Cannot install Windows 7

[wb7uxo]

I just completed my first computer build, using a ASUS P5N-D motherboard. There is one SATA hard drive and a SATA DVD. When I booted from the Windows 7 Enterprise DVD, it loaded the files, and got the background screen. It didn't load the first installation step. I ran the DVD in another machine, and it got to the installation screen, so the DVD should be OK.

Don't know where to go from here. In looking over other threads, I thought the problem may be that the AHCI for the SATA components was not set correctly. I couldn't find that in the BIOS.

As noted, this is my first build, and am wondering if I need to install something before the Operating System. If so, what? The motherboard came with a Chipset Support DVD. It is not a bootable DVD, and the BIOS goes to the various RAID setup options.

 

[hoganth]

Make sure the drive is enabled in your bios, The bios can be a little tricky, especially with sata drives, I have a Asus P5K and have been down that road before. If everything is setup in bios correctly there is no reason windows can't see it and install.

 

[joel406]

Check your bios and be sure SATA mode is set to IDE.
Then try again.

You may also try a different DVD drive if you can.

By the way why are you useing Ent Ed? Why not Ultimate? I have Ent Ed to and see no advantage over Ultimate.

 

[gregrocker]

Can you try the install using a bootable USB flash stick? http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/2432-usb-windows-7-installation-key-drive-create.html

Remove all but 2gb of RAM to try install.

 

[wb7uxo]

The only option I have in the BIOS for the SATA drive is "Extended IDE Drive" which gives the options of "Auto" or "None". They are set to "Auto" for the SATA devices. I replaced the SATA DVD with an IDE one, and it now shows as the "Primary IDE Master". Still didn't get past the background screen.

The SATA drive shows up in the BIOS, and the information on it matches what the specs call for.

There is an option to configure the "Primary IDE Master/Slave as "None" "Auto" or "Manual". If "Manual" is selected I have the choices of "CHS" "LBA" "Large" or "Auto". Am thinking (which always is dangerous in my case) that this won't work since it is a SATA drive.

Oh yes, I tried to install an XP OS, and that loaded fine, and I got to the point where I was ready to install, when I backed out. This was with both the SATA hard drive and the SATA DVD.

Perhaps my best bet is to try to load from a USB device. Will try that tomorrow.

 

[DocBrown]

Did you review our questions list for installation ?

http://www.sevenforums.com/installa...-use-help-installation-issues.html#post300660

 

[wb7uxo]

Got Windows 7 installed. It turned out that the default BIOS settings included an active "A: Floppy Disk Drive" which didn't exist in fact. I disabled this in the BIOS, and was able to load Windows.

Thank you all for your help.

 

[DocBrown]

Got Windows 7 installed. It turned out that the default BIOS settings included an active "A: Floppy Disk Drive" which didn't exist in fact. I disabled this in the BIOS, and was able to load Windows.

Thank you all for your help.

The missing Floppy has messed up a lot of installs Congrats

 

[gregrocker]

We need to remember that one, too.

Good work.