Dual Boot Windows 7 - Second (SSD) drive not showing as disk in Instal

[thephatp]

I've got one drive that's had Windows 7 for a while. I just bought an SSD drive, and I'd like to dual boot for a while. I've tried installing with formatting the SSD drive (in Windows) and make it a Primary Active partition. I've also tried installing by deleting the partition and leaving it unallocated. I tried creating a Primary partition (but not active). In all cases, it doesn't show up as an option when trying to install Windows.

When I boot from the CD, the only disk it shows is the disk for my already existing drive with Windows 7 already installed.

I tried the steps from this thread (Can't install windows 7 on SSD drive - Super User), but when I perform "list disk" from diskpart, it still only shows 1 disk--the already existing Windows 7 disk. And I originally started with these instructions: http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/5166-dual-boot-installation-windows-7-vista.html?ltr=D

Finally, I tried changing the boot up disk to the SSD drive (making it first on the list in the BIOS by setting boot priority), rebooted to the Windows disk, and still, the only disk that shows up is the original Win7 installed disk.

Another interesting note--my new 2TB storage drive doesn't show up in the list in the Windows install either.

How can I get my SSD drive to show up in the Windows install?

Another VERY interesting note...I've never seen this before. I disconnected my disk with Windows 7 already installed so that it would have to find my SSD drive, and it didn't. It says "No drives were found. Click Load Driver to provide a mass storage driver for installation." ???

 

[whs]

1. Looks like you have a wiring problem.

2. When you format the SSD, make sure you also align it. The commands are:

Diskpart
List disk
Select disk n (where n is the number that was given for your stick in List disk)
Clean
Create partition primary align=1024
Format fs=ntfs quick
Active
Exit

3. When you install on the SSD, disconnect all other drives

 

[thephatp]

I'm an idiot. But just in case anyone else has this problem...check to make sure you do not have your drives plugged into the eSATA ports.

Thanks to this thread for pointing out to check that: http://www.sevenforums.com/installation-setup/36706-new-custom-build-no-drives-were-found.html

 

[Britton30]

Thanks for letting us know, it ain't the first time it's happened. We've found you need a eSATA cable to make a eSATA drive to work too. Well, USB to eSATA will do it too.