Provided you did use a DVD to burn it to and you have a DVD-Rom (dvd player in your computer) and you have the dvd rom set to boot first in the boot order in BIOS, did you partition the hard drive? That may be what you're missing. If you didn't make any partitions at all the hard drive is not allocated so it won't install anything.
Without windows you will need to use command prompt only. To get to command prompt continually press the F8 key after pressing the power button to turn the computer on unless the "Command Prompt" option is selectable on a screen somewhere during the time it's trying to start up. F8 will bring up a menu, choose the Command Prompt Only option and:
Open Command Prompt.
Type:
diskpart
At the DISKPART prompt, type:
list disk
Make note of the disk number (represented by an "n" in the rest of these instructions) of the disk on which you want to create a primary or extended partition. You want to use disk 0 (zero) since it *should* be the first hard drive that bios tells to boot, unless you've changed that and have several hard drives.
At the DISKPART prompt, type:
select disk n (disk 0)
Select the disk n where you want to create the primary or extended partition.
At the DISKPART prompt, type one of the following:
create partition primary [size=n] [offset=n] [ID=byte | GUID] [noerr]
or
create partition extended [size=n] [offset=n] [noerr]
or
create partition logical [size=n] [offset=n] [noerr]
At the DISKPART prompt, type:
assign letter=C
Notes:
- You want to assign the disk letter as C. Win7 will do this anyway no matter what letter you choose to name the primary partition.
- in the Size commands you need to enter the size you want to use for the partition in megabytes.
1gb =1024mb so if you have a 40gb hard drive and want to use the entire thing for windows enter 40960 as the size. If you use Google and search for a GB to MB converter there will be one at the very top of the results you can type in and get the number you need.
- You don't need to use an entire hard drive for windows. Win7 32bit needs only 16gb of space, the 64bit version requires 20gb for installation. You can partition the rest of the space on the drive as storage drives for things that in the event you want or have to re-install windows you can store files in the other partitions (drives) and not lose anything. If you do format (delete) a drive and re-install windows you will have to re-install programs. That is programs. Photos and images, movies, music, and documents (saved text files)are not programs so they will stay in tact if you have to format and re-install if you follow these suggestions when you make your partitions. You would not lose anything and only have to format and re-install on the C drive which will also happen faster because it doesn't have to go through the entire hard drive to install. I would suggest making the partition 25gb for the 32bit Win7 and 50gb for the 64bit version. This way you have some space left over, a bumper to bounce on so to speak.
- If you have built a 32 bit system the 64bit version of windows will NOT install. The 32bit version requires a 32bit system. The 64bit version will install on either a 32 or 64bit system. Most computer parts these days are 64bit I'm just throwing this in here as a note so you're aware. This might also be the problem if you built a 32bit system and are trying to install 64bit windows.
If you need further help....remember that Google.com is one of your best friends. The internet is the information highway. Make use of it. There are no fines on the internet for speeding or going too slow and nobody has road rage. Take your time, follow tutorials line for line. Move at your own pace.
If it is that there aren't any partitions and you screw up somehow you can always format and start over. Formatting and making partitions doesn't take long to do. An unpartitioned hard drive will work as a "slave" drive for storage only. You don't need to partition multiple hard drives unless you want to although in light of that when you do put a new hard drive in you may have to use Computer Management's (type it in Win7 start button search)'s Disk Management feature to give them a drive letter so they show up.
If you have to do that go to Disk Management > Storage.
Right-Click on the drive you want to use that's not showing up, and select the Partition option. Then follow the screens. Do not make more than one primary drive unless you're going to run more than one operating system. Non-Operating System (storage only) drives don't need to be a primary drive.