How to install Vista 64bit on a sata drive?

singist · 21 Sep 2008 at 10:56

I'm not sure if this is in the correct place but ... here goes anyway.

I'm desperately trying to install Vista 64bit onto a WD Raptor sata drive butfinding it very difficult:

I don't know anything about raid and don't want to set up an array; I just want to have my 36 gig Raptor with Vista 64bit and two 74 gig raptors for data storage.

I have an MSI K8N Neo2 mobo (Nvidia nforce 3 ultra).

So, basically, can I use the drive(s) without using an array? .... if so, how do I install Vista on the 36 gig drive ?

I don't have the original sata floppy and every driver that I've found doesn't seem to get recognised during the Vista install so I'm getting a little peed off!

At the moment I only have a laptop so any disk with drivers on has to be burned using that and I'm not sure where to put the drivers that I have found as they have to be on the root of any floppy, if that was what I was using......

If I enable SATA RAID in bios it hangs "searching for array" but if I don't bios doesnt see any drives.

It would seem that I have to find the appropriate drivers and install them during Vista install but nothing seems to work.

Any advice about any of this would be very gratefully received as I'm pulling hair out now!!!!

marc2003 · 21 Sep 2008 at 11:07

with vista, drivers don't have to burnt to a floppy. you can use a cd/dvd, browse hard drive or a memory stick.

but i'm surprised vista isn't installing by itself? with hardware that old, i'd expect it to work straight out of the box.

RJC · 21 Sep 2008 at 11:23

I would remove all hard drives bar the one you want to install windows on, check in the BIOS you have set it ide mode and your cd rom is first boot device.
Windows should load the setup screen and you should not need any drivers.
Choose the hd , you might need to format first, then install windows.

Lethagized · 21 Sep 2008 at 11:54

I would try loading optimized defaults in the bios and clearing the cmos. You don't need drivers to get a hdd working. Do that and setup the boot priority to cd rom, so when the pc boots up, it reads the vista cd disk first and it should install. I wouldn't bother trying to install vista in windows xp

singist · 21 Sep 2008 at 12:58

Ok, thanks for the ideas so far:

I have the 36gig drive (never been used) plugged into sata power and sata data on the mobo nothing else.
Boot from Vista CD.
Bios set Integrated peripherals: everything is either enabled or auto.
Onboard device: All except Raid config are enabled or auto; if I enable Raid config, it hangs on boot searching for array.
HD Boot priority shows... Ch 2 M. (no idea)

When CD boots, I'm asked to choose an operating system ....... only thing available is "Windows setup (EMS Enabled)" so I select that.

Windows is loading files ......
Windows installer asks to chose language etc
Installer asks "Install now" ..... "Repair" ... choose Install Now.
Enter key and accept license.
Choose to Custom install (can't upgrade)
"where do you want to install windows?" .......... but NO DRIVES SHOWING!
Load Driver gives the option to " to install the device driver needed to access your hard drive, insert media containing the driver files and click OK"

I have downloaded several sata drivers that other people say should work but as I said, I can't see the files, just the folders; maybe that makes a difference, I dunno.... should I put the files straight onto the USB without the folders?

EDIT: put them into Root of usb stick and can see them when I disable the "Hide drivers that are not compatible with hardware on this computer" .... so it would seem that they are not the right ones ....no idea where to get them from now.

I hope that is reasonably clear and that some bright soul can assist me...

RJC · 21 Sep 2008 at 13:19

Does the drive show up during the first post and in the BIOS.
Try a different SATA slot or cable.

Lethagized · 21 Sep 2008 at 14:06

Did you clear the Cmos and load optimised defaults? Try a reformat using fdisk

singist · 21 Sep 2008 at 14:39

OK .... you can all laugh and point a finger now........ :eek:

Some kind soul had moved the jumper on the HD and I hadn't checked it .... what a tool!!!

All ok and installing nicely now...

Sorry to have been a pain and thanks for trying to help.

Olibubble · 21 Sep 2008 at 14:40

singist said:
Ok, thanks for the ideas so far:

I have the 36gig drive (never been used) plugged into sata power and sata data on the mobo nothing else.
Boot from Vista CD.
Bios set Integrated peripherals: everything is either enabled or auto.
Onboard device: All except Raid config are enabled or auto; if I enable Raid config, it hangs on boot searching for array.
HD Boot priority shows... Ch 2 M. (no idea)

When CD boots, I'm asked to choose an operating system ....... only thing available is "Windows setup (EMS Enabled)" so I select that.

Windows is loading files ......
Windows installer asks to chose language etc
Installer asks "Install now" ..... "Repair" ... choose Install Now.
Enter key and accept license.
Choose to Custom install (can't upgrade)
"where do you want to install windows?" .......... but NO DRIVES SHOWING!
Load Driver gives the option to " to install the device driver needed to access your hard drive, insert media containing the driver files and click OK"

I have downloaded several sata drivers that other people say should work but as I said, I can't see the files, just the folders; maybe that makes a difference, I dunno.... should I put the files straight onto the USB without the folders?

EDIT: put them into Root of usb stick and can see them when I disable the "Hide drivers that are not compatible with hardware on this computer" .... so it would seem that they are not the right ones ....no idea where to get them from now.

I hope that is reasonably clear and that some bright soul can assist me...

I had the very same problem. Where it would constantly say (EMS enabled) but never show a drive. This was on an PATA drive.

I did manage to fix the problem by using Windows XP to completely remove any partitions and format the drive (not quick format). Before XP installed itself I restarted the machine and put Vista in. I formatted the drive again (quick format) and Vista installed fine this time. (previously it would only offer the repair option that you were getting)

I am not sure what the problem was, but I am guessing the partition table or some other setting on the hard drive was corrupt and for some reason the Vista install was not able to fix this yet XP install disc was. As I said, I couldn't tell you what the problem was, and I couldn't find any solution on the internet. I only tried the XP disc as I really needed the internet that day (as a last resort as well). If it were a weekday I would have bought a new hard drive.

And BTW, the drive is still going strong. I still have no idea what happened, I was just thankfull that XP sorted it out!!