Windows 7: Win 7 Hangs Up On Expanding - Need To Test RAM

Have downloaded Win 7 Pro (3 files: Windows 7-P-Retail-en-us-x64.exe, setup1.box, & setup2.box). Tried expanding from a USB HDD, a logical drive D:, and a DVD. Expand always hangs up after 871 files (202 MB). Numerous posts suggest checking RAM with memtest86.

Downloaded memtest86+4.20.iso.zip and extracted to a CD. Extracted info is a Readme.txt file and a BOOT folder containing files BOOT.CAT and MEMTEST.IMG. The Readme file just says memtest86+ is in the disc boot sector. Tried the CD in an ASUS notebook running Vista (on which my goal is to replace Vista with Win 7) and a Dell desktop running XP. Newbie question: Why won’t the PCs boot from this CD?

Where are you getting Windows 7? You should have the option to download an ISO file that's easily burned to DVD using ImgBurn at 4x speed for total accuracy. Then boot it to Clean Install Windows 7.

Can you download an ISO? What is the version you're buying?

"Where are you getting Windows 7?" I bought and downloaded the full retail version (not upgrade) from Microsoft over a year ago. Never installed it because I found out MS does not allow programs to be transferred from Vista Home Premium to Win 7 Pro. Recently, I found a program, PCMover, that is supposed to do that so am now trying to install Win 7. (MS can't help me without the order number which I no longer have or can't find.)

"You should have the option to download an ISO file..." To be honest, I did not then know about ISO files (and obviously still don't know how to use them as I cannot get memtest86+.iso to create a bootable CD in spite of the clear and simple directions on how to do so).

"Then boot it to Clean Install Windows 7." A Win 7 "custom install" has an option to format the target drive that I intended to use but have to get the downloaded files expanded first.

As I said in my original post, "Numerous posts suggest checking RAM with memtest86." as defective RAM can prevent Win 7 files from being expanded. So my immediate problem is how to make the CD with memtest86+ bootable. Unzipping the memtest86+.iso.zip file was supposed to do that (at least as I understood the directions).

Still have two problems but am tackling 'how to make memtest86+ CD bootable' first.

BTW - Even if I get Win 7 installed, I have reservations about the PCMover program as it's "moving van" file is miniscule compared to the size of the original programs, settings, and data files. I have a Ghost image of the C: drive made before I started all this. Have restored from it successfully so I can always fall back on that.

Burn ISO images to CD or DVD with ImgBurn at 4x speed.

You need to install programs and not rely on moving programs which don't work much.

Problem solved. On MS Knowledge Base, I found a link to download the iso file for Win 7 Pro. Burned to a DVD using the Win 7 USB/DVD Download Tool. Everything worked perfectly and I now have Win 7 installed and working.