So my trusty old 40 GB Maxtor HDD finally died, and I'm trying to install Windows 7 on a 250 GB Western Digital Caviar SE 16 (SATA II). Windows will boot off of the DVD, load the setup, ask me if I want to perform an install or a repair, and then it asks if I want to upgrade or do a "custom" setup. I choose custom since it's a clean drive, but then it shows me a blank list of drives with the option to load a driver. My motherboard is a Gigabyte GA-G41M-ES2H, so I went to Gigabyte's website and downloaded the drivers and put them on a USB thumb drive. I spent hours trying to load different drivers to no avail. I tried the CD that came with the motherboard; no dice. I tried 32 and 64 bit installations; neither worked.
But you know what did work? My 180-day trial copy of Windows Server 2003. It detected that hard drive like Western Digital made it just for 2003.
I really don't know what to do now. I'm just barely resisting the urge to take the computer outside and smash it with a sledgehammer. Someone please help!
But you know what did work? My 180-day trial copy of Windows Server 2003. It detected that hard drive like Western Digital made it just for 2003.
I really don't know what to do now. I'm just barely resisting the urge to take the computer outside and smash it with a sledgehammer. Someone please help!