Windows 7: Rig Freezes when at starting windows when doing install.

I have an Asus Essentio CG 1330

CPU: AMD Phenom II X6

Hard Drive: Seagate Barracuda 1 TB

This rig also had a ATI 5450 1GB video card with it but the fan burned out on it and I am just using the onboard video for right now.



A few days ago my computer stopped booting up. It would hang on the "Starting Windows Screen" I tried the recovery disk with no help. After trying many different boot methods I resorted to installing the drive on an old vista computer as a secondary drive. I removed my personal files and reformatted the drive.

Now I am trying to do a fresh install of Windows 7 but each time, no matter what I do It hangs up on the "Starting Windows" screen. Most of the time it will not even load to the install windows screen from the DVD. It hangs up before that when loading files. A couple times I have managed to get it to the Install screen somehow but it just hangs up again during the install right after the first restart. When it freezes loading files or on the "Starting windows" screen the DVD drive from which the OS is being installed stops spinning as well shortly after the screen freezes.

I have tried installing the Hard Drive on an older rig and installing windows 7 on that rig and it works just fine. I can not then take the hard drive and put it into the new rig because it hangs up at the exact same spot "Starting Windows" If I try to load in safe mode it hangs up on Disk.sys. I have formatted the drive once again and am now attempting to install windows on my Asus rig but I am not having any luck. If anyone can help I would be very happy. (Working on this 3 days so far) PS: This rig came factory with Windows 7 installed so I know it is capable and easily meets the minimum requirements.

A few things I have tried are:
I have removed all but one stick of ram
I have removed all non essential components
I have tried installing in safe mode
I have tried installing on another rig (works on that rig) and then installing the Hard Drive on my Asus rig (no difference in progress)
I have tried Changing the Sata properties from IDE to ACHI
I have tried restoring BIOS to default settings.



I would really appreciate any help or if anyone knows why this might happen.

It sounds a lot like a piece of hardware is malfunctioning. Have you done any hardware tests yet, like a memory or CPU stress test?

How would I do a memory or CPU stress test? I have never done one before.

Here's a link to the memtest instructions. You might want to peruse all of ZigZag's posts, because he routinely posts debugging tips.

http://www.sevenforums.com/crashes-d...ml#post1885597

The tests showed nothing wrong. Could it be a driver issue? I have noticed that if I take the hard drive and install windows onto it from another computer then shut down and place the hard drive back in my Asus computer it will boot into windows just fine and start loading drivers. It is only when the computer restarts that it freezes again.

You have run 5 to 7 passes of Memtest in the hour between your posts?

No, I just ran it once ill try a few more.

Reset the BIOS to defaults: Clear CMOS - 3 Ways to Clear the CMOS - Reset BIOS

While in BIOS setup set SATA controller to AHCI to try install. Make sure the settings for changing back to your onboard display are correct.

Next wipe the HD with Diskpart Clean Command from DVD accessing DISKPART At PC Startup.

Unplug all other HD's and peripherals. Remove the video card completely, then check that it didn't damage the mobo.

Download the latest official installer ISO for your licensed version and burn to DVD with tool provided here, then follow these steps to get a perfect Clean Reinstall - Factory OEM Windows 7.

Next write the ISO to flash stick, physically unplug the DVD drive to boot the flash stick for install using one-time BIOS Boot menu key under USB, REmovable or HD's. Set HD itself as first to boot in BIOS setup.

Test your RAM, swap sticks, try install, swap sticks again.

Test your HD using maker's HD Diagnostic extended CD scan, then wipe the HD with that tool or using Diskpart Clean Command from installer using DISKPART At PC Startup.

Report back results of all steps.

Unfortunately I could not get it to load windows 7 by any of the above methods. Out of frustration though I tried to install my old copy of vista and it worked. Vista installed just fine. I then put my Windows 7 disk in and ran it from within windows vista. I used it as an upgrade, entered my activation number and it upgraded fine. I have restarted my computer 4-5 times now installing drivers and so far no more frozen "Starting Windows" screen.....let's hope it stays that way.

Thank you everyone for your help.

Hunter,
Which model of Asus Essentio do you have?

You may find Speccy or SIW helpful in obtaining that info, if you do not have such info handy, although i assume you have an owners manual.

Links to Speccy and SIW in my signature.

Go to the ASUS website for your specific model, then to the download page for your computer. Now download the latest bios and chipset drivers for your model. Install the latest bios and drivers for your computer.