Windows 7 Installation Problem. Possibly Graphics Card? Opinions Reqd.  

Hi There,

I am seeking some advice in regard to completing my windows 7 installation. I am currently running windows XP 32 bit and am ready for windows 7 64 bit.

My machine consists of the following components and as far as I know, all run fine:
(I have put a * next to what I THINK may be causing an issue)

550w Coolermaster PSU
Asus M4N78 Motherboard ( I have flashed BIOS so it can run Win 7 64bit)
AMD Dual Core 7750 Phenom CPU
NVIDIA 9500GT Graphics Card*
4GB PC2-800 / DDR2-800 Ram*
1Tb WD Cavier Black Hard disk


Okay, so on this set up, I can run windows XP no problem. All works as it should. I start installing Windows 7 64 bit Ultimate or Professional, (custom install) and that works fine until after a few restarts. As the installation nears the last stretch where it states "completing installation" or something close to that, the screen goes black and flickers and will not do anything at all thereafter (While the comp is running).

My first thought is that my Graphics card is letting me down. The original drivers on it only allow for windows Vista (Maximum), yet If I wanted to update the drivers to windows 7 capable ones, it will not allow me to do so on/while running win Xp. The card CAN do Win 7, but I CAN'T install the driver for it at all as windows 7 will not let you install drivers for graphics, Pre-install.

That being said, I heard that windows 7 preloads drivers for your card to run through the CPU to allow it to display and run... Now if that were true, then this may not be feasible and I could be looking at a completely different problem, right? I'm still skeptic however. As I think maybe I will just have to update my card... But surely this isn't so? ISO: Opinions.

Next is the Ram. Before purchasing Windows 7, I ensured that I had enough Ram. My system pre-install ran on
*2gb PC2-800 Apacer Ram.
Now, PC2-800 and DDR2-800 are compatible from what I know, otherwise, surely I would be having problems with my comp and running XP, now, wouldn't I?...
After installing more ram, I now have:
2gb PC2-800 Apacer
2gb DDR2-800 ADATA

Ironically, when I look at my system through "My Computer" on XP, it says 3.25!!! OMG. (Just joking, I know that's the most that XP can see. It shows 4GB on startup.)

I thought that maybe after installing the other ram it may have conflicted somehow, but I wouldn't think so... Again, ISO opinions.

Please let me know if you have any theories as to what may be causing this problem. Kudos to those if they can hit the nail on the head.

Thanks in advance.
-Richie.

Welcome to Windows Seven Forums.

Please download and run the Windows 7 Upgrade Advisor on your XP setup. It will highlight any problem areas that need addressing before you upgrade to the new operating system.

http://www.microsoft.com/download/en/details.aspx?id=20

According to the Windows 7 Compatibility Center, your graphics card is OK to use, but I think your RAM mismatch may be the problem.

Remove the DDR2 RAM, and then try to install Windows 7. If that doesn't work, put the DDR2 RAM back and try with just PC2 Apacer RAM (Windows 7 will be fine with 2Gb of RAM).

You can also download the Crucial Memory Scanner for recommendations on configuring any RAM upgrade.

http://www.crucial.com/uk/store/dram...110920064010:s

Thanks for the reply. I tried that scanner, it didn't seem to hint on any problems... I will try with either of the Ram and if that doesn't work... Well, I don't know what will... Here's hoping I guess.

You could try a comprehensive RAM test using this free utility: Memtest86

I would recommend you to try the installation with DDR 2-800, and the installation would be fine. The graphics card is compatible with Win 7 and after installation you can install the graphic card driver in XP compatibility mode. Hence to me it seems that the issue is PC-800 memory.