T420s Windows 7 Install not detecting installed SSDs

[vuk]

I've recently obtained a i7 T420s, and having a spare Samsung 840 EVO around I decided to buy the Ultrabay SATA caddy for it so I could dual boot Void Linux and Windows 7. However, when I ran the installation program from USB and change the language settings, it starts asking for drivers, and fails to show both of the installed SSDs. BIOS shows both disks installed, and running diskpart in the installer actually shows both disks, I even used it to partition it to NTFS but it still won't let me choose it to continue installation. What gives? How and which drivers should I obtain?

[ajkula66]

Welcome to the forum!

The way I would go about this - presuming that you want to use 2 different SSDs for W7 and Linux - is to remove the (W7-loaded) SSD from the main slot, put the Samsung in the main bay, and install the Linux there. Once you've set everything up to your liking, move the Samsung into the UltraBay and you *should* be good to go.

Good luck and keep us posted.

[MikalE]

This is the procedure to install a dual boot configuration on two separate drives using Linux and Windows:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hgv_POYbbf0

The video is two parts. Be sure to watch both.

This is for Linux Mint. I do not know if this works ffor other versions, but I don't see why it wouldn't.

I ran this configuration for a couple of years in my T520, but found I never used Linux, so I wiped the second drive.

[vuk]

Welcome to the forum!

The way I would go about this - presuming that you want to use 2 different SSDs for W7 and Linux - is to remove the (W7-loaded) SSD from the main slot, put the Samsung in the main bay, and install the Linux there. Once you've set everything up to your liking, move the Samsung into the UltraBay and you *should* be good to go.

Good luck and keep us posted.

Thanks for the warm welcome, note that only Linux is currently installed on the Thinkpad, the other one is just empty now. Replacing SSDs didn't help, but they still get detected and both work.

This is the procedure to install a dual boot configuration on two separate drives using Linux and Windows:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hgv_POYbbf0

The video is two parts. Be sure to watch both.

This is for Linux Mint. I do not know if this works ffor other versions, but I don't see why it wouldn't.

I ran this configuration for a couple of years in my T520, but found I never used Linux, so I wiped the second drive.

I'll look into this, more info coming soon.

EDIT: Both videos aren't very useful for me because the bootloader isn't really the issue... Still, thanks for your input.

[heapcat]

If you are using a Windows 7 USB stick for installation make sure you do NOT put it in the USB 3.0 port. Windows 7 does not have built-in support for the NEC USB 3.0 controller in the T420s, that is (probably) why it is asking for drivers. Any of the two USB 2.0 ports should be fine.

[vuk]

If you are using a Windows 7 USB stick for installation make sure you do NOT put it in the USB 3.0 port. Windows 7 does not have built-in support for the NEC USB 3.0 controller in the T420s, that is (probably) why it is asking for drivers. Any of the two USB 2.0 ports should be fine.

Tried it, still no luck.

I eventually gave up on Windows 7, so I went with 10 in the end. After some further research on the subject I believe that the installation itself requires additional driver files that need to be loaded onto the installation media itself. If there are still people here who avoid 10 like the plague(which it is), you can easily make it usable and more sane by installing the Enterprise LTSB version that installs only security updates and eventual major updates every 2 to 3 years, and using the W10Privacy tool.