GA-F2A88XM-D3H Win 7 does not see HD

[Kiran]

I feel really dumb but for the life of me, I can't get this to work.  I'm trying to install Windows 7 x64, from USB.  It boots from USB fine, gets to the install screen, and then says a driver is needed.  I downloaded the AHCI drivers and put them on the thumb drive; I browse to them, it loads, then says no new devices were found. I'm using the W764A folder from the download. The drivers from the DVD don't seem to work either.

I tried a thumb drive of Win 8.1 and it sees the HD fine.  It's also shown in the BIOS.  I'm sure it's a driver issue but I can't figure out what I've done wrong.  It's a WD 1TB SATA drive connected to SATA0.  I've tried another drive and have the same issue.

Thanks,

Kiran

[AgentFXA]

set the sata port(s) as sata/ahci (not ide mode) in the sys bios?
.. and finally check the boot priority order.

I wonder coz I never needed any ahci driver for a W7x64 installation.

[shadowsports]

Greetings,
Yes, the native AHCI driver included with 7 should suffice allowing you to install the OS, but in this case, it wants a specific driver to identify the disk connected to the southbridge.  Probably has to do with the operate mode and how windows sees the controller.    Glad its working. 

[Kiran]

Thanks for the replies, but I'm no further along.  Still doesn't see the drive.

The SATA mode is set to AHCI, not IDE.  Changing the boot priority has no effect.

I tried a different ISO of Windows 7, same thing.  The one I initially used was a download directly from Microsoft.

Since I couldn't progress with Windows 7, I installed Windows 8.1 without a hitch and no prompt for drivers, but I really would rather use Windows 7.  If anyone else knows why this is happening, please let me know.

Could it have something to do with trying the install from a USB drive?  I didn't put a DVD drive in this PC because it didn't need one.. but I can plug one in temporarily and try it.

Kiran

[Kiran]

Well. I discovered why this was happening.  I was plugging the thumb drive with Windows into a USB 3.0 port.  I guess as it initializes, it loses communication with the USB 3.0 ports, thus failing to see its own drivers.

I plugged the thumb drive into the USB 2.0 port.. and I can install Windows 7.

Ya learn something new every day.

Kiran

[dmdilks]

Yes you learn some thing new every day. But USB 3 does need a driver to work. It is about time the MB people start making it to work all the time. We now have USB 2 - 2000, USB 3 - 2008, & USB 3.1 - 2013. Why do we need so many different ports. We don't need drivers for USB 2. So why do we need it for USB 3.   

[shadowsports]

Agree, and also wanted to add to this.

Windows 7 and previous does not include native xHCI drives for preboot environment
Windows 8 and later does include native xHCI drivers for preboot environment

Hence the reason you see these options in more modern BIOS' which allows more granular control depending on the OS being installed.

xHCI Preboot
xHCI Mode
xHCI Smart Auto

I just installed windows 8.1 (USB install) on a friends X99 Rampage to an x4 M.2 drive.  It did the exact same thing Kiran describes.  We were talking over the phone.  I finally figured his issue out.... He hadn't set his first boot device as UEFI boot.  Once I had him press F8 (one time boot menu on his Asus board) or F12 on our boards he chose UEFI boot device and this time windows saw the destination.  Until he selected this, the drive was not seen even after providing a controller driver.   

I typically use DVD or .iso to install and haven't played with a Retail USB install of Windows myself.  But this shouldn't matter for Win 7 unless you are formatting GPT.  Anyway, you're good now I hope.