Windows 7 install freezes at mainboard splash screen

I'm sorta stuck. I was trying to install windows 7 on another volume in my windows xp machine. I don't know if I was supposed to change in BIOS to the new volume or not, but I didn't. During the installation process when windows 7 rebooted the first time, it hangs at the mainboard splash screen.

OS Version: Microsoft Windows XP Professional, Service Pack 3, 32 bit
Processor: Intel(R) Core(TM)2 Duo CPU E4600 @ 2.40GHz, x86 Family 6 Model 15 Stepping 13
Processor Count: 2
RAM: 2046 Mb
Graphics Card: NVIDIA GeForce 8800 GT, 512 Mb
Hard Drives: C: Total - 28003 MB, Free - 11849 MB; D: Total - 29996 MB, Free - 8332 MB; E: Total - 180464 MB, Free - 84723 MB; F: Total - 38154 MB, Free - 15970 MB;
Motherboard: Foxconn, 45CMX/45GMX/45CMX-K, , UYRL81513187
Antivirus: AVG Anti-Virus Free Edition 2011

The computer now also has two new Hard Drives: I: Total - 200000 MB, Free, (appx) 190000 MB; J: Total - 800000 MB; Free - 800000 MB

It's on HDD "I" that I was installing windows 7. Thanks in advance for any direction or help.

Peace,

Mally

Welcome to Windows seven Forums.

If you want to make a fresh start and try again this tutorial should help.

Dual Boot Installation with Windows 7 and XP

This one shows you how to the master boot record for Windows 7.

MBR - Restore Windows 7 Master Boot Record

And this one for a repair install of Windows 7.

Repair Install

Hi, Seavixen32,

Thank you for the links; I'm on them right now, but the titles of them don't seem to answer my inability to get past that mainboard splash screen. I can't start over so far as I can see; I can't reach either BIOS or Safe Mode. The disc is in the drive when I boot, but it's just not starting up where it left off as it should be. I will read these articles in hope of finding something I can learn from, and thanks again for responding, and at such a late hour for you!

Peace,

Mally

Thanks once again for responding. The links were interesting, and the first one was one I actually used during a web search early on.

Problem is, I can't get to a place that I can start over again as you suggested. With or without the windows install disc in the DVD-ROM, it goes directly to my motherboard splash screen, and halts.

Is there anyone with any suggestions that can get my tail out of this?

Peace,

Mally

Hi, Seavixen32,

I removed the external HDD, and the installation concluded as expected. Wow, is 7 different from XP! Thanks again for your help.

Peace,

Dave

Hello Dave.

I'm so pleased you've got your system up and running. Strangely enough, I've been having problems with Windows 7 freezing during startup and it turned out that my computer was trying to boot to a 1TB Hitachi USB hard drive, so I finished up going into the BIOS to disable booting from a USB drive. Not an ideal solution, but at least I can keep the drive connected, which is what I wanted.

I'll agree, Windows 7 is a lot different to XP, but I think it's better.

Anyway, sorry my post wasn't all that helpful, but thanks for posting back with the solution as it may help others in the future.

Happy computing! :)