Vista can't or won't find my HDD to install OS

[cstack]

I just built my first computer since XP was released, so I've just completed a whole checklist of troubleshoots and followed all install guides to the letter. I've tried a variety of bios setting and formatted my HDD twice. It's a fresh, brand new, never been used computer. Built her from the ground up. I need help getting the OS to install though. My current system specifications are

P55-UD5 Gigabyte MOBO
Intel i5 750 lynnfield LGA1156
4 GB of Corsair DDR3 RAM
nvidia GeForce GTS 250 1GB DDR3 by EVGA
Corsair 750W power Supply
1TB Hitachi SATA Deskstar HDDecs are



Trying to install Vista 64bit. Any help will be appreciated.

 

[kword88]

you probably need to load chipset drivers during the installation. you should be able to find them at gigabytes website. put them on a cd,flash drive, or floppy. at some point during installation, you should see a message to press F6 to load additional drivers.

 

[cstack]

I've actually tried to install drivers already. I've tried USB and floppy with no luck. I've tried it through the instal options, from DOS, and directly copying to the harddrive. I haven't gotten an option for F6, but it does give options for loading drivers in the recovery modes. Done that too. Formatted again last night. I'll try tapping F6, but the only options I see on the post screen are delete, f9, f12, and using xpress recovery 2.

 

[kword88]

if you havent already, try disabling RAID in the BIOS. you might also try reformatting using the win98 version of FDISK.


this is from the hitachi website (i dont think you have to use a floppy with vista, but i could be mistaken):

To install the SATA controller drivers you first need to copy the appropriate drivers onto a diskette (controller drivers can be loaded from diskette only).

Early in the installation process, you have an opportunity to load third-party controller drivers by pressing ‘F6’. You will have six seconds to press ‘F6’ before the installation process will continue:

• Press ‘F6’ to install the SATA controller drivers.
• After pressing ‘F6’, you will come to a screen asking you to press ‘S’ to load additional controller drivers or to press ‘ENTER’ to continue with the installation. Be sure you press ‘S’ to load your SATA controller drivers. After pressing ‘S’, you will be prompted to insert a floppy disk with the updated drivers.
  Note: the installation process specifically looks at the A: (floppy) drive for the updated drivers. This is a limitation imposed by the installation routine. You cannot load the drivers using any other media.
• After inserting the appropriate driver diskette, choose which driver you wish to load (if the disk has more than one driver). Make a selection using the up or down arrows and press ‘ENTER’ to install the driver.
• Once you have loaded the appropriate controller drivers, you may continue with the installation.