Windows 7: Windows 7 error code 0x8007045d during clean install.

Hi i am trying to help my friend out he bought his son a emachines em350 netbook with windows 7 installed. For some reason it got messesd up and he tried to do a system restore. Since then when you try to boot up its saying input a password to unlock the harddrive which we dont know. After you input wrong code 3 times you get option to continue which takes you to black screen saying no bootable device detected press any key to continue. Next i tried to do clean install with windows 7 from a usb this goes fine untill it asks for missing cd/dvd driver i have found away round this which is to select cancel then when back on install now screen swap the usb to another port and continue. This works so i select terms and so on then get to part where it asks where to install windows now i have formated and made a active partition on the hard drive but when i try to click next i get error code 0x8007045d this is where im stuck. I have also tried anothe r hard drive and i get the same thing any ideas anyone. Thank you in advarnce.

The HD may be damaged, do you have anyway to do an HD test from anything that came with Acer? Like a diagnostic cd?

Second, what is this password that it is prompting? Was the netbook's HD encrypted or is it a BIOS password of some sort?

Third, the problem may be the Win 7 installation on your usb stick.. perhaps from a bad ISO. Try to re-make it.

The error is almost always a bad installer. Write the latest official ISO to stick using the tool provided in Clean Reinstall - Factory OEM Windows 7 then follow the steps given to get a perfect reinstall.

If this fails wipe the HD of all code using Diskpart Clean Command accessing DISKPART At PC Startup.

Next Reset 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. Set HD first to boot. Then trigger stick using one-time BIOS Boot Menu key which is normally F10 on eMachines.

Report back.

I have tried 3 different windows iso even one from windows website and used the proper windows tool to make a bootable usb. The password is for the HDD i know the bios password and can access that ok. I have tried another HDD aswell but i dont get that same error it just wont install to the partition. Is it possible for me to plug the HDD into my desktop and run the diognosic tool from there.

I have done the diskpart cmd stuff from the installion screen i pressed shift+F10 and did it all from there i cleaned ,formated and partitoned and still the same it wont let me install on the partion i made heres what i did.

Boot from your Windows 7 installation media.
After booting you see the Install Windows 7 screen, press Shift + F10 to open a command prompt.
At the command prompt, type Diskpart, press Enter.
Type List Disk, press Enter.
Type Select Disk # (where # is the number your drive shows up as), press Enter.
Type Clean, press Enter.
Type Convert MBR, press Enter.
Type Create Partition Primary, press Enter.
Type Active, press Enter.
Type Format Quick FS=NTFS, press Enter.
Type Exit, press Enter.
Close the Command Prompt window.
Click the "Next" button.
Click the "Install now" button.
Accept the terms and click the "Next" button.
Choose "Custom: Install Windows only (advanced)."
Click the partition.
Click the "Next" button.
From then on follow the on screen instructions till you get to the desktop.

The actual steps to follow are in the blue links I posted. I don't know where you got the other irrelevant steps.

You needn't worry partitioning unless you have a particular scheme in mind. Just wipe the HD, click Install Now, Custom Install, then at the drive selection screen click Next and the installer will create and format your install partition for you avoiding possible problems.

Ok m8 thanx i will try the way you linked me to tonight. Btw if i get a diognostics tool for the hdd can i run it from pc with HDD atached via caddy or is i best to plug it into my pc like a second HDD.

Most HD Diagnostics require only the target HD to be plugged in internally via IDE or SATA to detect it.

Ok so i cant run it on the netbook because it wont boot to windows or can i run of a usb at boot ?.

You can write Hirens or Ulitmate Boot CD to flash stick which have several HD diagnostics tools, Partition Wizard, and many other useful utilities. Use Universal USB Installer .