Storage, Drives & Media

[Skoutariotis]

I've read most posts and I've tried ALL, no luck!

HELP!!!!

It's a WD blue 500 gig

Here's what I tried...

1. Formated as one partition using my home brew, works well! Mounts and all!

2. Formated as one 120 gig partition on my home brew, works well!

3. I do not see a "blade" someone said to xfer from old to new.

4. Tried setting the SATA operation to ATA from AHCI, no luck.

Trying to install a fresh Vista 32 bit. and it does NOT see the drive. BIOS does not see it either.

I'm out of options, I don't know what to do!

Any suggestions will be immensely appreciated!

Thanks for reading this!

[tazz_rowl]

Having similar issues, trying to install a new OS but neither th OS installation finds the drive nor the BIOS,

 i think the HDD is dead by now, going to buy WD Blue 500 GB Laptop internal hard drive (WD5000BPVT/ WD5000LPVX) for  dell vostro 1014.

[ejn63]

If this is one of the new 7mm slim drives, you may need an adapter to get it to connect with your system, which is designed for a 9.5 mm drive.

[Philip_Yip]

I've read most posts and I've tried ALL, no luck!

HELP!!!!

It's a WD blue 500 gig

Here's what I tried...

1. Formated as one partition using my home brew, works well! Mounts and all!

2. Formated as one 120 gig partition on my home brew, works well!

3. I do not see a "blade" someone said to xfer from old to new.

4. Tried setting the SATA operation to ATA from AHCI, no luck.

Trying to install a fresh Vista 32 bit. and it does NOT see the drive. BIOS does not see it either.

I'm out of options, I don't know what to do!

Any suggestions will be immensely appreciated!

Thanks for reading this!

In your case you need to load SATA drivers during the Windows setup see here:

http://dellwindowsreinstallationguide.com/a-clean-install-of-windows/downloading-preparing-and-loadi...

[Skoutariotis]

Thanks for the reply, but the drivers link you gave me is only for AMD, I have Intel.
I searched the Intel site, w/no luck, maybe I'm looking in the wrong place, wrong tag.
Thank you in advance for your additional assistance!

Jim

[Philip_Yip]

That was just instructions. The Dell SATA Drivers are these:

http://ftp.dell.com/SATA/R166200.EXE

You can also prepare the latest ones from Intel:

https://downloadcenter.intel.com/Detail_Desc.aspx?agr=Y&DwnldID=17312&lang=eng&OSVersion=Windows%20V...=

In general I prepare both and load the Intel ones and use the Dell ones as a reserve only if I experience a problem.

[Skoutariotis]

Again, thanks a million for your extended help!

I had already tried the Intel ones, but I'm unable to use them since the exec file does the installation and it does not support my home brew.

I tried the Dell ones, loaded them, but still won't see the drive!

Damn, this is so embarrassing, 25 yrs in the IT industry and I cannot install a damn drive in a laptop!

I know I've been out of it since 2002, but, it can't be that difference, although back then you could download WD formatting app and off you go.

I know it's not the drive, since my home brew sees it and able to format it and mount it.

[Philip_Yip · Accepted solution]

Sorry listed the wrong Intel ones, try these:

https://downloadcenter.intel.com/Detail_Desc.aspx?agr=Y&DwnldID=18668&lang=eng&OSVersion=Windows%20V...=

The Dell ones may be too old for the drive.

[Skoutariotis]

I feel soooooo stupid!

Simple problem overlooked by an old fart!

The WD Blue is 30% thinner than the original and that was enough to prevent it from being plugged into the motherboard. Once I noticed it, I opened the bottom of the laptop where I could see the port and was able to guide the drive into the connector!

Dell boot CD had drivers, but it was unable to allow me to reformat/repartition the drive, so I tried yours and they work well. I was able to repartition to full 500 gig and reformat, and I'm currently installing OS!

Thanks a million to you! I'm going to look how I can give you kudos or whatever it's called on this forum.

You were of great help and I feel embarrassed!

[Skoutariotis]

I also found, the drivers you gave me, will not allow the OS to install. Had to reboot and use the ones on CD. Re-formated using those drivers and I'm up and running!

Again, million thanks to you!

PS: Couldn't find Kudos thing, but you earned a bunch!

Thnx!

Demetris