Windows 7 Clean Dual-Boot Installation is Stuck on "Starting Windows"

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  1. Posts : 62
    Microsoft Windows
       #1

    Dual-Booting Windows 7 and Windows 8 on Acer Aspire V5-571P


    Good morning people of Seven Forums!

    My laptop, which is an Acer Apsire V5-571P touchscreen Windows 8 laptop, for some reason I cannot install Windows 7 on another partition without any problems. So, I created a 135GB partition or so in Windows 8.1 and tried to boot off of the Windows 7 disk. The first problem occurs and I cannot boot from the disk. It gets stuck right when the Windows color balls are about to get together. I disabled secure boot and fast startup, which means it cannot be the problem. I figured out a nice workaround to the problem. I booted into Windows 8.1 and started the Windows 7 install from within Windows 8.1. The install went smoothly on the partition. Then, after one hour of installing and going through the 'Expand Windows Files' and stuff, boom! I'm stuck on "Starting Windows." Windows 8.1 is still bootable and a Windows 7 option is available on the graphical Windows Boot Menu. I have waited for up to 8 hours before and it still cannot boot past this screen. I have tried all sorts of Windows 7 disks with no avail. Many of them are disks that come from the Digital River ISOs provided here on Seven Forums. So, after about 3 installs, I decided to wait and wait until my computer goes past this step. But no. It has been stuck at "Starting Windows" for right under 14 hours now. I know from previous experiences that Windows does not take this long to install. My desktop took around 40-50 minutes to install, and I don't know what to do.

    Thanks,
    Matthew (LCT01a)

    System Specifications:
    Model: Acer Aspire V5-571
    CPU: Intel Core i5
    RAM: 8.00 GB (7.80 GB usable)
    OEM OS: Windows 8 Home Edition x64
    Year of Manufacture: 2012
    Last edited by Closed account; 05 Sep 2014 at 20:13.
      My Computer

  2.    #2

    Are you installing to UEFI (Unified Extensible Firmware Interface) - Install Windows 7 with - Windows 7 Forums?

    If UEFI you may need to enable CSM or LEgacy BIOS to get Win7 to install, set UEFI First to Boot. Then you must choose the UEFI DVD choice to boot the disk.

    Otherwise you can Bypass UEFI to Install WIn7.

    If this is a normal BIOS then look over these steps for Overcoming Windows 7 Installation Failures - Windows 7 Help Forums which overcome 90% of installation failures. However since wiping the HD is the most effective step if that is all you haven't tried you might want to save a Win8 backup image so you can wipe the drive and reapply it afterward to its own partition, add it from Win7 using EasyBCD (click Download - no Name or Email required). It may still require Windows 8 Automatic Repair from the 8 installation media to get it to boot.
      My Computer


  3. Posts : 62
    Microsoft Windows
    Thread Starter
       #3

    a) Yes, this computer has UEFI boot mode. I keep it this way so Windows 8.1 can still boot.
    b) My BIOS only has a Legacy Mode option besides UEFI. I am scared to change this option because for some reason, BIOS is no longer accessible via F2 on start up. I don't know what's happening with this computer. At the moment, BIOS is only accessible via Charms > Settings > Change PC Settings > Update and Recovery > Recovery > Advanced Startup > Advanced Tools.
    c) Upon further investigation, Windows seems to have fully installed with all of its components.
    d) Would taking out one RAM stick possibly help? The computer has 8GB of ram with 2 4GB DDR3 sticks,
    Attached Thumbnails Attached Thumbnails Windows 7 Clean Dual-Boot Installation is Stuck on "Starting Windows"-win.png  
      My Computer

  4.    #4

    Is there a newer BIOS firmware update? This may be needed to give you full compatibility.

    The settings should be the same as for downgrading to Win7 as shown in this Dell tutorial for your model: How to Downgrade from Windows 8 Pro to Windows 7 Professional | Dell US. At least it makes it clear that Win7 needs to be installed in Legacy Mode since there is no CSM allowing dual setting.

    In the past where no CSM (Compatibility Support Module) setting was available on a mobo, I've been able to get past the kind of installation stall you describe by choosing Legacy. However there's a possibility Win8 will then not boot, so you' need to decide if you want to set it back or wipe the drive and start over with Win7 followed by Win8 installs. UEFI is by no means preferred and is considered unneeded crapware by most of us here.

    I would not worry about not being able to get back into BIOS setup as you can always reset it to Defaults using the CMOS or jumper method, and Legacy might be required to enable F2 BIOS setup boot without going in via the Win8 charms. Clear CMOS - 3 Ways to Clear the CMOS - Reset BIOS
      My Computer


  5. Posts : 62
    Microsoft Windows
    Thread Starter
       #5

    I would not worry about not being able to get back into BIOS setup as you can always reset it to Defaults using the CMOS or jumper method, and Legacy might be required to enable F2 BIOS setup boot without going in via the Win8 charms. Clear CMOS - 3 Ways to Clear the CMOS - Reset BIOS
    Okay, I will try that soon. I have a little weird quirk though with my failed install. It somehow is able to display the F8 dialogue for Windows 7. I tried booting into safe mode and it stopped at CLASSPNP.SYS. Does this mean that the install is bootable?
      My Computer

  6.    #6

    There's a possibility that the installation media is bad. It may be worth trying another from Windows 7 USB-DVD Download Tool.

    Remember that for flash stick there is special file edit needed that is best done using Option One in UEFI Bootable USB Flash Drive - Create in Windows
      My Computer


  7. Posts : 62
    Microsoft Windows
    Thread Starter
       #7

    I found another weird quirk about that install. Windows 7's BCD Entry points to E:\Windows\System32\Winload.exe. As far as research goes, .exe goes to legacy systems. Is there a way to change .exe to .efi?
      My Computer


  8. Posts : 62
    Microsoft Windows
    Thread Starter
       #8

    Using a command, I changed the BCD entry to .efi. And it looks like I'm back on the dreaded "Starting Windows" screen.
      My Computer

  9.    #9

    I gave you specific steps to try. Did you see them?

    We work by interactive troubleshooting here. We provide steps to try of what has worked before, then when you reply back with the results we give more steps or call in more expertise. When there are random unrelated replies with no acknowledgement of our work, then we lose interest and move on to other cases where we get response.
      My Computer


  10. Posts : 62
    Microsoft Windows
    Thread Starter
       #10

    I'm sorry, I was just curious about that setting. Anyways, I tried the UEFI flash drive technique, and the same results have appeared. I will try the Windows 7 USB-DVD Download tool soon. I have been using the built in utility in Windows 7 to burn the ISOs to disks. I cleared up the CMOS, so that's out of the way. I tried out legacy and Windows 8 refuses to boot and shows the "Operating System Not Found" black screen. It looks like my system only accepts destructive ways of installing Windows 7.
      My Computer


 
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