Endless Black Screen Instead of Rebooting During Installation

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  1. Posts : 14
    Windows 7 Ultimate 32 & Windows 7 Home Premium 64
       #1

    Endless Black Screen Instead of Rebooting During Installation


    Have Win7 on my laptop and it's been working OK so far. When my WinXP install on my desktop started acting wonky and refused to launch except in safe mode, I figured I'd go ahead and trade up to Win7 since I'm a student and can get a copy for $20.

    I pulled all the data I wanted onto a USB drive, then started installing. Did a clean custom install; deleted both previous partitions and made a single new partition for it to install on (plus the mandatory 100MB partition). It chugged along and seemed to be progressing nicely: Copying files... check. Expanding files... check. Installing features... check. Installing updates... check. Completing installation... VIDEO MODE NOT SUPPORTED. Suddenly my monitor doesn't understand the output it's getting. The system doesn't see the keyboard either: caps lock & num lock buttons don't toggle their associated lights. So I gave it an hour. Still nothing. I figured it must have locked up, so I power-cycled it, hoping it had completed the installation. No such luck, I get an error message saying the installation ended unexpectedly and I have to restart. So I restart. Same thing happens. I figure leave it alone longer in case it's actually doing something important, but it's been 6 and a half hours now, so I'm pretty sure something has gone wrong. Any recommendations?

    Clarification
    During the portion of the install just before the final reboot, while it says, "Completing installation..." the screen goes black to show a single blinking cursor in the top left for a second or so (like it kicked out of the OS), then goes black & says video mode not supported, like its receiving invalid input from the computer. I connected another monitor and instead of saying video mode not supported, it just shows a black screen, like its getting good output from the computer but the computer just wants to show all black (this monitor does have a 'video mode not supported' equivalent screen, which it's not using in this case; that's why I think it's getting good output from the PC). I know the system isn't reaching the actual reboot, because it doesn't do the 10-second countdown before automatically rebooting, it just jumps straight to the black screen.

    Machine Stats
    Processor is a 3.0GHz Core 2 Duo. Has 2GB of RAM. GPU is an Nvidia 8800 GT. Monitor is a Dell 2007WFPb. Disc I'm installing from says "Windows 7 Ultimate 32-bit x86 Upgrade: Pre-existing OS License Required (Product Key Required) - September 2009 Systems Student Media".

    Current Things to Try
    Install WinXP and give Upgrade Advisor a shot.

    Current Operating System, pre-install
    • Never multi-booted before, not planning to start now.
    Current Hardware
    • 1 SATA hard drive
    • 1 SATA DVD drive
    • 1 USB external drive, but not connected during install
    • Didn't see any disks with an exclamation point or yellow triangle
    • Not a new HD; as I said, it's one I was using before, I deleted the two partitions I was using with WinXP, made a single new partition (plus the mandatory 100MB one), and formatted the new one using the installer's Disk Manager
    Windows 7 installation details
    • Disc says Win7 Ultimate 32-bit x86 Upgrade: Pre-existing OS License Required (Product Key Required) - September 2009 Systems Student Media ... I saw on various forums before I started that Upgrade versions could do clean new installs as well
    • 32 bit (x86) version
    • Bought a legit DVD
    Installation Media
    • From a DVD
    The procedure and speed of burning the ISO to DVD has been the most frequent cause of installation failure
    • Bought it
    Other
    • No overclocking
    Last edited by ObliviousSage; 31 Oct 2010 at 00:01. Reason: additional info
      My Computer


  2. Posts : 10,200
    MS Windows 7 Ultimate SP1 64-bit
       #2

    Hello Oblivious Sage and Welcome to SevenForums,

    For each Win 7 DVD that you have:
    the os version, such as, starter, home, professional, ultimate, etc.
    is it an upgrade version?

    Which version do you want to install?
      My Computer


  3. Posts : 4,751
    Windows 7 Home Premium 32-Bit - Build 7600 SP1
       #3

    ObliviousSage said:
    Have Win7 on my laptop and it's been working OK so far. When my WinXP install on my desktop started acting wonky and refused to launch except in safe mode, I figured I'd go ahead and trade up to Win7 since I'm a student and can get a copy for $20.

    I pulled all the data I wanted onto a USB drive, then started installing. Did a clean custom install; deleted both previous partitions and made a single new partition for it to install on (plus the mandatory 100MB partition). It chugged along and seemed to be progressing nicely: Copying files... check. Expanding files... check. Installing features... check. Installing updates... check. Completing installation... VIDEO MODE NOT SUPPORTED. Suddenly my monitor doesn't understand the output it's getting. It doesn't see the keyboard either: caps lock & num lock buttons don't toggle their associated lights. So I gave it an hour. Still nothing. I figured it must have locked up, so I power-cycled it, hoping it had completed the installation. No such luck, I get an error message saying the installation ended unexpectedly and I have to restart. So I restart. Same thing happens. I figure leave it alone longer in case it's actually doing something important, but it's been 6 and a half hours now, so I'm pretty sure something has gone wrong. Any recommendations?

