Windows 7 Doesn't Detect My Hard Drive


  1. eIIison
    Posts : 2
    Windows 7 Professional (64-bit)
       New #1

    Windows 7 Doesn't Detect My Hard Drive


    Here's my hard drive:
    Seagate Constellation ES ST3500514NS

    I haven't been able to get Windows 7 installation to detect this drive for about two months now. I'm running on a Gigabyte GA-880GA-UD3H mobo, revision 2.1.

    I recently found a list of drivers for my motherboard on Gigabyte, but I'm not sure if any of these will help me.
    I also found some downloads for my hard drive.

    Oh, and I can use this drive if I'm running Windows 7 on a different hard drive, but I just can't install Windows 7 on it.
    Last edited by eIIison; 19 Feb 2011 at 20:44.
      My Computer
    Quote Quote

  3. DeanP
    Posts : 2,566
    Win 7 Pro x64 SP1 OS X Snow Leopard 10.6.7
       New #2

    Check if the new HDD is being detected in BIOS. Also, the HDD may be formatted as a file system not supported for Windows. Make sure it is formatted as NTFS.
      My Computer
    Quote Quote

  4. eIIison
    Posts : 2
    Windows 7 Professional (64-bit)
    Thread Starter
       New #3

    DeanP said:
    Check if the new HDD is being detected in BIOS. Also, the HDD may be formatted as a file system not supported for Windows. Make sure it is formatted as NTFS.
    It's detected in BIOS and it's also formatted in NTFS.
      My Computer
    Quote Quote

  6. Bare Foot Kid
    Posts : 22,814
    W 7 64-bit Ultimate
       New #4

    Hello eIIison, welcome to Seven Forums!


    The info below may be a help to you, power down the PC and disconnect all HDDs except the target HDD, connect that to the #1 SATA port of the motherboard and set it as the second boot device after the CD/DVD drive in the BIOS then boot the Windows 7 installation DVD to do the wipe and complete the installation process and be sure to post back with any further questions you may have and to keep us informed.
       Information

    I would suggest, after you have copied out or made back-ups of the data you need to save to external media, use Step One of this tutorial at the link below to do a wipe (secure erase) to the entire Hard Disk Drive, running this then using the outline in Step Two #2 to create/format and mark Active a single 100GB partition using diskpart will get you the best possible space to clean install Windows 7 to.

    After you have made backups of everything you care to save and you want to do a real wipe "clean all" to the Hard Disk Drive (HDD) it over-writes everything, all the old Windows code including all the old Windows drivers, giving you the best possible space to install Windows 7 to; it goes hand-in-hand with a clean install.

    SSD / HDD : Optimize for Windows Reinstallation

    DISKPART : At PC Startup

    How to Do a Clean Installation with Windows 7
      My Computer
    Quote Quote

  7. Mark Phelps
    Posts : 1,379
    Win7 Pro 32-bit, Win8 Pro 32-bit
       New #5

    Not trying to drive you away (since the tech support here is excellent!), but I recently built a new system using a similar Gigabyte board -- and I found their forum support to also be excellent. Their support staff actually read the posts and get back to you, usually within the same day, with specific suggestions.

    Their forum is located at: Official GIGABYTE Forum - Index
      My Computer
    Quote Quote

  8. gregrocker
    Posts : 50,642
       New #6

    Besides wiping the HD as suggested by Barefoot Kid, make sure you have the latest BIOS verison - if so, reset the CMOS: Clear CMOS - 3 Ways to Clear the CMOS - Reset BIOS

    While in BIOS setup, check the SATA controller setting: set to AHCI first, then IDE mode if install fails.

    Test the HD using Seatools extended CD test. SeaTools | Seagate
      My Computer
    Quote Quote

 

  Related Discussions
Hello, I have Windows 7 ultimate and I was backing up my PC to a cloud service along with installing Opera mobile emulator. When my PC gave me the BSOD, I restarted my computer and it started up my secondary drive.. My primary drive is no longer detected in the BIOS.. Both drives appear to show up...
I use 3 computers, in one that has Windows Seven and other Xp, the computer detects the external hard drive with no problem But in another Windows Seven pc, it doesn't detect it at all, the hard drive makes a clicking sound and nothing else So, what can it be?, I even connect it to a TV...
Install everything, the bios detect the hard drive (it's a new hard drive, never been use) but when installing the Win7 64, the hard drive list is empty. Here my spec Phenom II 940BE | Gigabyte 790X-UD4P | Seagate Barracuda 7200.12 500GB | XFX HD4770 512MB | OCZ StealthXStream 600W | NZXT...
I tried to install Ubuntu and failed. i removed it using the ubuntu boot-repair so i will at least have my windows 7 back. now i get the message "Bootmgr is missing", and the windows repair (the one from the installation disc) doesn't even recognize my hard drive. when i'm loading the ubuntu...
Our Sites
Site Links
About Us
Windows 7 Forums is an independent web site and has not been authorized, sponsored, or otherwise approved by Microsoft Corporation. "Windows 7" and related materials are trademarks of Microsoft Corp.

 © Designer Media Ltd
All times are GMT -5. The time now is 12:43.
Find Us