Installation Problems

I'm trying to install windows 7 but it's not working. I currently have vista installed. I choose to boot from the cd, it says press any key to boot from cd, which I do, it then says windows is loading files and then the windows 7 logo shows up, like when a normal 7 pc is booting. Then the screen goes black and nothing happens... Any ideas?

Yes I've specified in the BIOS and it's an installation cd. It's vista service pack 3 i think? And I've checked, it's got the specs needed to run 32 bit windows 7. More than 1gb of ram etc.

Where did you get Win7? If you burned the DVD yourself, try burning another using ImgBurn at 4x speed with Verify, after verifying the ISO is intact.

Try installing from flash stick: use Ultra ISO trial version, on File tab open ISO or DVD, on Bootable tab Write Disk Image, Format, Write. Boot under USB or HD's.

Check that you have the latest BIOS version, 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 to try install.

Next try removing all but 2gb of RAM to try install.

You may need to wipe the boot sector using Diskpart Clean All command from DVD Command Line: Clean and Clean All with Diskpart Command - Windows 7 Forums
DISKPART At PC Startup - Windows 7 Forums

If this fails, try running installer from Vista to do a Custom Install overwriting C. If this fails, try an in-place Upgrade and report back any compatibility issues flagged.

could i format the hard drive and install it to a clean hard drive? how would i do that?

You need to boot the DVD to get Drive Options to delete, repartition and/or Format as shown here: Clean Install Windows 7

Follow these steps to boot your DVD: How to Boot your Computer from a Bootable CD or DVD

If install continues to fail, follow the steps I gave earlier to find out why.

You can also repartition and Format using free Partition Wizard bootable CD which will autostart. Partition Wizard

Be sure to back up your Vista files, and make your Vista Recovery Disks so you have a path back to Vista if ever needed. You can also leave the Recovery Partition for this reason.

Can you explain what wiping the boot sector etc actually does? I've tried to look it up but it's just confused me :/

Sometimes installs are blocked by boot sector corruption, which is why after other things are tried we may suggest you wipe the HD. It is considered wasted effort otherwise.

This overwrites anything that would be left with a simple format by writing zeroes on top of everthing.

Here is a tutorial that explains it better: SSD - HDD Optimize for Windows Reinstallation

I'm slightly confused by step 2 in the link you sent me, I'm not sure what sort of partition I should create or what it really means...

Try this first: After wiping the HD, close the Command Box and click Install Now. Choose Custom install, use Drive options to create a 100gb (approx size - or your choice) install partition, format and Install - illustrated here: Clean Install Windows 7

Ignore the 100mb System Reserved partition the installer will create on clean HD, as this conveniently places the Repair console on your F8 Advanced Boot Options so is desireable.

If this fails, use Step 2.2 in the tutorial to make your own partition and mark it Active.

If you can't get to the Command Box by pressing Shift + F10 at DVD's first boot screen, or on the Repair console's System Recovery Options from second screen, then download and burn to CD free Partition Wizard bootable CD which will autostart to wipe the HD from its Disk tab, which will cause 7 DVD to autostart.