Install Windows 7 SATA controller driver  

Hi

I've just bought parts and collected a new PC system. My Motherboard is AsRock M3A785GXH/128 ASRock > Products > M3A785GXH/128M

and regarding to the manufacturer it should be Windows 7 hardware ready.

But I can't install Windows 7 pro 64 bit on my new system. The Windows 7 installation application can't see my harddrives and want a driver to them. I assume that should be a driver for the SATA controller on the motherboard. I've tryed to use the drivers on the motherboard cd-rom and tryed to use the drivers froms asrock homepage, but Windows 7 wont accept them.

I have contacted AsRock about this issue, but I'm wating for an answer and hoped that you guys might has seen this problem before, and will answer quicker than AsRock Support :)

I should say that I cant install Windows Vista Business 64bit without any problems at all.

Any suggetions would be appreciated!

Regards,
Steffen
Denmark.

boot from DVD - clean install.. Installer loads fine. But It cant see the harddrives.,..

Is AHCI activated in the BIOS settings?

I've tyed both in AHCI mode and in IDE mode..-.

In AHCI mode you don't need a specific driver, it's the default standard mode for SATA. If it doesn't work, then I have no idea. Maybe a BIOS update.

yes i've tryed the Windows 7 64 bit SATA RAID Driver (For system to read from floppy diskette during Windows installation and i have updated my bios to 1.30

Some ASRock boards are still physically jumpered, I know because I recently had as ASR X48 Turbo-Twins WiFi board and it was an enormous PITA due to the jumpering issues!

You may need to re-arrange the jumper caps to get the board to do what you're attempting; but you'll need to refer to the ASRock book of words.

Does it have a 'compatible' mode?

Perhaps you can get it going in 'compatible' or IDE emulation mode...then do the forced sata driver install with the installed OS?

1) Set it for compatibility mode /IDE mode
2) Load with no floppy drivers
3) Get OS working
4) In the registry set the MSAHCI key (hklm\system\ccset\services\msahci) START to 0(zero)
5) Reboot. It will then use the generic sata driver
6) then upgrade to your latest Mobo driver (intel storage matrix perhaps?)

Good luck!
Hope this helps...