Windows 7 Professional Installation Hangs...

DreadStarX · 30 Sep 2009

Hey Guys,

I'm very new here, I found your website via a friend who works for Microsoft. He said you guys are great help, even better than some of the tech support.

Here's the issue.

I can install Windows 7 Professional 32bit and it runs sweet and fine, minus the 3/4 of a GB I don't get.
Windows 7 64bit however, unpacks 14% and locks up there. I figured it was a bad installation disc, like the ISO had an error in it. But I can't figure out whats happening. Fresh Install.

I do Fresh Formats ONLY, never an upgrade.

Mobo: ASUS Extreme Rampage
CPU: Intel Q9400 2.66Ghz Quad Core
RAM: 4GB DDR31600 G.Skill
HDD: Maxtor 160GB IDE & Western Digital Caviar Black 640GB
PSU: OCZ GameXStream 600W PSU
GFX: NVidia GeForce 9800GTX+ 256bit

Those are my specs. I know Windows 7 Supports DirectX10, as with my Gfx card. However, I don't know about DirectX, I never used Vista. I feel dirty using it, so I stuck to XP Pro.

Can one of you Genius help me with this? I'm going insane.

wallyinnc · 30 Sep 2009

Dreadstar, first, excelent job filling in your complete specs. Your problem is unfortunately not uncommon and most unfortunate not easy to solve, from what I have seen around
Some things I suggest to start with:
1) Try installing with only 2G RAM. I assume you have 2x2G
2) I didn't find detailed specs for your board (is that the Asus model name?). If it has onboard video, try installing using that instead of your GeForce. Use VGA if available, not DVI connection
3) Disable all devices not essential for booting, in your BIOS (LAN card, USB etc)
4) Probably the most important one: disconnect or at least disable the old IDE Drive. Look here for an example: Installing Windows 7 problem

You said you suspected of the ISO, have you verified that? Checked MD5 / hash, burned at low speed?

Good luck and let us know what you accomplish

DreadStarX · 30 Sep 2009

Hey Wally,

Thanks for the reply.

The board is the ASUS Extreme Rampage. The video card is an issue hence the Video Card has Dual DVI Slots and I use an adapter to go from DVI to VGA. I can try the 2GB of Ram.

I haven't tested the ISO one yet, thats what I'm doing today. I just needed to print off my Serial Keys from my MSDNAA Account. I'm guessing it's fine because my teacher said he had no problems at all, and he's running an OEM Dell Machine. I'll do some testing, and let you guys know.

Also, my friend Rafael, whose one of the Authors of "Windows 7 Secrets", said that some of the machines have issues detecting hardware. I'll speak to him further, he's also the owner of WithinWindows. He's quite a smart man. But I will give you feedback on things.

When I get some more money, I plan on using dual WD Raptor Drives for my 2 hard drives. I should be able to buy them in 2 months maybe 3. Thanks again. Be back in a few hours with an update.

Is ok to double post? =X

wallyinnc · 30 Sep 2009

Tks Dreadstar. Let us know what you find

DreadStarX · 30 Sep 2009

wallyinnc said:

Tks Dreadstar. Let us know what you find

I've figured out why some of the installations hang. You're missing pieces of data.

When you burn the image onto the DVD, burn it at the SLOWEST speed. Trust me, it worked for me. I'm running 64bit, I installed the Professional version with NO trouble. I didn't do any hardware changes, I didn't do anything.

I burned my image at 5,500kbps. Once your installed you may have an issue if you're on a home network. Windows 7 DOESN'T automatically detect the information, personal experience is where this comes from. My OS didn't automatically accept the DHCP packets.

But burn the image with your slowest speed, this'll insure that you won't lose chunks of data.

I hope my findings help others, and I'd be glad to help others do research to help them. Fyi, Windows 7 RULES. :)

QuackPot · 01 Oct 2009

Dreadstar said:

wallyinnc said:

Tks Dreadstar. Let us know what you find

I've figured out why some of the installations hang. You're missing pieces of data.

When you burn the image onto the DVD, burn it at the SLOWEST speed. Trust me, it worked for me. I'm running 64bit, I installed the Professional version with NO trouble. I didn't do any hardware changes, I didn't do anything.

I burned my image at 5,500kbps. Once your installed you may have an issue if you're on a home network. Windows 7 DOESN'T automatically detect the information, personal experience is where this comes from. My OS didn't automatically accept the DHCP packets.

But burn the image with your slowest speed, this'll insure that you won't lose chunks of data.

I hope my findings help others, and I'd be glad to help others do research to help them. Fyi, Windows 7 RULES. :)

This is what worked for me too.

Dave76 · 01 Oct 2009

Just a suggestion for any one who might have a problem burning the ISO to a DVD. If you suspect your installation DVD might be corrupt try this.

If you have a minimum 4GB USB memory stick, put Win7 on it, it will load faster and no burn errors.

The Seven Forums tutorial explains how to do it.

How to Create a Windows 7 Installation USB Key

This is easy and fast to put on a memory stick, less time then burning to a DVD. It will also install Win7 faster.

DreadStarX · 01 Oct 2009

Dave76 said:

Just a suggestion for any one who might have a problem burning the ISO to a DVD. If you suspect your installation DVD might be corrupt try this.

If you have a minimum 4GB USB memory stick, put Win7 on it, it will load faster and no burn errors.

The Seven Forums tutorial explains how to do it.

How to Create a Windows 7 Installation USB Key

This is easy and fast to put on a memory stick, less time then burning to a DVD. It will also install Win7 faster.

I didn't know this could've been done, would this work with an external hard drive? I'm going to toss this Forums Link to my Teacher Dave. We're running Win7 at school, and we all want to learn more.

Thanks for the replies and help guys! I learned somethings while doing this!

wallyinnc · 01 Oct 2009

Tks Dreadstar for sharing your results. It should help others with the same problems.
Good hint Dave

DocBrown · 01 Oct 2009

Dreadstar said:

I'm going to toss this Forums Link to my Teacher Dave. We're running Win7 at school, and we all want to learn more.

Thanks for the replies and help guys! I learned somethings while doing this!

Looks like your Teacher & the whole class are potential members here at SevenForums :) We will Welcome all of them

" Doc "