Windows 7: Installation Problem

Hi
Sorry if this issue has been covered in the mass of previous installation problem threads, but I can't seem to find anything close to what I've got.

Basically I've installed windows 7 on my Acer laptop and a selfbuild desktop and both work perfectly. However when it comes to my main desktop. I can't get it to work 64bit, I've not tried 32bit. It installs fine gets to the post install welcome screen after the forms are filled and reboots.

However upon rebooting, BIOS suddenly is unable to find it and just stops at the point where its searching for a boot device. i.e. It doesn't even get as far as the Windows boot splash. Its like the hard drive is missing. I checked the boot order and everything is fine.

One thing I did notice during install which was very strange was that the boot splash used was the Windows Vista splash not the Windows 7 splash. And I'm using the same DVD as with the previous 2 installs.

My system specs are

AMD Phenom 9850 quad-core 2.5gHz
A-Bit A-S78H motherbord
SB Audigy Platinum
Ge-force 8800GT
200GIG Maxtor (IDE)
250GIG Hitachi (SATA)
LG DL-DVD-RW (SATA)



The installation is on the IDE drive.

lean

Is the clock c orrect or does it lose time? Im thinking CMOS battery. how old is the mobo?

ken

Welcome to SevenForums
Are you dual booting or is this the only os on the pc?

Thanks,

I got the board around this time last year closer to November last year.
O! re the CPU I just looked at the bios again and its actually an AMD Phenom 9850 quad-core 2.5gHz the operating speed is set to default and I have the cool n quiet function enabled
I'm running on 4gigs of Ram
The system clock is fine as far as I can tell.
SATA type is set to Native IDE combined mode. Anything else and the sata drives don't work. HPET is enabled. I know for some linux distros this has to be disabled otherwise they don't boot

Its the only OS on this box.

I did try installing Ubuntu 9.04 and kinda same thing happened. It would install but wouldn't boot. But it said unable to find boot drive windows 7 just does nothing so not sure if its the same issue.

I did originally have Vista 32bit installed but I deleted the partition formated using Windows 7 partitioner, then GParted and an acornis disk director I got a few years back. But no difference. Still installing with the Vista boot splash/logo thing and not Windows 7 and not finding the boot drive after install is complete.

Will try disabling HPET and cool n quiet and see if it makes a difference....just tired this, made no difference.

Have you tried to remove the sata's and installing? and also some have had to remove memory to install?

Will give that a try and see. I think my modo will complain if I took out the memory

You say you have 4gb ram. How much per each ram stick ?

A lot of members have had the best luck with the initial install of Windows 7 with 2gb ram.

Then add the other 2gb later, like 24 to 48 hours later after any updates have loaded. Also disconnect any peripherials not needed for the Windows 7 install.
No printers, gamepads, second monitors, scanners, external devices, flash drives etc...

Myzr7 tried reinstalling without SATAs installed fine but on the post install reboot it came back with

Cdboot: couldn’t find bootmgr

I restart and just same as before asks to press any key to boot from cd. If I press nothing then it just hangs, if I press a key it goes to the installation process again.

Ram is 2gig per stick.

Will try again taking out the extra 2gig and disconnect the periphs and report back