Win 7 Ultimate (64) RTM install problem

[jp4miller]

I have VISTA Ult (64) installed on a system with 2 raptor hard drives raid 1 with the OS and 2 500GB hard drives raid 1 for data. I can't access VISTA and the startup repair can't fix the problem. I tried to upgrade to Win 7 Ult (64) RTM and received the message stating I had to boot into VISTA to upgrade to Win 7. Since I can't boot into VISTA, I decided to do a clean install of Win 7. During the install I supplied the raid driver and the install displayed all of the disks/partitions attached. When I selected the disk with VISTA installed, it stated 'Windows can not be installed to this disk. This computers hardware may not support booting to this disk. Ensure that the disks controller is enabled in the computers BIOS menu.' What gives???

 

[RebateMonger]

"Error message when you try to install Windows Vista on a computer that has uninitialized hard disks: "This computer's hardware may not support booting to this disk""

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/925481

Another link:
http://forums.techarena.in/vista-help/746056.htm

Problem Solved,

"This problem occurs if the following conditions are true:. The computer has
two or more uninitialized hard disks.
. You started the computer by using Windows Vista installation media.

CAUSE
This problem occurs because Windows Vista cannot distinguish between
ambiguous hard disks.

In versions of Microsoft Windows Setup that are earlier than Windows Vista
Setup, hard disks are marked with distinct values to distinguish them.
However, this method of distinguishing hard disks is no longer supported
because of the potential for data corruption on hard disks.
Back to the top

RESOLUTION
To resolve this problem, follow these steps:1. Create one or more partitions
on all the hard disks that are not initialized.
2. Restart the computer.
3. Install Windows Vista."

 

[jp4miller]

Rebate, thanks for your response.

VISTA worked fine; all disks were/are initialized. It only had a problem after I updated the bios. When I run startup repair, it can't fix the problem.

The 'can't install to this disk' error message is for the Windows 7 clean installation (since I can't boot into VISTA, Win 7 upgrade isn't an option). Win 7 won't allow the installation on the C partition where VISTA is installed. But, it will allow the installation on other partitions on that disk.

I could format C and try again; but, I would like to install/replace VISTA so the Win 7 install procedure will leave a windows.old file with stuff I will need.