No hard drive seen in BIOS or Windows 7

[BENZT]

Hi everyone, I joined this forum to get an answer to a big question if I can. But it looks nice here, so I might stick around afterwards too.

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Okay I will try to keep this as succinct as I can:

I am trying to perform a clean installation of Windows 7 HP 32bit on my desktop PC.

Motherboard: MSI K9AGM2
CPU: AMD Athlon 64 X2 Dual Core

There is a perfectly good 75GB SATA hard disk installed, but when I get to the point in the installation where it asks where I want to install windows I get 'no drives were found'.

I have checked in the BIOS so see if it's recognised there, which it isn't. I also tried an XP Home installation just to see what happened and that didn't recognise the hard drive either.

I have just formatted this hard drive using DBan and it does work in my other PC. I have also fitted a hard drive from another PC into this computer and that one isn't seen either. I have tried different data cables and different SATA slots on the motherboard and that didn't work.

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From my reading on google it seems that this might be a SATA driver issue. Where I have to get drivers from the motherboard's website and then install at the screen where it doesn't see the hard drive and gives the 'load driver' option. I have downloaded different drivers from the MSI website for my motherboard. Some of them have been found, but none have worked in finding my hard drive. I was desperately hoping that someone would be able to help.

I also spoke with the guy from my local computer shop, who (based on my description of the problem) seemed to first think it was a driver issue. He also said it was a bit of a pig of a job to do. So any help for this would be seriously appreciated. Thanks!

 

[Dwarf]

Hi BENZT and welcome to W7 Forums

If a HDD is not recognised by the BIOS during start up, then it will not be available and will not be seen either by a running OS or by the install routine (if trying to install an OS).

From what you have stated, I think that we can eliminate the drives themselves. This leaves a couple of possibilities. Firstly, the data cable may not be securely attached (SATA cables are narrow and are easy to dislodge, compared to the 40/80 wire PATA ones). This can be remedied by fitting latching type cables. Secondly, the power cable. Is this attached, and if so, is there actually any power at the connector?

 

[theog]

Try resetting the BIOS to default setting.

Why are you reinstalling?

 

[BENZT]

Hi BENZT and welcome to W7 Forums

From what you have stated, I think that we can eliminate the drives themselves. This leaves a couple of possibilities.

Thanks, nice to be here Yeah I am pretty sure that the hard drive is fine.

Firstly, the data cable may not be securely attached (SATA cables are narrow and are easy to dislodge, compared to the 40/80 wire PATA ones). This can be remedied by fitting latching type cables. Secondly, the power cable. Is this attached, and if so, is there actually any power at the connector?

I have tried a number of times to disconnect and reconnect - making sure the cable is secure and also trying a different data cable and the different SATA slots on the mobo. The cable from the PSU is connected, yes. I went into the RAID utility on bootup just to see what happened and that DID recognise the drive, so I'm assuming the answer is that it is being properly powered.

Try resetting the BIOS to default setting.

Why are you reinstalling?

Tried that I think. 'Load Optimised Defaults' it was called in my BIOS, think that's what it was.

I'm reinstalling because it was actually my brother's PC, which kinda packed up on him and he bought a replacement. He doesn't know much about PC's though, so he was quite vague about what the initial problem was. I thought I would try and get it going again to give to my Dad, who had a PC that's ten years old and wasn't great when he first got it lol

 

[theog]

I'm reinstalling because it was actually my brother's PC, which kinda packed up on him and he bought a replacement. He doesn't know much about PC's though, so he was quite vague about what the initial problem was.

You may be looking at a faulty MOBO.

 

[BENZT]

Try resetting the BIOS to default setting.

Why are you reinstalling?

Tried that I think. 'Load Optimised Defaults' it was called in my BIOS, think that's what it was.

Well, problem now sorted! Weirdly I really thought I had restored the BIOS to defaults but perhaps the first time I tried, I forgot to save before exiting or something silly. Anyway it's just as well I decided to do it again, coz it solved the issue! I now have a complete W7 installation on what looks like a happy computer. I am thankful for your help guys and I am thankful that I stuck at it instead of buckling and spending £55+ for a shop to do it. Cheers guys!

 

[theog]

Well done, you are welcome.