Problems Repairing Win7

[Verizm]

Hey guys.
So today I restored my computer back to when I first built it last year and it was brand new.
(Nothing was wrong with the computer or had any problems. Just a little messy). The restore was saved on my external HDD. After the restore, the computer booted and I had it comes up with Launch startup repair (recommended) or
Start windows normally.

So in system recovery options I select keyboard US and go next.
On the second slide of system recovery tools it starts "use recovery tools that can help fix problems starting windows. select an operating system to repair..If your operating system isn't listed, click load drivers and then install drivers for your hard disks"

My operating system isn't listed. And I have no idea where to look in load drivers to find what it's asking me for. If I click load drivers it just says "insert the installation media for the device and click ok to select the driver". And if I click ok it just takes me to system32.

The bottom box says "restore your computer using a system image that you created earlier". I don't know where else to go so I just tick that box and click next.

I then get an error message which says "Re-image your computer" "An Internal Error Occurred"
"System could not find specified (0x80070002)"

I click ok and then it just brings up "System Recovery Options". I try system repair. Doesn't seem to fix anything. I try system restore but it just says something along the lines of ~you must specify which windows installation to install~ (Which doesn't come up). And then I try system image recovery and it just gives me the same thing as before with "Re-image your computer" error (0x80070002). The only tool that works on this page is the command prompt which opens up with "X:\windows\system32".
The two buttons down the bottom are Shutdown or Restart. Its like a never ending loop.
I have tried to use the windows 7 install disk repair but it doesn't show my hdd and just gives me the same Load drivers button.

What I probably should have said first is what I'm trying to do is give my computer a clean install of windows 7 or the system recover (which ever is easiest). I have my HDD with the OS on it and I have a SSD which I use for caching. I can't get into my computer at all as well and after looking it doesn't seem like I can format my HDD with the OS.

Sorry if the way I have worded this is confusing but any help would be great!!

Thanks Jordan

 

[aford10]

It sounds like the recovery point was corrupted. If you don't have any good restore points, it would be easiest to just reinstall the OS.

 

[Verizm]

It sounds like the recovery point was corrupted. If you don't have any good restore points, it would be easiest to just reinstall the OS.

Sorry to sound like an egg but how would I go about doing that?
When I run the CD and go through install it doesn't give me a HDD to select to install the OS on.

 

[aford10]

Is the hard drive recognized in the BIOS?

If not, try using a different sata cable, or different sata port. If neither of those work, then the hard drive itself has died.

 

[Verizm]

Is the hard drive recognized in the BIOS?

If not, try using a different sata cable, or different sata port. If neither of those work, then the hard drive itself has died.

I can still see the HDD in bios. I did think that at first but I don't know why it would've died just from a system restore.

 

[aford10]

If you can see it in the BIOS, then a full version of windows should be able to install to it.

 

[Verizm]

If you can see it in the BIOS, then a full version of windows should be able to install to it.

Does it matter that the HDD already has an OS on it?

 

[aford10]

Nope, that doesn't matter. All that matters, is that your PC is seeing the hard drive, and that you have a full (bootable) copy of windows.

 

[Verizm]

Nope, that doesn't matter. All that matters, is that your PC is seeing the hard drive, and that you have a full (bootable) copy of windows.

I can definitely see the HDD because on start up it shows physical IDs that are plugged in. 0 For SSD and 1 for HDD.
When I boot from CD I click install now, accept the license and then go Custom (Advanced) and it asks Where do you want to install windows. Nothing comes up and down the bottom it says No Drives were Found. I think I may have to update the storage controller. I will give this a try and get back to you. Thanks for helping me get this sorted aford10

 

[aford10]

I have seen a few older computers that have an option in the BIOS to enable an install mode. It's a shot in the dark, but if your hard drive is being recognized, and you have a good install disc, there may be an option in the BIOS to enable a fresh install (I've only seen this a few times tho).

 

[Verizm]

I have seen a few older computers that have an option in the BIOS to enable an install mode. It's a shot in the dark, but if your hard drive is being recognized, and you have a good install disc, there may be an option in the BIOS to enable a fresh install (I've only seen this a few times tho).

Computer is a pretty high end build from last year. Couldn't find an install mode option in the BIOS. I am using a sabertooth Z77 mobo. I didn't seem to have any luck with finding a 'storage controller driver'. http://windows.microsoft.com/en-nz/windows7/windows-7-installation-problem-hard-drive-not-found
Not sure if you guys would know where I could find a download for that. Do you think I might have a chance tomorrow if I plug it into a friends computer and get it formatted?

 

[aford10]

You shouldn't need a storage controller driver to see the hard drive during an install. Windows 7 has a built in driver that should be able to see and install to your drive. If it's not showing up, there is an issue with your hard drive.

 

[Verizm]

You shouldn't need a storage controller driver to see the hard drive during an install. Windows 7 has a built in driver that should be able to see and install to your drive. If it's not showing up, there is an issue with your hard drive.

Okay so today I went into BIOS and changed the SATA from RAID to IDE and then when I went to install the OS both my SSD and HDD came up for install. However since I want to setup my SSD for caching I need to start the BIOS with SATA set to RAID but how do I make the HDD come up so I can install the OS. I did try to install the Intel raid storage technology when I installed windows but the computer isn't compatible because I didn't set the BIOS to raid when I installed it.