Windows Setup could not configure Windows on this computer’s hardware - Windows 7 Build Fail

When building a windows 7 machine you may encounter the following error message mid way through the execution of the Task Sequence:

"Windows Setup could not configure Windows on this computer’s hardware"

According to the good folk over at Microsoft, this error is a result of: "an issue with the Intel storage controller driver that's included in the released versions of Windows 7 and of Windows Server 2008 R2."

The most straight forward way to resolve this issue is to do the following:

A]

• Change the BIOS hard disk drive setting to AHCI or IDE

If, for whatever reason, you are unable to change the BIOS setting, you can also download the actual driver for the hard disk and then incorporate it as part of the build process. The below steps were cribbed from the MS website:

B]

• Go to another computer with an internet connection and click the following link to locate the driver for your hard disk drive (either 32-bit or 64-bit): http://www.intel.com/support/chipsets/imsm/sb/CS-031502.htm
• Once downloaded, put the file onto a DVD or USB flash drive or an external hard drive that can be taken to the PC that you're installing Windows to.
• Then start the installation of Windows 7 or Windows Server 2008 R2 and watch for the Load Driver option. You will see this option on the Where do you want to install Windows? screen in the lower right corner.
• Connect the USB flash or external drive to the computerthat you're installing Windows or take the Windows DVD out of the drive and put the driver DVD into the drive. (You will put the Windows DVD back into that drive after the driver is loaded)
• Click Load Driver, (clicking this option checks removable media for storage controller drivers)
• Once the driver is loaded, continue with the Windows setup.