Windows Vista doesn't show up SATA drives..

The disappearance of SATA drives is a BIOS setting problem.It occurs if the computer uses an Advanced Host Controller Interface (AHCI) chipset; not if you've AHCI chipset that uses Parallel Advanced Technology Attachment (PATA) emulation mode. So if your BIOS allows that, your drives will immediately show up.Try the following.

Clean Install

1. Turn your PC On
2. As the PC starts quickly insert the Windows Vista DVD into the DVD drive
3. If all goes well a black screen should appear with the legend 'Press any key to boot from CD or DVD.' If you miss this screen just reboot your machine again
4. At the 'Press any key to boot from CD or DVD' screen Press Enter or any other key to start the Windows Installation
5. Windows will now start loading files into memory
6. After files have been loaded the screen will change to a black screen with a green progress bar. Beneath the progress bar are the Microsoft copyright details
7. After a short while the language selection screen will appear. Select the desired language, and then click the Next button
8. The Install screen will now appear
9. On the Install screen Press the Install Now button
10. At the next screen Insert your Windows Product Code number and press Enter
11. Next you need to accept the EULA (End User Licence Agreement). Place a Tick in the Accept box and then Click the Next button
12. At the next screen you will need to Select your Installation type. As you are performing c Clean install only the Custom option will be available for selection
13. The next screen asks 'Where do you want to install Windows'
14. On this screen, bottom left hand corner, you will see an option marked Load Drivers. Click on this option
15. To install the device driver(s) you will need to insert the installation media that came with the RAID/SATA drives and which contains the relevant driver(s). This media can be floppy disk, CD/DVD or USB flash drive. Once you have inserted the media into the relevant drive, Click the OK button
16. The system will now search the media for the relevant driver(s)
17. After the search has been completed the driver(s) will appear in the 'Select the driver to be installed' Window
18. Select the relevant driver and then click Next
19. The driver will now be installed
20. If more than one driver requires to be installed, repeat steps 17 to 19 until the necessary drivers have been installed
21. After all drivers have been installed, click the Next button to continue installing Windows Vista.

Upgrade Installation

1. Turn your PC On and boot to your current Windows Operating system
2. Once your current operating system has booted insert the Windows Vista DVD into the DVD drive
3. The DVD will spin and the Vista Installation screen will appear
4. At the installation screen, press the Install Now button
5. A 'Please Wait' screen will now appear
6. After a few moments a screen will appear asking you to get important updates from the internet. If you are connected to the Internet, select the Yes option. If not then select No
7. Next type in your Windows Product code number and Click the Next button
8. The Windows EULA (End User Licence Agreement) now appears. Accept the licence agreement and Click Next
9. The next window asks 'Which type of installation do you want.' Select Upgrade
10. In the next window click the Load Drivers option in the bottom left corner of the window
11. To install the device driver(s) you will need to insert the installation media that came with the RAID/SATA drives and which contains the relevant driver(s). This media can be floppy disk, CD/DVD or USB flash drive. Once you have inserted the media into the relevant drive, Click the OK button
12. The system will now search the media for the relevant driver(s)
13. After the search has been completed the driver(s) will appear in the 'Select the driver to be installed' Window
14. Select the relevant driver and then click Next
15. The driver will now be installed
16. If more than one driver requires to be installed, repeat steps 11 to 15 until the necessary drivers have been installed
17. After all drivers have been installed, click the Next button to continue installing Windows Vista.

Visit Microsoft site to procure a hot fix .

Category: Hard Disk, Tips, Tutorial, Vista