New build problems... need help!

[LuchiO7]

I'm building a beefed up office computer for my Uncle and I got everything put together and working hardware wise but when I try to install Windows I'm getting this error:

Reboot and Select proper Boot device
or Insert Boot Media in selected Boot device and press a key

I've checked my cables literally 10 times and everything is hooked up and sturdy. I've also tried switching the SATA cables around with new ones to see if it was a bad connection. I then tried updating the motherboard with the disc included and it gave me another message:

Generate Serial Ata Driver diskette? Y/N

I hit "Y' and then it tells me that there is an invalid SATA drive. I thought it had something to do with the BIOS being set in RAID but I checked and it was enabled to AHCI. I tried changing it to setup in IDE for convenience but that still didn't work.
I would really appreciate help on this problem and I thank you all in advance. The build specs are below. If you need anything else don't hesitate to ask.



CPU: Intel Core i5 3570k
Mobo: ASRock Z77 Pro 3
Storage: WD Black Series 1TB HDD 6gb/s
Optical Drive: LG Super Multi Blue Blu-ray Rewriter & Generic DVD Multi Recorder
RAM: 8GB (2 x 4GB) sticks of RAM PC3 - 12800

 

[C12Friedman]

Welcome to Tom's Hardware Forums,
You might check that the HDD format is set as NTFS and not FAT32 (done in BIOS). Another possibility is the optical drive is connected to a secondary SATA controller, ensure in the manual that there are no specific ports an ODD should plug into (some mobos are very picky like that)
Hope it helps some

 

[LuchiO7]

I checked and the only difference between the SATA controllers is SATA2 vs SATA3. And all of my ODD's and my HDD are both connected to the SATA3 ports. But thank you for the reply, it helps that I'm narrowing down my solution!

 

[C12Friedman]

Wow, I'm kinda at a loss here, I've been through the manual a few times (not the most helpful I've read) and can find nothing obviously useful. You might switch the optical drive only to one of the SATA 2 ports and see if it works enough for windows to install - I'm thinking it can be changed back once windows loads with all it's drivers (doesn't make sense to me either but worth a try IMO). You might also change the optical drive only to IDE for the install. You might try each sata port as well and try with a different sata cable just to rule out possible port or cable issues
Just trying to cover bases at this point...

 

[abbadon_34]

Often when you install the OS, the process of going from DVD to HDD isn't perfect, and when you reboot the first few time you need to manually specify it , F11 or F8, whatever your system uses.

So set the hard drive as 1st in boot sequence. Make sure all other drives are disconnec ted except the optical drive. Save and reboot. Now selectively boot to the optical drive (probably F11, might F8 or something else). Windows should start to install. Once it reboots it should automatically boot correctly, if not, manually boot once more, try the hard drive, then the optical. If it reboots again (but progresses in the installion) repeat this process again. It should be at the Desktop by the 3rd reboot. At this point shut it down, and connect other items and set the boot sequence to you liking.

 

[rdc85]

First, just connect the dvd drive (one only) and the HDD... (u can install the other optical drive latter)

and set in BIOS to boot from the dvd drive..
sometimes it (appears as) need to be set to the type/model one... not just "CD/DVD"

double check your boot able OS install disk is a boot able (not broken)