Short story: I have recently purchased a SSD (Samsung 840 PRO, 512 Go) on which I wish to install Windows 8. However the installation fails to complete. It starts just fine (regional options, serial number, copy of files), restarts the computer a couple of times (even to the point where it says it's "configuring devices" or something like that), but at one point the computer restarts, the W8 start screen appears (with the small turning animation), then fades to black... and stays black. Nothing happens any more.
I tried rebooting several times (with or without the install disc inserted) with no better luck.
I also tried the whole process with Windows 7 (Ultimate) and I get a similar result. (I re-formatted the SSD first.)
Fortunately I was a able to plug my old HDD back and reboot with my previous system (along with the SSD). The W8 boot screen asked me which OS I wanted to start, so the new W8 is detected. But it's stuck at some point of the installation. Booting in my old W8, I can see that there are about 14GB worth of files that have been copied on the SSD (the usual Windows folder structure).
As far as I remember, I didn't change significantly my computer (hardware-wise) since I installed Windows 7 on it a few years back (and then upgraded it to W8 a few of weeks back). Except for the SSD, of course.
Is this a know problem? Do you have a suggestion as how to proceed?