Long post alert: I felt it better to post as much data as I could now, instead of adding a bunch of posts later.
Hello! I've built a computer, but the Windows install is hitting a little snag. During the install process, the program doesn't identify my hard drive as a suitable place for installation.
I know there are a number of other threads on this topic, but each one seems to have its own solution (or solutions) to the issue, and it's a little overwhelming to decide where to start. If you can give me a link to another that tells me how to fix this, great!
Okay, so I guess I'll start with the equipment specs:
The motherboard is a GIGABYTE GA-Z77X-D3H LGA 1155.
The CPU is an Intel Core i7-3770K.
The hard drive is an HGST HDS721050CLA362 with 500 GB of space.
OS is Windows 7 Home Premium 64b SP1.
That's all the pertinent info, I think. If you need anything else, please feel free to ask.
As for the sequence of events:
1) PC is powered on (with Win7 disc in DVD drive).
2) "Windows is loading files..."
3) Install home screen. Selection of language, time, and keyboard method (clicks "next").
4) The "Install now" button (clicks).
5) "Setup is starting..."
6) Agree to license terms.
7) Upgrade or Custom (I select "Custom" as there is no Windows OS presently on the system.)
8) This is where I get the problem. On the "Where do you want to install Windows?" screen, I get a window where I should be able to select my HD. This window is empty. On the bottom is a yellow triangle/exclamation mark with the message "No drives were found. Click Load Driver to provide a mass storage driver for installation."
Now, if I click "Load Driver" it gives me the option to browse. Here I can actually see the hard drive (I think) listed as "Local Disc (C:)". If I click on the plus sign/drop down button next to it, I'm given a pop-up message which says "You need to format the disk in drive C: before you can use it. Do you want to format it?" If I select "Format disk", I then get the following message:
"Windows can't format C
Check to see that the disk and drive are connected properly, make sure the disk is not read-only, and then try again. For more information, search Help for read-only files and how to change them."
When I look at the BIOS, I can see that the HDD is recognized and listed as a boot option, though there it is labeled as "Hitachi" instead of "HGST" (I'm guessing the "H" stands for "Hitachi?").
So is it a drive formatting issue? If so do you know how to resolve it? Could it be that the HDD is only partially connected, allowing it to show up in BIOS but not as an install destination? Is it something else entirely? I know a little bit about computers (I'm glad I was able to build this one without bricking it), but I'm by no means an expert, and most jargon (with the exception of "bricking", obviously) and technical terms are lost on me. I'm at a loss, so I turn to the mighty Internet!
Again, if any other information is required, please let me know and I'll respond as quickly as I can. Thanks in advance for any help you can provide!
Hello! I've built a computer, but the Windows install is hitting a little snag. During the install process, the program doesn't identify my hard drive as a suitable place for installation.
I know there are a number of other threads on this topic, but each one seems to have its own solution (or solutions) to the issue, and it's a little overwhelming to decide where to start. If you can give me a link to another that tells me how to fix this, great!
Okay, so I guess I'll start with the equipment specs:
The motherboard is a GIGABYTE GA-Z77X-D3H LGA 1155.
The CPU is an Intel Core i7-3770K.
The hard drive is an HGST HDS721050CLA362 with 500 GB of space.
OS is Windows 7 Home Premium 64b SP1.
That's all the pertinent info, I think. If you need anything else, please feel free to ask.
As for the sequence of events:
1) PC is powered on (with Win7 disc in DVD drive).
2) "Windows is loading files..."
3) Install home screen. Selection of language, time, and keyboard method (clicks "next").
4) The "Install now" button (clicks).
5) "Setup is starting..."
6) Agree to license terms.
7) Upgrade or Custom (I select "Custom" as there is no Windows OS presently on the system.)
8) This is where I get the problem. On the "Where do you want to install Windows?" screen, I get a window where I should be able to select my HD. This window is empty. On the bottom is a yellow triangle/exclamation mark with the message "No drives were found. Click Load Driver to provide a mass storage driver for installation."
Now, if I click "Load Driver" it gives me the option to browse. Here I can actually see the hard drive (I think) listed as "Local Disc (C:)". If I click on the plus sign/drop down button next to it, I'm given a pop-up message which says "You need to format the disk in drive C: before you can use it. Do you want to format it?" If I select "Format disk", I then get the following message:
"Windows can't format C
Check to see that the disk and drive are connected properly, make sure the disk is not read-only, and then try again. For more information, search Help for read-only files and how to change them."
When I look at the BIOS, I can see that the HDD is recognized and listed as a boot option, though there it is labeled as "Hitachi" instead of "HGST" (I'm guessing the "H" stands for "Hitachi?").
So is it a drive formatting issue? If so do you know how to resolve it? Could it be that the HDD is only partially connected, allowing it to show up in BIOS but not as an install destination? Is it something else entirely? I know a little bit about computers (I'm glad I was able to build this one without bricking it), but I'm by no means an expert, and most jargon (with the exception of "bricking", obviously) and technical terms are lost on me. I'm at a loss, so I turn to the mighty Internet!
Again, if any other information is required, please let me know and I'll respond as quickly as I can. Thanks in advance for any help you can provide!