Windows 7 Installation problems...

gregrocker said:

Go back to Posts 2 & 6 to test hardware. Swap RAM, remove all but 2gb to try install.

Update BIOS version from PB Support Downloads webpage for your model, or clear the CMOS:
Clear CMOS - 3 Ways to Clear the CMOS - Reset BIOS

Then set SATA controller to AHCI to start, then IDE if necessary.

Did you run the Win7 Upgrade Advisor to know whether it can run on this machine? If necessary do you have a backup image of old OS so you could run Advisor and update BIOS?

Do you have onboard graphics chip you can default to in BIOS to remove video card if necessary?

Hi Greg

Could you let me know how to set the above to AHCI the IDE, I have no idea where to start.

Thanks Greg I will give it a go.

Hi Greg

First of all I would like to thank you for your patients, must be hard instructing idiots like myself lol.

At that point I did have a Canon printer linked up. I now have the original 2gb memory and am using the motherboards own graphics adapter, I have absolutly nothing extra linked up or installed other than the basic setup. I even started using my old mouse instead of the laser mouse just incase that was the problem.

On my install yesterday, the first attempt failed whilst expanding files, at about 90% or so. I read a post where if you simply start again without restarting the PC, it worked and completed the installation. But that is not the end of it....
The PC does not start into Windows 7 as it should and yesterday I did have to do a repair from the Windows 7 Disc.

Then this morning when I started it took quite a while and a bit of negotiation. After getting into windows it searched and installed 46 updates and when it restarted, it wouldn't and could not find the HDD again and kept restarting.

Having to pay for all my PC stuff I had to leave for work and will attempt another repair tonight. A Friend who is using Windows 7 has offered to Install it using his PC, if the repair doesn't work I am going to try that rout as you suggest.

Thanks again.

PS Also I did use the chkdsk /f as you suggested.

I have somehow stumbled into windows 7 but it isnt working correctly.

What can I do now to repair the faults?

What did you have to do exactly to get into Win7. Describe each step.

What was the result before when you ran the Startup Repair?

Try the Repair Install linked by Barefoot and report back.

Have you tested both the Memory and HD now?

Hi All

I have tested memory and HDD all ok, this is why this is so baffling.

I tried to do the repair whilst logged into windows 7 and when it failed to start at the first boot during the install I could not get back into it. I tried doing a repair more than once shall we say and even though it said windows should start it didnt and I could not get back in.

Quote "Then this morning when I started it took quite a while and a bit of negotiation. After getting into windows it searched and installed 46 updates and when it restarted, it wouldn't and could not find the HDD again and kept restarting"

Here to get into windows 7 I simply done another repair from the Windows 7 disk, on the third attempt it worked. when in Windows 7 there was no support for any USB devices but I could do almost everything else that I wanted to do, surf the net, download files etc.

Things that also didn't work were the Aero Peek, if you hover over the button it should allow you to peek at the desktop without minimising all open windows, also when you hover over the Explorer Icon I only got a list of the open applications instead of a preview. The background I set to slideshow never changed the picture.

I would like to thank you all for your help.

A friend has offered to load windows 7 onto my HDD before installing the HDD into my PC, he already has Windows 7. I will let you know if this works.

If that doesn't work it looks like it is going to cost me £49.99 for PC World to set it up for me, something I was wanting to avoid.

Thanks again.

Which HD diagnostic/repair CD scan did you run full test from boot? What did it report?

Confirm you have cleared the CMOS, you located the SATA listings in BIOS to see that HD is listed correctly, and either found or didn't the SATA controller setting for AHCI, IDE, etc. What is setting?

What were the results of chkdsk run from DVD Command line? Previous error message said you had bad sectors. Did chkdsk find and repair them? Repeat test and watch results unfold.

How many passes did you do with memtest86 CD on each stick of RAM? Have you swapped sticks and slots?

You said the Repair Install failed at first restart. Was there any error message? Do you understand the difference between REpair Install and Startup Repair - one runs from desktop, the other from booted DVD when 7 fails to start.

When you install on other hardware and return HD to machine, it may start and swap all drivers, requesting several restarts.

If not, run Startup Repair repeated from DVD repair. Then try to boot into Safe Mode to change out chipset and display driver to start. You can also use Paragon Adaptive Restore to remove drivers from HD before install, or remove them yourself but don't restart when prompted until they are all uninstalled - then power down and return HD to problem machine. Acronis 10+ imaging will also reimage Win7 to new hardware after removing all drivers.