intel i7 2600 restart windows 7

blackops · 16 Apr 2012

I recently purchased a new mother board with an Intel i7 2600 with 4Gb of RAM. After installing windows 7 x64 with the same CD and key that was installed on the computer before, the computer restarts. It won't boot all the way.

I decided to download a copy of windows 7 trial and installed. It boot all the way but when I put in the key, the computer keeps restarting. The key is a legit key and works on two other computers without problems.

I am able to load and run Ubuntu 11 just fine from a CD. I also ran memtest and the result is good RAM, both sticks. I'm not really sure what to do at this point. I don't think its the version of Windows but I don't want to buy it again just to be sure...

Help is appreciated.

Anak · 16 Apr 2012

Hi blackops, welcome to 7F! :)

This sounds like the classic "Major Hardware change, and now Windows won't activate".
Your original OS was married to the old MB, and when it saw the new MB it refuses to boot properly.

I'm not too well versed in the procedure, but If you call MS, and explain the changes you made they should be able to help.

profdlp · 16 Apr 2012

Describe exactly what you mean by "won't boot all the way".

What Anak said is good advice. Generally if you call Microsoft and tell them (honestly!) that the old system with the old board is no longer running that copy of Windows 7 they will be lenient. :)

Anak · 16 Apr 2012

I was going to edit my post, but I am always afraid that the OP won't notice it, so I have to post anyway to remind.

I looked up MS's procedure for activation:
How to contact a Microsoft Product Activation Center by phone, and that leads to:
Activate Windows 7 on this computer

Here is Brink's tutorial: Activate Windows 7 by Phone
Here in one of his notes:

Note

You might have to activate Windows 7 again if:

You make a significant hardware change to your computer, such as upgrading the hard disk and memory at the same time. If a major hardware change requires activating Windows again, you will be notified and will have three days to activate Windows

Go to the bottom of this window: Control Panel\All Control Panel Items\System, and check what your Windows Activation Status is.

You may only have three days, and counting left...

blackops · 17 Apr 2012

This has been going on for a month or so... Thanks for the heads up.

blackops · 23 Apr 2012

I don't get to the activation screen. During the windows boot up screen where the windows fly in, the computer restarts. I'm going to try a fresh install of windows 7 to see if it was the installation.

Anak · 24 Apr 2012

If you continue to have problems with your copy of the OS you can go here: Clean Reinstall - Factory OEM Windows 7, and in step #1 you can download a reliable copy of 7 from Digital River. If you do go this route, continue to follow the steps outlined in the tutorial.

It is an ISO version so you will have to convert it: Burn Disc Image - ISO or IMG file

blackops · 30 Apr 2012

Turns out Intel i7 has compatibility issues with the integrated graphics, HDMI and windows 7 x64. There is a thread in the Intel forum about this and going back to an older driver but I solved the problem by purchasing a graphics card. The integrated graphics isn't all that great anyway.

Anak · 30 Apr 2012

If I read you correctly, your machine is running okay know, and your original problem was caused by the incompatibility issues with the integrated graphics.

If that is the case, could you post that Intel link, and mark your Thread solved? It would help others looking for a solution.

Thanks blackops.