[SOLVED] o/s wont load onto new SATA

supernewb · 01-07-2009, 10:11 AM

First let me start by saying that I have no clue what I'm doing here, just going on what makes sense in my mind... so far, nothing yet.

I just bought a WD caviar black 1TB SATA HDD and Vista 64bit. I connected my new HDD to the SATA port on my MoBo(see my system for details) and proceeded to try to install Vista on the new HDD. As per the MoBo instructions, I had the 64bit driver loaded onto my flashdrive from the Mobo CD, and when prompted, I clicked "load driver" in the Vista install screen. The driver seemed to load fine but then when I click on the drive to install Vista onto it, I get an error and it tells me it cannot install an o/s on that drive.

I didn't write down the error code so if that would help, I will go back and write it down. Any ideas?

Also, the computer obviously recognizes the drive or it wouldnt give me the option to click on it, but when in Vista on my other HDD (40GB Maxtor IDE) it doesn't even recognize the drive. And I have already loaded the drivers for SATA controllers from my MoBo CD and still nothing.. not sure if that helps troubleshooting or not, but I figured it would be worth mentioning.

Tumbleweed36 · 01-07-2009, 10:27 AM

Does the bios recognize the Sata drive when you have it hooked up? Also, Vista normally does not require extra Sata drivers, but they are inherent in the OS disk. A third question, do you have Sata set as IDE Mode in the Bios since you are not setting up a raid array?

Addendum:

Be sure to set your Boot Order to:

CDRom - 1st
Floppy - 2nd (if any)
Hard Drive - 3rd (boot drive)

Then, if there is a Hard Drive or Boot Drive Priority option in your bios in the Boot section, make sure you have the SATA listed FIRST if you are going to load an OS on it.

supernewb · 01-07-2009, 10:36 AM

yes bios recognizes it, and yes it's set up as IDE in the bios. It is recognized as an IDE drive in port0 and my maxtor is in port4 both masters though. Does that matter?

supernewb · 01-07-2009, 10:39 AM

I didn't see a drive priority for the HDD's but I do have the CD set first then the HDD (no floppy). Should there be a priority select for the HDD's or is that on some Motherboards and not others?

Tumbleweed36 · 01-07-2009, 10:41 AM

Does not matter. Just for kicks, until you get the OS loaded, unhook the Maxtor IDE and see if that helps you to get started.

Has this new drive been partitioned and formatted yet? If not, then try the hard drive manufacturer's utility to do that before you start the load. Some times (although you should not have to do that), that can get you started if there is an issue.

Here are the utilities for your hard drive, or if you got a disk from the manufacturer (retail only), that would have a setup disk in their CD.

Hard Drive Utilities

Tumbleweed36 · 01-07-2009, 10:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by supernewb

I didn't see a drive priority for the HDD's but I do have the CD set first then the HDD (no floppy). Should there be a priority select for the HDD's or is that on some Motherboards and not others?

Some are worded differently and some don't have that option separately. What motherboard do you have?

Note: You do have the Sata options enabled in the bios, don't you?

Special Note: When we get your motherboard make and model, we will know if your board is Sata I = 1.5Gb/sec transfer rate or Sata II = 3.0Gb/sec transer rate, and that might help us to set it up properly.

supernewb · 01-07-2009, 10:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tumbleweed36

Some are worded differently and some don't have that option separately. What motherboard do you have?

Gigabyte GA-EP45-UD3R

supernewb · 01-07-2009, 10:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tumbleweed36

Does not matter. Just for kicks, until you get the OS loaded, unhook the Maxtor IDE and see if that helps you to get started.

Has this new drive been partitioned and formatted yet? If not, then try the hard drive manufacturer's utility to do that before you start the load. Some times (although you should not have to do that), that can get you started if there is an issue.

Here are the utilities for your hard drive, or if you got a disk from the manufacturer (retail only), that would have a setup disk in their CD.

Hard Drive Utilities

The HDD has not been partitioned or formatted and in the o/s install the option to format is greyed out. I will try that link you gave me and see if I can get it going that way.. if not, then I will unhook the Maxtor and see. I'll post back with the results. Thanks!

Tumbleweed36 · 01-07-2009, 10:51 AM

I revised my info while you were posting, so be sure to take a read of that. Let us know how it is going.

Tumbleweed36 · 01-07-2009, 10:53 AM

Your board should work fine with this drive since it is 3.0Gb/sec transfer rate. Thanks for the info.

supernewb · 01-07-2009, 10:55 AM

I did notice that the HDD is a SATA II just now. So maybe I need to configure my Motherboard for that? .. also what is AHCI?

Tumbleweed36 · 01-07-2009, 11:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by supernewb

I did notice that the HDD is a SATA II just now. So maybe I need to configure my Motherboard for that? .. also what is AHCI?

