EggXpert

I just finished building my new gaming rig and my computer posts and runs BIOS without any problems, but I can't for the life of me get windows 7 to install onto my SSD. I formatted a new USB to run as a windows boot drive. It seemed to work great, but for some reason the windows installation keeps freezing. I've tried three times now and the installation freezes at different points each time. I am not sure if it is my flash drive or ssd or potentially even my cpu from what I've read? I don't want to keep trying to install out of fear of ruining my SSD by formating it so many times. (Like I said, I've done it 3 times now with no success. Any help would be awesome. Thanks!

Build

i5-3570k cpu

DZ77GA-70k mobo 

Sapphire Radeon HD 7950

Gskill Ripjaw 8g RAM

Corsair Professional Series HX750 psu  

Highimsam:

....I can't for the life of me get windows 7 to install onto my SSD. I formatted a new USB to run as a windows boot drive. It seemed to work great, .... I don't want to keep trying to install out of fear of ruining my SSD by formatting it so many times....

1.  Is the SSD seen in BIOS?

2.  Is it set to AHCI?

3.   I assume you mean you are trying to install Win7 from a USB flash drive?  Are you trying from a USB3 port?   Did you try a USB2 port?  Did you try an ODD?

4.  Don't worry about numerous install attempts shortening your SSDs lifespan, but without changing a parameter there is no point in repeating what doesn't work and expecting different results.

Complete system specs?  Like it might have been less irritating to know what SSD, what USB drive?...links would even be less irritating since people volunteering their time wouldn't have to look them up and it would specify exactly what part you are talking about since I am quite certain for example that "Gskill Ripjaw 8g RAM" will have at least four possible models (edit: link; only off by a factor of seven).

Oh. Well then I guess to start I really do appreciate you taking the time to try and help me. That being said,

RAM-http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231428

SSD-http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820167086

USB Drive-http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820171594

 Motherboard-http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813121605&Tpk=dz77ga70k

The SSD is seen in the bios and my Chipset SATA Mode is set to AHCI. However, it says nothing is installed in my SATA ports. Is that a problem? And yes I am trying to install windows through a USB 2.0. I haven't tried an ODD because I don't have one. (I know that was probably a stupid call on my part, but I thought this install would go over a  little smoother.) I have tried it twice with the USB in a 2.0 port and just for giggles I tried it in a 3.0 port with no success. I think I might also try plugging the usb into the back panel so its directly into the motherboard.

Highimsam:

....The SSD is seen in the bios and my Chipset SATA Mode is set to AHCI. However, it says nothing is installed in my SATA ports. Is that a problem? And yes I am trying to install windows through a USB 2.0. I haven't tried an ODD because I don't have one. (I know that was probably a stupid call on my part, but I thought this install would go over a  little smoother.) I have tried it twice with the USB in a 2.0 port and just for giggles I tried it in a 3.0 port with no success. I think I might also try plugging the usb into the back panel so its directly into the motherboard.

OK, now I am concerned. 

• I would not be surprised it would not work in a USB3 port since a driver is likely required. 
• The SATA port will not have a driver initially but Win7 should install it first thing in memory on the initial installation.  That then allows Win 7 to write to the SSD --- which apparently it starts doing but fails during the process?
  
• There is no need for you to not expect the USB flash drive install to work---it should.  I wonder if your installation may be corrupt? 
• The only thing that concerns me is that the Cruzer comes with its own boot OS installed (u3?) and that might interfere. 
• Trying  a USB2 back port variant is reasonable, but I am not optimistic.  If it does work check the front port for functionality later on.
  

What do you mean by the installation may be corrupt? It seems like everything is installed correctly, but I suppose there is more than meets the eye. And yea, the install always starts, but it freezes at random times. It nearly completed once and barely started on another before it froze. I can tell when it freezes on my motherboard becasuse there is a strip of LEDs that the manual describes as the diagnostic leds and while the installation is going, there is a blue light labeled CPU that blinks. But as soon as it freezes the light stops blinking and instead stays lit until I power off my machine. Could this be indicative of a bad cpu? I just figured that if I could run BIOS, my processor was running fine.