[xarzu]

I am not having fun installing Vista on my new computer.
I did not touch any of the BIOS settings.
The Install program recognized my hardware but said it was 698.6 GB which is a bit too small. There was a warning that said, "This computer's hardware may not support booting to this hard disk. Ensure that the disk's controller is enabled in the computer's BIOS menu".
I ignored this message and I clicked on this item in the list that showed my hard drive. There are little icon buttons at the bottom of the window. Few are enabled. One that is enabled is one that showed the "new" option. I clicked on that and an error appeared: "Failed to create a new partition on the selected used space. [Error: 0x80042453]". So I guess "new" is not the option to click on.
I went into the BIOS settings.
There were two things I noticed to change. One was SATA AHC MODE which I switched to [AHCI]. The other was "SATA PORT 0-1 Native Mode" which I switched to [ENABLED].
Then I ran through the Vista Setup again. This time, when I got to the display for my hard drive, the list box was empty. It did not recognize that I even had a hard drive.
Maybe it needs a driver.
I have a Western Digital Caviar SE16 WD7500AAKS 750GB 7200 RPM 16MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive
This is what comes up on Western Digital's Website:

I downloaded a few zip files that I thought were applicable. But none of the readme files mentioned Vista. Are XP drivers the same as VISTA?

[Dave Hybrid]

You don't need HD drivers to install Vista.

It's is likely that the drive is not properly setup in the BIOS.

Try resetting the BIOS settings to default.

[xarzu]

Originally Posted by Dave Hybrid You don't need HD drivers to install Vista. It's is likely that the drive is not properly setup in the BIOS. Try resetting the BIOS settings to default.

I set the BIOS settings to default. But I made one change. I think the "SATA PORT 0-1 Native Mode" needs to be switched to [ENABLED].

Here is what I have:
Intel Core 2 Duo E4600 2.4GHz LGA 775 65W Processor
GIGABYTE GA-P35-DS3L ATX All Solid Capacitor Intel Motherboard
CORSAIR 2GB (2 x 1GB) DDR2 1066 (PC2 8500) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory
Western Digital Caviar SE16 750GB 3.5" SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive
EVGA GeForce 8800GTS 320-P2-N811-AR Video Card
ASUS 20X DVD±R DVD Burner with LightScribe Black SATA Model DRW-2014L1T
Microsoft Windows Vista 64-Bit Business for System Builders Single Pack DVD
Antec True Power Trio TP3-650 650W Power Supply with Three 12V Rails
Antec Nine Hundred Black Computer Case With Side Panel Window

Now I am having a little problem completing the installation of the operating system. I get to the point where the installation asks me where I want to install WINDOWS. There is only one option and I am glad that the installation program recognizes it. I select it. Then I select the option to "Load Driver" and I go to a procedure where the installation program searches the CD or DVD that I provide. I have three options. The Vista CD intself does not have the driver. I have a DVD that I have made myself that has drives that I have downloaded from Western Digital's website. This does not work. The Vistal installation program says that this DVD does not contain the proper driver. I have the CD that came with the motherboard that has drivers on it. The documentation that comes with the motherboard says that I should first install the Operating System before I install the drivers anyway. But I try this and it does not work as well.

And so I am stuck at the point in the installation of Vista where it is asking me for drivers for my hard drive and none of the cd/dvd's I have tried have the right ones.

[philthomas]

Have you got a floppy drive on this system ? or can you hook one up temporarily ? ... if so try putting the drivers on a floppy.

If not, you may find it easier to use vlite and create an integrated Vista disk with the drivers slipstreamed.

P.S.
I take it you have tried installing without selecting the option to Load Driver,as Vista does have lots of inbuilt SATA drivers .... i.e. I didn't need any on either of my recent boxes or my laptop.

[xarzu]

Originally Posted by philthomas Have you got a floppy drive on this system ? or can you hook one up temporarily ? ... if so try putting the drivers on a floppy. If not, you may find it easier to use vlite and create an integrated Vista disk with the drivers slipstreamed.

The installation program is good enough to let me use the CD/DVD drive to put a CD with the drivers on it.

The problem is that when I do this, the program scans the disc for the appropriate drives and comes back and says that it did not find any.

I tried a DVD that I made myself containing drives from Western Digital's website and that did not work.

I tried a cd that came with the motherboard and that did not work either.

[Cew27]

i haven't read the full story but load driver isn't anything to do with drivers it to do with showing partitions that you cant see already (i am led to believe)