Advanced Host Controller Interface is the term.

Leave the motherboard the way it was previously, except set it Sata as IDE mode and enable the Sata options, that is all you have to do.

All the newer drives are Sata II, so you don't need to do anything with that since your motherboard is Sata II also.

Don't fix anything that is not broken.

(O.K., I was kidding)

supernewb · 01-07-2009, 11:10 AM

Haha, well if it isn't broken now, chances are it will be when I get done with it

Ok now one last question.. Ok two.. which version of the lifeguard should I use, the latest? and would it be better to use the DOS version and boot the HDD with it?

Tumbleweed36 · 01-07-2009, 11:37 AM

I would use the latest since this is a rather new model drive. The DOS version should be fine as should the other one, so give it a try and if it doesn't do what you want, then go for the other one. I haven't used that tool for a very, very long time, so don't remember the exact details of each, but you should have no trouble with either version.

supernewb · 01-07-2009, 04:40 PM

Ok well I tried multiple things and nothing has worked so far. The lifeguard didnt work either way. If I tried the DOS version it just froze up, and the windows version wouldn't work with anything newer than XP. I also tried disconnecting my Maxtor and wound up with the same result during the Vista install.

I'm wondering if I should load XP on the maxtor and try the lifeguard then? Anything else I should try before I go that far?

supernewb · 01-28-2009, 04:05 PM

I got it to work finally. I had to format the drive with the XP CD (not the quick format) and then use the Vista CD to format it again (quick format), and then install Vista.

Tumbleweed36 · 01-28-2009, 04:18 PM

Great news and we are happy for you. Thanks for reporting back with the solution. Have a great rest of the week.

01-07-2009, 10:11 AM	#1 (permalink)
supernewb Registered User Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Buffalo N.Y. Posts: 111 OS: win xp pro sp2 My System	[SOLVED] o/s wont load onto new SATA First let me start by saying that I have no clue what I'm doing here, just going on what makes sense in my mind... so far, nothing yet. I just bought a WD caviar black 1TB SATA HDD and Vista 64bit. I connected my new HDD to the SATA port on my MoBo(see my system for details) and proceeded to try to install Vista on the new HDD. As per the MoBo instructions, I had the 64bit driver loaded onto my flashdrive from the Mobo CD, and when prompted, I clicked "load driver" in the Vista install screen. The driver seemed to load fine but then when I click on the drive to install Vista onto it, I get an error and it tells me it cannot install an o/s on that drive. I didn't write down the error code so if that would help, I will go back and write it down. Any ideas? Also, the computer obviously recognizes the drive or it wouldnt give me the option to click on it, but when in Vista on my other HDD (40GB Maxtor IDE) it doesn't even recognize the drive. And I have already loaded the drivers for SATA controllers from my MoBo CD and still nothing.. not sure if that helps troubleshooting or not, but I figured it would be worth mentioning. Last edited by supernewb; 01-07-2009 at 10:13 AM.

01-07-2009, 10:27 AM	#2 (permalink)
Tumbleweed36 Asst Manager Hardware Join Date: May 2005 Location: USA Posts: 19,690 OS: XP Professional	Re: o/s wont load onto new SATA Does the bios recognize the Sata drive when you have it hooked up? Also, Vista normally does not require extra Sata drivers, but they are inherent in the OS disk. A third question, do you have Sata set as IDE Mode in the Bios since you are not setting up a raid array? Addendum: Be sure to set your Boot Order to: CDRom - 1st Floppy - 2nd (if any) Hard Drive - 3rd (boot drive) Then, if there is a Hard Drive or Boot Drive Priority option in your bios in the Boot section, make sure you have the SATA listed FIRST if you are going to load an OS on it. __________________ ---------- I don't receive email notifications of replies to subscribed threads. (Internet provider policy) Therefore, if I don't respond to your post within 24 hours, please send me a reminder PM and include the link to your thread. Last edited by Tumbleweed36; 01-07-2009 at 10:29 AM.

01-07-2009, 10:36 AM	#3 (permalink)
supernewb Registered User Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Buffalo N.Y. Posts: 111 OS: win xp pro sp2 My System	Re: o/s wont load onto new SATA yes bios recognizes it, and yes it's set up as IDE in the bios. It is recognized as an IDE drive in port0 and my maxtor is in port4 both masters though. Does that matter?

01-07-2009, 10:39 AM	#4 (permalink)
supernewb Registered User Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Buffalo N.Y. Posts: 111 OS: win xp pro sp2 My System	Re: o/s wont load onto new SATA I didn't see a drive priority for the HDD's but I do have the CD set first then the HDD (no floppy). Should there be a priority select for the HDD's or is that on some Motherboards and not others?

