Windows 7 Install - HDD not showing up

TheBigCheese

TheBigCheese

TheBigCheese

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It's late I'm tired and getting pretty cheesed off...

I've just built a new machine and have started to install Windows 7 Pro 64 bit on it.

I've been kicked in the teeth right at the start as it can't find the hard drive to install anything onto.

It's a Gigabyte GA-EX58-UD5 motherboard and a Samsung F3 1TB HDD.

There doesn't seem to be a great deal of information about it on the net but I think it's to do with the lack of drivers - as the install screen does ask for drivers.

I don't want RAID or anything fancy, it's just standard IDE that it's setup for.

I've downloaded the chipset and RAID drivers from the Gigabyte website and stuck them on a pen drive but it doesn't detect them. When I manually point to a driver it thinks for a bit then still tells me it's the wrong one.

I can't see what else I could possibly load and I'm getting really ratty with the damn thing now!

Does anyone have any suggestions or pointers as to where I should be looking?

I would really appreciate any advice, it's so fustrating getting stuck at this stage!


Many thanks in advance.
 
a quick google revealed suggestions to check for bios updates, sorry I can't help anymore I'm hitting the sack, hope you get it sorted
 
Things to try: (sorry if they sound obvious)

IDE enabled in the BIOS

Plug a CD in instead - can that be seen ?

Change the IDE cable

You have unzipped the drivers ?

Are they in the root directory ?

Can you see the drive with a Dos program like ESTOOL ?
 
TheBigCheese said:
It's a Gigabyte GA-EX58-UD5 motherboard and a Samsung F3 1TB HDD.
I don't want RAID or anything fancy, it's just standard IDE that it's setup for.
Click to expand...

It's a SATA drive...

Have you formatted it prior to installation?
May need to assign a drive number too.
 
Thanks for the quick replies guys, it's appreciated!

I don't think it's a BIOS problem, the drive and the DVD drive both show up in the BIOS, also the BIOS updates on the Gigabyte website don't mention anything about updating the HDD related stuff.

The drive is set to IDE.
The DVD drive can be seen.
The cables are OK.
I've downloaded all the drivers that I think could be related and put them on a pendrive. I've pointed the browser at the directory but it didn't find anything. I pointed to specific drivers and installed them...didn't help.
I tried to search for drivers from the supplied motherboard disc, it didn't recognise any drivers on there either. :(

I *think* I have covered every base with downloading and pointing to drivers etc....I'm totally stuck! :(:confused::mad:
 
So it's not detecting the drive in the BIOS?
Dodgy cable? Try using the one you have connected your DVD drive in with?
 
Is the Windows 7 disc you are using an official MS disc [all the holograms etc] or one you have burned yourself?

It's been seen quite a lot that Windows 7 has driver issues when a DVD hasn't burned properly. Might be worth burning again at a slower speed if this is the case.

If it is an official DVD I am not sure. You say it is a new machine, is it possible the HDD is just dead? It happens occassionally. Does the BIOS see the HDD? Have you tried going through the Vista or XP setup to see if they can see the drive?
 
Yep it's an official Windows 7 disc, complete with the holograms that make your eyes go funny lol.

The disk is definitely OK, I formatted it in Windows XP when I got it to make sure it was fine and the BIOS in the new motherboard picks it up OK.
 
Hmm, I am running out of ideas! :p

All I can think of right now is are you using Windows 7 compatible drivers on the USB drive? Vista ones should work too. They *might* need to be 64 bit, though for some reason a part of me says not.

Could you also provide the specific driver request.. is it asking for HDD or Chipset or what? It might help.

I have to hit the hay but I will have a think in the morning. Good luck!
 
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