Windows 7 Install problem. Halp?

[Radelaide]

So! I got a shiny new Dell 14" XPS laptop and I wanted to nuke it to get rid of any bloatware that comes with the laptop. Since it doesn't have a CD drive, I've got a USB one connected.

I can boot from the USB drive with the Windows 7 disc without an issue, it's when it comes to selecting a drive to install to that I start to encounter issues. Attempting to find the hard drive, it comes up blank. Browsing the computer through the "search" function of the installer doesn't help either.

It's strange because hardware management can find it, and all the hidden partitions. BIOS is updated, hard drive is SATA, all drivers are updated.

Any ideas? Any more information you need might have to wait till I'm at home from uni. Soz.

 

[Radelaide]

Win7 is fail. Use XP instead.

That's the second most unhelpful thing someone has said to me on this forum. Can't contribute positively, GTFO.

 

[DoPo]

Hmm, you need the drivers on the Windows disk itself, for it to recognise the HDD. At least I had that problem when I tried the same albeit with Windows XP several years ago. Dunno about 7, haven't seen this issue there. Also, try installing from just a USB stick - see if the DVD isn't a problem.

That's all I can think of right now, sorry I couldn't be more helpful. At least I'll bump the thread, if nothing else.