.

So I'm losing my mind here. I have absolutely no clue on how to solve this. I'm starting to think i just threw away 700 Euros... :(

Any thoughts on what my next steps should be in troubleshooting the issue?

Installation goes through without problems. All files are copied. By the time the laptop needs to restart, it goes into a boot loop.

I've read somewhere that this behavior has something to do with the reserved Windows partition being created in the SSD. No matter what drive i choose to install on (SSD or HDD), this reserved partition is always created in disk 0 (SSD). Still, i tried installing Windows on both disks and the problem stands.

Exact same thing happens when i try to install Windows 8... :(

First, some background. This laptop comes with a 1TB HDD and an 8GB iSSD, which is used as a cache to speed up Windows and apps. Samsung uses Diskeeper's ExpressCache software for that purpose. This SSD causes a rather large problem to the Windows installer. For whatever reason, Windows refuses to install its "System Reserved" partition on the HDD, downright refusing to proceed with the installation if the SSD is already partitioned for ExpressCache. But, repartioning the SSD and just letting Windows install itself, doesn't make things easier. In fact, it causes major troubles. It appears that the BIOS really doesn't want to boot off the SSD, which is where Windows decided to install its boot partition. So, here's the thing- how to get the HDD into a state where both Windows and Samsung's BIOS were happy, and the SSD free for ExpressCache use.

Before installing Windows and things to keep in mind

1. For your convenience, you might need to print this guide and read once before proceeding.

2. Backup your drivers to an External Flash Drive or DVD, using Samsung Recovery Solution. (Bear in mind that you don't have any network connection after a clean install and neither a backup partition at your pc)

3. Make sure your BIOS are set to boot from DVD or USB Drive, by changing priority. If you choose to use a USB, you have to disable "Fast BIOS Boot" as well.

4. In case of using a bootable USB for the installation, a message might emerge, implying that drivers are not installed and cannot proceed further. Just click "Cancel". Then, you will be brought back to the welcome screen. At that moment, remove the USB drive and plug it back in, to a different USB port this time. Click "Install Now" again. The installation should proceed as usual.

Installing Windows

1. Insert the istallation media on your laptop.

2. At the Windows Setup Wizard, select "Custom Install" to view all disks.

3. At the "Advanced" option, choose to format all disks and delete the SSD.

4. Press "Shift+F10" to launch cmd. Otherwise, reboot into the Windows Setup wizard and choose the "Repair" option, in the bottom left corner, and in the tools menu choose cmd.

5. Type in diskpart to get into the partition tool.

6. Use the commands list disk and list part to determine which disk is what (check size parameters). For me, Disk 0 was the HDD and Disk 1 was the SSD. The following instructions assume this.

7. Select the HDD: sel disk 0

8. Delete all partitions on it: clean

9. Create a 100MB partition for Windows 7 (or 350MB for Windows 8): create part primary size=100 (or size=350)

10. Format it: format fs=ntfs quick

11. Assign it a letter: assign letter=f (if F: is in use, pick another one. Use the list vol command to see all volumes and their letters)

12. Create a partition that fills the rest of the disk: create part primary

13. Format the large partition: format fs=ntfs quick

14. Assign it the letter C: assign letter=c

15. Exit both Diskpart and cmd.

16. Reboot back to Windows Setup Wizard to install Windows into the large partition that was just created. !!CAUTION!! When Windows restarts your machine to complete the installation, do NOT change priority at the BIOS menu as usual, but instead boot from the installation media, once more, and choose the "Custom Install" option.

17. There is a great chance that Windows installed its System Reserved partition on the SSD, so choose the "Advanced" option and delete the SSD. Launch cmd (Shift+F10) and type diskpart.

18. Use the commands list vol and assign to ensure that both the system (F:) and the boot partition (C:) still have drive letters.

19. Select the system partition (sel vol f) and mark it as active: active

20. Exit diskpart and at cmd type the command: bcdboot c:\windows /s f:

21. Reboot and you're good to go.

After the installation

1. The easiest way to have Samsung's Easy Settings and ExpressCache installed to your machine is through the backup created by Samsung Recovery Solution, since you don't have an internet connection after the clean install. (Even when you get to have one, do not connect during this proccess (because of Windows Update interference) and wait till it finishes)

   1. Browse the DVD or External USB Drive to find the "SystemSoftware" file and launch the "SecSWMgrGuide.exe".

   2. Install "Easy Software Manager".

   3. Install everything from the "Drivers" tab.

   4. From the "Miscellaneous" tab, install "Windows 7 SP1 Critical Updates" and "Windows 7 SP1 common patches".

   5. From the "Utility" tab, install "Easy Settings" and ExpressCache".

   6. Finally, choose any other software you might need.

   7. You are ready to connect the internet and install Windows Updates.

2. In case you didn't backup your drivers using Samsung Recovery Solution, you need to manually download and install these drivers from the Samsung's website.

3. To find out if ExpressCache is working, run cmd as administrator and type ECCmd -INFO. If it's marked as mounted and gives you the application's information then you're fine.

Answer text copied from from notebookreview.com.

I had the same problem. I bought a new Samsung NP530U3C-A08TR last weekend, I didn't like Win8 and try to install Win7. Removed all partitions from SSD and Sata HDD. After first restart system wouldn't boot. I used lot of BIOS options, tried Win8 USB Disk to.

I talked with Samsung Offical US Support about this problem. Maybe this guide can help you. I fixed this problem, so follow my guide:

BIOS Options:

• Fast BIOS Disabled
• Secure BOOT Disabled
• CMS BIOS Seleceted

You need Hirens Boot CD (It must have Norton Ghost and Mini WinXP. Check versions 11.X or 15.1 Rebuild edition) on a USB Disk.

1. Start Windows 7 install from USB Windows 7 Disk.
2. Remove all partitions from iSSD and Sata HDD.
3. Install Windows 7 to 24GB iSSD.
4. On first restart Windows 7 setup (system is stuck normaly on this section), remove Windows 7 USB and use Hirens Boot USB. Start Mini Windows XP.
5. If you can successfully boot Mini Windows XP, Start Norton Ghost 32 from Hirens Tool
6. On Norton Ghost, select Copy Disk to Disk and copy iSSD to Sata HDD. After copying, don't restart the system. Only quit Norton from the menu.
7. Use Partition Wizard from Hirens Tools. Check your new copy SATA HDD status. You must have 100MB System Partiton Active and Primary position, and a second partition for Windows Setup with Primary status.
8. If all is OK, restart your PC and remove Hirens Boot disk, Windows 7 setup should resume.