Help! Windows wont see haed drive after erase

EspressoJunkie

EspressoJunkie

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Hello


I'm in need of some techy help guys!

I did an advanced secure erase of my hard drive using Parted Magic (with a view to selling my laptop) and now when I try to install Windows 8 it can't see my hard drive!

It's asking for storage drivers, and I've tried both the manufacturers and ones from intels site, but neither work! I've also tried running the auto repair utility in the Windows 8 install, but it says there's some sort of boot file missing!

I've tried google, but to no avail. Has anyone any ideas?
 
EspressoJunkie said:
Hello


I'm in need of some techy help guys!

I did an advanced secure erase of my hard drive using Parted Magic (with a view to selling my laptop) and now when I try to install Windows 8 it can't see my hard drive!

It's asking for storage drivers, and I've tried both the manufacturers and ones from intels site, but neither work! I've also tried running the auto repair utility in the Windows 8 install, but it says there's some sort of boot file missing!

I've tried google, but to no avail. Has anyone any ideas?
Click to expand...

youll need the chipset driver from the laptop manufacturer.

or if your laptop had a recovery disk/OS disk use that (although if youve done a secure erase you may have wiped any recovery partition).
 
When you go into the bios can you see the hard drive there? It's weird with widows 7/8 that it doesn't even see it. Even with no partitions it should see a drive and let you work with it. Do you have another machine you can plug the drive into?
 
EspressoJunkie said:
Hello


I'm in need of some techy help guys!

I did an advanced secure erase of my hard drive using Parted Magic (with a view to selling my laptop) and now when I try to install Windows 8 it can't see my hard drive!

It's asking for storage drivers, and I've tried both the manufacturers and ones from intels site, but neither work! I've also tried running the auto repair utility in the Windows 8 install, but it says there's some sort of boot file missing!

I've tried google, but to no avail. Has anyone any ideas?
Click to expand...

Is this a Dell?
 
reality bites said:
When you go into the bios can you see the hard drive there? It's weird with widows 7/8 that it doesn't even see it. Even with no partitions it should see a drive and let you work with it. Do you have another machine you can plug the drive into?
Click to expand...

not really, some motherboard SATA controllers dont have windows drivers on the install disk so need them from the hardware vendor.
 
neil_g said:
not really, some motherboard SATA controllers dont have windows drivers on the install disk so need them from the hardware vendor.
Click to expand...

Maybe in the days of windows 95/98 but I've never seen a case where the drive can be seen in the bios but needs added drivers to see it during the install of the os. In fact, does windows 7 and onward even give you the chance to install drivers from another disk anymore? They used to be done via a floppy disk, can't do that anymore!
 
reality bites said:
Maybe in the days of windows 95/98 but I've never seen a case where the drive can be seen in the bios but needs added drivers to see it during the install of the os. In fact, does windows 7 and onward even give you the chance to install drivers from another disk anymore? They used to be done via a floppy disk, can't do that anymore!
Click to expand...

actually ive had recent intel based hardware that win7 didnt like. only a slipstreamed sp1 disk took it through without the extra need for drivers.

and yes to your second question, it allows you to search for the driver on CD/USB etc.

:)
 
Thanks for the replies! To answer a couple of the questions...

It's a Packard Bell, but it's an aftermarket hard drive

There is no partition or recovery unfortunately, I chose this type of erasing because it clears out everything prior to a sale.

The drive shows up in the bios, and also shows up when browsing for drivers,, but windows just wont see it to install!
 
neil_g said:
actually ive had recent intel based hardware that win7 didnt like. only a slipstreamed sp1 disk took it through without the extra need for drivers.

and yes to your second question, it allows you to search for the driver on CD/USB etc.

:)
Click to expand...

Stop trying to install a modern os on old hardware then! ;-)

Anyway, the fact that the op had windows installed previously should mean that isn't the issue!
 
