Windows installation problem

lynchy217 · 12 Jan 2011

Hello, here is my issue:

I have one working laptop...which has internet, but a broken disk drive running windows 7 Professional x64, and one desktop with no working operating system and no internet access. I have been able to boot this machine in linux, but havent been able to get windows running on it yet. I have access to MSDN, so I can get the ISO I need, but cant figure out how to put it on my desktop. I have tried making a bootable USB flash drive, with no luck (booting as Forced FDD gives "invalid partition table" error and booting as Floppy gives a read error...all other options are not even read). I cannot burn a DVD without a working disk drive, and I cant get internet, so I am completely lost for ideas. Is there any way to get windows onto my desktop machine using ISO's downloaded using MSDN on my laptop? HELP!!!

PS. I dont even care whether I run xp or 7 on this machine...whatever will work. I have ISO's for both.

zigzag3143 · 12 Jan 2011

lynchy217 said:

Hello, here is my issue:

I have one working laptop...which has internet, but a broken disk drive running windows 7 Professional x64, and one desktop with no working operating system and no internet access. I have been able to boot this machine in linux, but havent been able to get windows running on it yet. I have access to MSDN, so I can get the ISO I need, but cant figure out how to put it on my desktop. I have tried making a bootable USB flash drive, with no luck (booting as Forced FDD gives "invalid partition table" error and booting as Floppy gives a read error...all other options are not even read). I cannot burn a DVD without a working disk drive, and I cant get internet, so I am completely lost for ideas. Is there any way to get windows onto my desktop machine using ISO's downloaded using MSDN on my laptop? HELP!!!

PS. I dont even care whether I run xp or 7 on this machine...whatever will work. I have ISO's for both.

Use this USB Windows 7 Installation Key Drive - Create to create a bootable USB drive that works

Ken J

gregrocker · 12 Jan 2011

Sometimes you have to try several methods to get a flash stick to boot and install.

What always works for me is to Install UltraISO trial version, with flash stick plugged in, on File tab Open ISO, on Bootable tab Write Disk Image, press Format Button, then Write button. Boot USB flash stick under USB or HD's.

Here are tips to get a purrfect install: re-install windows 7

Bare Foot Kid · 12 Jan 2011

Hello lynchy217, welcome to Seven Forums!

You would be better off with a clean install when you get the Windows 7 installer booting and the best way to go about that is to wipe (secure erase) the Hard Disk Drive, have a look at the info below.

Be sure to post back with any further questions you may have and to keep us informed.

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

How to Do a Clean Installation with Windows 7

lynchy217 · 12 Jan 2011

@zigzag3143 I tried "a bootable usb", but it cant format the drive correctly, it has gotten stuck at 74% every time ive tried it.

@gregrocker UltraISO cant find my flash drive, it only looks for drive G and my flash drive is drive I:, is there anyway to add my drive to the drop down list?

@Bare Foot Kid the hard drive on my desktop is empty and formatted, but this shouldnt affect my ability to boot from another drive should it? Is there anything else I can try?

**cluberti** · 12 Jan 2011

Existing empty partitions can cause deployment issues in certain circumstances - it's better to boot to WinPE and use diskpart to clean the drive using the clean command, create a primary partition (create par pri), set it active (active), and format it (format fs=ntfs quick) - then boot back into setup and try again.

gregrocker · 12 Jan 2011

If you have the flash stick plugged in, then it should show up in the menu as shown here. Otherwise restart the computer or try another flash stick:

Windows installation problem-capture.png

Be sure to follow Cluberti's advice to wipe the HD of all code before install. The tutorial for this and other tips are in the Clean Reinstall link in my last post.

lynchy217 · 13 Jan 2011

Hey again, I was able to get it to work before i left for work this morning, the problem was that i forgot to open the prgram as an admin. I have done the disk part setup every time it hasn't worked, so that should not be a problem. Ill let you know whether the drive boots or not when I get home tonight. Thanks for all of your help!

theog · 13 Jan 2011

Can you post the specs for the PC you try to install to.
Filling out System Specs
Dont Know What Hardware You Have..??
VistaForums SysInfo Tool - Vista Forums

lynchy217 · 13 Jan 2011

Motherboard: ASUS M4A78-E
Processor: AMD Phenom II x2 3.1 GHz
RAM: G SKILL 2GB (2 x 1) 240-Pin
HD: WD 500GB + Seagate 1.5TB

If that isn't enough info, let me know.