Cannot install windows 7.. cannot find hard drive

My PC was shut due to power cut.
Next time I tried to switch it on, Windows could not load up, system had crashed.
I needed to access my files desperately, then I installed Ubuntu on it, got my files.
But now when I try to install Windows 7, it does not detect hard drive. It does not display hard drive at all. [also While system is booting it says 'BIOS installed successfully', it was never displayed before the system crash]

My question is
'Is it because of file system? even then i should be able to format hard drive and change file system'
Why is this message coming up 'BIOS installed successfully' every time I boot my computer? (I always thought, power cut only affects OS not BIOS it self.)

Help will be appreciated. Thank you.

 

Hi,

Can you give the model of the PC if store bought or the model of the motherboard? SIW should be able to tell you both. http://www.majorgeeks.com/SIW_System_Info_d4387.html

What happens after the "Bios installed sucessfully" message--do you have to do anything or does it just sit there?

How did you install Ubuntu? Did you install it on the HD or run a Live CD? Was this on the same computer that Windows won't install on?

 

t is Dell Precision WorkStation 470 (Service tag jwvzq1j for dell support website), motherboard is intel.
It just displays the message and starts loading system. I'm putting up the exact message displayed here:
////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
CERC SATA 25 BIOS For Non-Hotplug Drivers V2.1-11 2824

<<< Press <Ctrl><A> for Adaptec RADI Configuration Utility!>>>

Controller #88: CERC SATA 2S Bus:88; Dev:1F, Func: 82

Loading Configuration...Done
Port#88 SAMSUNG HD183SJ 1AJ18881 931.51 GB Healthy

SATA JBOD- PORT-B SAMSUNG HD183SJ 931.51GB Legacy

1 JBOD Device(s) Found.

BIOS installed successfully!

///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
After the message it loads OS, there is no problem with this message displaying, it is just unusual and had not had before system crash.
First I ran Ubuntu from my USB stick to access files, then attempted to install Windows, couldn't then install it, then finally I installed Ubuntu on HD, all in the same machine (in the process I might have changed file system. But I had tried to install Windows even before installing Ubuntu, therefore I think file system may not be the problem)

 

You are attempting to install Windows 7 from a DVD disk ... correct?
There is nothing on the hard drive that you wish to keep ... and you would be comfortable with wiping the WHOLE hard drive clean ... correct?

Try wiping the hard drive clean. You should then be able to install Windows without a problem.

Boot with the Ubuntu CD. At the Ubuntu Desktop, go to Applications > Accessories > Terminal.

In the terminal window that opens, at the prompt, type in the following command exactly as shown (paying attention to the spaces) and then press the <ENTER> key:

sudo dd if=/dev/zero of=/dev/sda bs=4k conv=notrunc

This command will overwrite the drive with zeroes, and return your hard drive to "as new" condition.

Apart from your hard drive light showing "busy", there will be no indication of anything happening until finished, when you will see output on the console screen as follows ...
dd: writing '/dev/sda': No space left on device
followed by some other information.

I have tested on a 2.1GB hard drive and found it to take 17.4 minutes to complete. So, be patient: The time it takes to complete will depend on the size of your hard drive. You may wish to leave it run over-night.

Simply close the terminal window when finished.
Then shut down the computer, removing the Ubuntu CD.

Boot to your Windows installation DVD, create a partition on which you wish to install the operating system, format it, and install Windows. Success?

 

I don't do RAID but that message seems like something got messed up in your RAID settings. http://support.dell.com/support/edocs/storage/RAID/CERCSATA/en/ug/emb_sate.htm#1107168

Does that machine have only 1 hard drive?

I hope someone can give you some pointers on what to try in that utility. I would think it would have something to do with saving changes so it does not have to search each time you start the PC.

 

Dear Crsoosun1, did your following problem with dell precision workstation 470 resolved? am also facing the same problem with my dell precision workstation 670. would be great if you can share the solution to the problem.

best, Ahmad

 

Dear Austr Alien,

Am also facing same problem with Dell precision workstation 670 as forum member "crsoosun1" faced the issue of dealing with workstation 470 while installing windows 7. though the difference between these issues is that i have workstation 670 and Seagate 500 GB hard disk.

following is the nature of the problem

"""CERC SATA 25 BIOS For Non-Hotplug Drivers V2.1-11 2824

<<< Press <Ctrl><A> for Adaptec RADI Configuration Utility!>>>

Controller #88: CERC SATA 2S Bus:88; Dev:1F, Func: 82

Loading Configuration...Done
Port#88 SAMSUNG HD183SJ 1AJ18881 931.51 GB Healthy

SATA JBOD- PORT-B SAMSUNG HD183SJ 931.51GB Legacy

1 JBOD Device(s) Found.

BIOS installed successfully""


along with this kind of similar message; there is additional line of Alert that your battery voltage is low.

though i have replaced the motherboard's battery with new one but the same problem still persists.

can you please guide me what to do ??? or just follow your earlier post of solution for this problem.


best, Ahmad

 

khanahmad,
You need to start your own thread in this forum. You are attempting to hijack crsoosun1's thread.

 

dear rustysavage , thanks for the message, kindly guide me how to create thread as i am a newbie on such kind of fourms. thanks and regards. ahmad

 

Ahmad,
I hope we didn't scare you away. People in this forum simply like to keep each member's problem separate from the problems of other forum members. As member ploder has instructed, you need only press the "New Thread" button to begin your own thread. To find this button at any time you need only go to the top of any forum page and click on the "Major Geeks" logo (picture). Then click on the forum that best fits your problem (software, hardware, malware, etc). Then you should see the "New Thread" button on the upper left side of the page. Welcome and good luck