win 7 install----hard drive in bios---not in select resore type window

[skellig]

I'm attempting a clean install of win 7 on an acer aspire 7540---the hard drive is shown in bios---but
not far into the setup, the selections in the window that says "select restore type" are greyed out.
I had a suggestion to change the bios setting from ahci to ide. when I try that, 2 of the selections are
available. if I try option 1, it says not enough disc space to hold temp files---option 2 gives me a stop code of 0x3. this is a new 320 gb hard drive. any suggestions would be appreciated.

 

[ignatzatsonic]

Clarify a few things:

You say new 320 GB hard drive. You mean brand new, that has never had an operating system or data on it and no connection with Acer or this PC at all?

I ask because 320 GB is way more than needed for any temp files, so I'm wondering if maybe this HD does in fact have stuff on it.

Are you attempting the install from an official Microsoft retail purchased DVD? or a burned disk? Or a DVD of some other type?

 

[skellig]

it's a brand new hard drive---never been used.
there should be nothing on it.
I'm installing from burned discs which i've used several times
on other pc's.
thanks

 

[ignatzatsonic]

Hmmm.......I'd download a Win 7 installation ISO of the type that matches your Product Key from Digital River and burn it to a disc and try again.

I'm assuming this is a single drive machine and that no other hard drives were connected during your install attempt.

Is the BIOS set at defaults?

 

[skellig]

actually, I changed the sata setting from ahci to ide----if I left it at ahci, I wouldn't even get as far as I did.
the restore type options were all greyed out. other than that, bios is at default.
i'll try a new set of install discs.
thanks for your help.
i'll post the results soon.

 

[ignatzatsonic]

Acer machines can be a bit peculiar, so I wouldn't be surprised if BIOS defaults were non-standard in some way. You might have a look at all the menus in there if your next attempt with the newly burned disc doesn't work. Disconnect everything possible before you begin--down to mouse, keyboard, and monitor. Nothing external.

Regarding the hard drive. If you have an install disc, you could look at it with diskpart command and see what types of partitions it may or may not have.

 

[gregrocker]

Sounds like you're trying to run Factory Recovery disks from the OS. You mention more than one so that's all it could be. If it is indeed just the one Win7 DVD then it also needs to be booted and not run from the OS, deleting all partitions to get the drive ready for the reinstall.

Everything needed to get and keep a perfect install is here in Clean Reinstall - Factory OEM Windows 7. Read over the steps and ask back if you have any questions.

 

[skellig]

I tried an install with an iso from digital river---with bios set to ide mode the message says it can't install to this disc---I set bios at default (ahci mode) and when I get to the "where do you want to install windows" screen, it doesn't show any hard drives available. it says "no drives found. click load driver to provide a mass storage driver for installation." this is where I get confused. I can't disconnect the mouse or the monitor or keyboard as this is a laptop. how can I check the hard drive for partitions? this is new for me.

 

[ignatzatsonic]

To check for partitions, use Diskpart.

You'd get there by booting from that installation disk you burned from Digital River.

When you get to the screen where it asks about language (first screen I think), hit shift F10 on the keyboard.

That should take you to a command prompt.

At that prompt, type diskpart and hit the enter key.

Then type listdisk and hit enter key.

Report back on what that listdisk command returns. It should show Disc 0 or Disc 1 or something like that. If not, then???

 

[skellig]

when I hit shift-f10, nothing happens

 

[skellig]

I got it---it says---on computer: MINWINPC

 

[skellig]

listdisk comes up with a list of commands

 

[ignatzatsonic]

my error. Try list disk

two words, not one.

I don't follow the minwinpc comment; what do you mean?

 

[skellig]

after I type in diskpart, it says: on computer: minwinpc
also, when I type in list disk, the message is:
there are no fixed disks to show

 

[ignatzatsonic]

Well, that makes me thinks something like this:

The disk is bad.

The motherboard port to which the disk is connected is bad.

The cable connecting the drive to the motherboard is bad.

No connection is being made between the drive and the computer.

Can you swap in another drive to see if you can get another response from diskpart?

You say "brand new disc". Bought where? OEM? Retail? Ebay? From a friend?

Is this laptop known to perform OK with any other hard drive?

 

[gregrocker]

I tried an install with an iso from digital river---with bios set to ide mode the message says it can't install to this disc---I set bios at default (ahci mode) and when I get to the "where do you want to install windows" screen, it doesn't show any hard drives available. it says "no drives found. click load driver to provide a mass storage driver for installation." this is where I get confused. I can't disconnect the mouse or the monitor or keyboard as this is a laptop. how can I check the hard drive for partitions? this is new for me.

Is the HD detected in BIOS setup? Look under storage devices or BIOS Boot order priority. Try reinstalling hard drive as already suggested.

This also could be a bad installer which is almost always the case when it prompts for storage drivers. Confirm the download completed by size, burn another DVD or flash stick using tool provided in tutorial. Boot installer in another PC to see if it sees the HD on the drive selection screen.

 

[skellig]

i'll check all that stuff tomorrow---can't work on this any more today.
i'll post again tomorrow.
thanks again

 

[skellig]

ok---starting where we left off yesterday---I got to list disk and got the following:
disk 0
status: online
size: 186 gb
free 186 gb
dyn and gpt are blank

 

[gregrocker]

It isn't registering correctly for a 320gb drive.

I asked you if the drive registered correctly in BIOS setup - the make and/or serial of the HD should show up under Storage, SATA devices, or BIOS Boot order.

Work through the steps for Overcoming Windows 7 Installation Failures - Windows 7 Help Forums . Report back at which exact step it fails. Do not skip any step as that will likely be the one which resolves it.

 

[skellig]

sorry---I failed to mention I put in a 200 gb hard drive