14 DAY TRIAL // “Windows Setup could not configure Windows on this computer’s hardware,” is an error message that some customers attempting to install Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2 received before the deployment failed. Microsoft confirmed the issue and also offered details on the source of the error message.
According to the Redmond company, the problem involves scenarios in which users try to install either Windows 7 or Windows Server 2008 R2 to an advanced 512-byte emulation (512e) format disk.
The drive also needs to be configured in such a way as to emulate RAID disk functionality in order for the error message to be presented, the software giant explained.
In addition, the computer must also use an Intel storage controller set up to load the IAStorV driver which is labeled “RAID” mode usually.
“Advanced Format disks are 4-KB sector disks that have an emulated interface of 512 bytes. Also, the disks have a 4-KB physical sector size and a 512-byte logical sector size. And, the disks must report the physical sector size correctly,” Microsoft revealed.
The company has detailed two methods for users to resolve this issue and install Windows 7 and Windows server 2008 succesfully:
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Method 1: Download the appropriate drivers for your hard disk drive
Download and install the latest driver for your Windows 7 or Windows Server 2008 R2 computer. To do this by using another computer, visit the following Intel website and download the appropriate drivers for your hard disk drive, either 32-bit or 64-bit, to a flash drive, or burn the drivers onto CD/DVD media.
The flash drive or media will be used during the Setup phase for Windows 7 and for Windows Server 2008 R2.
Method 2: Change the BIOS hard disk drive setting to AHCI or IDE
You can change the hard disk drive setting in the BIOS to AHCI or to IDE if the hard disk drive setting is currently set to a RAID configuration. When you set the hard disk drive to AHCI or to IDE, you do not have to install the driver that you obtained in method 1.”