No Hdd during installation of Windows7 Upgrade 64bit

I currently have a computer running Vista 32bit Ultimate and purchased the Windows 7 Home Premium Upgrade.

When I used both the 64bit or the 32bit DVD to boot, I would get stuck at the STARTING WINDOWS screen for around 30min. After I will then be able to get to the install windows screen. Since I want to Upgrade from 32bit to 64bit, my option is only the CUSTOME/Clean install.
HOWEVER, when it ask me where I want to install the windows to, windows7 installtion could not detect any hdd. I am guessing this is why the STARTING WINDOWS screen took 30min load, as it was looking for a hdd.

In the same screen, it does have an option to load a driver.
So, I went to Asus to d/l the vista 64bit sata driver and also tryed the WD sata driver for the Raptor hdd.
The WD driver would not even show up on the floppy, and the Asus did.
Loaded the Asus sata driver, and still no hdd detected.

The computrer is currently running with this HDD in Vista32bit and is seen on the bios. This is the only hdd in this computer, I really don't want to waste money to buy a slower hdd for my computer as the Raptor is 10k rpm.]

Note: I do not care about any data or problem in this hdd, I just formated teh hdd and did a clean

P.S. Windows7 Upgrade Advisor tested and all hardware are ok.



What can I do, please help me.
Thank you.

MB: Asus Striker Extreme
Hdd: WD Raptors 150gb

If you purchased your Upgrade retail, you are entitled to MS tech support. They will know the fix for this as no one here has it apparently.

I have found MS tech support in the past to be worth more than the price of the OS.

Sorry but I would just be throwing darts while MS has the fix for almost install failure.

Microsoft Customer service is by far Top notched, I have been on the phone with them for over 5hrs the pass 2 days. Even for my stupid jokes about Windows, they reacted very well. However, I am still running into new problems in which we can not resolve.

Downloaded New Sata 64bit driver, and finally able to detect the Raptor drive. Installing ok, then when it goes to "Windows need to restart to continue installation," it freeze on the Starting Windows screen.

Pulled the Raptor hdd out, put in the old IDE HDD under the legg of the kitchen table which is used to keep it leveled.

Worked like a charm!
Microsoft Claims that the Raptor must not be supported...

So, I need to run Windows7 with a 40g IDE HDD and out the Raptor under the table???

This is a sad day



Question: Can I mirror image from the crappy IDE to the Raptor??

Cayman said:

So, I need to run Windows7 with a 40g IDE HDD and out the Raptor under the table???

This is a sad day


Question: Can I mirror image from the crappy IDE to the Raptor??

Click to expand...

Why not try it?

You can first try Win7 Backup imaging to make a HDD image saved to a primary formatted recovery partition, but also backed up to an external drive in case of HDD failure. Then boot into the Win7 installer Repair console with the Raptor plugged in and try to Recover using an Image from the external to the unformatted raptor. If fails, try it formatted.

Next try a 3rd party imaging software like free Macrium, Paragon HD Manager 2009, or even a partition manager like free Partition Wizard which will copy one drive over to another, then only require Win7 Startup REpair being run 3 times to rewrite the MBR if it won't start up.

Now that I pug in the Sata hdd, I get stuck at the "Starting Windowsscreen".
I do not have 2 PC at my disposole.

Can't refund software, but yet I feel Vistamight be my only option...