No HDD in Boot Manager, other issues with clean install of 64bit W7

susej · 24 Oct 2011

So I have been trying to install Windows 7 on an Acer laptop that has NO operating system on it. I have my install on a USB flash because the computer I'm working from doesn't have a DVD burner. Anyways, I've loaded the boot from the USB multiple times, and I can get as far as choosing a partition.. but there is none there because I am unable to create any since I can't even get onto the computer, it is completely empty. Unless I am able to do something with partitioning and the USB flash drive I want to boot from/the SD card I have the drivers on. Although, it might have to do with the drivers as well I am assuming. I'm not the most technically savvy person, I teach myself how to fix things by using Google.. but it does me alright. I thought if I downloaded the drivers needed for the Aspire 5253 they would be easily installed, but no.. I have them and after looking where I thought the USB driver might be (read that could be the problem), I haven't been able to find another one that works with the hardware on the computer. After choosing this driver and pressing next, it comes up with this:

"To continue installation, use the Load Driver option to install 32-bit and signed 64-bit drivers. Installing an unsigned 64-bit device driver is not supported and might result in unusable Windows installation."

Is this as simple as I should have gotten 32bit and not 64bit? I also read it shouldn't matter if it was 32 or 64 before anyways..
I downloaded the drivers as a pack from DriverPack Solution (drp.su)
Here are some crappy pictures of the my steps to this.

ImageShack Album - 6 images

Any help on the matter would be greatly appreciated, I've been at this all weekend..

theog · 24 Oct 2011

Where did you buy your Windows 7 from?

gregrocker · 24 Oct 2011

Confirm the ISO integrity or download another, write to flash stick using this tool with Win7 in the dropdown menu: Universal USB Installer – Easy as 1 2 3

susej · 24 Oct 2011

The ISO is good, I know it has worked for others. I'll try using Universal.

susej · 24 Oct 2011

This problem is still persisting, and I know that the copy of Windows 7 is good, the ISO is intact and functioning. I am sure I could install it on this computer no problem, if not for the RAM being too low. It is just this laptop, none of the fixes I've found work. I've switched the SATA from AHCI to IDE, and the IDE HDD is in the boot manager and boot part of the BIOS (InsydeH20). But there is also a HDD0 in the BIOS and not Boot Manager. If I boot the IDE HDD that's where the major error occurs, "No bootable disk - insert boot disk and press any key". I have no choice but to boot from USB, and since there is no option to choose the HDD0 (if it is bootable), I'm stuck.

I read this method might work;
Method 8: Use the Diskpart.exe utility to clean the disk, and then run Windows Setup again

If you have tried all the methods that are listed in this section and the problem persists, use the Diskpart.exe utility to clean the disk, and then run Windows Setup again.

Note Use this method only if you want to perform a clean installation of Windows. When you clean the hard disk, it is formatted. All partitions and all data on the hard disk are permanently removed. We strongly recommend that you back up the files on the hard disk before you clean the disk.

To use the Diskpart.exe utility to clean the hard disk, follow these steps:

Insert the DVD into the DVD drive. (This would be the USB Flash Drive for me)
On the disk selection screen, press SHIFT+F10. A Command Prompt window opens.
Type diskpart, and then press ENTER to open the diskpart tool.
Type list disk, and then press ENTER. A list of available hard disks is displayed.
Type sel disk number, and then press ENTER. number is the number of the hard disk that you want to clean. The hard disk is now selected.
Type det disk, and then press ENTER. A list of partitions on the hard disk is displayed. Use this information to verify that the correct disk is selected.
Make sure that the disk does not contain required data, type clean all, and then press ENTER to clean the disk. All the partitions and all the data on the disk is permanently removed.
Type exit, and then press ENTER to close the diskpart tool.
Close the Command Prompt window.
Click the Refresh button to update the disk selection screen. This step lists the disk.
Run Windows Setup to perform a clean installation of Windows.

(original link, You cannot select or format a hard disk partition when you try to install Windows Vista, Windows 7 or Windows Server 2008 R2)

Ok I found the disk part, it's giving me 2 disk's. One is the USB and the other is:

Disk 2, No Media (status), 0B (size), 0B (free)

Do I delete this one?