Can't install Vista - help!!

I've just taken delivery of a Dell 9200 quad-core system.

I've taken the hard drive out and replaced it with 2 x 320gb Western
Digital drives partitioned as I want.

So, I insert the Vista Business DVD and it whirrs into life........I
get as far as "where do you want to install Vista?"..........I select
the relevant partition and Vista tells me it can't find a suitable
volume for installation.

Um, excuse me?

So I elect to format the partition (even though it's already
formatted) but I get an hourglass for about three seconds and then it
disappears........no way did it just format a 40gb partition in 3
seconds.

Can someone tell me where I'm going wrong?

The drives are SATA (non-raid)..............I've been using computers
since 1981 and this is the first time I've failed in an attempt to do
something as simple as install an OS :-(

<> wrote in message
news: ps.com...
> I've just taken delivery of a Dell 9200 quad-core system.
>
> I've taken the hard drive out and replaced it with 2 x 320gb Western
> Digital drives partitioned as I want.
>
> So, I insert the Vista Business DVD and it whirrs into life........I
> get as far as "where do you want to install Vista?"..........I select
> the relevant partition and Vista tells me it can't find a suitable
> volume for installation.
>
> Um, excuse me?
>
> So I elect to format the partition (even though it's already
> formatted) but I get an hourglass for about three seconds and then it
> disappears........no way did it just format a 40gb partition in 3
> seconds.
>
> Can someone tell me where I'm going wrong?
>
> The drives are SATA (non-raid)..............I've been using computers
> since 1981 and this is the first time I've failed in an attempt to do
> something as simple as install an OS :-(
>

When you removed the original hard drive most likely you removed the chipset
drivers for the motherboard, sata drivers etc. Try using the driver CD that
came with your computer to install the appropriate drivers first.

--
Jim

Format in Vista install uses the quick format

<> wrote in message
news: ps.com...
> I've just taken delivery of a Dell 9200 quad-core system.
>
> I've taken the hard drive out and replaced it with 2 x 320gb Western
> Digital drives partitioned as I want.
>
> So, I insert the Vista Business DVD and it whirrs into life........I
> get as far as "where do you want to install Vista?"..........I select
> the relevant partition and Vista tells me it can't find a suitable
> volume for installation.
>
> Um, excuse me?
>
> So I elect to format the partition (even though it's already
> formatted) but I get an hourglass for about three seconds and then it
> disappears........no way did it just format a 40gb partition in 3
> seconds.
>
> Can someone tell me where I'm going wrong?
>
> The drives are SATA (non-raid)..............I've been using computers
> since 1981 and this is the first time I've failed in an attempt to do
> something as simple as install an OS :-(
>

On Sep 8, 4:37 pm, "JimR" <jrap...@msn.com> wrote:
> <chuckles_the_scary_cl...@budweiser.com> wrote in message
>
> news: ps.com...
>
>
>
>
>
> > I've just taken delivery of a Dell 9200 quad-core system.
>
> > I've taken the hard drive out and replaced it with 2 x 320gb Western
> > Digital drives partitioned as I want.
>
> > So, I insert the Vista Business DVD and it whirrs into life........I
> > get as far as "where do you want to install Vista?"..........I select
> > the relevant partition and Vista tells me it can't find a suitable
> > volume for installation.
>
> > Um, excuse me?
>
> > So I elect to format the partition (even though it's already
> > formatted) but I get an hourglass for about three seconds and then it
> > disappears........no way did it just format a 40gb partition in 3
> > seconds.
>
> > Can someone tell me where I'm going wrong?
>
> > The drives are SATA (non-raid)..............I've been using computers
> > since 1981 and this is the first time I've failed in an attempt to do
> > something as simple as install an OS :-(
>
> When you removed the original hard drive most likely you removed the chipset
> drivers for the motherboard, sata drivers etc. Try using the driver CD that
> came with your computer to install the appropriate drivers first.
>
> --
> Jim- Hide quoted text -
>
> - Show quoted text -

Nope that's made no difference..............besides which, Vista sees
the drives with all the relevant partitions?

