Windows install can't find hard drive

[Elite_Noobist]

I'm trying to install windows onto an internal hard drive I bought. The first few times I ran the installation disk, the hard drive was listed in the install-able devices. After a failed repair and a format of the windows partition, the HDD isn't appearing in the windows install anymore. I tried to use a second HDD that I bought but that wasn't appearing either. Does anybody know how to fix this problem?

 

[D_Know_WD]

Hi there Elite_Noobist,

Is the drive recognized by BIOS? Did both of the drives were attached to the same port with the same cables?
You need to double check the connections. Try to attach the drive to a different port with different SATA and power cables.

Hope this will help,
D_Know_WD

 

[Elite_Noobist]

Hi there Elite_Noobist,

Is the drive recognized by BIOS? Did both of the drives were attached to the same port with the same cables?
You need to double check the connections. Try to attach the drive to a different port with different SATA and power cables.

Hope this will help,
D_Know_WD

They are both detected by the BIOS. They also are using the same cables

 

[D_Know_WD]

You can try to clean the HDD and format it before the installation.
Once you are in Windows setup:
- shift+F10 to bring up the command line.
- diskpart [enter]
- list disk [enter]
- select drive [number] [enter]
- clean all [enter] * see note below
- create partition primary [enter]
- select partition 1 [enter]
- active [enter]
- format fs=ntfs [enter] ** see note
- assign [enter]
- exit [enter]
- exit [enter]

Hope this will help,
D_Know_WD

 

[Elite_Noobist]

You can try to clean the HDD and format it before the installation.
Once you are in Windows setup:
- shift+F10 to bring up the command line.
- diskpart [enter]
- list disk [enter]
- select drive [number] [enter]
- clean all [enter] * see note below
- create partition primary [enter]
- select partition 1 [enter]
- active [enter]
- format fs=ntfs [enter] ** see note
- assign [enter]
- exit [enter]
- exit [enter]

Hope this will help,
D_Know_WD

These instructions are very helpful , thank you. My only problem is that when I entered the "list disk" command, It didn't show the hard drive. I have also noticed that the beep when starting the computer has stopped sounding whenever I start up the computer. Would this be a motherboard/BIOS problem? If so, is there a way to fix it?

 

[D_Know_WD]

It is really strange that the both HDDs are detected by BIOS but not by diskpart. Also it is strange that the computer does not beep when booting.
You said "They also are using the same cables". Can you use different cables? Can you attach the drives to a different SATA port as well? I guess it will not hurt to attach the drives to a different computer. Though, I doubt that you have two faulty drives.

Is this the latest BIOS version for your MOBO? If it is not, you could consider updating your BIOS. You can reset the CMOS as well: http://www.howtogeek.com/131623/how-to-clear-your-computers-cmos-to-reset-bios-settings/

What is your MOBO? When one's system doesn't beep at start, more or less, there are two causes for that: 1st one - there is something wrong with the MOBO's speaker, 2nd one - there is something wrong with the MOBO.

D_Know_WD

 

[Elite_Noobist]

It is really strange that the both HDDs are detected by BIOS but not by diskpart. Also it is strange that the computer does not beep when booting.
You said "They also are using the same cables". Can you use different cables? Can you attach the drives to a different SATA port as well? I guess it will not hurt to attach the drives to a different computer. Though, I doubt that you have two faulty drives.

Is this the latest BIOS version for your MOBO? If it is not, you could consider updating your BIOS. You can reset the CMOS as well: http://www.howtogeek.com/131623/how-to-clear-your-computers-cmos-to-reset-bios-settings/

What is your MOBO? When one's system doesn't beep at start, more or less, there are two causes for that: 1st one - there is something wrong with the MOBO's speaker, 2nd one - there is something wrong with the MOBO.

D_Know_WD

Changed the port and the cable. It now beeps on start up and operates at its normal speed. I switched the port and now it's working. I plugged something else in to test the port and it's not working properly now. I think the port is defective. Thank you for the help

 

[D_Know_WD]

It's great that you've sorted this out.
When it comes to HDD related problems, you should always start with some simple troubleshooting steps like checking both ports and cables.

Cheers,
D_Know_WD