sata disk disappear while formatting

Hello everyone
I'm trying to install Windows 7 home premium 64 for about 5 hours...
The farthest i went once was at the % screen. It stucked at 0% ...

I'm trying to install this on a newly purchased computer with a Western digital 640Go caviar SE.

So my problem comes at the disk list screen, when i have to format my HDD.

I get several error messages [0x80300001;0x80300024;0x80300025;0x80300007; and some other i cant remember], sometimes the disk disapear (and sometimes it does in bios too), and there's no way to continue the install...

I tried many different solutions i found on the net:
Changed my sata cable
Changed my HDD power cable
jumpered pin 1&2 (first time i did this, it passed to the percent page, but stucked at 0%)
switched IDE & AHCI in bios
install mobo drivers
...

I cant format it with the prompt, it say there's no drive...
----

I can't test anything on other computers, it is too old to be compatible.


I'm going crazy !
Thanks in advance for any help you can bring me.

Try opening a command prompt by pressing Shift F10 key at first screen after booting DVD, then wipe the HD of all code: SSD / HDD : Optimize for Windows Reinstallation

If the HD is only intermittently being recognized in BIOS then the problem could be a bad cable, port or HD. Test by swapping cable, then booting HD maker's diag/repair CD to do full scan: Hard Drive Diagnostics Tools and Utilities (Storage) - TACKtech Corp.

Next run from booted Win7 DVD command line Disk Check

TheOneWinged,


Let's backtrack.

What I would like you to do is:

Boot from your Win 7 DVD.

At the very first screen use SHIFT F10 key combo to get to a command prompt.

Now you will wipe the entire disk clean. This is to put your disk back to a "virgin" condition.

WIPE A DISK CLEAN

· type DiskPart, Enter key
· type List disk, Enter key
note the numeral of the disk you want to clean
for example purposes, I’ll be using the numeral 2
· type Select disk 2, Enter key
· type Detail disk, Enter key
this info will let you know if you selected correctly
· type Clean ALL, Enter key
your entire disk is being overwritten with zeros.
This can take a considerable amount of time
· type EXIT, Enter key (only after Clean is finished)
· type EXIT, Enter key (this gets you back where you were)

Now you can continue and let Windows format.

Some more informations :
I have an official windows 7 home premium OEM DvD (it wasn't burned by me)
and my disk is empty, not formated. it is 6hours old (or a bit more), its first ignition was the first time i tried to install seven.

Ok, so i tested all what you said:

@Night Hawk:

I changed the bios back to default settings (wich include native ide). Yet, i don't really care about AHCI, i just want to install seven, so i'll see later for it.

So i followed the clean install tutorial, and i unplugged one memory stick (I have now oly 2Gb, as recommended), and at step 7 (that must be a joke... ) i didn't seen my HDD...

So i tried to install raid drivers (even if i don't have 2 disk to put them in raid), seven doesn't let me do.. then the mainboard drivers... and it's the same problem...


@gregrocker & karlsnooks:
i already switched the sata cable, port and power cable with no effects... also reversed sata cable (we never know... )

when i type list disk in the prompt, he say there's no fixed disk to be shawn

ok, so at this step i tried a list volume, ant it said me that i have only a dvdrom...

---

I'll try to find a way to make my disk appear again, and then to do this again...

But, do you know how i can test my disk ? knowing that i don't have any other sata equiped computer ?

What about the other steps I listed?

gregrocker said:

Try opening a command prompt by pressing Shift F10 key at first screen after booting DVD, then wipe the HD of all code: https://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/91339-ssd-hdd-optimize-windows-reinstallation.html

...Burn to CD on another computer and then boot HD maker's diag/repair CD to do full scan: Hard Drive Diagnostics Tools and Utilities (Storage) - TACKtech Corp.

Next run from booted Win7 DVD command line Disk Check

Powser up your computer.
Hit F2 (or whatever you computer uses to get into the bios)
Does the bios show your hard drive?

Sorry, i'm a bit tired, i forgot some things...

I can't run a chkdisk, because there's no letter for my disk, and i tried the WD tool, but i'm not sure i did it the right way... it said me that it don't have the right system to run the image...

And now, it don't want to appear anymore... so i'm trying to switch again sata ports, but the best i get is some noise...
a kind of regular "Tac.... Tac ... Tac ..." (around 1 sec interval)




And i've done the windows memory test, and it say there is no problem... but at this point, i realy think my DD is defective...


i'll keep trying make him appear... If he does in the past, why is he still hidding ?

-------------------------
edit :

I also noticed that sometimes my dvdrom appears in BIOS as "Optiarc DVD RW AD-52..." and some other times as "Nonearc DVD RW AD-52..." is there any link ?

You want the DOS download of Data Lifeguard, however I use a better version which works on all models: http://support.gateway.com/support/d...2&uid=27543171 The installer extracts to c:cabs where you can click on the ISO to burn to CD with Windows Img Burner.

If you are able to salvage your HD with the surface test, then next burn to CD free Partition Wizard bootable CD which will check the file system for you. Free Download Magic Partition Manager Software – Partition Wizard Online Create a Primary NTFS partition, mark it Active to try installing to.

You say this is a new computer. Have you called tech support yet to get help since it should still be under warranty. You may need to RMA the HD. They should help you test it, too.