Help with install & build

[TJ1376]

Hi... As I continue to have issues with my new build, I wanted to post here for two reasons.
1) I thought this was going to be pretty easy...
2) Maybe if some other new guy out there ran across this thread, they would have some information to fall back onto.
I ran a search of the forums, but couldnt easily find the information I needed, so thus the post.

So, my issue is that while installing, I get an error that says windows could not format a partition on disk 0. The error occurred while preparing the partition selected for installation. Error Code 0x80070057

I have tried to format the drive multiple times, but run into a "format failed" error from the command prompt when I attempt to format. Is the drive bad? Am I doing something wrong? I was in the computer industry on the hardware side for a few years back in 2000, but then moved to the application side and am now a system admin for a CRM application. I thought I knew my stuff and that this would be pretty easy, but boy how times have changed. Any help would be much appreciated.

Another note: Bios finds the drive (as I thought the SATA drivers were not compatible) and the hard drive monitoring tool within the bios says all is OK (although I am not sure of the level of detail of this monitoring tool).

Did I forget a step in my build that I must take before attempting to install windows 7?

Current Operating System, pre-install

• Do you have a single OS on your computer, are you planning on multi-booting with this installation?
Single OS
• Are you multi-booting now?
No
Current Hardware
​

• How many internal hard drives (HD) are connected to your system?
​

• Are they IDE or SATA? 1 SATA HDD : Seagate barracuda 7200.12 500 gig drive
​

• How many DVD drives are connected to your system?
​

• Are they IDE or SATA Drives? 1 Sony Optiarc DVD via SATA
​

• Any external HDs used? NO

• Check Disk Management for any HDs listed with a yellow triangle and explanation point? No triangles
​

• Is this a New Clean HD? Yes
​

• Have you pre-formatted the HD? Multiple attempts fail
​

Windows 7 installation details

• Which build number and version of Windows 7 are you installing? Professional, cant install
​

• Are you installing a 32 bit (x86) or 64 bit (x64) OS? x64
​

• Where did you get the ISO file from? from dvd?
​

 

[myzr7]

Welcome to sevenforums TJ. Hope we can help with your problem

 

[FZ21Z]

Hi... As I continue to have issues with my new build, I wanted to post here for two reasons.
1)

Which are?

 

[gregrocker]

Did you initialize your new HD when first plugged in? If you need help doing this, use maker's tech support included with purchase. Seagate SeaTools is available on their website Downloads Support page to test/repair HD. http://www.seagate.com/ww/v/index.j...toid=720bd20cacdec010VgnVCM100000dd04090aRCRD

Reset your BIOS CMOS: Clear CMOS - 3 Ways to Clear the CMOS - Reset BIOS

Now in BIOS setup make sure DVD drive is set to boot first, and SATA controller is set to ACHI first, then IDE if this fails.

Remove all but 2gb of RAM, then test, swap RAM if install continues to fail.

 

[TJ1376]

yeah.. sorry, cut my finger on the case and the bandage snuck over there and hit the enter key... WHOOPS.

 

[TJ1376]

Did you initialize your new HD when first plugged in? If you need help doing this, use maker's tech support included with purchase.

Reset your BIOS CMOS: Clear CMOS - 3 Ways to Clear the CMOS - Reset BIOS

Now in BIOS setupmake sure DVD drive is set to boot first, and SATA controller is set to ACHI first, then IDE if this fails.

Remove all but 2gb of RAM, then test, swap RAM if install continues to fail.

Flipped SATA controller to ACHI, now I am getting a missing operating system error message when booting

 

[gregrocker]

OP says you can't install after multiple attempts to new HD. What OS cannot be found?

Do you have DVD set to boot first in BIOS setup, or using one-time boot menu key? What happens when it boots?

 

[TJ1376]

OP says you can't install after multiple attempts to new HD. What OS cannot be found?

Do you have DVD set to boot first in BIOS setup, or using one-time boot menu key? What happens when it boots?

When I flipped to AHCI (as I think thats what you are getting at) after post bios I get an error that says "operating system not found." The win 7 dvd is in the player and the setup is to start from dvd first.

I just flipped the controller to "IDE -> AHCI" and now the DVD booted into the win 7 startup. I am going to try to install again.

 

[TJ1376]

Umm.. the setup is running LIGHTNING FAST.. It used to take 10 mins to get to the "Where do you want to install windows" page... Took 10 seconds this time.

 

[PsychoClown]

now that you have achi enabled sounds like you might have the hdd set to boot first. make sure you set the dvd / cd to boot first.

edit:

sounds like you might be in business now.

 

[TJ1376]

Although the setup is running lightning fast, and I was able to delete the 5 partitions that had been created from previous unsuccessful installs, I am still getting the same error.

 

[gregrocker]

ACHI is preferred. See if you can get DVD to boot first, or use one-time Boot Menu key given on first BIOS screen.

ACHI should not interfere with booting the DVD. The boot order was likely changed if you reset your CMOS.

 

[TJ1376]

now that you have achi enabled sounds like you might have the hdd set to boot first. make sure you set the dvd / cd to boot first.

edit:

sounds like you might be in business now.

Double checked the settings to make sure that after the change to "IDE -> AHCI" that the priority did not change. Still booting DVD first, but still getting the drive partition error.

 

[TJ1376]

ACHI is preferred. See if you can get DVD to boot first, or use one-time Boot Menu key given on first BIOS screen.

ACHI should not interfere with booting the DVD.

Any ideas with why ACHI is not allowing the boot to dvd?

 

[gregrocker]

Set to ACHI then tap key given on first bootup screen for Boot Menu, select DVD drive. If there is no such key given, then enter BIOS setup and make sure DVD drive is set to boot first before HD.

What happens?

 

[PsychoClown]

try downloading and burning a copy of partition wizard. boot from the disk and see what it says. i just used it yesterday for the first time to wipe my ssd drive for a reinstall. worked like a charm.

Partition Wizard is a Magic Server Partition Manager Software for Windows Server 2000/2003/2008 and Windows 2000/XP/Vista/Windows 7.

 

[TJ1376]

Set to ACHI then tap key given on first bootup screen for Boot Menu, select DVD drive. If there is no such key given, then enter BIOS setup and make sure DVD drive is set to boot first before HD.

What happens?

When I set to ACHI, there is a system page that pops up for one second before I can get into the bios. On that page, by pressing ctrl c I can enter a ACHI page that shows me the status of the two SATA drives (dvd and HDD). All looks well there, but when I exit the system page (system reboots) after post bios I get an error page that just says "Missing operating system". It has the default hardware monitor information at the very top (built with the motherboard) and then literally just says "missing operating system." there is no option to boot to dvd or any other media.

 

[gregrocker]

What are the other SATA controller setting choices?

What did you have it set previous to ACHI?

 

[PsychoClown]

sounds like your bios is bypassing the dvd during boot. i know with my board if i have not proper wiped the hdd it will not give me the option to boot from the dvd. the message you are getting is because the bios is looking for a os on the hdd and not finding it.

 

[gregrocker]

You were able to boot DVD with controller set to IDE, delete all partitions and format fresh before last fail, correct?

How much memory are you running with now?