    Current Operating System, pre-install
    • Never multi-booted before, not planning to start now.
    Current Hardware
    • 1 SATA hard drive
    • 1 SATA DVD drive
    • 1 USB external drive, but not connected during install
    • Didn't see any disks with an exclamation point or yellow triangle
    • Not a new HD; as I said, it's one I was using before, I deleted the two partitions I was using with WinXP, made a single new partition (plus the mandatory 100MB one), and formatted the new one
    Windows 7 installation details
    • Disc says Win7 Ultimate 32-bit x86 Upgrade: Pre-existing OS License Required (Product Key Required) - September 2009 Systems Student Media ... I saw on various forums before I started that Upgrade versions could do clean new installs as well
    • 32 bit (x86) version
    • Bought a legit DVD
    Installation Media
    • From a DVD
    The procedure and speed of burning the ISO to DVD has been the most frequent cause of installation failure
    • Bought it
    Other
    • No overclocking
    Hi -- I am guessing that you did not run Windows 7 Upgrade Advisor - Download - Microsoft Windows This would tell you if all things on your computer meets Windows 7 requirements. Your video card does not meet them it appears so it can not read things properly. If you can reinstall XP, I would do that so you can get it going. I would then run the Windows Upgrade Advisor. This probably is not what you wanted to hear, but that is my suggestion.
      My Computer


  4. Posts : 14
    Windows 7 Ultimate 32 & Windows 7 Home Premium 64
    Thread Starter
       #4

    bigmck:

    I have an Nvidia 8800 GT; Nvidia makes Win7 drivers for it, surely it can run Win7...

    karlsnooks:

    My laptop (which I'm posting from) came with Win7 Home Premium 64bit; I don't have the disc for that handy, but I might be able to track it down if that would help. The disc I'm trying to install from says "Win7 Ultimate 32-bit x86 Upgrade: Pre-existing OS License Required (Product Key Required) - September 2009 Systems Student Media".
      My Computer


  5. Posts : 10,200
    MS Windows 7 Ultimate SP1 64-bit
       #5

    In line with BigMck's question,
    could you give us a little info as to the hardware you desire to install Win 7 on.
      My Computer


  6. Posts : 10,200
    MS Windows 7 Ultimate SP1 64-bit
       #6

    ObliviousSage said:
    My laptop (which I'm posting from) came with Win7 Home Premium 64bit; I don't have the disc for that handy, but I might be able to track it down if that would help. The disc I'm trying to install from says "Win7 Ultimate 32-bit x86 Upgrade: Pre-existing OS License Required (Product Key Required) - September 2009 Systems Student Media".

    Interesting. Your laptop came with 64bit. You want to downgrade to 32 bit.

    Does your laptop have a COA sticker on the bottom of it?

    Probably GregRocker knows the precise answer, but my guess is that you will be able to make a truly clean install of Win 7 32 bit ultimate and use the coa sticker number when you get around to activating and calling Microsoft.

    I'll ask a couple of the others to take a look at your posts to verify that I'm correct and you will probably get bombarded with links to the necessary tutorials.

    If your laptap came with 64 bit then for sure it's win 7 capable.

    I suspect that you didn't wipe the hard disk clean before making the 32 bit install but others have more direct experience with your situation.
      My Computer


  7. Posts : 5,056
    Windows 7 x64 pro/ Windows 7 x86 Pro/ XP SP3 x86
       #7

    The ultimate 32 bit dvd will install windows7, since it is student media the product key would have been emailed to you (as happened with digitalriver/MS purchases) or otherwise provided by university etc. There would be no key printed on the package.

    The COA key at the back of the computer will only activated installs/reinstalls of home premium (that the computer came with), it'll NOT activate any other win7 edition.
      My Computer


  8. Posts : 12,177
    Windows 7 Ult x64 - SP1/ Windows 8 Pro x64
       #8

    ObliviousSage said:
    Have Win7 on my laptop and it's been working OK so far. When my WinXP install on my desktop started acting wonky and refused to launch except in safe mode, I figured I'd go ahead and trade up to Win7 since I'm a student and can get a copy for $20.

    I pulled all the data I wanted onto a USB drive, then started installing. Did a clean custom install; deleted both previous partitions and made a single new partition for it to install on (plus the mandatory 100MB partition)...

    Welcome to Seven Forums.


    Be sure to have your internet cable connected during installation.

    Try this tutorial.


    You may have to run Windows 7 Upgrade advisor from XP, as mentioned previously, if this doesn't work.

    Let us know if you have any questions.
      My Computer


  9. Posts : 22,814
    W 7 64-bit Ultimate
       #9

    Hello ObliviousSage, welcome to Seven Forums!



    As you have no data on the HDD to be concerned with, have a look at this info below; this is the first thing I'd try.

       Information

    After you have made backups of everything you care to save and you want to do a real wipe "clean all" to the Hard Disk Drive (HDD) have a look at this tutorial at the link below, it over-writes everything, all the old Windows code including all the old Windows drivers, giving you the best possible space to install Windows 7 to; it goes hand-in-hand with a clean install.

    SSD / HDD : Optimize for Windows Reinstallation

    Do a Clean Install with a Upgrade Windows 7 Version


      My Computer


  10. Posts : 14
    Windows 7 Ultimate 32 & Windows 7 Home Premium 64
    Thread Starter
       #10

    Somewhat busy, might be able to try installing again Sat afternoon, otherwise probably not until Monday afternoon.

    karlsnooks:

    My laptop's Win7 (Home Premium 64bit) is running fine; that's what I'm posting from. I'm trying to install Win7 (Ultimate 32bit) on my desktop. Desktop stats are: 3GHz Core 2 Duo processor, 2GB RAM, Nvidia 8800 GT graphics card.

    Bill2:

    The disc did actually come with a key provided. The install isn't making it to the point where it would ask for a key, though.

    Dave76:

    I usually disconnect my system from the network until the install is done and its firewall is up and running. I hadn't realized it would truly NEED the Internet, I'll give it another try with the connection up.

    Bare Foot Kid:

    Thanks, I'll check those links! As I said, the previous WinXP install had 2 partitions; when I went into the Win7 installer, I deleted those partitions, made a new one, then formatted it. If there's additional things I could have done to clean up the disk then that could very well be the problem.
    Last edited by ObliviousSage; 30 Oct 2010 at 09:46. Reason: additional response
      My Computer


 
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