Windows Vista Install not recognizing SATA hard drive

Munkey

I am trying to do a system restore on a Acer AM1100 Desktop and need some help. When I press Alt F10 while booting, I get an error that says BOOTMGR is missing and the only option is to reboot.

 

If I try to just do a clean install of Windows Vista from an install cd, the hard drive is not found and it prompts me to load drivers. Acer has no SATA controller drivers listed for this model.

 

Is there a way to restore the BOOTMGR so that the normal restore process will work. Or is there a way to get the drivers that the Vista install is looking for?

finlux

Hi munkey

 

It sounds as if you have a problem with the hard drive.

 

Firstly, check in BIOS to see if your PC is "seeing" the hard drive. Secondly, remove the hard drive and test it in another computer.

 

Try (if you can) fitting another hard drive & install Windows from your recovery disks. This should work.

Munkey

The hard drive is recognized in bios. I have also run the WD drive diagnostics on the drive from a boot disc and it recognized the drive and tested it with no errors. Sorry, should have included that in my original post.

finlux

This sounds like a tricky problem then!

 

It shouldn't be asking for any drivers - Vista should contain them all. A couple of suggestions:

 

1. See if WD have any additional drivers on their site - if so, try them

2. Format the disk, either by using Comand Prompt from your Windows Disk, or by connecting it to another computer. Then try to install Windows.