Troubles installing windows 7

Ive been trying to install windows 7 on my PC for over 8 hours now with no avail, I have three CD's One is Windows 7 Ultimate 64bit another 32Bit one burnt with ImgBurn and one with windows 7 image burn on a laptop and the 32bit Home edition(from the laptop) and ive tried to install each CD over 5 times.

Ive had multiple problems, the first problem I was getting was driver_irql_not_less_or_equal when I went to boot from the CD and I got to the installation stage it would just BSOD then restart, everytime. (this was with the 64bit)

I then started getting another error to do with a system32 file called ntdll.dll (this was with ultimate 32bit) at the same stage as the 64bit but i once got to the installation stage and it stopped loading on the second stage (I think its Windows installation) it just hang at 0%.

I then finally tried the Home Edition and I got to installation without blue screen, The problem is now when it is "Completing installation" it seems to be stuck in a loop, when it says to restart the PC to complete installation it says starting Windows the logo of windows 7 pops up and then it restarts again.

The problem now is that I cannot find my OS CD that I started with to get it back to normal(Vista Ultimate 32Bit) so now im stuck with just trying to install Windows 7 with so many problems and im not sure what is wrong my specification I have filled in on registration, Ive never done a reboot before so any help will be appreciated.

Thanks Fred

Try a full clean & full format in command prompt.
Disk - Clean and Clean All with Diskpart Command

1) Boot DVD, & Press Shift+F10 (for command prompt)
DISKPART : At PC Startup
2) Boot DVD, & Command Prompt at Startup
(for command prompt)

Type in command line
DISKPART
LIST DISK
SELECT DISK # (win HD)
CLEAN ALL
CREATE PARTITION PRIMARY
SELECT PARTITION 1
ACTIVE
FORMAT fs=NTFS
ASSIGN
EXIT
EXIT


SSD / HDD : Optimize for Windows Reinstallation

Thanks for the speedy reply, I will try it now.

Its cleaning the harddrive atm, says it could take 2hours+ but i have a quick question, when you say CREATE PARTITION PRIMARY does that make a 100GB partition? Should I allow that much space just for Windows 7? Ive heard that 30GB is enough for it should I instead do create partition primary size=30720 <enter> (1024x30 = 30720) Thanks

You can make the install partition any size you want, but 30gb seems a bit small. You'd definitely need to store your User files on another partition: User Folders - Change Default Location

You can also use the booted Win7 DVD Custom>Drive options to create and format the partition(s). Using this method the installer will issue the 100mb System Reserved boot partition which conveniently places the Repair console on the F8 Advanced Boot Tools menu. Clean Install Windows 7

Unplug all other HD's and peripherals to try install.

If install fails again: Make sure you have the latest BIOS update. If so, reset the CMOS: Clear CMOS - 3 Ways to Clear the CMOS - Reset BIOS

While in BIOS setup, set SATA controller to AHCI first, then if that fails try IDE mode.

Next Remove all but 2gb RAM to try install.

Its still doing "Clean all" step on the CMD prompt and its been just over 2 hours should I wait longer? It says on that thread about optimize for windows that it took him 2 hours to do a 500gb hard drive its been about 2 hours and 20 minutes now, still isn't completed, and for some reason it won't let me partition on the install, It does however allow me to format, which I have already tried. I will try to reset bios the next time if this install fails, Thanks

Wait for Clean All to complete. Sometimes it's longer but it is running or it will timeout.

Fredsman said:

Its cleaning the harddrive atm, says it could take 2hours+ but i have a quick question, when you say CREATE PARTITION PRIMARY does that make a 100GB partition? Should I allow that much space just for Windows 7? Ive heard that 30GB is enough for it should I instead do create partition primary size=30720 <enter> (1024x30 = 30720) Thanks

Best to use No Less Than 100gb.

I have got Windows 7 Home Premium 64bit to install now with 130GB partition and yesterday it was working fine, but today ive turnt it on and it just randomly BSOD and it seems to be in a loop, whenever i turn it on and login it just BSOD and restarts, everytime. Tried to login to safemode and it seemed to do the same thing, they are not even the same error messages sometimes it has no message and sometimes DRIVER_IRQL_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL then other times its multiple .sys files.

What are the procedures to stop this?

Check your ram.
Memory Diagnostics Tool
Memtest86+ - Advanced Memory Diagnostic Tool

Check your HD.
1) Boot DVD, & Press Shift+F10 (for command prompt)
2) Boot DVD, & Command Prompt at Startup (for command prompt)

Open an command prompt.
In the command prompt, type chkdsk C: /f/x/r/v and press Enter.

Disk Check
Check Disk (chkdsk) - Read Event Viewer Log

Check the hard drive with the manufacturer's diagnostic tools.
Hard Drive Diagnostics Tools and Utilities (Storage) - TACKtech Corp.
HD Diagnostic