Problem with Drivers when trying to install new HDD & Win7 32bit

[heytheretx]

Hi all - new to the forum, and novice at building computers. This system is my third attempt, and I have built it with left-over parts from other machines. Everything worked fine until recently the HDD crashed. Purchased a new one, and am trying to install Win7 32-bit. However, I receive an error message stating that I need to install the drivers.

Solution Attempt #1: I went to the Gigabyte website, downloaded the drivers, and burned to CD. Then, tried to enter BIOS (f9), but nothing happened - just skipped directly to the Windows OS setup.
Solution Attempt #2: Next, tried entering BOOT setup (f12), which worked, but I'm unable to boot from the CD with the drivers.
Solution Attempt #3: So, tried to resume Windows install, and browse to the CD when error message prompted for drivers, and am not successful.
Solution Attempt #4: Tried disconnecting the SATA HDD and repeating #1-3, with the same results.

No idea what to do to finish installing Windows.

Main Hardware Information:
CPU: AMD Athlon II X2 255 Regor 3.1GHz Socket AM3 65W Dual-Core Desktop Processor ADX255OCGMBOX
RAM: G.SKILL 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333 (PC3 10600) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model F3-10600CL9D-4GBNT
Motherboard: GIGABYTE GA-M68MT-S2P AM3 NVIDIA GeForce 7025/nForce 630a chipset Micro ATX AMD Motherboard
Video Card: Not currently installed
PSU: 500W Power Supply attached to APEVIA X-QBOII X-QBOII-BK/500 Black SECC Steel MicroATX Mini Tower Computer Case

Other Hardware Information :
Monitor: Generic 17"
HDD/SSDs: HDD 1T|WD WD10EZEX SATA6G %
Other PCI/PCI-X Cards: none
Optical Drives: CD-Drive

Software Information:
Operating System : Hopefully, will be Win7 32-bit, but install incomplete
Video Card Drivers in Use ( and tried ): NONE
Motherboard Drivers Used: http://www.gigabyte.com/products/product-page.aspx?pid=3726#bios
All major components check 100% after thorough testing ( eg. Memory & Memtest86 ):


Thanks!

[CountMike]

Isn't it "DEL" button to enter BIOS ?

[Vezina]

I ve read your post and i don t understand what the problem is.
What drivers are you talking about ?!

Windows 7 should install in both Ide Mode or AHCI without drivers.
To avoid any possible issues enter BIOS pressing DEL and switch SATA to Ide Mode.

If you install Windows 7 and you are on the desktop of it and you see messages of drivers missing then simply install network ,sound and video drivers from Gigabyte or manufacturers.

[heytheretx]

The Gigabyte Mobo screen says F8 to enter BIOS, but nothing happens. I will try the Delete key instead.

Drivers are now fixed. Wondering if BIOS are corrupted now? It's a brand new HDD, and I used CMD Prompt to CLEAN the Disk Part, create a new partition, make it active, and then Boot the CD-ROM for a new installation of Win 7 Home Premium 32-bit. New error is "Missing Operating System/Error Loading Operating System." But I just loaded it. I tried fixing the Master Boot Record, and then installing Win7 again, and same error.

Since it's a new HDD, and I've tried a clean Win7 install, could the problem now be the mobo BIOS? If so, how do I fix without the original mobo GIGABYTE GA-M68MT-S2P CD?

[heytheretx]

DEL works for BIOS. How do I switch SATA to Ide Mode in BIOS?

[Vezina]

You should find something in the integrated periipherals  BIOS section.

The motherboard manual should tell you exactly.

Anyway even if you load the driver at W7 install it should work if it s the right driver.
Make sure you point the installation to the folder where the .inf storage file exists.
If the driver is archived you will need to decompress it and then put it on a USB stick.No need to burn CD-s.

Gigabyte website should offer for download such driver archived.

[MisterEd]

BTW. according to the manual for your motherboard:
<DEL>: BIOS Setup
<F9>: XpressRecovery2
<F12>: Boot Menu
<End>: Qflash
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With the BIOS set to its default settings you should be able to use a single SATA boot drive with no problems. The only time a driver would be required is if you are using multiple SATA drives in a RAID configuration.

These setting seem to be relevant from the manual:
2-4 Standard CMOS Features
IDE Channel 0, 1, 2, 3 Master
> IDE HDD Auto-Detection, IDE Auto-Detection
Press <Enter> to autodetect the parameters of the SATA device on this channel.
> IDE Channel 0, 1 Master, Extended IDE Drive (Default: Auto)
> Access Mode Sets the hard drive access mode. (Default: Auto)

2-5 Advanced BIOS Features
First Boot Device [Hard Disk]
Second Boot Device [CDROM]

2-6 Integrated Peripherals
> NV Serial-ATA Controller (Default: All Enabled)

Notice that the default settings should have your motherboard automatically detect your SATA drive during POST.
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I noticed that your hard drive is SATA 6 GB/s while your motherboard is SATA 3 GB/s. I would not expect that to be a problem with your drive automatically running at SATA 3 GB/s.

In the off chance that is a problem check your hard drive for jumpers. Some WDC SATA 6 GB/s drives have a PHY enabled jumper (pins 5-6) which will force it to run at 3 GB/s. Check your drive to see if it has this. If it does then you could jumper these pins to see if it makes a difference.