Clean Install HD recognition

[BetlegeuseKC]

I've looked at a lot of other threads and I see similar problems, but not identical. I haven't found a solution amongst the rest of the forum. So, I'm doing a clean install of Windows7 Pro (x32) from a new HD. I want to put the OS on it's own HD, but in addition, I run 2 additional Raid1 Arrays. For this I have 2 raid controllers. The OS HD is being controlled by the ICH10R raid controller, despite not being part of a RAID array. I've been running Win XP this way for some time, and it's fine. No problems. When I go to set up Win7, It sees and recognizes all my HD's, including the arrays that I have set up, and if I just select the drive I want and hit "Install" it'll start installing, but I need to load RAID drivers, so I have to go in and select "Install Drivers". I install them all from a USB drive (not a CD drive, which seems to be the most critical error, people not replacing the install CD once they loaded their RAID drivers). Once I load the drivers in, it now gives me the 0x80300001 Can't install on this disc. Why is this happening after I load the RAID drivers but not before?

The MoBo I'm using is a Gigabyte GA-EP45T-UD3P Rev 1.0, and I need to load the ICH10R and the JSATA drivers, as each is controlling a seperate array.

I did try to unhook every HD except the install Drive. I don't know what else to do on this. It's probably something stupid, but I can't figure it out.

 

[Jonathan_King]

Hello, Welcome!
Do you have an onboard SATA controller you can use? Try connecting the HD directly to the motherboard, not through a RAID controller.
Just an idea, it may or may not work.

 

[BetlegeuseKC]

They actually are both onboard SATA controllers

 

[Jonathan_King]

What is your SATA operation mode set to in the BIOS?

 

[BetlegeuseKC]

It's set to RAID mode, as opposed to AHCI

 

[gregrocker]

Windows 7 doesn't like RAID too much.

 

[BetlegeuseKC]

Windows 7 doesn't like RAID too much.

Meaning what, exactly...set it to AHCI? Or Windows 7 doesn't like RAID configurations much in general?

 

[computersplus]

Raid Drivers

You need the SATA/Raid drivers for your board download them from Gigabyte.

They will be zipped you need to "extract" them to a flash drive make sure you have the flash drive plugged in when you boot up the computer and when you are at the screen to setup hard drive partitions choose additional drivers and point to the files on the flash drive and once it loads those drivers your drives will appear.

This whole process is much easier since the new partitioner that came out with Vista you used to have to load the drivers from floppy or have them slipstreamed into the install disk but now you can use a flash drive much easier good luck!

 

[BetlegeuseKC]

The point is that I already did that. I got the drivers from Gigabyte, and I have already loaded them from a USB flash drive. The problem is that the OS won't install AFTER I load the drivers.

 

[Jonathan_King]

Try setting the SATA setting to non-raid or AHCI. Try them both. You never know, one of them might work.

 

[Nibiru2008]

I have found that it's best to disconnect all extra hard drives except the one you want to install Windows 7 on. It gets a little picky that way. Once you have it installed then you can reconnect the drives.

I hope this helps. BTW, I have my BIOS set to AHCI mode.

 

[BetlegeuseKC]

I did try to unhook my excess drives, that was the first thing I tried. No love

Sorry if this is a stupid question, but can I still run RAID1 if this setting is at AHCI?

 

[Jonathan_King]

Sorry if this is a stupid question, but can I still run RAID1 if this setting is at AHCI?

I am not sure, I doubt it. For the purposes of installation, turn it to AHCI or non-raid, and when you are done, switch back to RAID.

 

[BetlegeuseKC]

Oh, I see what you're saying. Gotcha. Yeah, I'll try that.

 

[computersplus]

Windows Install Issue

Ok here's what I think is going on, in the Bios set the SATA controllers to native IDE not RAID or ACHI like other people have stated that should solve your issue.

 

[computersplus]

Install Issue

You should be able to configure the controllers like SATA 0 & 1 to native IDE which will treat the drive like an IDE drive for OS to install and run then to set SATA 2 & 3 to RAID

 

[BetlegeuseKC]

I tried AHCI, and am having the same issue. One thing that I noticed that has me a bit puzzled, is that If I load just the GSATA driver, which my (potential) OS drive is NOT controlled by, it will give me the same problem error. Go figure. When I Disable by ICH10R raid controller, and turned my GSATA raid controller to IDE only, it would allow me to load the drivers, then tell me it was unable to partition the drive. I couldn't go on from there.

I tried to completely delete the partition, and format, but it did the same thing.

 

[win7clutz]

Why not disconnect the raid drives and do your install to the primary drive. Then hook up the raid and let Windows find it and prompt you for the drivers... Just a thought.

 

[BetlegeuseKC]

Can I do that? In previous version of Windows, you HAD to install raid drivers during OS install. I sort of assumed this was the same way.

 

[win7clutz]

I don't know why not, on the initial install to the single drive it won't require raid drivers. All you can do is give it a try.