Googling this seems to suggest the installer is buggy?

Now I know this is a bizarre request but can anyone tell me, in simple
terms, how I can get Vista to install?

On Sep 8, 5:01 pm, chuckles_the_scary_cl...@budweiser.com wrote:
> On Sep 8, 4:37 pm, "JimR" <jrap...@msn.com> wrote:
>
>
>
>
>
> > <chuckles_the_scary_cl...@budweiser.com> wrote in message
>
> >news: ups.com...
>
> > > I've just taken delivery of a Dell 9200 quad-core system.
>
> > > I've taken the hard drive out and replaced it with 2 x 320gb Western
> > > Digital drives partitioned as I want.
>
> > > So, I insert the Vista Business DVD and it whirrs into life........I
> > > get as far as "where do you want to install Vista?"..........I select
> > > the relevant partition and Vista tells me it can't find a suitable
> > > volume for installation.
>
> > > Um, excuse me?
>
> > > So I elect to format the partition (even though it's already
> > > formatted) but I get an hourglass for about three seconds and then it
> > > disappears........no way did it just format a 40gb partition in 3
> > > seconds.
>
> > > Can someone tell me where I'm going wrong?
>
> > > The drives are SATA (non-raid)..............I've been using computers
> > > since 1981 and this is the first time I've failed in an attempt to do
> > > something as simple as install an OS :-(
>
> > When you removed the original hard drive most likely you removed the chipset
> > drivers for the motherboard, sata drivers etc. Try using the driver CD that
> > came with your computer to install the appropriate drivers first.
>
> > --
> > Jim- Hide quoted text -
>
> > - Show quoted text -
>
> Nope that's made no difference..............besides which, Vista sees
> the drives with all the relevant partitions?
>
> Googling this seems to suggest the installer is buggy?
>
> Now I know this is a bizarre request but can anyone tell me, in simple
> terms, how I can get Vista to install?- Hide quoted text -
>
> - Show quoted text -

No takers?

So Vista's uninstallable?

Surely not?

Have you tried the proper SATA drivers, and settings in your BIOS

<> wrote in message
news: ups.com...
> On Sep 8, 5:01 pm, chuckles_the_scary_cl...@budweiser.com wrote:
>> On Sep 8, 4:37 pm, "JimR" <jrap...@msn.com> wrote:
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> > <chuckles_the_scary_cl...@budweiser.com> wrote in message
>>
>> >news: ups.com...
>>
>> > > I've just taken delivery of a Dell 9200 quad-core system.
>>
>> > > I've taken the hard drive out and replaced it with 2 x 320gb Western
>> > > Digital drives partitioned as I want.
>>
>> > > So, I insert the Vista Business DVD and it whirrs into life........I
>> > > get as far as "where do you want to install Vista?"..........I select
>> > > the relevant partition and Vista tells me it can't find a suitable
>> > > volume for installation.
>>
>> > > Um, excuse me?
>>
>> > > So I elect to format the partition (even though it's already
>> > > formatted) but I get an hourglass for about three seconds and then it
>> > > disappears........no way did it just format a 40gb partition in 3
>> > > seconds.
>>
>> > > Can someone tell me where I'm going wrong?
>>
>> > > The drives are SATA (non-raid)..............I've been using computers
>> > > since 1981 and this is the first time I've failed in an attempt to do
>> > > something as simple as install an OS :-(
>>
>> > When you removed the original hard drive most likely you removed the
>> > chipset
>> > drivers for the motherboard, sata drivers etc. Try using the driver CD
>> > that
>> > came with your computer to install the appropriate drivers first.
>>
>> > --
>> > Jim- Hide quoted text -
>>
>> > - Show quoted text -
>>
>> Nope that's made no difference..............besides which, Vista sees
>> the drives with all the relevant partitions?
>>
>> Googling this seems to suggest the installer is buggy?
>>
>> Now I know this is a bizarre request but can anyone tell me, in simple
>> terms, how I can get Vista to install?- Hide quoted text -
>>
>> - Show quoted text -
>
> No takers?
>
> So Vista's uninstallable?
>
> Surely not?
>

<> wrote in message
news: ups.com...

