Okay. So I recently assembled my first PC. The thing is, I can't install Windows 7 - in fact, the installer doesn't even let me select a disk to install TO. The installer first doesn't even recognize an HDD (I have a 1TB Western Digital disk hooked up), and then prompts me for a driver so it can communicate with a mass storage device, or some such rubbish. I've looked through a bunch of threads on a number of tech-help forums with similar problems to me (and oddly enough, usually the exact same motherboard), but so far none of them seem to be working.

Supposedly, it's an issue with Windows 7 not liking the Gigabyte boards or something, but I've read so many conflicting claims on the internet in the past two weeks that I don't know what to think anymore.

A buddy of mine thinks that it's most likely because of a faulty HDD, and I'm heading out to get a cheap-ass HDD to make sure. In the mean time, I'd like to rule out everything else, just in case.

To that end, here's a list of my parts:

Mobo: GIGABYTE x58a-UD3R (rev2.0)
CPU: Intel i7 960
RAM: Corsair 1333MHz 3x4GB (12GB total)
Graphics Card: GIGABYTE GeForce 560Ti
HDD: Western Digital Caviar Black 1TB
Optical Drive: LITE-ON IHAS124-04
OS: Windows 7 Ultimate (64-bit)

Save me, DLP!

/maidenly swoon

 

Well, first, confirm that it is indeed an issue with windows 7 not liking your hardware. Install Ubuntu, or run it via Live CD. If you can access your HDD, then I think its safe to say that its not faulty. I just bought the same WD 1 TB Caviar Black (MSI board). Runs fine.

Or maybe your Windows 7 DVD is corrupt? Happened to me once.

Edit: Sorry, mine is actually Caviar Green. I don't think there's much difference in performance though.

 

Make a BIOS update. It is almost always necessary to make one, with HDDs that have one or mor TB. You should be able to find the update, and instructions, on the gigabyte website if you search for your board there.

 

Make sure you're not trying to install to, or have a HD formatted as a dynamic drive plugged in when you go to install Windows. Mine always spazzes the fuck out when I try to reinstall with my big storage drive plugged in, no idea why, but it fixes itself the second I unplug it.