EspressoJunkie said:
Thanks for the replies! To answer a couple of the questions...

It's a Packard Bell, but it's an aftermarket hard drive

There is no partition or recovery unfortunately, I chose this type of erasing because it clears out everything prior to a sale.

The drive shows up in the bios, and also shows up when browsing for drivers,, but windows just wont see it to install!
Click to expand...

On the install, you get the option to work with the disk to create and modify partitions etc. will it let you do this?

Do you have another machine to put it into so you can try ore formatting it before install? I hate partition magic with a vengeance as it can do some pretty sh&@ty things to a disk.
 
reality bites said:
Stop trying to install a modern os on old hardware then! ;-)
Click to expand...

or an original win7 disk on new hardware that it doesnt know anything about?

:thumbs:

Anyway, the fact that the op had windows installed previously should mean that isn't the issue!
Click to expand...

assumptions.. some vendors image the install so may not match the install disk etc etc etc etc..
 
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@ Neil it's an easynote ts11r


@ reality I can't partition or format, they're greyed out, the only option there is to search for drivers.

I could attach the drive to my wife's laptop externally and try to format it that way, it's worth a shot!

I'm regretting using Parted Magic now, but it was recommend by a friend as the best way to securely erase stuff before sale. I blame him for this lol!
 
Go into your BIOS and check your SATA controller, if it is set to AHCI change it to IDE

Save all changes and exit the BIOS

Now try again
 
neil_g said:
go here:

http://www.packardbell.co.uk/pb/en/GB/content/download

select NOTEBOOK->EASYNOTE->EN TS11HR (closest model no) then select your version of windows.

download the AHCI and chipset drivers and extract the contents of the ZIP files to a USB stick. when windows install asks for the storage driver browse to the USB stick.
Click to expand...

Thanks Neil, I did that already with the achi drivers, but not the chipset. I'll give that a blast when I get home!
 
EspressoJunkie said:
Thanks Neil, I did that already with the achi drivers, but not the chipset. I'll give that a blast when I get home!
Click to expand...

the chipset package does have some drivers for:

PCI\VEN_8086&DEV_27C0.DeviceDesc="Intel(R) N10/ICH7 Family Serial ATA Storage Controller - 27C0"
PCI\VEN_8086&DEV_27C4.DeviceDesc="Intel(R) ICH7-M Family Serial ATA Storage Controller - 27C4"
PCI\VEN_8086&DEV_27DF.DeviceDesc="Intel(R) ICH7 Family Ultra ATA Storage Controllers - 27DF"
PCI\VEN_8086&DEV_2820.DeviceDesc="Intel(R) ICH8 4 port Serial ATA Storage Controller - 2820"
PCI\VEN_8086&DEV_2825.DeviceDesc="Intel(R) ICH8 2 port Serial ATA Storage Controller - 2825"
PCI\VEN_8086&DEV_2828.DeviceDesc="Intel(R) ICH8M 3 port Serial ATA Storage Controller - 2828"
PCI\VEN_8086&DEV_2850.DeviceDesc="Intel(R) ICH8M Ultra ATA Storage Controllers - 2850"
 
The fact windows sees the drive should suggest it doesn't need further drivers as it obviously has enough to see it. It seems like it just can't do anything with it.

What options did you take with PM? I would try it in another machine and see what state the drive is in.

Hindsight is always 20-20 but a couple of low level formats would have cleared it enough. I've used window washer to clear mine in the past, been a while tho.
 
reality bites said:
The fact windows sees the drive should suggest it doesn't need further drivers as it obviously has enough to see it. It seems like it just can't do anything with it.

What options did you take with PM? I would try it in another machine and see what state the drive is in.

Hindsight is always 20-20 but a couple of low level formats would have cleared it enough. I've used window washer to clear mine in the past, been a while tho.
Click to expand...

I used the advanced secure erase in PM. I guess that paranoia got the better of me because there was bank details and other financial stuff on the machine.

