Windows 7 installation does not show drive

[Bodom]

Im tryin to get my 64GB Mtron SSD runnin with Windows 7 but I can't get it to show up in the installation process. It shows just fine in the BIOS, in device manager, in My Computer and in Windows Disk Management, in fact I can even use it as storage but for some reason It will not show up as a disk to install Windows. I have tried as IDE in BIOS and AHCI and in AHCI mode it will not show up in the BIOS at all or anywhere, I can only get it to show in IDE mode. It has been fully formatted and has had Windows 7 on it here recently (had to reformat due to some speed issues). Does anyone know a way I can get Windows put back on, preferably in AHCI mode cause Im stuck with a Thousand dollar drive thats good for storage only :-(

 

[Jonathan_King]

Try switching to AHCI in the BIOS, and then reboot a couple of times. Often times the BIOS needs to do a scan. Let's say reboot 2 or 3 times, and then see if the drive is shown in the BIOS.

If possible, boot into the install disc and run the installation from there, as opposed to running setup.exe from withing Windows.

 

[Bodom]

Ive tried installing both ways but for some reason the drive just will not show up whether I be in in AHCI or IDE mode... now that Ive got windows installed on a different drive let me change the registry setting and switch it back to AHCI and give it a few tries....

 

[Jonathan_King]

It sounds as if the drive is not recognized in AHCI mode.

See if there is a BIOS update for you: MSI Global ? Computer, Laptop, Notebook, Desktop, Mainboard, Graphics and more

 

[Bodom]

Yeah thats the problem Im having, even after multiple attempts. I also tried another SATA drive and it won't show up in AHCI mode, but I can see the drive listed under Master 0 when its loading to windows. How would I get them to show in AHCI mode so I can try and put Windows on it again?

 

[Saltgrass]

I think I might try downloading and burning the bootable version of Partition Wizard, or some other third party partitioning software. Maybe it will see the drive and allow you to partition first.

If you have another computer, try putting the drive in there to see if it can be formatted.

Or, when on the partition window during the install, hit Shift+F10 and run Diskpart to see if it can see the drive.

In case you do not know, inside the Command prompt window, type diskpart and let the utiltiy start.

Then type list disk to see if it shows your drive.

If it does see it, type select disk X, where X is the disk number.

Then if you want to partition, type create partition primary size=75000 for a 75 G partition or leave out the size and the entire drive will be one partition. You could also clean the drive here if you wish, just type clean to wipe it.

Type Exit to leave diskpart and exit to close the window.

 

[Jonathan_King]

Let me take a step back.

The drive is recognized during the installation while in IDE mode, correct?

 

[Bodom]

The drive is NOT recognized during installation when in IDE mode but is recognized in Device Manger, My computer, and Disk Management. I formatted and partitioned, gave it a Drive path and can use it like a storage device but it will not show up on the list of available drives to install windows to.

 

[Jonathan_King]

You may want to check out this tutorial: Solved Hard Drive - Unable to Select or Delete during Installation - Vista Forums

   Warning

That will erase all data on the drive.

 

[Bodom]

I will try the link as listed but I need to switch back to IDE mode first since its not recognized under AHCI

 

[Bodom]

OK I have finished and created a new partition, the drive is showing up again in My Computer and Disk Management as the Windows G in the screen:

However it still is not showing up in the Windows Installation :-( I can open it in My Computer and use it for storing files but thats defeating the purpose I bought it for.

 

[Jonathan_King]

Have you tried updating your BIOS yet?

 

[Bodom]

Yes I have my board is the Gigabyte GA-EP43-UD3L with BIOS F8 which according to their site is the latest one

 

[ickymay]

I can only get it to show in IDE mode. It has been fully formatted and has had Windows 7 on it here recently (had to reformat due to some speed issues).

what was the drives setup when it worked before ?

have you tried booting with only this SSD drive connected on the first sata connector ?

have you tried with only one ram stick installed ?

 

[Bodom]

The drives setup was the exact same as it is now and was installed with Windows 7 but in IDE mode cause I forgot to switch to AHCI mode. I then did a full format of the drive for a clean install and switched my BIOS to AHCI first only to find out the drive is not seen anymore in that mode and neither was my other 250Gb Sata Hard drive. I have tried booting with only the SSD drive connected and all other USB devices unplugged in IDE and AHCI mode but it is not showing up under Windows to install now, I would be happy if I could even get Windows installed on this drive in IDE mode even now!

No I have not tried with one RAM stick since they are water cooled its a pain for me to remove one since my cooling tubes are so short and close together...

 

[Saltgrass]

I don't run a SSD, but is there anything in the bios that might allow it to be seen that isn't set yet? Different bioses handle different devices in several ways. One may say boot to other device and another might need possibly a USB allowed device. Just guessing....

 

[Bodom]

Well I finally got it to show back up in Windows install by going through Partition Master and completely reformatting and deleting Partition and reinstalling Partition, lets see if I can get Windows back installed on it

 

[Bodom]

Ok, I have successfully reinstalled Windows 7 back on the SSD but in IDE mode only cause the drive will not show when put in AHCI mode so I now need to figure out why not...also if I try to boot with only my SSD connected when the screen gets to updating DMI... it shows a long string of weird symbols and characters underneath it where it should say success...

 

[Bodom]

Eh this stinks, Ive been running 7 on the drive for a few days but have literally tried everything to get to AHCI mode instead of IDE. Is there some sort of trick Im missing that Im unaware? Ive searched and searched through countless forums and tried numerous things but to no avail...

 

[theog]

Try this:

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/68505-sata-driver-load-windows-7-vista-setup.html