mSATA SSD not listed in diskpart or Disk Manager

[ShennyBoy]

So, I recently got fed up with Windows 8.1 (which came pre-installed on an otherwise excellent PC, but hey; tradeoffs) and decided to get rid of it and down(UP)grade to Windows 7. Being the tech-savvy savant that I am, I immediately panicked when I found out that I couldnt just pop in an install disk, change the boot order in BIOS, and install Windows 7 like preeeeeeetty much any other OS ever in history. So I opted to use DBAN, which had served me well in the past, to nuke the drive so I could clean, reformat, and repartition it in the Windows install.

PROBLEM.

While the SSD appears in BIOS on the original PC, the Windows 7 install disk does not detect the drive, nor does diskpart. I tried to check the disk on another PC to see if something went wrong using Disk Manager, ooooonly to find that the drive doesnt appear in there. No notifications even come up when I plug the drive in.

SO.
Help please?

PS:
Situation replicated in Windows 8 and Windows 8.1 install attempts.
SSD used is a Toshiba THNSNJ128GMCU mSATA drive
All Windows installs detect other install disks in diskpart (but not on the initial scan - which I've figured out is a result of me using the installation media through a USB 3.0 port, which is not something I can currently prevent as the main PC has only USB 3.0 ports)
PC being installed on is an MSI GS70 Stealth 2PC laptop.
Have attempted installs in UEFI (with secure boot turned off) and LEGACY, both unsuccessfully.
Have attempted with SATA mode set as IDE, AHCI, and RAID, all with zero success.

 

[ShennyBoy]

The MSI website has a "Intel Rapid Storage Technology" "F6 Install Floppy Create" file on its driver page you may need when installing windows, so it can find your drive.

But how would that fix the SSD? It doesn't show up on the other computer either

EDIT: Just to cover all my bases, I tried this. It came up with:

."No new device drivers were found. Make sure the installation media contains the correct drivers, and then click OK."

So yeah. That happened.

 

[ShennyBoy]

the file I pointed out is a file that you supply during the windows install. you need to hit the "F6" key during the install process so windows can use your SATA Controller to see your drive.

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows7/windows-7-installation-problem-hard-drive-not-found

Right, okay. (Even though my point about it not working on another computer still stands)
But again, I tried that when you suggested it and it gave an error message and didn't install.

What should I do?

 

[ShennyBoy]

I plug in the usb drive I have it on, and the initial scan for drivers reveals the files I have on the usb drive. I click next. After a few minutes, A window pops up:

"No new device drivers were found. Make sure the installation media contains the correct drivers, and then click OK."

And yes, I did plug it into a working desktop that was powered off. Same story - detected in BIOS but not diskpart or disk manager. I also tried in a hard drive enclosure with the same results.

 

[ShennyBoy]

When I go to install Windows, before I'm able to select a drive a window pops up informing me that a media driver is missing, either for a disc reader or hard driver controller of some kind, and it asks me to provide the corresponding drivers so it can continue. When that comes up, I plug in the USB drive I have the F6 file on, and hit "Browse" in the windows where it asks me for the media drivers. I select the USB drive, the windows disappears, and it goes to a window telling me to select a driver. It detects the driver that I have on the USB drive, as it shows up in the window with the "Hide drivers that might not be compatible with this computer's hardware box" ticked, signifying (TO ANY SANE PERSON AT LEAST, BUT APPARENNTLY NOT WINDOWS) that the F6 file on the USB drive is indeed compatible with the hardware. So I highlight it, and click "Next". It loads for a minute and I can't do anything, and then an error window pops up that says only:

"No new device drivers were found. Make sure the installation media contains the correct drivers, and then click OK."

It has an option to exit that window, and no other prompts aside from that. It returns me to the former window where I can choose to browse or rescan for drivers, and nothing else I try from that point on will yield any further progress.

 

[ShennyBoy]

I tried unticking the box and loading the other drivers, but it gives the same error message.

And yes, I unzipped the download.