Can't Install Windows on New SSD Installed on New Win10 Laptop

Hello everyone,

Here is my issue. I just got a deal on a brand new HP Probook 450 G3 that came with a 1To HDD and Windows 10 pre-installed. I used the spare money to purchase an Windows 7 Pro x64 license and a Sandisk 256Gb SSD. My intention was to pull the original HDD out and do a clean install of Windows 7 on the SSD.

I have gone absolutely bonkers after 72 hours of trying... Sorry in advance if I state the obvious or if I do not use the right wording. I know a little but am definitely not a wiz. So here goes.


PROBLEM 1: Impossible to Enable Secure Boot and Install Windows 7

I unplugged the HDD and swapped it with the SSD.

Using Rufus, I created a bootable USB stick formatted as Fat32 and partitioned as GPT since my Bios defaults to UEFI. I stuck the USB device in the computer, went to F10 - BIOS Setup. My BIOS is version N78 Ver. 1.06 12/18/2015. The USB device is properly recognized as a UEFI device.

In BIOS Setup >> Advanced >> Secure Boot Configuration, I switched to Legacy Support Enable and Secure Boot Disable then Save. In Boot Options, I unchecked Fast Boot. Below, UEFI Boot Order is greyed out and cannot be unchecked. Only the device booting order can be tweaked so I ranked the USB device first. Below, Legacy Boot Order is greyed out and cannot be unchecked. Instead of a device list as with UEFI Boot Order, the following sentence is written: "Enable Legacy Boot, Save Settings & Exit, then Return to Setup".

With now everything set up as much as the BIOS allows me to enable Secure Boot, I Exit and Save. The cpu restarts and prompts me to validate a 4-digit code to enable Secure Boot. I do so. The computer restarts and seems to be booting the USB stick but immediately returns the following error message.

Secure Boot
Selected boot image did not authentica​te.

Out of curiosity, I go back to the BIOS and I realize that the Secure Boot Configuration settings did not save and have all reverted back to Legacy Support Disable and Secure Boot Enable.
I tried to do the same process with clearing the secure boot keys, or after logging in as an admin. Nothing works. I always get the same Secure Boot error message and disabling Secure Boot never saves.


PROBLEM 2: Impossible to Boot Windows 10 Recovery Disk

So after losing hope, I decided to at least get Windows 10 installed on the SSD. today, I ran the HP recovery disk containing Windows 10 + drivers. The computer will simply refuse to even start booting the DVD. It does recognize the DVD and lists it properly if I go to the boot menu. It just will not boot it and returns the following error message.

BootDevice Not Found
Please Install an Operating System on your Hard Drive
Hard Disk - (3F0)

So basically, my new laptop only works with the original HDD and Windows 10. Everything else seems hard wired. I cannot even run a recovery disk.

Please let me know what I am missing here as I seriously do not know what else I can do.

Thanks A LOT in advance.

Hello Arc. And thank you for taking the time to help here.

As I noted in my initial write-up, my main issue is that disabling Secure Boot will not save no matter what I do. Here is a screenshot of the drop-down menu with which I am supposedly disabling Secure Boot.



Then I get to enter a 4-digit validation code that is also supposed to lock Secure boot out but for some reason it will never save. Instead , my USB will not boot and I am getting this "Secure Boot. Selected boot image did not authentica​te" error message. See below.



As for running the recovery CD/DVD, I am unfortunately not getting the dual option to boot as CSM/Legacy or UEFI. I am merely getting one (UEFI) option. Hitting enter on that option reverts me back to the startup menu. And if I do "Continue Boot", I am getting the "BootDevice Not Found" error. See 3 pictures below (shown in sequential order).







Thank you for the links as well. But to tell you the truth, I have meticulously skimmed through most of the threads across tech forums and in several languages over the last 72 hours and most of the troubleshooting seems to be useless regarding the issue here. I guess someone who has run into the same issue would know, but again as I said, I am no wiz at it so maybe I am wrong and there is a straight solution.

Have you tried updating your BIOS? If it won't save the configuration there it might be a good place to start.

Hello Stankiem.

Good suggestion indeed but I already checked that out on HP's website. I am running the latest version (v1.06).

See below.

omega83 said:

Hello Arc. And thank you for taking the time to help here.

As I noted in my initial write-up, my main issue is that disabling Secure Boot will not save no matter what I do. Here is a screenshot of the drop-down menu with which I am supposedly disabling Secure Boot.

I used to service Dell computers and just a very few the models I saw similar behaviour - changes in bios boot settings would not stick. The solution believe it or not was to reset the bios to defaults, then try again - it worked everytime. Perhaps there is a similar behaviour with some models of HP notebooks.

strollin said:

Did you select the option on this screen to Clear Secure Boot keys?

Hello Strollin,

Yes I did.

I tried all combinations possible of Legacy Support Enable/Disable and Secure Boot Disable + Clear Secure Boot Keys + Reset Secure Boot keys to factory defaults.

It will always send me to the 4-digit validation screen and then the error messages, whether that is "Selected boot image did not authentica​te" with the Win7 USB or "BootDevice Not Found" with the Win10 recovery disk.

billeuze said:

I used to service Dell computers and just a very few the models I saw similar behaviour - changes in bios boot settings would not stick. The solution believe it or not was to reset the bios to defaults, then try again - it worked everytime. Perhaps there is a similar behaviour with some models of HP notebooks.

Hello Billeuze,

I did reset the BIOS to Factory Defaults once more just to be sure. But not only does it not change any of my custom settings, it does not make disabling secure boot stick either.