Can't select HDD to install on

I'm trying to install Windows Server 2008. When I get to the part where I should select where the OS needs to be installed, it remains blank. It tells me "No device drivers were found". The SATA HDD is seen in the BIOS, and if I browse for drivers, the driver is shown. I used the command line packed with the installer to format the drive, just to be sure. It's formatted to NTFS.

Reply to remco32

Check the motherboard manufactures website for the "SATA controler" driver.

Reply to anonymous1

Quote :

I used the command line packed with the installer to format the drive, just to be sure.

What do you mean? I never had to do that when installing Windows Server 2008 or Windows Server 2008 R2 on compatible hardware.

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Reply to GhislainG

The installer does not recognize the controller on the motherboard. I had this issue on one system a little while ago. You go to the motherboard manufacturer's (or system manufacturer's) website and look for the driver for the controller. Save that file (probably extracted from a ZIP) to a pen drive, CDRW or floppy (if you have a USB floppy drive lying around) and then select LOAD DRIVER at that "blank drive" screen. Once it loads then you'll see your HDD.

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Message edited by grafxfx on 09-25-2011 at 04:22:02 PM

Reply to grafxfx

GhislainG wrote :

Quote :

I used the command line packed with the installer to format the drive, just to be sure.

What do you mean? I never had to do that when installing Windows Server 2008 or Windows Server 2008 R2 on compatible hardware.

I had some content on that HDD when I tried to use it to install the OS upon.

grafxfx wrote :

The installer does not recognize the controller on the motherboard. I had this issue on one system a little while ago. You go to the motherboard manufacturer's (or system manufacturer's) website and look for the driver for the controller. Save that file (probably extracted from a ZIP) to a pen drive, CDRW or floppy (if you have a USB floppy drive lying around) and then select LOAD DRIVER at that "blank drive" screen. Once it loads then you'll see your HDD.

I read about such a solution when I googled my problem. It still seems strange, since there was a HDD installed on that MoBo before. I'll try your suggestion.

Reply to remco32

Tried it. I used 2 different files I found on the internet for my MoBo/PC (I'm recycling an old MoBo from a prebuild, MoBo:mcp73pv Prebuild: Acer Aspire m3641)
This one:
And this file: +

When I select these files in the installation, it states that it couldn't find signed drivers.
Any clue?

Reply to remco32

they may not be signed for 2008r2 only for vista, 7 etc.

Reply to 13thmonkey

Yeah. Your downloads are clearly labelled for Vista 32bit. One for RAID and one for a standard SATA IDE. If you're not doing a RAID setup try the IDE set. It may work, then again it may not. Once the OS is installed run a M$ Update and see if by chance there is some Hardware Updates listed. This can be a problem when using an older board to install newer software OS's on.

Reply to grafxfx

I had WinServ 2008 installed on this machine with a different HDD before.
I tried the IDE set, but it still gives me the same error: No signed drivers were found.

Reply to remco32

A simpler solution would be to set the SATA controller to work in IDE mode in the BIOS this will result in a slight loss of performance but I don't think that you will notice it but at least your drive will be seen by the operating system.

Reply to pjmelect

Shouldn't you download the latest Windows 7 32 bit drivers dated ? Unfortunately they can't be downloaded today as NVidia seems to have an issue finding them. Only the 64 bit drivers can be doanloaded.

Can you try with the drivers at http://downloadnew.org/drivers/mot [...] 49449.html

Are you sure that NVidia drivers will work on Windows Server 2008?

Reply to GhislainG

Can I even select .exe files during the installation?

Reply to remco32

No. You need to run the downloaded file to extract the drivers. You might have a better chance of success with Windows Server 2008 R2 and the latest Windows 7 64 bit drivers. Any reason why you want to install the Windows Server 2008 32-bit OS?

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Reply to GhislainG

GhislainG wrote :

No. You need to run the downloaded file to extract the drivers. You might have a better chance of success with Windows Server 2008 R2 and the latest Windows 7 64 bit drivers. Any reason why you want to install the Windows Server 2008 32-bit OS?

I'm installing the 64bit version. There isn't even a 32bit version. Those files I tried were the only ones I could find.

Reply to remco32

Windows Server 2008 can be 32 bit or 64 bit. Windows Server 2008 R2 is 64 bit only. Have you tried those drivers? http://www.nvidia.com/object/nforc [...] river.html

Edit: I presumed a 32 bit OS because you were using the 32 bit vista drivers.

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Message edited by GhislainG on 09-25-2011 at 09:09:58 PM

Reply to GhislainG

GhislainG wrote :

Windows Server 2008 can be 32 bit or 64 bit. Windows Server 2008 R2 is 64 bit only. Have you tried those drivers? http://www.nvidia.com/object/nforc [...] river.html

Edit: I presumed a 32 bit OS because you were using the 32 bit vista drivers.

No problem
I tried your link. The installer found the drivers and installed them. After that, and a reboot, there still wasn't a HDD showing up in the list.

