Windows 7 Installer will not recognize SSD

Anonymous
2010-06-20T18:15:57+00:00

I have just built a new computer and I want to install 64-bit Windows 7 Professional on an Intel X-25M 80GB SSD.  I am doing a clean install on a new drive.  When I get to the point in the Windows 7 installation that asks which drive I want to install the OS on, it does not show the Intel X-25M.  It will show my other drives, however.  If I unplug the other drives, it just shows a blank window instead of showing the Intel X-25M.  I get a message saying it could not find a valid signed driver.  I bought the retail version of the SSD, not an OEM.

I am using a Gigabyte GA-X58A-UD7 motherboard and an Intel i920 CPU.  The motherboard BIOS has no problem detecting and identifying the X-25M.  I have the X-25M configured as an IDE.  I updated the firmware of the SSD, but it did not help.

Windows 7 compatibility page shows no compatibility problems with the X-25M, but it apparently needs a signed driver, and I do not know how to get one.

Any suggestions?

Windows for home | Previous Windows versions | Devices and drivers

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Anonymous
2010-06-21T05:58:44+00:00

Does it show the SSD at all? I would check to see that it's indeed being picked up by the BIOS and if not, check the cables.

Occasionally, Windows setup can chuck a fit when it discovers a drive with an invalid MBR/boot sector and won't install to it. To fix this, you could try the following

1.Boot up Windows 7 disc.

2.When the welcome screen comes up on Windows Setup, press Shift + F10, which will display a command prompt.

3.Type "diskpart" (no quotes) and press enter.

4.Type "list disk" and press enter.

5.Hopefully you can see your SSD in the list. You should see a number identifying it. Now type "select disk X" (where X is the number identifying your SSD) and press enter.

6.Type "clean" and press enter. This will write a blank MBR, YOU WILL LOSE ANY DATA ON THE SSD if you did have anything on it.

Hopefully one of these tips helps :

)

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  1. Anonymous
    2015-09-10T17:58:56+00:00

    thx fam. it helped!

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  2. Anonymous
    2015-09-21T11:33:34+00:00

    I was making a clean install of Windows 10 on two computers and could not get past the "no disk, select driver" issue during install. I was using a bootable USB created by the Media Creation Tool on new SSD drives. Drive was visible in BIOS and in diskpart. I tried a lot of things but nothing worked:

    • Updated BIOS to latest version
    • Pointed to chipset drivers and Intel Smart Storage drivers.
    • Ran diskpart as described in this post and others, tested MBR, partitioned and formated the drive
    • Tested to boot from both USB 3.0 and USB 2.0 ports as suggested elsewhere

    Out of desparation, I downloaded the ISO-file through the media creation tool and burned it to a DVD. Voila, it worked! Apparently, while booting from the USB, the SATA-drives are unavailable on both these computers (one was a 1 year old ASUS laptop and the other a 3 year old home-built), didn't matter which USB-port was used.

    In short: If drive is visible in diskpart and you're booting from USB, try DVD.

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  3. Anonymous
    2015-09-23T18:17:42+00:00

    thats not working for me :(

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  4. Anonymous
    2015-10-07T20:32:33+00:00

    ... what can you do if you do not have the windows install disk and going CMD to "diskpart" from START doesn't show the newly added disk either...

    I have a work laptop and can't get it to my IT department to remedy, and they would just troubleshoot it here anyway.

    system: Dell 6800m

    512 ssd for OS and programs (currently installed)

    trying to add Samsung 850EVO for additional storage ... I can't get device manager nor BIOS to see this additional drive.  Should note that i'm adding this drive in the system chassis itself, physical connection is good.

    Any help is appreciated.  Thank you.

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