Windows cannot be installed to this disk/unable to create a partition

Hi -

I'm trying to do a custom install of Windows 7 on my friend's computer. Needless to say because it isn't mine I don't have full data on what was done to it before. I do know that they used "cleanall" to delete the existing partitions on the disk; and that prior to this, they were receiving an I/O error: 0x80042453.

On the windows install screen, I see "Disk 0 - Unallocated Space". It throws an error that says "Windows cannot be installed to this disk. This computer's hardware may not support booting to this disk. Ensure that this disk's controller is enabled in the BIOS menu." When I click next anyways, I see an error that says "Setup was unable to create a new system partition or locate an existing system partition."

When I try to create a partition from command prompt diskpart, list volume only shows "volume 0" [E - the DVD I have the Windows install files on] and Volume 1 [removable]. There are no other volumes on which to create the partition. List disk doesn't show the HDD, only the removable disk.

When I look in the BIOS settings, I don't see the HDD in the information screen. Other settings -
Quiet boot - enabled
Network boot - disabled
F12 boot menu - enabled
D2D recovery - enabled
SATA mode - AHCI mode

Boot order
-CDROM
-HDDO
-USB FDD
-Network Boot
-USB HDD
-USB CDROM

Can this thing be saved? I know basics, but am not advanced at this, so any advice that isn't overly complicated would be great. Thanks!

If you are trying to do a clean install, I recommend this tutorial first: http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/91339-ssd-hdd-optimize-windows-reinstallation.html?filter
Then following that, read this one, and you should be good to go.

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/1649-clean-install-windows-7-a.html

Post back results of what happens.

I changed the bios to IDE and now it is finding the hard drive both in bios and cmd. I was able to create the primary partition from cmd (good sign) but the format is stuck at 0 percent (this seems to be where it gets stuck). I did a full format like the tutorial said rather than a quick format. Will it stay at zero then jump up or is this a sign it's not going to work?

The disk is 232gb. Thanks so much for your help.

There are a lot of hits on Google for that particular error.

Have you downloaded and run the drive manufacturer's diagnostic tools? The drive may be dead, particularly since it isn't seen in the BIOS.

Have you reinstalled the latest storage controllers for that drive?

Have you checked your cable connections to the hard drive or possibly replaced the cables?

Have you tried connecting the hard drive to another port on the motherboard?

Can you temporarily attach the drive to another PC to see if it is seen in that PC's BIOS?

Hi ignatzatsonic - yes, I have tried searching, but the responses on Google aren't helping. This site seems to have the most qualified responses so I decided to try here.

The drive can be found now - it seems that now and then it gets 'lost' but I can't determine exactly why (maybe it could be a defective cable, but I am hoping to resolve this without having to take it apart).

Current problem is that it is stuck on "0 percent completed" when i run format fs=ntfs in the tutorial mentioned by the previous poster. This is as far as I have been able to get...

In response to your questions:

Have you downloaded and run the drive manufacturer's diagnostic tools? The drive may be dead, particularly since it isn't seen in the BIOS. It is found now. The drive shows as 'healthy' in listdisk. Previously the system recovery partition was giving an error that indicated it was damaged; but it is deleted anyway now that I have ran cleanall.

Have you reinstalled the latest storage controllers for that drive? I think this could be the problem, but I don't know how to do this. Can you help? I have never installed software from command prompt.

Have you tried connecting the hard drive to another port on the motherboard? No, would this help given that the hard drive is found now?

Well, I'd try broad ideas first, then work toward specific.

I don't like that "now and then it gets lost".

So, I'd run the drive manufacturer's diagnostic and see if it finds any issues.

If it passes, you still then have to wonder why "now and then it gets lost".

But do the diagnostic tests first.

Next step depends on what the diagnostic says. No use spending time on cables or other issues without getting an overall idea of health. The list disk report of "healthy" just means as of that moment in time, subject to "now and then it gets lost".

I'm guessing you don't know the hard drive brand.

Try using this Hitachi Drive Fitness test. This is a link to an ISO. You burn the ISO to a disc and the disc should then be bootable.

http://www.hitachigst.com/hdd/support/downloads/dft32_v416_b00.iso

Boot from the burned disc. At the screen where it asks you if the list of drives is correct, the model number of your drive should be shown.

At that point, you can use Google to search for the model and that will let you know the manufacturer. Then go to that manufacturer's web site and download their tool.

Or you could just try to continue with the Hitachi test as I've heard it can be used on non-Hitachi drives.

The hard drive is Western Digital Central. WDC WD2500BPVT-22ZEST0.

Since I can't install windows, do I want to download the DOS Version of their tool? This is what I found, can you let me know if you think it is the right one?

WD Support / Downloads / Mobile & AV-25 / WD Blue

Sorry if this is a dumb question, I'm kind of in over my head here (obviously).

Yeah, get the DOS version. I'll take your word for it that you have the drive correctly identified.

Follow the instructions shown to put that tool on a bootable USB stick.

Boot from the stick and run the quick and then the extended tests.

Does this PC have a sticker on it somewhere with a 25 character Product Key?

Do you have a valid Windows 7 installation disk that matches the type mentioned on the sticker?