Reply to remco32

If those drivers don't work, then you probably are out of luck. However I wouldn't give up just yet. Will Windows 7 64 bit (or any other non-server OS) install on that system?

Reply to GhislainG

Can it be some random configuration in the BIOS? Or maybe the HDD is pluged into the wrong SATA slot?
I rather rule that out before I get my hands on another Windows version.

Reply to remco32

Give that a try as other people might have been able to install Windows Server 2008 R2 on a similar platform. http://www.nforcershq.com/forum/wi [...] 70915.html

Reply to GhislainG

Tried that, didn't work (I selected the right download, the one with my MoBo listed..) Could there be something wrong with my installation USB? I remember reading something about re-burning the install disc at the lowest possible speed.

Reply to remco32

You're not installing from a SATA or IDE DVD?

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Reply to GhislainG

GhislainG wrote :

You're not installing from a SATA or IDE DVD?

No, USB installation. There are no CD/DVD-readers installed. Last time, I also installed with a USB.

Reply to remco32

I've installed VMs from an ISO file and physical systems using a SATA CD/DVD drive, but I've never installed Windows Server 2008 from a USB CD/DVD drive. Last time you also installed the same OS?

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Reply to GhislainG

GhislainG wrote :

I've installed VMs from an ISO file and physical systems using a SATA CD/DVD drive, but I've never installed Windows Server 2008 from a USB CD/DVD drive. Last time you also installed the same OS?

Yes, I used the exact same ISO.

Reply to remco32

You did it on the same system or on one having different hardware?

Reply to GhislainG

The only hardwaredifference is the HDD, which is new. I also used the same ISO for the install.

Reply to remco32

That doesn't leave much more to try. What's the difference between the old and the new hard disk?

Reply to GhislainG

This is a WD, 7200RPM. Last one was a 7200RPM Seagate.

Reply to remco32

If that's the only difference and absolutely nothing else cahnged, then I'd try a different hard disk.

How did you get Windows Server 2008 working before if you didn't have the required drivers?

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Reply to GhislainG

GhislainG wrote :

How did you get Windows Server 2008 working before if you didn't have the required drivers?

I assume there's nothing wrong with the drivers. It installed before on the same rig with a different HDD, it's seen as a SATA HDD in the BIOS and I can access it to load drivers during the OS install.

Reply to remco32

If you successfully installed Windows Server 2008 on that system with a Seagate hard disk and you didn't have to load drivers, then I'd presume that there's some incompatibility with the WD hard disk. I have a similar hard disk issue with one of my systems, but the same hard disk works fine in other systems.

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Reply to GhislainG

GhislainG wrote :

If you successfully installed Windows Server 2008 on that system with a Seagate hard disk and you didn't have to load drivers, then I'd presume that there's some incompatibility with the WD hard disk. I have a similar hard disk issue with one of my systems, but the same hard disk works fine in other systems.

I just bought this HDD a few days ago, to replace the HDD of my server. Is it a problem w/ Windows Server 2008; will it work with another OS?

Reply to remco32

I have no clue, but according to you the only modification is the hard disk. Therefore I would definitely try another hard disk to see if the Windows Server 2008 installer will detect it. There's no need to perform the installation.

Reply to GhislainG

Actually i have the exact same problem with a 250GB WD HDD, but with Windows 7 x64 and Gigabyte p45ds3 motherboard.

I cant really understand what's the problem. I dont have any other disk connected, i use DVD to install the Windows, and my DvD-Rom is SATA also.

The disk had Windows XP before. It is recognize by the motherboard on POST, and also by the setup itself, which is so strange.

If i enter the cmd, before the selection of HDD in the setup, by doing shift+F10 and execute the Diskpart, i can select the hdd and format it and even turn the partition to active. But still after i press Next the setup says "No Disk Detected.. etc" load the drivers..

Is anyone know a solution for this? Do we need to perform any extra steps? Its really strange.

Thanks.

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Reply to karserasl

Could you report back if you have found a solution karseasl? I'll try another Windows version as soon as I have some time again.

Reply to remco32

karserasl wrote :

Actually i have the exact same problem with a 250GB WD HDD, but with Windows 7 x64 and Gigabyte p45ds3 motherboard.

I cant really understand what's the problem. I dont have any other disk connected, i use DVD to install the Windows, and my DvD-Rom is SATA also.

The disk had Windows XP before. It is recognize by the motherboard on POST, and also by the setup itself, which is so strange.

If i enter the cmd, before the selection of HDD in the setup, by doing shift+F10 and execute the Diskpart, i can select the hdd and format it and even turn the partition to active. But still after i press Next the setup says "No Disk Detected.. etc" load the drivers..

Is anyone know a solution for this? Do we need to perform any extra steps? Its really strange.

Thanks.

What port are the hard disk and DVD drive connected to? Is the hard disk connected to the first SATA port?

Reply to GhislainG

I tried using Windows Home Server as my OS now, which could be installed on the HDD. I guess the culprit was the installer of Windows Server 2008.

Reply to remco32

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