Windows 7 - Win7 Digital River Master Disc Won't Boot

I just installed Windows 7 from disc on my computer, Dell 8300. Came from XP. Really like Windows 7, very happy with it. I just have one problem, I can't boot from disc so I can reformat hard drive when I install Windows 7. I changed Bios settings to boot from DVD, it loads disc, does the long white bar at bottom of screen, then proceeds to blue with flower stems background page and everything stops. Stays their. My computer knowlegde is limited, so any suggestions will be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,
Mar

You say you can't boot from the disk even after making correct BIOS boot order settings, but then describe the disk loading. How does the disk load if not booted?

Do you get the prompt to "hit any key to boot from CD/DVD drive?" If you do this, does it then begin loading with a progress bar and proceed as you say? That is booting from the DVD.

If it was not able to boot from the DVD then it would start into Windows 7 and probably bring up the Autoplay menu of the DVD in the drive. Is this what happens?

It is possible that the DVD only has the files and isn't bootable. If so, we can help you create a bootable ISO from the files to burn to a DVD.

Thanks for your reply. I do get press any key to boot from DVD. Get progress bar and that finishes. Then blue background picture comes up and it stops there. The disk is the original D/R sends you when you purchase student upgrade download which I was able to install windows 7 with. That disk also follows same pattern when booting from. Sorry for my misuse of words, my computer lingo is not that good. Would like to know how to make another disc but bootable. Any help would be appreciated.
Thanks
Mar

Did you run the same DVD from within XP to install your Windows 7?

If you used the download instead to install Windows 7 from XP, do you still have it? Is it files or an ISO?

Here is the tutorial for making a bootable ISO from the files. Make bootable iso from student d/l

On the final screen where it creates the ISO, you can use the same drop-down menu to burn the ISO to DVD. Use slowest speed and Verify.

Yes, I ran same dvd from xp to install. The DVD was an iso download, burnt to dvd using IMburner. I will try to follow those instructions you gave link to and will repost results. Thanks for your help.
Mar

If you downloaded an ISO then you don't need to make the files into one.

Suggest you load the ISO into ImgBurn using file icon, make sure it shows bootable in text:



then burn to DVD at 4x with Verify.

You can also Verify Disk first by loading the ISO, check bootable, then insert DVD and Verify.

SetupImgBurn_2.4.4.0.exe

Hello, new member here. I created an account specifically for a follow up to THIS thread. I was disappointed to see that discussion on this issue stopped because this is the only thread I have seen to describe a key component to my problem.

I am a Windows XP 32 bit user currently trying to upgrade to Windows 7 64-bt. I know the language is sensitive, so I will say that by UPGRADE I mean it in lamest terms, not opposed to custom install, etc. I understand that this process involves a clean install, and I am not trying to do anything other than that.

I have the exact same problems as the OP, and he is the only one thus far I have seen in 3+ solid hours of troubleshooting to describe my problem precisely. Except for ONE key issue:

Unlike the original poster, I was not even able to get the original .iso file to boot properly and install Windows 7 on my computer. I am still running windows XP. Because I was holding out, waiting for my Master Disc in the mail from Digital River, assuming it would boot and run without issue, I neglected to research my problem further. Now I see that their own disc also displays the exact same issue.

My problem shares these characteristics that the OP specifically mentioned:

"I can't boot from disc so I can reformat hard drive when I install Windows 7. I changed Bios settings to boot from DVD, it loads disc, does the long white bar at bottom of screen, then proceeds to blue with flower stems background page and everything stops."

I recieve the prompt to press a key to boot from the CD/DVD. When I do so, I am taken to a black screen with a white bar at the bottom, where the message "Windows is loading files..." is displayed over the bar. After it loads the files (takes about 60 seconds) it brings me to a presumably Windows 7 loading screen that says "Starting Windows". After this, it brings me to the "flowery" screen the OP describes, and stops.

In addition, I feel it is worth mentioning that when I try to boot this disc from windows, rather than at system re-boot, I recieve this error:

"This installation disc isn't compatible with your version of windows. To upgrade, you need the correct installation disc. For more information, check your computer's system informaton. To install a new copy of windows, restart (boot) your compuer using the installation disc, and then select custom (advanced).

I have taken many steps to try and solve this issue. I read somewhere that, if you don't have a floppy drive, to go in to your BIOS and remove it completely from the boot menu, and I also changed a setting that now correctly reflects the fact that I don't have a floppy drive installed.

I also put checked the disc I burned the .iso file on in ImgBurn and it does indeed say that the disc SHOULD be bootable.

I am completely at a loss and unsure of how to proceed. I am very upset with this stupid student upgrade nonsense. ANY help you folks can offer will be much appreciated. Thank you in advance for feedback.

I would also like to mention one more piece of potentially important information: I have recently replaced my motherboard, and I did not do a clean format when I did this. I also bought some new RAM, although I think this point is hardly relevant.

Would it be advisable for me to do a clean install with my current windows xp, and THEN try to upgrade to windows 7?

THe XP is completely irrelevant at this point. I think the RAM is worth tinkering with. Take out all but 2 gb and try booting from DVD to install again. You want a Custom install using Advanced drive tools to format the HD.

You said you verified the ISO is bootable, did you also verify the DVD by running Verify Disk in ImgBurn?

I don't think DR can get away with sending you bogus DVD since they are a MS vendor. You can complain to MS, and to DR, and maybe get some action since MS doesn't allow that kind of shabbiness in business that I've ever seen. However, in the meantime by verifying your ISO and getting a good burn, there is no way you shouldn't be able to boot from DVD if you can work out any kinks in your hardware, like BIOS settings.

BTW You can extract an ISO to the XP desktop using PowerISO trial version, then run Setup to install Windows 7 to another partition you create following this tutuorial: Dual Boot Installation with Windows 7 and XP

I am a very basic user, and I can't explore the BIOS in any informed manner much more than I have already done. Is there any red flags I should be looking for in my BIOS other than things I have already mentioned? In the mean time, I will look in the other things you have posted. I have also seen in other threads that you recommend burning the .iso at 4x. I will try this speed and verify and make sure.