Windows 7: fresh install, stalls right after "windows starting" screen. mbr?

Hello, all. I'm flirting with my sanity and have decided to finally reach out for help. I have been googling and searching these forums for the better part of 26 hours, yielding little in the way of results. I'm also browsing/typing with my cell phone; you might imagine nerve endings....

Anyhow, here's the story: OS is Windows 7 x64 Ulti. oem disk in possession. Yesterday, I formatted c: then attempted to install OS. It installs without a hitch. After restart, process continues until right after "windows Is starting" display. The screen then goes black. The HDD activity LED goes to its intermittent blinking for system idle.

Attempting to restart via the smaller restart button case more often than not freezes machine. Using power button to cycle, same results all the way to the aforementioned screen.

In previous installation, I was dual booting Linux which lends to my suspicion of a corrupt MBR.

Startup recovery states that I may have plugged in some sort of peripheral - that's not the case though. I think it was referring to an instance when someone might leave in some sort of flash drive. Again, not the case.

I'm no where near a seasoned IT professional, but I've attempted everything that I know.

Diskpart shows two volumes and two partitions. The allotted sizes are correct, but it also states that both are "Primary " now, I wouldn't know any better, but I thought I would see the system partition read just that, system. Nevertheless, ill include that information in case it could lend toward a solution

I've also ran through a myriad if mbr fixes and resets, most of which were researched today, all to no avail.



I have also swapped harddisks, formatted, installed OS, and was still met with same predicament.

I just don't know where to take it from here

Thank you all for your time.

Maybe I missed it but have you tried booting into safe mode (F8)?


Ken

H
Hi Ken, I tried on one attempt but was given an error message stating windows could not complete setup from within safemode, and my only option we as to restart.
this would be the point where one would normally be taken through the steps of setting up profiles and various system and network settings. I'm thinking that's why it won't allow me in safemode...

If you had GRUB on that HD, it can indeed mess with Windows 7 install. Best to wipe the HD before install.

Boot Windows 7 DVD, press Shift F10 to open a Command Line, type:

DISKPART
LIST DISK
SELECT DISK # (for Windows 7 disk)
clean all (applies zeroes, deepest clean, takes about an hour per 320gb)
create partition primary
select partition 1
assign letter=c:
active
format
exit

Now reboot into installer to Custom install to partition you've created. If you receive an error message, please post back its exact text.

Also an interesting find I just now noticed: upon initially getting into system recovery options, your prompted to select an OS. Naturally, my windows 7 install is displayed, but it states its location to be, (D Local Disk... what??

Gregrocker, thanks a lot for your reply. I'll get started on that now.

I did attempt to format via diskpart in previous attempts, but I wasn't quite sure of what I was doing.
I'll get to work on this and report back


Thanks.

Alright. So, some four hours later, I'm still having to resort to my cell phone to post this message, lol.

I followed each step precisely. Everything went along just fine. I installed OS on the partition created after the clean. It installed just like it has always. And I finally got to the place where it'd cease before and it... well it did it again!

Wow, what possibly could have fine wring here? I've done this numerous times in the past without a hiccup.

Anyhow, any ideas where I could go from here?
Thanks again.

Some additional info as I've been poking around. Diskpart recognizes one volume on disk. Only one partition as well, no system separate partition. Now, I don't know if there is supposed to be two separate partitions or not, just going off of what I'm used to seeing

How any partitions do you have on your HD?

You might want to read this thread for some more suggestions...

Common Installation Problems and Their Solutions