Windows 7 first run issue

Hello all!
First post here, I hope it works :)

I managed to install Windows 7 (7600) both from inside Vista and from booting with it.
Clean install. No issues whatsoever. The problem comes THEN! The new OS asks me my region and after preparing my desktop for the first use it says "welcome" and right after (so I don't even get to see how the new desktop looks like) it says shutting down.

Then it tries to boot VISTA and it fails. In a white background I get in a huge red font the message ERROR. On the top left corner of the screen is written "can not read recovery.dat"

I browsed a lot of errors and could not find one that matches mine. There's not even a code for the error. I am sorry if someone has already mentioned this one.

my specs:
T7200 - 2Gb
160Gb HD (tried one and two partitions)

Please share some of your knowledge guys.
Thank you

It sounds like you had issues during both installs. If you are seeing Vista, then you definitely didn't do it right. Wipe the drive completely clean (no formatting or partitions) and use any number of utilities to clear the MBR. Then boot from your disc, and install Windows 7.

wallyinnc said:

druidmars said:

Then it tries to boot VISTA and it fails. In a white background I get in a huge red font the message ERROR. On the top left corner of the screen is written "can not read recovery.dat"

I ask the more experienced users to correct me, but I have never read about such error. Are you sure your RTM copy is good?

Tews said:

I have never heard of this either ... what is the source of the ISO??

I am not sure if I am allowed to paste links here.

That's most likely the problem. Don't mess around with torrented .iso files. Get the 90 day Enterprise RTM version from Microsoft, and try that.

I get the same big red ERROR on a white background when it first starts to boot after carrying out a clean install. I have installed the same Windows 7 on several other machines without any issues. I can't post a screen shot because when it gives the error it wont let you do anything. If I power it off and reboot it does the same thing.