Problem with new PC, HD / Motherboard driver issue

I just spent all day putting together my new PC, and after all the hardware assembley, I try to install Vista. My HD isn't being recognized (SATA set to AHCI), and I cant figure out how to install the drivers from the Motherboard disk. I only have 1 DVD drive on that computer, but the manual says I can take the motherboard disk onto a different system, and transfer the drivers ("Use an alternative system and insert the motherboard driver disk. From your optical drive folder, double click the Menu.exe file in the BootDrv folder. A command window appears" The command window has me hit 1-4 for the type of instal I want (Windows vista x64 bit), but when I do that it doesn't extract.))

Any tips would be nice.

Also, do you have to install the drivers from a floppy, or can you do it from a disk?

When I setup my computer I had to change a BIOS setting before Vista could see it. I'm running a RAID setup though, but without those settings it doesn't work. Try poking through the BIOS and look for anything about SATA.

I didn't need to use drivers from a disc to install Vista, with XP it's a given that you do but I've setup 2 Vista systems and both just worked without any fuss with SATA drivers on floppys.

Hope this helps.

Have fun

Would it be possible for somebody to elaborate on what this means:

"to install the drivers in MS-DOS mode. Prepare a startup disk that has CD-ROM support and a blank formatted floppy-disk.

Step 1 Insert prepared startup disk and motherboard driver disk in your system. Boot from the startup disk. Once at the A:\> prompt, change to your optical drive. At the Optical drive prompt (example D:\>), type the following two commands. Press enter after each:

cd bootdrv

menu

Then you have the window where you hit 1-4 (like in the first description on the original post).

I just dont know what step 1 means.

That means that you need to copy SATA drivers onto your floppy for Vista to find.neXus200x

You still need to do that under Vista? I thought Vista was a step forward over XP...

[QUOTE="neXus200x"]That means that you need to copy SATA drivers onto your floppy for Vista to find.Krall

You still need to do that under Vista? I thought Vista was a step forward over XP...

If the mobodesign uses a non generic SATA controller then Vista (or XP with SP2) would still need a driver. Normaly most mobo makers use a generic driver that works with all versions of Vista, most modern Unix/linux distros and XP with SP2. This may not be the case here. Makes me wonder what board MassEffctor has. It could be the SATA/Raid controller are a shared device (cost cutting or maybe SATA 3 issue I'd bet)that needs a special driver. Most newer boards allow driver transfer via USB thumb drive in place of a floppy drive. Check your mobo manual to see if this is so. Conversly you can just ry to boot off the disc that came with your mobo. If it allows it then it most likely has a thumb drive driver utility as well as a bios update feature for thumb drives. You of course want the driver support. If that works out for you then follow the instructions that --Anna-- listed. But first swap the driver disc with your vista disc. When you get to the driver screen support screen on the vista install (after you press F6) then point it to the thumb drive which should be E: or a higher letter since your HDD will be C: and your CD will be D:. If you have multiple HDD installed then pick the next logical letter. If all else fails you will need to get a floppy drive and cable then do a driver transfer to a formatted disc.

My board is the Gigabyte: GA-MA790FX-DS5, and when I contacted support, they said to go to the gigabyte website and download the drivers to use during install.

http://www.gigabyte.us/Support/Motherboard/Driver_Model.aspx?ProductID=2610

This link takes you to the website with my model's drivers, and then you pick between the Gigabyte and AMD sata slot that you are using, then what OS you are running (Visita x64 bit).

All the drivers say "RAID" on them, and im not running a RAID setup.. but I still tried it. Vista will recognize the drivers as being compatable with my hardware, but when I install them my Harddrive is still not recognized.

Ok, so after closer inspection, I guess the HD is not being recognized in BIOs. I got it mixed up with my DVD Drive.

So the Hard drive is http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16822148288.

I dont even have a clue as to where to look first to find out the problem. This is just getting worse by the day with this rig.

-Thanks again