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Question

Windows 7 install boot

Jul 9, 2016 11:13AM PDT

Sorry, probably the wrong place but I am trying to run a windows 7 boot from my USB which runs fine, windows files load but when it comes to asking where I want to install windows it tells me windows cannot be installed to my hard drive. I have tried deleting the partition or creating new space but still tells me to make sure disk controller is enabled in BIOS. I have set it to AHCI and ensured it is 1st in boot priority I don't know what else I can do.

Discussion is locked

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Answer
Microsoft didn't support W7 running from USB.
Jul 9, 2016 11:17AM PDT

There was a thing called Windows To Go but that's gone now.

-> I see a problem in your install plan. I NEVER partition ahead of the install. I just leave the drive blank. No partitions.

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Re
Jul 9, 2016 11:31AM PDT

I have booted windows 7 from a USB before on another computer and it was successful.
Also the drive is currently unallocated space and not partitioned but it still says to ensure the disk controller is enabled.

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The only time I see that message
Jul 9, 2016 11:46AM PDT

Is when the drive was not blank. Try it again but use GPARTED to delete all the partitions there.

You should add the make, model of the PC along with anything odd like "I'm using a SCSI drive with the inlogic 7904 controller" OR "My SATA drive is on port 5 of an ASUS Marauder."

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Re
Jul 11, 2016 3:27PM PDT

The motherboard is fairly old it's the Asus M4a78 Pro. Was told to try Sata 0 but it does not have a 0 port. The hard drive is plugged into port 5 because it wouldn't run at all in port 1 to 4. Once moved into port 5 the windows install was able to boot but once it came down to the install location it just doesn't want to install to the hard drive even

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PORT 5 !
Jul 11, 2016 3:47PM PDT

OK, let's dig into that.
https://www.asus.com/Motherboards/M4A78_PRO/HelpDesk_Manual/

Ports 5 and 6 are not normal and look to be RAID, JBOD and such. Windows will not know how to talk to those ports.

file:///C:/Users/proffitt/AppData/Local/Temp/7zO8327F300/e4341_M4A78%20PRO.pdf is where I'll read from.


BE RIGHT BACK.

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Answer
You just deleted the partition or...
Jul 9, 2016 1:52PM PDT

do a clean wipe? If the Hdd. already has a "partition table" set but wrong for this install.

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Re
Jul 11, 2016 3:21PM PDT

I have wiped the drive but even without partitions it does not allow me to install it to the drive.

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Please add details.
Jul 11, 2016 3:24PM PDT

I made up a few examples but here the machine, connections and such are untold.

I have a lot of experience with many machines that did this but here, the PC is unknown. Maybe it never can run 7?

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Previous owner ran windows 7
Jul 11, 2016 3:30PM PDT

They removed the hard drive before I received it but they ran windows 7 on it. Unfortunately can't speak to the person who installed it for them.

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Still need make, model, etc.
Jul 11, 2016 3:43PM PDT

I have run into PCs that won't run W7 64 bit but run the 32 bit.

Are you sure you can't reveal more about this PC?
Since it's not running Windows, I know it's hard but how about any detail?

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Answer
OK, the manual is not all on the web.
Jul 11, 2016 3:51PM PDT

You'll want to use SATA port 1 and BIOS defaults. The BIOS screen should show the HDD unless it's very large. There are notes about limits on the web.

But I can't find what HDD you have. Also I don't know if you have both the SATA data and power cables plugged in.

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PS. Recap
Jul 11, 2016 4:04PM PDT

1. The drive should be on the lowest SATA port number.
2. We should use the old Windows 7 DVD for install. Some machines blow up on USB installs. This can confound today's users so let's stick to the straight and narrow here for installs.

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Fixed
Jul 14, 2016 6:17AM PDT

Thank you for all the suggestions but it is now installing. It is connected into Sata 1 but had to be put on raid to run.