Installation stuck on Windows Starting screen - UEFI based laptop

Hi guys

I have searched various places for a solution but not quite getting a complete answer for my problem or perhaps I'm just lacking the understanding.

I have an Acer Aspire s3 391 , preinstalled with windows 8. I used a bootable usb with windows 7 64 bit to try an install windows 7 instead. I initially tried to run the setup from my desktop and somehow I messed up the installation. I can now no longer start windows and get back to my desktop.

I am now trying to reinstall windows 7 again from my bootable usb which I now made using RUFUS from a tutorial on this website.

I have tried using the UEFI Boot mode.

This is my bios when using it




this takes me as far as the windows loading screen

thereafter windows starting and freezes.


I then tried using the Legacy boot mode using another usb made using RUFUS.
My bios was now




After going through the initial installation set up screens, I select custom install, and it his takes me as far as the step where you choose disk partition to install, but there are several disk partitions


and a message says that the main 450GB partition is of GPT style which doesn't allow.


I am unsure how to go about installing windows now, which method to choose, and which disk partitions to use as there are several.

Any advice would be much appreciated. Sorry about the long post just wanted to be absolutely clear!
Thank you

Try clicking on the Drive Options (Advanced) to delete all partitions, as fundamental to reinstalling any Windows OS as booting the installer.

I notice when you try UEFI mode there are no UEFI devices listed to boot. Try it again and this time put in the DVD or flash stick formatted only with Option One of UEFI Bootable USB Flash Drive - Create in Windows.

Either way you must delete all partitions using the Drive Options pictured in Steps 7/8 of Clean Install Windows 7 during install to begin, then either create new partitions if you have a scheme in mind (e.g. OS on one, Data on another) or create and format one large OS.

I tried another USB to create a UEFI device using that tutorial but as you noted earlier, it still did not recognize any UEFI device.

Went with what you said and deleted all partitions but used 'Gparted', then created one large partition, converted it to mbr, and then used a Legacy Bios bootable device to install windows.

Thanks for the help!