Very Strange Windows Boot Troubles

[sensiblesasha]

Hello, I have an ASUS P5W DH Deluxe motherboard. I have one hard drive plugged in. I recently wiped it using the dd command in Linux. I am trying to install Windows now (from a flash drive), but Windows does not boot if I plug in my Hard Drive (to the motherboard.) However, it boots just fine if I do not plug in my hard drive (To my sadness, ninja-plugging the drive in during boot does not work either) Obviously, I can't install windows then. There was a bug with these motherboards where boot would only work if you marked the flash drive as a floppy disk (Force FDD). However, this does not work, and I get the same weird error. Essentially, after booting, the system will say it has not detected a boot drive, and that I should insert one. What is wrong and how can I fix it?

 

[bigpinkdragon286]

Perhaps for the purposes of installing Windows, since your USB method isn't working, try installing from Windows optical media.

 

[sensiblesasha]

Perhaps for the purposes of installing Windows, since your USB method isn't working, try installing from Windows optical media.

I do not have an optical drive in my computer, or one in general.

 

[bigpinkdragon286]

I get that you don't have an optical drive, but for the purposes of installing Windows, it may be the simplest alternative to a bunch of hacking around in software or BIOS. You might also consider using the Windows 7 USB tool to create your USB installation media, rather than doing it yourself:

http://www.microsoftstore.com/store/msusa/html/pbPage.Help_Win7_usbdvd_dwnTool

 

[sensiblesasha]

I get that you don't have an optical drive, but for the purposes of installing Windows, it may be the simplest alternative to a bunch of hacking around in software or BIOS. You might also consider using the Windows 7 USB tool to create your USB installation media, rather than doing it yourself:

http://www.microsoftstore.com/store/msusa/html/pbPage.Help_Win7_usbdvd_dwnTool

I understand what you mean, but my flash drive does work. When the main drive is not plugged in, it'll boot just fine. This is clearly not an issue with my installation media, but with my hard drive or with my BIOS.

 

[bigpinkdragon286]

Well, if your USB device boots without the hard drive attached, the only suspicion I would have is what your computer is trying to boot to first. While I can't imagine you not having set your BIOS to boot to your USB first, it's worth double checking that the setting is still correctly set, and maybe there is a hot-key you can press to manually select the boot device during POST?

 

[sensiblesasha]

Well, if your USB device boots without the hard drive attached, the only suspicion I would have is what your computer is trying to boot to first. While I can't imagine you not having set your BIOS to boot to your USB first, it's worth double checking that the setting is still correctly set, and maybe there is a hot-key you can press to manually select the boot device during POST?

I actually haven't tried your last suggestion yet. I will try it and get back to you.

 

[bigpinkdragon286]

No worries. It's at least worth a try.