Windows 7: Computer not ACPI compliant

Hi guys, I am trying to install Windows 7 (retail disc) on my computer and it starts the process and then I get the message "computer is not ACPI compliant". I have flashed the latest Bios and downloaded a bunch of so called ACPI drivers to no avail. I tried loading my old Vista disc and got the same message. I ran the Windows 7 advisor before I started and it said my system was OK. I have a Gigabyte GA-M57SLI-S4 Rev2, Athlon 64 X2 4000, 4gb DDR2 ram. The other odd thing is that when I try to boot the DVD from startup it bypasses the DVD and boots my XP system from the hard drive. I have the DVD set as first boot too. If I have to buy a new motherboard I am OK with that if someone can recommend an AM2+ board that will run Win 7. This is a hand me down computer from my kids that I want to use as a work station. I have a new Dell laptop so I don't want to upgrade the whole computer. Thanks

My first thought is to reset the bios.
It's a nforce motherboard it supports acpi, and shouldn't require any third party drivers or anything fancy.

Hello Rainycity Rickm welcome to Seven Forums!



I would suggest that after you have copied out or made back-ups of the data you need to save to external media you use Step One of this tutorial at the link below to do a wipe (secure erase) to the entire Hard Disk Drive, running this then using the outline in Step Two #2 to create and format a single 100GB partition using diskpart will get you a clean all and a chkdsk /r for the best possible space to install Windows 7 to.

Have a look at the info below and be sure to post back with any further questions you may have and to keep us informed.

Be sure you are booting the Windows 7 DVD correctly.

How To Change the Drive Boot Priority in BIOS

   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

Ok, I went into the bios and did a reset and checked to make sure DVD was first boot option. Still goes to HD to boot and still gives me the "computer not compliant with ACPI" message. I don"t care about backing up anything on this computer but I do not want to format the drive until I know I can get either the 32 or 64 bit disc of Windows 7 to load. At least now it works. I read a post from a guy who did format his drive and now he can't get anything to load. You would think that Windows 7 advisor would have caught a problem like this but it said my system would take either Windows 7 32 or 64 no problem.

Use the one-time BIOS Boot Menu key given on first boot screen to boot the DVD drive.

If this fails, boot free Partition Wizard bootable CD which will autostart to wipe the HD from Disk tab. http://www.partitionwizard.com/download.html

Now installer will autostart to start install.

Are you running the installer from XP when you get the error message?

Have you looked over your settings in BIOS carefully for anything ACPI related? Look also for SATA controller setting and change to AHCI first, then if install fails try IDE mode.

You may want to back up a free macrium Reflect or Paragon 10 image of your XP install if you want a path back. http://www.sevenforums.com/software/...e-macrium.html

Hello again Rick.



Greg has a good idea to use the free Partition Wizard boot disk to do the wipe, have a look at Option Three in this tutorial at the link below for an outline of the process; of course you would do the whole HDD and not just a single partition.

Partition Wizard : Use the Bootable CD


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

Thanks guys, I will give these ideas a shot. My ancestors were Vikings so I have no problem with total annihilation. If I have to wipe out everything and start over, so be it, as long as I can get something to load. Not sure if I know what the one time Bios Boot Menu key is though. I will look.

Booting to the Partition Wizard CD does not do anything to the PC if you don't want to make any changes, it will set-up all be itself with no input from the user and if you want close the program and get back to Windows, remove the boot disk and at the upper left of the program at General click Exit and the PC will auto-restart to Windows.


It a hot-key specific to each BIOS/motherboard used to choose which device HDD or CD/DVD drive to use to boot the PC instead of resetting the default set in the main BIOS; listed below.

• Asus - F8
• HP/Compaq - Esc
• Sony - F2
• Acer – F12
• Gateway - F10
• eMachnes - F10
• Toshiba - F12
• Dell - F12
• IBM/Lenovo - the blue Thinkvantage button

Thanks Gregrocker and Bare Foot Kid for sharing your experience and knowledge with me and others. I put my Windows 7 64 bit DVD into the drive and restarted my computer. Tapping F12 at startup put me into the Bios Boot Menu and I selected cdrom (even though I had already had it set in bios config). It worked! It booted from the dvd and went flawlessly through the installation. I had my finger on the button to buy a new motherboard the other day and at the last second decided to look for a forum and found yours. I hope this helps others with the same problem (I know I read a few on the net experiencing this). You guys saved me the money and hassle of a new motherboard. I sincerely appreciate your help. Who says you can't teach an old dog new tricks?

Hello again.



Good to see you got it running and thanks for the update.