Fresh win7 install need driver and HDD install advice

I updated the BIOS settings to change the Sata controller to AHCI, then booted to Windows and the registry edit loaded up the appropriate windows drivers. Still no sign of the missing 2 tb drive. See attached snip, and notice it's assigning a drive letter E: to my old C: drive's system reserved partition. Oh yeah, I hooked that drive back up to get some files off and actually do a little work. Is there a way to not give that drive letter E: to the reserved partition, and maybe it will then have room in the alphabet for the missing drive? I will be trying to boot again with old C: drive disconnected, to see if AHCI and only 2 HDDs connected will do the trick. Either way I'd like to get rid of the E: assignment to the reserved partition. How would I do that?

Regarding drivers, I reverted back to plan A, which is to gather drivers from Asus and other specific manufactures site. Prior to that I gave Windows permission to take over drivers and installation, restarted and let it think about it for a while. It didn't seem interested in going beyond the lame generic drivers it already had installed, and there was one USB controller that it said it couldn't install at all. I had no sound at all from either output (HDMI from AMD Radeon and analog speakers from onboard audio VIA chipset). After laying down AMD chipset from their site, AMD full Catalyst install, JMicron storage controller from their site, things are working smooth and all functionality is back. I'm definitely getting the sata 6 speeds out of the new C: drive now too.

So two questions:
1) How to remove letter E system reserved partition from old C: drive in Disk Management
2) Is there a good reference for the ASUS BIOS menus, which helps describe what some of the options do? Anything would be better than the Asus manual which basically tells me what the menu says with no explanation.

Thanks a lot

You can remove the drive letter from SysReserved: Drive Letter - Add, Change, or Remove in Windows 7 - Windows 7 Forums

I would not run the Catalyst bloatware which can cause problems, only the latest driver if Updates didn't deliver it. After all rounds of Updates are complete, any missing drivers should also of course be imported.

I would not run the Catalyst bloatware which can cause problems, only the latest driver if Updates didn't deliver it. After all rounds of Updates are complete, any missing drivers should also of course be imported.

I've used CCC for some time now, and actually use the presets functionality to assist in HTPC control, switching between settings for that and my office (where the machine actually sits). Also use OverDrive clocking. No issues other than slight increase in boot and shutdown times. That wasn't always the case historically, but they seem to have something stable these days. I'm also very careful about clean installs of updates. Probably jinxing myself. Do you know of any good ASUS MOB guides/companions either here or on other sites? I want to learn more about it, but that's proven difficult so far.

I tried to get windows to move on some driver updates by manually requesting via Device Manager. But it wouldn't even see the onboard audio and left me with two non functioning HDMI audio drivers. Same with MOB drivers, which was the only thing that finally kicked it into sata 6 speeds. Maybe Asus is more dependant on their custom drivers.

In that case import those drivers. You have specific needs beyond the average user which may require added software.

I would query Asus Tech Support, any Forums they host, our Hardware forum experts, google.

I would query Asus Tech Support, any Forums they host, our Hardware forum experts, google.

Yeah, I know that pattern. Actually I enjoy cruising for answers because I always end up finding other good stuff along the way. Feeling lazy right this second, probably need more sleep.

There are a few menus in the BIOS where I just want to sit someone down and have them explain the whoooooole thing. Baby steps...

Greg, I really appreciate all your feedback and being so responsive. Helped a ton. I'm sure I'll have more to ask soon. You don't happen to use an Asus board, do you?

Not now, no. Bu work on many Asus PC's.

unfortunately no. I'm going to try the drive letter removal now.

I'm engaging support at Seagate. it appears to be a very common issue so I think i'm in the right place. I will report back with the solution. Thanks all!

oh, I should mention drive letter was removed from old C: drive partition, didn't make a difference. Also have now tried other Sata ports, cables, and power leads, all of which work with the twin ST2000 boot drive (new C:).

Seagate quickly directed me to RMA the drive back to NewEgg. THey shipped replacement later that afternoon. I'm glad I purchased a primo warranty for $20 per drive as they give you advantages like the instant replacement shipping as well as full replacement for any reason for 3 years beyond OEM warranty. I hope it was a fluke fail though, because I got 2 of them.