Windows 7: Toshiba Satellite Rejects Windows 7?

Back when Windows 7 came out, I shelled out the ~$700 to convert all the computers in my house to Windows 7. Ever since then I've had a friend considering buying Windows 7.



He recently took the plunge an invested in a copy of Ultimate (64-bit). I backed up his personal data, formatted and Installed a clean copy of Windows 7. On first boot I ran Windows Update (his hardware was all supported by Windows) and did the required restart. During the restart, the computer Blue-Screened, restarts automatically, entered startup repair the second time, "fixes it", and the cycle starts again.

So I figure "Okay, one of the updates is bad." I reformat and reinstall again, and the computer first-boots normally again. Just to test I restart the computer and the bsod/repair cycle starts again.

I finally gave up for the time being and just reinstall Vista 64-bit on their again and it works fine. His is the only computer I've had this happen to, and I've installed 7 on about 12 other computers so far. (No, I did not miss the irony) Does anybody have any suggestions?

Have you run the Upgrade Advisor on it to see if it is compatible?

Free Download PC Upgrade Advisor Windows 7 Hardware Programs Issues

Likely a driver which needs updating or swapping.

Check the Event Viewer for clues, then use the tool stickied at top of Debugging forum here to zip up the bugcheck report and one of the experts there will find the cause.

Visit the Toshiba website and plug in the model, etc numbers for your friend's laptop.

Make sure that Toshiba says that model is compatible for x-64.
Select Windows 7 there and download any updates they have for that model. Also be sure to read any advice they give.

I have a toshiba satellite, and although it's 64 bit compatible, I run it in 32 bit mode.

Also be sure that your friend has installed the latest bios for his laptop.

The computer doesn't give me enough time to get the logs, and I know it's 64-bit compatible because it's running Vista 64-bit right now. (It's an Athlon 64 x2 Proc I believe.

I was thinking it was a driver too, but on the bsod the only thing I can see before it reboots is "FATAL_SYSTEM_ERROR" (Sorry i forgot to mention that before.

gregrocker: Should I try to get the logs then? I can't even boot into safe mode after first boot...

Might it be the memory? Thanks for the help.

Did you go to the Toshiba website and verify that the laptop can be upgraded to 7?

Ehh... no...

The hardware exceeds all the recommended requirements for Win 7 though.

Remove all but 2gb of RAM to try install, swap your RAM sticks, test your RAM using memtest86 for 5-6 passes.Memtest86 - Download Page.URL

Test your HD using maker's full CD diag/repair scan: Hard Drive Diagnostics Tools and Utilities (Storage) - TACKtech Corp.URL

Unplug all USB devices. Confirm you have the latest BIOS version update, set SATA controller to AHCI first, then IDE if necessary.

Does this happen if you don't do the Updates right after install? Try running with just the drivers given by installer to see how long this lasts. If it bluescreens again, then try booting the DVD Repair console or Repair CD to run Startup Repair or System Restore to before this happened.

You can also browse to and copy out the bugcheck file from the "Load Drivers" link on the "Where do you want to install Windows" screen - which is also where I would insert the unzipped video driver. Consult Debugging forum for bugcheck file needed and post it back there where experts will tell you immediately what is causing bluescreen.

I just installed 7 on a Satellite that was made in 2006. It meets or exceeds all requirements, but Toshiba doesn't offer any drivers or any support for that model made in 2006 or earlier. It took some work to get everything up and running correctly.

Alright, I'll look around and give it all a shot when I see him next.

I live having a small spare HDD for this kind of thing.