01-07-2009, 10:41 AM	#5 (permalink)
Tumbleweed36 Asst Manager Hardware Join Date: May 2005 Location: USA Posts: 19,690 OS: XP Professional	Re: o/s wont load onto new SATA Does not matter. Just for kicks, until you get the OS loaded, unhook the Maxtor IDE and see if that helps you to get started. Has this new drive been partitioned and formatted yet? If not, then try the hard drive manufacturer's utility to do that before you start the load. Some times (although you should not have to do that), that can get you started if there is an issue. Here are the utilities for your hard drive, or if you got a disk from the manufacturer (retail only), that would have a setup disk in their CD. Hard Drive Utilities __________________ ---------- I don't receive email notifications of replies to subscribed threads. (Internet provider policy) Therefore, if I don't respond to your post within 24 hours, please send me a reminder PM and include the link to your thread. Last edited by Tumbleweed36; 01-07-2009 at 10:42 AM.

01-07-2009, 10:51 AM	#9 (permalink)
Tumbleweed36 Asst Manager Hardware Join Date: May 2005 Location: USA Posts: 19,690 OS: XP Professional	Re: o/s wont load onto new SATA I revised my info while you were posting, so be sure to take a read of that. Let us know how it is going. __________________ ---------- I don't receive email notifications of replies to subscribed threads. (Internet provider policy) Therefore, if I don't respond to your post within 24 hours, please send me a reminder PM and include the link to your thread.

01-07-2009, 10:53 AM	#10 (permalink)
Tumbleweed36 Asst Manager Hardware Join Date: May 2005 Location: USA Posts: 19,690 OS: XP Professional	Re: o/s wont load onto new SATA Your board should work fine with this drive since it is 3.0Gb/sec transfer rate. Thanks for the info. __________________ ---------- I don't receive email notifications of replies to subscribed threads. (Internet provider policy) Therefore, if I don't respond to your post within 24 hours, please send me a reminder PM and include the link to your thread.

01-07-2009, 10:55 AM	#11 (permalink)
supernewb Registered User Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Buffalo N.Y. Posts: 111 OS: win xp pro sp2 My System	Re: o/s wont load onto new SATA I did notice that the HDD is a SATA II just now. So maybe I need to configure my Motherboard for that? .. also what is AHCI?

01-07-2009, 11:10 AM	#13 (permalink)
supernewb Registered User Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Buffalo N.Y. Posts: 111 OS: win xp pro sp2 My System	Re: o/s wont load onto new SATA Haha, well if it isn't broken now, chances are it will be when I get done with it Ok now one last question.. Ok two.. which version of the lifeguard should I use, the latest? and would it be better to use the DOS version and boot the HDD with it?

01-07-2009, 11:37 AM	#14 (permalink)
Tumbleweed36 Asst Manager Hardware Join Date: May 2005 Location: USA Posts: 19,690 OS: XP Professional	Re: o/s wont load onto new SATA I would use the latest since this is a rather new model drive. The DOS version should be fine as should the other one, so give it a try and if it doesn't do what you want, then go for the other one. I haven't used that tool for a very, very long time, so don't remember the exact details of each, but you should have no trouble with either version. __________________ ---------- I don't receive email notifications of replies to subscribed threads. (Internet provider policy) Therefore, if I don't respond to your post within 24 hours, please send me a reminder PM and include the link to your thread.

01-07-2009, 04:40 PM	#15 (permalink)
supernewb Registered User Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Buffalo N.Y. Posts: 111 OS: win xp pro sp2 My System	Re: o/s wont load onto new SATA Ok well I tried multiple things and nothing has worked so far. The lifeguard didnt work either way. If I tried the DOS version it just froze up, and the windows version wouldn't work with anything newer than XP. I also tried disconnecting my Maxtor and wound up with the same result during the Vista install. I'm wondering if I should load XP on the maxtor and try the lifeguard then? Anything else I should try before I go that far?

01-28-2009, 04:05 PM	#16 (permalink)
supernewb Registered User Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Buffalo N.Y. Posts: 111 OS: win xp pro sp2 My System	Re: o/s wont load onto new SATA I got it to work finally. I had to format the drive with the XP CD (not the quick format) and then use the Vista CD to format it again (quick format), and then install Vista.

01-28-2009, 04:18 PM	#17 (permalink)
Tumbleweed36 Asst Manager Hardware Join Date: May 2005 Location: USA Posts: 19,690 OS: XP Professional	Re: o/s wont load onto new SATA Great news and we are happy for you. Thanks for reporting back with the solution. Have a great rest of the week. __________________ ---------- I don't receive email notifications of replies to subscribed threads. (Internet provider policy) Therefore, if I don't respond to your post within 24 hours, please send me a reminder PM and include the link to your thread.