Windows 7 64bit installation problem

Onimaru · 16 May 2010

Hello, I was wondering if somebody could help me:

I'm trying to upgrade my computer and decided to install Windows 7 64bit Home Premium, however the installation keeps on locking up or crashing at random points during the installation process, for example during the finalisation step or during the expanding files step. This is to a brand new hard drive, not an upgrade.

Following the advice from other parts of the forum, I've stripped the computer down to just the motherboard, processor, DVD drive, hard drive and 1 stick of RAM. I've tested each component step by step, so I don't believe it's a installation issue (none of the components are currently in the case anyway, so it's not grounding out against that).

I've changed the SATA configuration to AHCI, disabled Cool n' Quiet and updated the BIOS. Other than those two changes, the BIOS settings are default, so nothing's overclocked as far as I know. I've scanned the hard drive for faults with my old computer and checked the RAM with memtest, and they're fine. The monitor is currently connected to onboard graphics with a VGA cable.

It's not a heat issue as the processor has been reporting between 38-42C for the past hour.

I'm completely out of ideas as to what to do - any advice?

Current build:

Windows 7 64bit Home Premium (from a retail box)
AMD Phenom II X4 955 processor
Asus M4A75TD-EVO motherboard
Corsair PC3-10666 1333MHz 2GB DDR3 RAM stick
Western Digitial 500GB SATAII WD5000AAKS hard drive
Corsair 850W HX Modular PSU
Pioneer DVR-110 DVD-R drive (connected through IDE)

zigzag3143 · 16 May 2010

Onimaru said:

Hello, I was wondering if somebody could help me:

I'm trying to upgrade my computer and decided to install Windows 7 64bit Home Premium, however the installation keeps on locking up or crashing at random points during the installation process, for example during the finalisation step or during the expanding files step. This is to a brand new hard drive, not an upgrade.

Following the advice from other parts of the forum, I've stripped the computer down to just the motherboard, processor, DVD drive, hard drive and 1 stick of RAM. I've tested each component step by step, so I don't believe it's a installation issue (none of the components are currently in the case anyway, so it's not grounding out against that).

I've changed the SATA configuration to AHCI, disabled Cool n' Quiet and updated the BIOS. Other than those two changes, the BIOS settings are default, so nothing's overclocked as far as I know. I've scanned the hard drive for faults with my old computer and checked the RAM with memtest, and they're fine. The monitor is currently connected to onboard graphics with a VGA cable.

It's not a heat issue as the processor has been reporting between 38-42C for the past hour.

I'm completely out of ideas as to what to do - any advice?

Current build:

Windows 7 64bit Home Premium (from a retail box)
AMD Phenom II X4 955 processor
Asus M4A75TD-EVO motherboard
Corsair PC3-10666 1333MHz 2GB DDR3 RAM stick
Western Digitial 500GB SATAII WD5000AAKS hard drive
Corsair 850W HX Modular PSU
Pioneer DVR-110 DVD-R drive (connected through IDE)

Has the dvd been successful in installations before?

Onimaru · 16 May 2010

Your question hit me with a spark of inspiration and I tried using the hard drive listed above with my old computer and installing windows 7 through that - it works!

Now all I need to do is fit the hard drive to the new motherboard and try and work out what's in the new rig that's causing windows to crash.

Edit: Windows now crashes in the Startup section, just as the logo comes together. There's a brief flash of a BSOD, but it's too quick to see the error message.
Since the only change I made was the RAM, Motherboard and processor (and I know the RAM is fine and I tried both my old graphics card and the onboard graphics to boot), this would indicate the fault is with the processor or motherboard.

Is there anyway of determining which is at fault without getting a new motherboard/processor to try it out on? My old mb/processor are incompatible with the new ones.