installing windows on a HP z840 workstation

[Kurgen]

i am trying to install in windows 10 (or 7) on a Z840 workstation. it only has the HDD (not the M.2), windows doesnt find any drives either on windows 7 or 10. I have tried downloading the storage controllers from HP website and putting them on a USB. the install sees a couple of drivers, but still doesnt see the HDD. I have tried the White Port 0 SATA and the the one adjacent to the black SATA port that the DVD writer uses. no luck on either. Im guessing i shouldnt have removed the PCIE m.2 for my own use as it would have seen this straight away.

If anyone has any ideas let me know.. im all out

for info was trying to bit this on the bay, but would be uncomfortable selling without it at least having a working windows running

 

[Badfish]

Assuming you dont mind wiping your HDD, first try this:

Once in Windows setup, hit shift+F10 to bring up the command line, and use the following commands:
diskpart -Press enter
list disk -Press enter (From the list above (assuming you have more than one HD installed, if not it'll be the only one), find the number corresponding to your HD.)
select disk [number] - Press enter
clean all -press enter
create partition primary [enter]
select partition 1 [enter]
active [enter]
format fs=ntfs [enter] ** see note
assign [enter]
>exit [enter]
>exit [enter]

Maybe that will fix it, but if not then it has at least made the disk non bootable which is good for the next steps. Go into your BIOS and set the HDD as primary boot device and the installation USB as the 2nd boot device. Then try again, it wont boot from the HDD as there's nothing on it and so should pick up your USB with Windows on it. This is some weird Windows setup feature, it seems to check the BIOS listed boot devices and if the HDD isnt there it can give issues, I had problems with this recently.

 

[Kurgen]

thanks i will give this a try,, its possible it may have had linux on it before, so might explain.. not a driver issue, a disk partition issue. Will give it ago. Although i have spoken tot he guy who has now bought it and he knows how to sort it..

 

[Kurgen]

lol .. i actually cant try this now.. i forgot i already wrapped it up.. but i will be getting some more soon , so will try it on them