EggXpert

I ordered a new computer:

Biostar TF8200 A2+

4gigs RAM DDR2 800

SATA 500gig HD

8800GTX

SATA DVD/CD drive

3.0Gz duel core AMD processor...

 

OK, so here's the scoop: I set it up, worked fine, installed Vista... then realized some SATA ports on the mobo were defective... in pulling the processor out, I bent a few pins, tried to fix them, and thought I did (but there were bend marks on a few, cracks maybe)...

I got a new mobo (same one), and placed my old processor into it... instead of booting up, I got the BSOD immediately after the windows loading bar... So I booted from the Vista dvd...

it gave me DVD driver errors (something it did not the first time)... I rebooted from the same dvd in another dvd drive (non SATA) I put in to test this issue... it booted fine, BUT then when I went to repair/reinstall, it showed no Hard Drives at all...

 the weird thing is, my BIOS picks up my SATA hard drive, but booting from the vista DVD shows no storage devices installed...

 COULD THIS BE A PROCESSOR ISSUE?

Nope Vista issue.

Vista might need you to load the drivers to run your SATA ports, rare but it happens.

If that doesn't get it, you can try using another PC to erase the drive, then put it back in and try again.

Those are the two I remember, hopfully someone will reply with other ways.

(don't forget to make sure its set to be the boot drive in the BIOS, and the cable is secured tightly or even try another cable)

well the only thing that worries me, is that literally 4 days ago, with the EXACT same hardware (my old, but identical motherboard)... I installed Vista flawlessly without loading any drivers at all (nor having to install my old CD/DVD drive either)... so I am stumped as to why I would have to load those drivers this time around, especially if nothing has really changed

 but also, can anyone point me to where to find these drivers? and do I have to use a floppy? I have an old floppy drive that I might be able to install

You do not know what revision or what BIOS version is loaded into the same model of the mobo therefore that could be your problem. If you installed vista on old mobo and then its not working on new mobo - cpu has nothing to do with it. Not only MOBO but HDDs could be the reason for not being installed on that computer. I got HDD and it works under vista as storage. Believe it or not - I had to install the drivers.

that does make sense! but I'm really wondering now if i have to use a floppy disk to load the drivers, can I use a removable HD through usb?

Not sure if Biostars will do this (I forget), but put in your main board disk, and try to boot to it, it should show you your options for making a driver disk.

yeah so DEFINITELY feel like a total re***d... but i swear the SATA ports were numbered differently on my last MB... anyways

 

I had my HD plugged into SATA5 which I thought was SATA1... apparently SATA5 and SATA6 are used for RAID only... so it would pick up my harddrive in RAID mode, which required drivers during Vista install... after realized how freaking stupid I was, I plugged it into SATA1 and everything worked fine....

 

I still swear the 1 and 5 and 2 and 6 are switched on this board, as my HD was plugged in the original same spot on my first board and worked fine, but oh well lol

 

thanks to everyone for helping