not installing properly, one HDD may not be recognized properly

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  1. Posts : 48
    Windows 7 Ultimate x64
       #1

    not installing properly, one HDD may not be recognized properly


    okay so I'm trying to install a new copy of Win7 onto my machine. i usually have my main drive as a RAID 0 setup of two WD 500Gb sata3 HDD's.

    the problems first started upon first attempt. BIOS recognized my RAID, windows also recognized my RAID with full capacity. install went great until it was time to shutdown win7 for the first time. shutdown went fine but upon booting up, it said the propper boot media was missing or something, the only way i could get it to boot was with the install DVD in the drive.

    well i figured that i simply messed up, so i repeated everything with the same results 3 times.

    then i decided to disable my raid, so i deleted the RAID setup, set the BIOS into AHCI and started the install process, only this time not all of my seperated drives were recognized. only ONE of the TWO 500gb drives was noticed. i tried everything, i unplugged and replugged all the cables to both drives with no luck of changing anything.

    i am not sure what happened but something is terribly wrong and i can't seem to figure it out. i'm currently creating a linux to boot up and see if linux will see the drive and see if maybe there was something left on there that is messing it up.

    any advice would be much appreciated. this is becoming a very frustrating win7 reboot!

    thanks,
    Covert
      My Computer


  2. Posts : 48
    Windows 7 Ultimate x64
    Thread Starter
       #2

    UPDATE:
    okay so i booted off the linux live disk and it sees my hard drive just fine. no hidden partitions or anything, it offers to install on the drive and i see 500.1gb on it so i know nothing is missing or hidden

    any help would be much appreciated since this SEEMS to be a windows 7 isolated issue for me
      My Computer

  3.    #3

    Win7 doesn't much like RAID as we see these at least weekly.

    You found the solution which is to install to a single HD, but mistakenly left the other plugged in.

    Wipe both HD's with Diskpart Clean Command, then power down to unplug all other HD's and peripherals except target HD for Clean Install Windows 7

    After install plug in other HD, wipe it then partition for storage.
      My Computer


  4. Posts : 48
    Windows 7 Ultimate x64
    Thread Starter
       #4

    Okay I figured it was something along those lines just didn't know what to do. After I get all my drives corrected will this help windows install properly or is the whole needing the DVD in boot drive thing a whole other issue? I'm inclined to believe they are related myself but Idk honestly.

    I do plan on putting it back in raid 0 again once this mess is cleaned up.
    I'm at work currently and will try any other suggestions tonight.

    Thanks much,
    Covert Death
      My Computer

  5.    #5

    The problem with needing DVD to boot the OS is likely solved by wiping the boot sector of problem code.

    Otherwise it is repaired by Marking Active Win7 partition or it's 100mb System Reserved partition (preferred if you have it), then running Startup Repair - Run 3 Separate Times.
      My Computer


  6. Posts : 48
    Windows 7 Ultimate x64
    Thread Starter
       #6

    By sector of problem code you mean on the hdd? In which case diskpart clean command should clear up? I tried marking both active and doing the repair probably 6-7 times but never got it to work for me
      My Computer

  7.    #7

    Try Clean command on HD, one HD plugged in for install.
      My Computer


  8. Posts : 48
    Windows 7 Ultimate x64
    Thread Starter
       #8

    So don't do raid just to test it out and make sure all is well, is that what your saying lol? After I prove that the HD is functioning then do raid and all should be well?
      My Computer

  9.    #9

    Why do you want to use RAID? It isn't redundant so you lose both HD's if one fails. Much better to save a Win7 backup image to a separate storage HD.

    I doubt whether it will install in RAID. All we see with RAID is problems.
      My Computer


  10. Posts : 48
    Windows 7 Ultimate x64
    Thread Starter
       #10

    I've been operating with it on my raid drive for over a year now no problem I like the speed as it helps a lot with the CAD work I do
      My Computer


 
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