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
    2017-02-04T12:58:53+00:00

    Hi All

    It worked for me :-)

    Installed the HF and then the disk was there.

    Thank you. Saved my day.

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  2. Anonymous
    2016-10-27T15:15:23+00:00

    YES!

    After fighting and fighting and fighting will the install from a USB stick, I tried booting from the DVD and now I can select my SSD to install from.

    Man, what a major pain in the backside!

    Thank you!!!

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  3. Anonymous
    2016-09-30T18:45:02+00:00

    Do i have to clean and install win everytime???...its really bad if i have to reformat everytime ...no has all that time to backup and do this everytime u have to install win....is there any other way to istall os without cleaing the full ssd ??? I mean like before just format c drive and install new os??

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  4. Anonymous
    2016-09-14T17:41:58+00:00

    It prevented me from loading 7. As I said in another response, I put my 240 gig SSD in another computer and formatted it and at that point it was recognized by the new build but until then and I was able to go ahead and load the OS and start it up and it boots fine.

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