Windows 7 - Can't boot up after Windows 7 install.

After getting to the stage where the install tells me that it is restarting, my computer got stuck on the bootup. First of all, it got stuck at the Boot from CD stage, so I went into BIOS and took the CD-ROM drive off the bootable devices list. This allowed the Boot from CD stage to be bypassed, replaced with a screen that said "invalid boot.ini booting from C://windows", followed by a loading bar which loads and then freezes. After applying "fail-safe defaults" in the BIOS, I have now put the CD-ROM back as a bootable drive, and it reads the disc and says "press any key to boot from CD or DVD" followed by 5 dots appearing one second after each other. Pressing any key during this period seems to have no effect. It will then go back to the screen that says "invalid boot.ini booting from C://windows", followed by the loading bar which never changes once it is full.

Here is a video of my current start-up:
[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yXRiTViF46w"]YouTube- PC not booting up, please help![/ame]

PLEASE HELP, I need to use my computer, with XP or Windows 7, I don't care any more.

Please fill out your system specs completely. The link is in my signature.

Are you trying to upgrade (in-place or clean install) or just trying to do a clean install with retail/RTM media?

First go into your bios and reset it to default settings and then repair the windows install.

Hi Jack,

What o/s do you already have installed?

Do you have the dvd/cd for those?

Hes trying to install 7 and has XP atm.

I'm doing a clean install after creating a backup with Windows Easy transfer, with a full Windows 7 install disc. I would fill out my system specs, but I have no idea what they are.


i have reset it to fail-safe defaults in the video, is this correct?

I no longer have the Windows XP install disc, I recently moved house and cannot find it anywhere. :S

I'm being pestered by the family to get the PC back up and running, can no-one give me advice on how to fix my problem?

You have a Dell - what's the model number of the Dell? It should be plastered on the outside of your computer, plus it would be on your invoice. Have you visited the Dell support site to see if there are any Windows 7 installation guides for your particular model?

looking at your screen, seem to be looking for a file. I would say you have a bad disk. I do not know why people do a clean install unless they have virus.

Ah, sorry, was mistaken. It is not a Dell computer, but is an Evesham computer, Ive changed my system specs.


I did a clean install because I dont have Vista, and you cant do an upgrade from XP. I was following the official Microsoft XP upgrade guide.