Windows 7 Not Detecting PCI Slots after Format

Hey guys,

I'm having major problems with my PC at the moment. It was all working well but it was due for a clean and I had all the files I wanted off the Harddrive so I put in the Windows 7 CD and rebooted the PC.

I changed the BIOS so the CD/DVD drive was 1st priority and let it reboot itself. The installation went smooth. I initially had 2 partitions on the Harddrive, I deleted them both and created 2 new partitions and installed Windows onto the smaller one. Everything seemed fine but when I got into Windows I noticed I couldn't set my resolution to the normal dimensions like I always could after a format.

I checked Device Manager and under the Display Adapters and Sound Controllers menus there is no sign of my HD4890 and Xtreme Music. I know the HD4890 is working at least because I have the monitor plugged into it and it works but Windows doesn't detect the card at all and is running off the onboard because it's the only choice it has.

I tried installing drivers for the motherboard, graphics card and sound card but it didn't fix the problem. I also flashed my BIOS with the latest BIOS update from the Gigabyte website. I've tried formatting again 3 times which made no difference. I've tried removing both cards from the PC and booting it up, turning it off, replacing the cards and booting it up, but Windows still didn't detect either of them.

I'm all out of ideas and there isn't anything else I can try that I've come across on Google after the hours of searching.

Bare Foot Kid said:

Hello Insomnis, welcome to Seven Forums!


As you have all the data backed-up and doing clean installs; I'm not sure this will help but it may sort the issues and it's worth a try anyway. Have a look at the info below for some ideas and be sure to post back with how it sorts out.

   Information

As a start and to rule out format errors up front, boot the Windows 7 installation media to diskpart and run the clean command, once the clean finishes, exit diskpart and use the Windows 7 installer to create and format a single 100GB partition to do the install to.

If that does't work, after another clean, use diskpart to create, format and mark Active a single 100GB partition to see if that works, use Step #2 in the SSD/HDD tutorial for reference.

Once the clean finishes, exit diskpart and use the Windows 7 installer to create and format a single 100GB partition to do the install to and be sure to post back with any further questions you may have and to keep us informed.

After you have copied out or made back-ups of the data you need to external media and want to start fresh with a clean installation or clean install with an upgrade version of Windows 7 have a look through the information below and be sure to post back with any further questions you may have and to keep us informed.

It may be a help to over-write the HDD Master Boot Record (MBR) before you start any other procedure using the diskpart clean command, rather than the clean all; it takes just seconds to complete so you will have "unallocated" space to use either the Windows installer to create and format the partition(s) or use diskpart to create them, however you choose.

SSD / HDD : Optimize for Windows Reinstallation

DISKPART : At PC Startup

If you want to completely wipe / over-write the entire Hard Disk Drive of any possible format errors, malware infection, for security purposes or just to get the best possible place to install Windows to, have a look at these tutorials.

Secure Erase / Wipe : Definition and Methods

Additional Secure Erase / Wipe Information

Hey Barefootkid thanks man,
I followed the SSD / HDD : Optimize for Windows Reinstallation and DISKPART : At PC Startup guides and did a clean all on my harddrive, installed a fresh copy of windows 7 and still they haven't appeared. I really thought this would have fixed it.

Ok cheers mate, thanks for your help! :)