I can hook the drive up externally to my wife's laptop and see if it sees it. I guess if I have to buy another drive its not the end of the world, I just hope I've not done any permanent damage to the motherboard or bios.
 
You wouldn't have done bios damage using PM but I've had it do weird things to hdd's before. Let us know what a working windows partition sees it as and post back. You wouldn't need a new drive either, should be fine.
 
reality bites said:
The fact windows sees the drive should suggest it doesn't need further drivers as it obviously has enough to see it. It seems like it just can't do anything with it
Click to expand...

if the windows install is asking for storage drivers obviously it does. it might be able to see it fed from the bios but whether it can control the SATA interface on the motherboard correctly is another matter.
 
Keith W said:
Go into your BIOS and check your SATA controller, if it is set to AHCI change it to IDE

Save all changes and exit the BIOS

Now try again
Click to expand...

EspressoJunkie said:
I tried that already! Cheers though.
Click to expand...

Mmmmmm.... :shrug:


I have had the same problem you are experiencing a number of times before, the above has been the "fix" every time

Admittedly it "could" be something different but what you describe "fits" the problems I had.
 
neil_g said:
if the windows install is asking for storage drivers obviously it does. it might be able to see it fed from the bios but whether it can control the SATA interface on the motherboard correctly is another matter.
Click to expand...

To save messing the ops thread up, I disagree with you but will leave it at that.

I've never needed to use drivers with a windows 7 build to enable a disk to be seen, ever. If windows can see the drive, it has sufficient drivers to use the storage devices.

It's likely it's seeing a drive it can't utilise hence why it's greyed out.

Good luck op, hope you get it sorted
 
reality bites said:
To save messing the ops thread up, I disagree with you but will leave it at that.

I've never needed to use drivers with a windows 7 build to enable a disk to be seen, ever. If windows can see the drive, it has sufficient drivers to use the storage devices.

It's likely it's seeing a drive it can't utilise hence why it's greyed out.

Good luck op, hope you get it sorted
Click to expand...

Sorry but I disagree

With modern hardware and win 7 that "may" be the case, experience tells me though that it is not always the case, especially more so when the hardware is not so "modern"

I think you have just been lucky so far
 
Keith W said:
Sorry but I disagree

With modern hardware and win 7 that "may" be the case, experience tells me though that it is not always the case, especially more so when the hardware is not so "modern"

I think you have just been lucky so far
Click to expand...

Lmao.....you mean hardware which is designed to run with windows 7? The op has has windows 8 on the machine before so I feel it a fair assumption to make that the hardware is relatively modern.....I.e newer than 3-4 years or so.

Heck, I've put windows 7 on old p4 laptops and never ever needed any additional drivers. Anyway.....back on topic?
 
reality bites said:
Lmao.....you mean hardware which is designed to run with windows 7? The op has has windows 8 on the machine before so I feel it a fair assumption to make that the hardware is relatively modern.....I.e newer than 3-4 years or so.

Heck, I've put windows 7 on old p4 laptops and never ever needed any additional drivers. Anyway.....back on topic?
Click to expand...

Well there you go then

Me? personally?

I try not to make assumptions about anything and discount nothing

Hey ho
 
Is it a WD drive?
 
I wonder if the software the OP used did what I think I recall is called a "low level format" and removed the MBR i.e. a format that is designed to make the drive 100% irrecoverable.

How he can overcome that at this stage I have no idea but asking the 'support' of the software makers can not go amiss???

Hope you manage to get it sorted AOK ??? :)

PS Though quite why such a low level would make it unusable for reinstallation of an OS escapes?
 
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Box Brownie said:
I wonder if the software the OP used did what I think I recall is called a "low level format" and removed the MBR i.e. a format that is designed to make the drive 100% irrecoverable?
Click to expand...

Shouldn't matter, a low level only blanks out the data (basically). The drive can then be formatted/partitioned again afterwards.
 
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