Preinstall Windows 7 on Hard Drive

[AkumaX]

So here's a new problem I've come across:

I was given a laptop with a dead hard drive. No problem! Let's swap in an SSD while we're at it.

- Laptop BIOS sorely lacking. Whatever, as long as the BIOS detects that there's a hard drive installed, we should be good.

- Booting up Windows 7 DVD to install. Installation doesn't detect hard drive, presumably due to missing Intel SATA drivers. No problem, found them on the manufacturer's site, side-loaded it during the install, Installation found the correct Intel SATA chipset drivers (ICH9M), and then pressed Next.

Here's the problem: even after doing all this, Windows Installation STILL doesn't detect a HDD. Thought the HDD could be faulty, but BIOS detects the HDD no problem.

Only thing I could think would be to "preload" Windows Installation on HDD. Anyone ever do this?

 

[spat55]

Make sure the HDD is formatted correctly, I had my WD Black turn up on my this build and thought it was D.O.A but it turned out that awhile my BIOS could see it windows couldn't because it needed to be formatted to NFTS.

 

[Ketchup]

What is the error message, and when you install the driver, did it just show you one, or several to choose from? Was there more than one to choose from on the manufacturer's website? Are you seeing the drive listed in the BIOS?

 

[owensdj]

I'm confused. Do you have the SSD in the laptop or an HDD? both?

 

[Gunbuster]

I assure you the win 7 install has drivers for the ICH9M. Something else is wrong. Perhaps the drive or controller is not enabled in the BIOS? Or the motherboard port/power connector is faulty.

 

[stinger608]

First make sure that you are set to ACHI in the bios. Then proceed,

Boot up Windows 7 disc.

When the welcome screen comes up on Windows Setup, press Shift + F10, which will display a command prompt.

Type "diskpart" and press enter.

Type "list disk" and press enter.

Hopefully you can see your SSD in the list. You should see a number identifying it. Now type "select disk X" (where X is the number identifying your SSD) and press enter.

Type "clean" and press enter. This will write a blank MBR, YOU WILL LOSE ANY DATA ON THE SSD if you did have anything on it.

 

[AkumaX]

I assure you the win 7 install has drivers for the ICH9M. Something else is wrong. Perhaps the drive or controller is not enabled in the BIOS? Or the motherboard port/power connector is faulty.

Looks like this one might be the answer. And you know, I could have swore that Win7Installer includes the ICH9 drivers, too.

-----

So I tried again, today, and all of a sudden (out of the blue), the hard drive recoginizes during the install process! No separate SATA (floppy) driver needed!

HOWEVER, the Win7Installer refuses to install on the SSD. It says:

"Windows cannot be installed to this disk. This computer's hardware may not support booting to this disk. Ensure that the disk's controller is enabled in the computer's BIOS menu"

Note that I can't modify any 'real' settings in BIOS (can't tell SATA to work in legacy/IDE/AHCI mode)

I'm gonna try a spinning HDD to see if it's any different..

Thanks for the help guys!

 

[Ketchup]

What model laptop is this?

 

[AkumaX]

What model laptop is this?

Sony AW-350J

18.4" Monster Screen with Core 2 Duo P7350 (2.0GHz Penryn) DTR with 9600M GT GFX. Mofo runs hot!

 

[Ketchup]

Sony AW-350J

18.4" Monster Screen with Core 2 Duo P7350 (2.0GHz Penryn) DTR with 9600M GT GFX. Mofo runs hot!

Thanks, I found this, but it looks like it is only referring to the drive bay that would replace the DVD drive:
https://docs.sony.com/release/994660400_VGNAWseries_SSD_CRU.pdf

Edit: I have also noticed others with this series of laptop saying there is not control over AHCI mode in the BIOS. Since the laptop support site doesn't offer drivers for OS's below Vista, it would be reasonable to assume the AHCI setting is selected by default.

 

[AkumaX]

Thanks, I found this, but it looks like it is only referring to the drive bay that would replace the DVD drive:
https://docs.sony.com/release/994660400_VGNAWseries_SSD_CRU.pdf

Edit: I have also noticed others with this series of laptop saying there is not control over AHCI mode in the BIOS. Since the laptop support site doesn't offer drivers for OS's below Vista, it would be reasonable to assume the AHCI setting is selected by default.

Ya i saw that, there are 2 x 2.5" drive bays, although one is empty, it doesn't have a SATA connector there.

In the end, I had a spare copy of Windows 7 32-bit (this whole process was with 64-bit), and it installed just fine. No idea why I had the SATA problems before, and why it would refuse to install with 64-bit.