Windows 10 clean install - hard drive doesn't show up before install

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  1. SimonE
    Posts : 6
    Window 7 SP1 Pro 64-bit
       New #1

    Windows 10 clean install - hard drive doesn't show up before install


    Hi
    I have looked through solutions for this issue, but the suggestions don't seem to fix my issue...

    I am running Windows 7 SP1 Pro 64-bit on a Dell Optiplex 760, and try to do a clean install of Windows 10, using the ISO file which I downloaded from Microsoft & burnt on to a DVD, and instructions from the tutorial on here, which are very good. I downloaded the correct 64-bit version.

    I boot from the DVD, enter my region (UK), and choose custom install, and then my hard drive does not show up on the list of where you would like to install. I have all my USB's unplugged (except keyboard/mouse).

    I tried deleting my partions using MiniTool Partition Wizard (bootable DVD), so that the entire disk is unallocated. That didn't fix it. I also tried creating a new partition (NTFS) of the entire drive (to get one Primary NTFS partition). That didn't work. I also tried setting that partition as 'active'. The same.

    Before formatting etc, I tried a boot from the Windows 7 install DVD, and the hard drive does show up, unlike the Windows 10 DVD.

    Do you think it's an issue with the Windows 10 installer?

    I downloaded another version of Win10 from the MS Tech Bench page, but same issue.

    After formatting etc, during the Windows 10 boot, I tried another suggestion to open up Command Prompt (Shift + F10), and ran 'diskpart' - and no drives are found. I checked the Bios, and it was there.

    So presumably that is the issue. If i ran 'diskpart' with my prior Windows 7 install, diskpart showed up the hard drive no problem...

    If i try with a newer Seagate USB external hard drive i have plugged in, the Windows 10 install does pick up & list that drive (and marks it as 'windows can't be installed there'). So perhaps it is my creaky old hard drive? But i did see other people install Win10 on similar age pc's...

    Any advice would be much appreciated...

    Cheers, Simon
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  3. Fafhrd
    Posts : 1,983
    Windows 10 x86 14383 Insider Pro and Core 10240
       New #2

    Welcome toTenforums, Simon.

    I am a little concerned that the Windows 10 setup program on DVD does not have drivers to properly see and interrogate the system on your PC so that the hard drive is visible. It's the second similar case on this forum that I've seen recently. You also seem to be trying to clean install on an empty PC - is this correct, because if you do so It will not activate.

    Solved Can't install. possible partition error - Windows 10 Forums

    After much to-ing and fro-ing, it was finally possible to *copy the Sources folder from the setup ISO file onto a partition on the hard drive, and run the setup from there, where it wasn't possible to boot from the DVD, even though it worked elsewhere.

    If you still have Windows 7 installed (and you should do for Windows 10 activation purposes - if just to obtain a genuine ticket for digital entitlement), and you have the ISO download available, the solution is fairly simple. If you haven't you will need the Windows 7 key to activate the install.

    You seem pretty PC savvy so, I'd ask you to follow the bolded instructions from the * in the 5th para above.
    Last edited by Fafhrd; 30 Mar 2016 at 08:59.
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  4. SimonE
    Posts : 6
    Window 7 SP1 Pro 64-bit
    Thread Starter
       New #3

    Thanks alot for taking the time to reply, Fafhrd.
    I will have a read of that previous thread for info, and your suggestion, and see how i get on...

    [Before i formatted the hard drive, i generated a 'GenuineTicket.xml' file for my Windows 7 activated install, and copied that to my USB drive, to be pasted back if required after the Win10 install - thanks to the excellent 'Clean install Windows 10 directly without having to upgrade first' tutorial here...]

    Cheers, S
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  6. Fafhrd
    Posts : 1,983
    Windows 10 x86 14383 Insider Pro and Core 10240
       New #4

    Well done, Simon.

    Although it will not be a technically clean install, but it will not pick up any old Windows garbage because there is no windows already installed on the partition. The WinPESE is a great little utility to have anyway.
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  7. SimonE
    Posts : 6
    Window 7 SP1 Pro 64-bit
    Thread Starter
       New #5

    Hi Fafhrd,

    I have to confess, I'm struggling a bit....I've looked through the prior thread from the other day, but I'm unsure of the process I need to start out with re Win PESE, and loading the 'sources' folder etc to the hard drive etc, and how/where i run the setup.exe from...

    Hate to say it, but i'm not sure what Win PESE is...

    I'm using Windows 7 on this pc which i reinstalled today, after my aborted format/install of Win10 this morning (as i created a Win7 image of my hard drive, and restored that all ok, using Macrium Reflect). And I have a Window 7 System Repair Disc, along with the Windows 10 ISO, which i have on an external hard drive & also on a DVD...

    If you get time to prod me in the right direction, that would be great...

    Cheers, S
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  8. Fafhrd
    Posts : 1,983
    Windows 10 x86 14383 Insider Pro and Core 10240
       New #6

    Windows 10 Recovery Tools - Bootable Rescue Disk - Windows 10 Forums - the tutorial and download

    The WinPESE10 and WINPESE8.1 are bootable mini windows versions with a lot of utilities included - including partition managers and

    I prefer the 8.1 version, it's speedier and smaller.

    download and burn to a CD, USB or DVD

    but I digress since you have 7 again.

    Download and run the windows 8.1 upgrade advisor from Upgrade Assistant: FAQ - Windows Help

    this will indicate any software and hardware that is incompatible. with 8.1 and by extension, with 10

    The setup10 iso may not boot, but can you read it from 7? if you have 7-zip (which can explore within the ISO) or Elby Virtual clone drive (which can mount the ISO as a BD-ROM) you can access the contents of the iso.

    If so, copy the \sources folder to your hard drive

    If you now have no free partition, you may need to shrink the partition to leave a space for windows 10 to install to. I usually use about 35 GB for a trial installation. If you are not ok with that come back and I'll talk it thru with you.
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  9. SimonE
    Posts : 6
    Window 7 SP1 Pro 64-bit
    Thread Starter
       New #7

    I think I've got my head around this now, thanks to your post above & your help in the other thread:

    Solved Can't install. possible partition error - Windows 10 Forums

    Thanks for taking the time - appreciate it
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  10. Arc
    Posts : 1,626
    Microsoft Windows 10 Home
       New #8

    Hi SimonE.

    It appears to be a Storage Controller driver related issue. The Windows installer is not getting the SATAII driver when it is loading.

    You will need to find the appropriate SATAII (3GBPS) driver for your computer, and load it during windows installation. The process will be similar to this video:

    Or to this Tutorial: SATA Driver - Load in Windows 7 or Vista Setup - Windows 7 Help Forums

    You just need to find the right driver.
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  12. Fafhrd
    Posts : 1,983
    Windows 10 x86 14383 Insider Pro and Core 10240
       New #9

    Must be synching well, only just looked in here - let us know how you get on ! :)
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  13. Fafhrd
    Posts : 1,983
    Windows 10 x86 14383 Insider Pro and Core 10240
       New #10

    Hi Arc, Do you know how it is that Windows 10 setup cannot find the hard drive , but Windows 7 setup and Windows 10 PE (as in kyhi's recovery boot disk) has no difficulty in seeing these hard drives?

    Before formatting etc, I tried a boot from the Windows 7 install DVD, and the hard drive does show up, unlike the Windows 10 DVD.
    from post 1#
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