Windows 7: Fresh win7 install need driver and HDD install advice

Just did a clean install of windows pro on new hdd. Told setup to only install important updates and auto updates in turned off. Searching this forum i found a few folks say "definitely let windows install all the drivers for MOB, devices, etc. they are the experts" while another post said "always use MOB site drivers, since they are often tweaked for exact MOB specs, no matter how old they are". So I'm at a crossroads wondering which to do. Asus software was a nightmare before. Granted, I did install almost all of it, and probably made it a mess (qfan, asusupdater, Volt something something allowing in OS O.C. tweaks, etc). Drivers from them didn't seem to be a problem though. I want to avoid any bloatware which comes along with driver packages sometimes.

I have 1 yellow exclamation in PC properties (USB controller), but that's because everything is running on minimal drivers or no drivers. I did install windows update version of Realtek network card, and ATI display driver, but thats all. I have 3 hdds in the machine, new hdd (ST2000) with win, another new hdd unformatted, and original C: drive (to allow for file transfering, then I will yank it and convert into external for backup). Also have 2 dvd burners. Everything is visible to BIOS and Windows except unformatted ST2000 (will use for applications and data/media). I'm hoping once I do install drivers, however, that this drive will become visible.

Thanks in advance for any assistance you can provide. I'm really please to have found this site.

ps. i'm assuming my system specs will be visible as I filled it out completely during registration.

Best to use the manufacturer's drivers.

Check in Disk management & format.

Welcome TrunkMonkey,


If you still have the MB Disc, I would install just the minimal drivers from it, non of the special stuff.

To see your unformatted ST2000 try this

Start Computer Management Disk Management
Maximize to full screen
Take a Snip of it with the Snipping Tool, Save snip, then upload the snip here in your post.

Thanks. Disk management does not show this drive. Interestingly is assigns drive letter E to one of the system reserved partitions of another drive formatted drive. at least i assume it was from a drive which it recognized. BIOS doesn't list this drive either. It's connected via a sata 6bg cable, just like the C: drive (which is same model) and connected to 1 of the 6 MOB sata connections.

Where do I find the snip tool?

I would power OFF & disconnect the Original C; HD until you get the Unformatted recognized & formatted. I remember seeing a post a few days ago about 2 HD's same make & model not seeing one of them.


Start type in Snipping tool

Awesome. I have to sign off for a couple hours and will return with my snip. Your advice to remove original C:, that would be the 1 tb drive with old Windows 7 os? Because that would still leave 2 ST2000s in the case: new C and unformatted twin.

Yes, Remove the 1tb HD with the original windows OS, that is not being used presently.

Follow the same steps as in Clean Reinstall - Factory OEM Windows 7 to get a perfect install.

Unlike XP, Windows 7 is the first driver-complete OS in the installer and via Windows Updates. I would first let Windows Updates install all Important and optional Updates after enabling Automatically deliver drivers via Windows Update (Step 3) . Only import drivers if needed for missing functionality or problems which can be traced to a driver.

Ok I'm back,

• Disconnected power and data to the original 1 tb C: drive. Unformatted STE2000 is still not available via BIOS or Win 7 Disk Management. Disk Management snip is attached.
• Could it be related to my first question, and the lack of appropriate installed drivers? To be repetitive, during Win 7 install I chose the middle option (Install only important updates, or something close to that). I did have windows install AMD Radeon driver and Realtek Network card drivers (windows update versions, not downloaded from OEM), but that's all.
• Windows update is only notifying me of important updates and is not handling driver updates at this time (see snip). SP1 was offered up just before I signed off earlier, and was installed. There are more updates available now (26 important and 6 optional). Just so you get a feel for where the massive update procedure is at for the OS.

Looks like the same two points of view have been expressed here as well. Any other votes to break the tie?
I asked to clarify which drive to remove temporarily because the above statement makes it seem like having two ST2000 HDDs connected at the same time may be the problem. By removing the old 1 TB C: drive, there are still two ST2000 drives connected (new C: drive and it's unformatted and missing twin).

Thanks again everyone.