My Windows 7 instal cannot continue

Hi

You are right about the backup. I should have done this before the first install.
Because I have done installs before and allways could found my files back on the HD i did the same this time.

But unfortunately like allways in live when things can go wrong it does

i hope it is possible to solve this without loosing my files.

Regards

Pauly said:

Can you post a snip of your maximised disk management please
start>diskmgmt.msc
Screenshots and Files - Upload and Post in Seven Forums

Hi Pauly,

How can I send you the snip? I cannot fully start my pc.

Regards

Jerry Manner said:

I burned the iso as an image to a dvd. That dvd was bootable in my pc. It started the Windows 7 install. Problem I have now is that it seems that the install is in a loop. It gets to the point where it is unpaccking the files. After that phase the pc restarts itself and I get the same prompt on which drive I want to install Windows 7. I have done this now twice and the iinstall begans again from the beginning.
Could it be that the very first install I tried yesterday is still waiting?

This is why I suggested to delete all partitions during install so it is all Unallocated Space, then create and format new Partition(s) as desired, or just click Next and the installer will do it for you. Did you miss these clear instructions? If not then there is no failed install on the HD to interfere.

DVD should not boot again at restart during install, so do not choose to boot it, or remove it from drive.

Where did you get the ISO? Confirm it's size and burn another good-quality DVD using ImgBurn at 4x speed from Doc's link.

If this fails, boot DVD and at first screen press Shift + F10 to open a Command Line to run Diskpart Clean Command

gregrocker said:

Jerry Manner said:

I burned the iso as an image to a dvd. That dvd was bootable in my pc. It started the Windows 7 install. Problem I have now is that it seems that the install is in a loop. It gets to the point where it is unpaccking the files. After that phase the pc restarts itself and I get the same prompt on which drive I want to install Windows 7. I have done this now twice and the iinstall begans again from the beginning.
Could it be that the very first install I tried yesterday is still waiting?

This is why I suggested to delete all partitions during install so it is all Unallocated Space, then create and format new Partition(s) as desired, or just click Next and the installer will do it for you. Did you miss these clear instructions? If not then there is no failed install on the HD to interfere.

Diskpart Clean Command

Hi gregrocker,

You are right. I missed step 7. I wonder (maybe this is a stupid question, but i am not a psecialist) if i select all the drives that are visible at stpe 7 ( Drive options advanced) and choose Delete. Will that also delete all files on that drive? or is just to remove it from the list of drives to select?

Regards

Yes, all files should always be backed up - especially before an install. You cannot count on using a data partition as a backup.

I suggest you re-read Clean Reinstall - Factory OEM Windows 7 so you don't miss anything to back up before reinstall, and benefit from the tools and methods which assure you will get and keep a perfect install.

Hi

First of all my apologies for not giving a feedback sooner.

I used the tip of gregrocker (shift + F10) to copy my data to an external drive. Then at Step 7(in the link below) I used the Drive options to delete all partitions and then clicked Next. In the screen at step 7 I could see that the free space (on the drive I selected) is the same as the Total Size.

Clean Install Windows 7

After a while the installation got to the last step, Completing Installation. Then the machine restarted itself, the window startup logo appears. And then a black screen follows. I thought that this is part of the installation and waited a while. But the black screen stays to long for me to think that this is normal.

Then i booted again from the dvd to get the screen at step 7. I saw in the list 2 names:
- Disk 0: Unallocated space 100 MB 100 MB
- Disk 0 partition 1 : System 465,6 GB 453,6 GB

I selected the second name and clicked Next. This gave me the same result as before.

Have i forgoten something? why is the installation hanging after "Completing Installation" ? Could it be that my HD got defected?

Regards
Jerry

Unplug all other HD's and peripherals,

Boot into BIOS setup, reset to defaults, save changes. (If an EFI BIOS you'll need to decide if you want UEFI BIOS vs. Legacy BIOS. If UEFI follow these special steps for Install, otherwise enable Legacy BIOS or Compatibility Support Module to proceed with normal install.) Set DVD drive first to boot, HD second, set SATA controller to AHCI, Save changes and Exit.

Then boot into Windows 7 installer DVD or flash stick burned or written using tool and latest ISO for your licensed OS version here.

At first installer screen Press Shift + F10, or enter System Recovery Options to open a Command Box, type:

DISKPART
LIST DISK
SELECT DISK 0 (after confirming Windows 7 target HD #)
CLEAN
CREATE PARTITION PRIMARY
FORMAT FS=NTFS LABEL="WINDOWS 7"
ACTIVE
EXIT
EXIT

Next click Install Now, then Custom install to Clean Install Windows 7 to the partition you created. If it fails then report back at which step and the verbatim error message.

In addition read over these steps to understand the tools and methods which work best to get and maintain a perfect Clean Reinstall - Factory OEM Windows 7. The steps are the same for retail.

After install you can adjust partition size or Create new partitions for data, etc. in Disk Mgmt. You are creating the partition here for the purpose of wiping the HD and marking Active which overcomes certain install failures.