“Windows Setup could not configure Windows on this computer’s hardware” installation error on a Windows 7-based or a Windows Server 2008 R2-based computer"

This error can occur when you try to install Windows 7 or Windows Server 2008 R2 on a system in the following configuration:

   * You are installing by using Windows 7 or Windows Server 2008 R2 RTM media.

     Note Windows 7 with Service Pack 1 (SP1) and Windows Server 2008 R2 with SP1 are not affected by this issue.

   * Your system has an Intel storage controller that is configured to "RAID" mode in the BIOS.

   * Your intended system drive is an "Advanced Format" disk.

     Note Advanced Format disks have a physical sector size of 4 kilobytes and a logical emulated sector size of 512 bytes.

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To help resolve this issue and install Windows 7 or Windows Server 2008 R2 on your computer, follow these steps. Method 1 is preferred. If you cannot complete method 1, try method 2.

Method 1: Download the appropriate drivers for your hard disk drive

Download and install the latest drivers for your Windows 7-based or Windows Server 2008 R2-based computer.

To do this by using another computer, visit the following Intel website and download the appropriate drivers for your hard disk drive (either 32-bit or 64-bit)

to a flash drive. Or, burn the drivers onto a CD or DVD.

The flash drive or the disc will then be used during setup of Windows 7 or of Windows Server 2008 R2. 

Method 2: Change the BIOS hard disk drive setting to AHCI or IDE

Warning This procedure may involve changing your hard disk drive settings in the BIOS. Incorrect changes to the BIOS of your computer can result in serious problems. Microsoft cannot guarantee that problems that result from changes to the BIOS can be resolved. Change the BIOS settings at your own risk. Incorrect or corrupted BIOS settings can cause startup problems or shutdown problems.

You can change the hard disk drive setting in the BIOS to AHCI or to IDE if the hard disk drive setting is currently set to a RAID configuration. If you set the hard disk drive to AHCI or to IDE, you do not have to install the driver that you obtained in method 1.

Microsoft cannot provide specific instructions for how to change the BIOS settings because they are specific to your computer. For information about the correct BIOS settings for your computer and how to check and change these settings, see your computer documentation, or contact the manufacturer of your computer.

Intel® Rapid Storage Technology (Intel® RST) version 9.6 and newer supports 4k sector disks.

What happens if I try to use an older version of the driver?

If you try to install the operating system on a 4k sector disk with a driver older than Intel® RST version 9.6, the install process might not complete.

If the operating system does install, do not try to upgrade to Intel® RST version 9.6 without reinstalling your operating system.

How do I install the operating system on a 4k sector disk?

RAID

If your system has a supported RAID controller, follow these steps to install the operating system on a 4k sector disk:

1. Download the latest driver files for Intel® RST.
2. Use the Load Driver method to load the driver during operating system install.

AHCI

If your system has a supported AHCI controller, you do not need to load the Intel® RST driver during the operating system. If you choose to manually load the driver, load Intel® RST version 9.6.

This applies to: Intel® Rapid Storage Technology

This got posted before I was finished... :emotion-12:

That error message suggests you originally had a RAID setup with 2 hard drives. And now you've replaced one of those drives with the 3TB Seagate? Is that correct?

In that case, you need to go into BIOS setup (Reboot and press F2) and change SATA0 to ON, instead of RAID ON, and set the second drive on SATA1 to OFF (it might actually connected to SATA2, so check both 1 and 2 for a hard drive) . Save the changes and exit setup. See if you can install Windows now.

When that's done and all the hardware drivers are installed, in the correct order, you can reboot and go back into BIOS setup to set the second drive to ON. Save that change and reboot.

Pardon me, but how are you partitioning and formatting the disk?  The only way I know to completely partition and format a 3 TB drive is using GPT, and since the XPS 420 uses a PC BIOS, it can't boot even using Windows 7 64 bit.  Have you tried using a smaller drive and formatting it in the default MBR process?

According to Microsoft you need to add one thing to your list; the computer must have a UEFI mode.  Some of the late model Optiplex machines and I suspect many of the business class machines do have this.  The standard PC BIOS can't find the boot information on a GPT partitioned disk.

EDIT:  Using GPT Drives.

Downloading the lntel® Rapid Storage Technology F6 Driver Diskettes help me be able to load my operating system. Before the OS would not install. Now that the OS is installed I am updating it and I plan on downloading the drivers that will allow me to use all of the 3TB.

I know this was posted a long time ago but you seem like a very smart person when it comes to computers.

I have the following message when I start my PC.  I have a dell XPS 420.  (error message:Error auto-sensing secondary master hard disk drive)  does this mean

I need a new hard drive?

Thanks

The XPS 420 uses SATA not PATA drives and therefore Master/Slave/Cable Select would not apply.