> No takers?
>
> So Vista's uninstallable?

Send me the machine or a duplicate and I'll give it a go.

On Sep 8, 6:05 pm, "John Barnes" <jbar...@email.net> wrote:
> Have you tried the proper SATA drivers, and settings in your BIOS
>

Yes, it's all set up and ready to roll.

Someone somewhere must have come across this before? As I say,
googling it throws up a whole raft of results that seem to suggest
that this is a known issue?

But no-one seems to have a solution?

He obviously did not format the drives in Vista since he can not get Vista
up and running !
No one has suggested the following - so - here goes ....
Download the Vista SATA drivers from WD and install on floppy, CD, etc.
Press the good old F8 key during initial Vista installation and run the
media, on which, the drivers were installed.
The results should (?) net the installed volumes to choose from when the O/S
installer asks for them.
Worth a shot ...... no ? ..... John.


"John Barnes" <> wrote in message
news:%23Kk%...
> Format in Vista install uses the quick format
>
> <> wrote in message
> news: ps.com...
>> I've just taken delivery of a Dell 9200 quad-core system.
>>
>> I've taken the hard drive out and replaced it with 2 x 320gb Western
>> Digital drives partitioned as I want.
>>
>> So, I insert the Vista Business DVD and it whirrs into life........I
>> get as far as "where do you want to install Vista?"..........I select
>> the relevant partition and Vista tells me it can't find a suitable
>> volume for installation.
>>
>> Um, excuse me?
>>
>> So I elect to format the partition (even though it's already
>> formatted) but I get an hourglass for about three seconds and then it
>> disappears........no way did it just format a 40gb partition in 3
>> seconds.
>>
>> Can someone tell me where I'm going wrong?
>>
>> The drives are SATA (non-raid)..............I've been using computers
>> since 1981 and this is the first time I've failed in an attempt to do
>> something as simple as install an OS :-(
>>
>

So you have a little more knowledge, you can format the partition where you
select where to install Vista (advanced). You do not have to install Vista,
as at that point it would be too late anyway.

"Doppler John" <> wrote in message
news:CC12BCE1-1FA2-4647-91C6-...
> He obviously did not format the drives in Vista since he can not get Vista
> up and running !
> No one has suggested the following - so - here goes ....
> Download the Vista SATA drivers from WD and install on floppy, CD, etc.
> Press the good old F8 key during initial Vista installation and run the
> media, on which, the drivers were installed.
> The results should (?) net the installed volumes to choose from when the
> O/S installer asks for them.
> Worth a shot ...... no ? ..... John.
>
>
> "John Barnes" <> wrote in message
> news:%23Kk%...
>> Format in Vista install uses the quick format
>>
>> <> wrote in message
>> news: ps.com...
>>> I've just taken delivery of a Dell 9200 quad-core system.
>>>
>>> I've taken the hard drive out and replaced it with 2 x 320gb Western
>>> Digital drives partitioned as I want.
>>>
>>> So, I insert the Vista Business DVD and it whirrs into life........I
>>> get as far as "where do you want to install Vista?"..........I select
>>> the relevant partition and Vista tells me it can't find a suitable
>>> volume for installation.
>>>
>>> Um, excuse me?
>>>
>>> So I elect to format the partition (even though it's already
>>> formatted) but I get an hourglass for about three seconds and then it
>>> disappears........no way did it just format a 40gb partition in 3
>>> seconds.
>>>
>>> Can someone tell me where I'm going wrong?
>>>
>>> The drives are SATA (non-raid)..............I've been using computers
>>> since 1981 and this is the first time I've failed in an attempt to do
>>> something as simple as install an OS :-(
>>>
>>
>