Can't get installation past "Starting Windows"

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  1. Posts : 24
    Windows 7
       #1

    Can't get installation past "Starting Windows"


    Hey guys,

    Pulling my hair out with this one, so figured I'd post here to see if anyone has any suggestions.

    First, my setup:
    Mobo: Asus A8R-MVP (BIOS 0503, last stable release)
    Video: nVidia GeForce GT220
    RAM: 3 GB DDR2
    Main HD: 160GB IDE, with 3 partitions: [XP on #1 (20GB), Windows 7 aimed for #2 (50GB), and free space for the rest]
    Other HDs: 2 x 1TB RAID1 (general storage)

    If I launch the setup from a DVD, it gets past "Windows is loading files", then immediately freezes at "Starting Windows" (right before any of the coloured balloons show up...in fact, it hangs the instant the first orange pixel is displayed).

    So, I tried launching the setup from Windows XP. Pointed it to the proper partition, it extracts the files, reboots, and the exact same thing happens. Can't get past the first orange pixel.

    For both cases, I've tried pressing F8 on boot and selecting "safe mode" or "low resolution mode", but no dice. Safe mode seems to always get stuck on disk.sys, for what it's worth, but I understand that could even mean it's hanging on whatever the next driver is.

    Other things I've tried:
    -replaced nVidia video card with ATI x850, no difference
    -removed all sticks of RAM except one, no difference
    -removed all unused peripheral devices, no difference
    -disabled all unused on-board devices, no difference

    If anyone has any ideas or suggestions, I'm all ears. I've installed Windows 7 successfully so many times on different hardware, so I'm finding this completely mind-boggling.

    Thanks for reading.

    Bash
      My Computer


  2. Posts : 24
    Windows 7 Ultimate 32bit (6.1, Build 7600)
       #2

    Can you try using only 1GB (RAM) memory stick during installation, you can bring them back after the windows is installed.
      My Computer


  3. Posts : 10,200
    MS Windows 7 Ultimate SP1 64-bit
       #3

    Bash,
    Just on a wild guess, Disconnect your two 1Tb drives.

    Can you now install from DVD?

    Remember, you can not do an "upgrade" install. You can not upgrade XP to Win7 directly but rather only by first updating to Vista SP1 and then to Win7.

    Assuming you get a successful Win 7 install, do you plan to discard your XP?

    I know that this will rattle a few cages (similar to when Win95 came out and people couldn't part from their beloved Win 3.51) but dual-boots to XP are a dying breed.
      My Computer


  4. Posts : 24
    Windows 7
    Thread Starter
       #4

    Thanks for the replies!

    adverze said:
    Can you try using only 1GB (RAM) memory stick during installation, you can bring them back after the windows is installed.
    Yup, tried that...still froze at the same spot.

    karlsnooks said:
    Bash,
    Just on a wild guess, Disconnect your two 1Tb drives.

    Can you now install from DVD?

    Remember, you can not do an "upgrade" install. You can not upgrade XP to Win7 directly but rather only by first updating to Vista SP1 and then to Win7.

    Assuming you get a successful Win 7 install, do you plan to discard your XP?

    I know that this will rattle a few cages (similar to when Win95 came out and people couldn't part from their beloved Win 3.51) but dual-boots to XP are a dying breed.
    Question about disconnecting the two 1TB drives...that won't screw up the RAID or anything right? I'm a little raw when it comes to RAID knowledge, so I'm always paranoid about disconnecting RAID volumes and having them re-initialize or something when I hook them back up...

    I do eventually want to get rid of XP, but since it's my main media centre right now, I just want to have something to fall back on until my Windows 7 install is 100% ready. Once that's done, I agree...no more dual-booting. XP is just to keep the wife happy until then...
      My Computer


  5. Posts : 8
    Main system i use is Linux Fedora. I also use Windows 7 Home Premium.
       #5

    This has happened to me on occasion. Format the partition you are going to install on first and mark the partition as active. Also disconnect the the other hard drives you have and connect them later once you have things up and running. You need room for 2 primary partitions. Windows 7 creates a small boot partition if all goes well.

    You could use gparted to format it. http://sourceforge.net/projects/gpar...1.iso/download download and burn to disk and boot from it.
      My Computer

  6.    #6

    Remove the obsolete RAID array and change SATA controller to AHCI first, then IDE mode if neccessary. Try install with a single HD.

    Win7 seems to be allergic to RAID.

    It is outdated technology now with built-in drive imaging, anyway.
      My Computer

  7.   My Computer


  8. Posts : 10,200
    MS Windows 7 Ultimate SP1 64-bit
       #8

    Another voice saying:

    Follow GregRocker's advice
      My Computer


  9. Posts : 24
    Windows 7
    Thread Starter
       #9

    Thanks guys! I'll try this when I get home tonight and will post back.

    Cheers,
    Bash
      My Computer


  10. Posts : 24
    Windows 7
    Thread Starter
       #10

    Well, bad news....disconnected the RAID array, leaving only the IDE drive and STILL the same problem.

    I even deleted all but the one XP partition on the IDE drive, hoping to let the Windows 7 installation force me to create a new partition, but it won't even get that far.

    So, unless I'm missing something, it seems that it's either related to my IDE drive or my motherboard. Everything else has been swapped or disabled, so I guess my next step is to pick up a SATA drive to try to do the install on.

    Any other ideas?
      My Computer


 
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