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    Clean install (installer can't find hard drive)

    Discussion in 'Alienware 14 and M14x' started by txpro, May 1, 2011.

  1. txpro

    txpro Notebook Guru

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    I'm trying to do a clean install (ultimate) but windows can't find the hard drive.

    SATA is set to AHCI in bios, loaded the Mobile Express Chipset SATA AHCI Controller (iaAHCI.inf), but windows says "No new devices could be found, make sure the driver files are correct"

    Any help would be awesome thanks
     
    txpro, May 1, 2011
    #1
  2. James D

    James D Notebook Prophet

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    All I can suggest is to do a clean install using usb flash drive instead of CD. Any scratch on disc can provoke unable to install Windows. Use Windows7-USB-DVD-tool
     
    James D, May 1, 2011
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  3. txpro

    txpro Notebook Guru

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    I'm using a USB stick to install; I've used it many times.
     
    txpro, May 1, 2011
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  4. TitanGod

    TitanGod Notebook Evangelist

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    Create an ISO of the windows folder or w/e it is you are using and burn it onto a DVD because I was having the same problems trying to reformat with a USB stick.
    (even though the USB stick works for formatting my M11x)
     
    TitanGod, May 1, 2011
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  5. txpro

    txpro Notebook Guru

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    Strange. I'll give it a try, thanks.

    *Edit* worked with dvds
     
    txpro, May 1, 2011
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  6. James D

    James D Notebook Prophet

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    The same problem is solved by changing the way installing Windows. But sometimes it is CD instead of USB and sometimes USB instead CD. I would say it is very strange.
     
    James D, May 2, 2011
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  7. manwdaplan

    manwdaplan Notebook Enthusiast

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    Turn off the card reader as well, this has caused issue for me, also get to disk part (alt f8 or maybe f10 from the install screen I think) and select the disk and type clean. This will remove any hidden stuff Dell may have installed on the hard drive
     
    manwdaplan, May 2, 2011
    #7