Windows 7: Windows 7 Install abruptly ends w/o explanation

I am trying to upgrade from Visa SP2 to Windows 7 Ultimate. I have an ISO DVD for it. But when I get just a couple of minutes into the installation, it suddenly ends without explanation or any discernible error messages.

Here is what happens:



- I insert the DVD.
- I click "Install Now"
- I click "get the latest updates"
- The install program gets the latest updates, says that "Installation is restarting", tells me to "Please Wait", and then suddenly just ends. I find myself back at the initial "Install Now" screen.

I have also tried upgrading without getting the latest updates. In that case, it checks for "compatibility problems" for a couple of minutes, and then abruptly ends as before.

I have even tried re-downloading the ISO file and re-burning the DVD, but I get the same results.

Can anyone give me a hint as to what to look for here? Many thanks in advance.

Can you please fill out your system specs? Is it possible that you really do have "compatibility problems"?

Dell Dimension DXP061
Intel Core 2 Duo 1.896 GHz
4 GB RAM
Vista Business SP2

I ran the Upgrade Adviser and it said the only incompatibility was my Microsoft IntelliPoint 6.2 driver. Seems unlikely that that's the problem.

If it ends with a compatibility problem, it should save a log file to your desktop. Look through that, if it exists. Also make sure you are installing the right version (x32 or x64).

ep, try the instsallation in safe mode. When you are prompted to press a key to boot from DVD, press and hold F8 (usuallY) to go to the boot menu and select safe mode
If it doesn't, look for *.dmp files as Jonathan suggested. you can post ehtm here, there are members that are very good at reading them (unfortunately not this one)
Good luck

First Welcome to Seven Forums

Now, when you burned win 7 to dvid did you burn it using the fastest speed of your burner; if so that could be causing the problem. For reasons unknown, win 7 doesn't like to be burned at high speeds. Try reburning at a slower speed.

Here is an important question, did you download the ISO from the MS download site or get it off a torrent. If from a torrent there is a good chance you got a bad ISO. If from MS then attempt to get another copy. The RTM I believe is still available for download, the RC ended on the 21 Aug. If you are an IT tech you can go to the Tech site and download an evaluation copy of win 7 Enterprise for evaluation (good only for 90 days, and cannot be rearmed). Hope this helps.

Thanks for all the replies. I found the setup log files. Here are the last few lines of setupact.log:

2009-09-30 11:07:13, Info [NdisCompl: Enter HrGetComponentDriverFilePath]
2009-09-30 11:07:13, Info ServiceName = NdisWan
2009-09-30 11:07:13, Info FilePathLen = 40
2009-09-30 11:07:13, Info FilePath = C:\Windows\system32\DRIVERS\ndiswan.sys
2009-09-30 11:07:13, Info DriverFilePath = C:\Windows\system32\DRIVERS\ndiswan.sys
2009-09-30 11:07:13, Info [NdisCompl: Exit HrGetComponentDriverFilePath]
2009-09-30 11:07:13, Info [NdisCompl: Enter IsDriverWindowsSigned]


and the last few lines of setuperr.log are:

2009-09-30 11:06:52, Error Failed to find driver file path. Error=ffffffffx[gle=0x00000003]
2009-09-30 11:06:52, Error Failed to find driver file path. Error=00000002x[gle=0x80092004]
2009-09-30 11:06:52, Error Failed to find driver file path. Error=ffffffffx[gle=0x00000003]
2009-09-30 11:07:12, Error Number of Enumerated Devices = 11[gle=0x00000103]

I am now suspecting that the ndiswan.sys file in my current Windows dir has been corrupted by a previous virus. Does anyone know how I can replace this file with a clean one?