Solved New PC Build, Windows 7 doesn't want to install

ToiletNinja · Jul 6, 2013

This is a new build I put together about a day ago (updated system specs) and I can't get Windows 7 Ultimate x64 to install. During the install, right after the first 'restart computer' prompt, it would restart and then just freeze at 'Starting Windows' with the shining windows logo.

I've tried a lot of different things and I've even gotten to the point where I take the disc out before it does the first restart and that seems to work and brings me all the way to the desktop, yet I can't get the Aero appearance (it's on the Win 7 starter-type theme). If I restart, I can't get back in, either it freezes at 'Starting Windows' again or goes straight to startup repair which tells me there is an issue with the hard drive. The hard drive is new, worst case scenario I could send it back, I received it yesterday, (newegg has a great 30-day RMA period). But I would prefer to fix the problem if possible. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

linnemeyerhere · Jul 6, 2013

ToiletNinja (great name),
With the cost of ssd's down to very reasonable levels for 128gbs, you could invest in a nice Samsung Pro or Crucial M4 and give that a go. Then you can sort out the WD black drive with free tools available from WD's site and if failing then RMA.

ToiletNinja · Jul 6, 2013

linnemeyerhere said:
ToiletNinja (great name),
With the cost of ssd's down to very reasonable levels for 128gbs, you could invest in a nice Samsung Pro or Crucial M4 and give that a go. Then you can sort out the WD black drive with free tools available from WD's site and if failing then RMA.

I don't have the funds right now to buy an SSD, or anything else for that matter. If you could point me to these free tools, I'd be very grateful.

linnemeyerhere · Jul 6, 2013

Check these out:
WD Support / Downloads / SATA & SAS / WD Black

Here's a great tutorial for W7 install for you to check out.
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/1649-clean-install-windows-7-a.html?filter[3]=Installation%20and%20Setup

gregrocker · Jul 6, 2013

Where did you get Win7? How is it burned to DVD or written to flash stick installer? How do you plan to activate it?

Is this a UEFI BIOS and if so did you follow the special steps for UEFI (Unified Extensible Firmware Interface) - Install Windows 7 with - Windows 7 Forums or UEFI Bootable USB Flash Drive - Create in Windows

rReset BIOS to defaults, set SATA controller to AHCI in BIOS setup.

Besides testing the HD with the DOS CD test Alan linked, try wiping the HD with Diskpart Clean Command from the installer's System Recovery Options Command Line, then define an Active partition for install using Step 2 in SSD - HDD Optimize for Windows Reinstallation.

ToiletNinja · Jul 6, 2013

gregrocker said:
Is this a UEFI BIOS and if so did you follow the special steps for UEFI (Unified Extensible Firmware Interface) - Install Windows 7 with - Windows 7 Forums

It might be a UEFI BIOS, I can see the letters 'UEFI' everywhere on the BIOS, don't know if its obviously UEFI or not, but I have tried installing windows that way, but I can't remember what the outcome was. Giving it another shot might help.

As for what Alan said, I could give that a try as well. I would be performing the 'Extended Test', right?

Oh, and I've checked the SATA controller, it is set to AHCI.

Another detail, this might help or not; I get a little warning in the bottom left; 'Windows cannot be installed to this disk (Show Details)'

gregrocker · Jul 6, 2013

If you have a UEFI BIOS and you want to install in UEFI mode then it takes the special steps in the tutorial, including booting UEFI DVD choice and deleting all partitions in case HD is currently in MBR format - tho you should be warned of that.

Some users who have considered the benefits of UEFI BIOS vs. Legacy BIOS - YouTube
and are experiencing installation problems decide to Bypass UEFI to Install WIn7 to avoid the problems for now.

ToiletNinja · Jul 6, 2013

gregrocker said:
If you have a UEFI BIOS and you want to install in UEFI mode then it takes the special steps in the tutorial, including booting UEFI DVD choice and deleting all partitions in case HD is currently in MBR format - tho you should be warned of that.

Some users who have considered the benefits of UEFI BIOS vs. Legacy BIOS - YouTube
and are experiencing installation problems decide to Bypass UEFI to Install WIn7 to avoid the problems for now.

I'll try bypassing the UEFI and report back with my results.

ToiletNinja · Jul 6, 2013

Update: I got to

FORMAT FS=NTFS LABEL="WINDOWS 7"

and it gave me a

'DiskPart has encountered an error: The parameter is incorrect. See the System Event Log for more information.

DISKPART> JFJDJACDFJCMADFJECMIVMFJNDDDDDDD'

after getting 0 percent completed, then I came back and it was 15 percent completed, then this.

gregrocker · Jul 6, 2013

Did it successfully complete the Clean command first?

If so run it again, try just the format command. If it fails close the Command Box and click Install Now to see if you can begin the install since by completing Clean you've definitely cleared the formatting.

You can create and format your partitions using Drive options shown in Step 7 of Clean Install Windows 7 or just click Next and the installer will create and format for you to begin install.

If the fails test the HD with the tool Alan linked. Burn the DOS ISO download to CD using Windows Image Burner, boot it to run Extended Scan.

ToiletNinja · Jul 6, 2013

gregrocker said:
Did it successfully complete the Clean command first?

If so run it again, try just the format command. If it fails close the Command Box and click Install Now to see if you can begin the install since by completing Clean you've definitely cleared the formatting.

You can create and format your partitions using Drive options shown in Step 7 of Clean Install Windows 7 or just click Next and the installer will create and format for you to begin install.

If the fails test the HD with the tool Alan linked. Burn the DOS ISO download to CD using Windows Image Burner, boot it to run Extended Scan.

Yes, the Clean command was completed successfully.

I tried the format command but it says I need to select a disk.

I enter 'SEL DISK 0' and it says

'The disk you specified is not valid. There is no disk selected.'

I enter 'LIST DISK' and it says

'There are no fixed disks to show.'

I click Install now, and I get to where the disks are supposed to be listed, but it's blank. Why is this? Is this a problem? How do I fix it?

gregrocker · Jul 6, 2013

I'd run the HD Diagnostic extended CD scan for your make HD. Your drive may be failing.

I'd also check or change the cables.

You can plug the HD into another PC to see if it's seen, even run the diagnostics from there.

Try another HD to be sure.

Layback Bear · Jul 7, 2013

I can't find the answer to these questions from Greg post #5.

Where did you get Windows 7? How is it burned to DVD or written to flash stick installer? How do you plan to activate it?

ToiletNinja · Jul 7, 2013

Layback Bear said:
I can't find the answer to these questions from Greg post #5.

Where did you get Windows 7? How is it burned to DVD or written to flash stick installer? How do you plan to activate it?

I have an untouched copy burned to DVD. I can vouch for it because I've used the same exact DVD to install Win 7 on the computer I'm currently on and it works perfectly. I keep thinking this is a hard drive problem.

jumanji · Jul 8, 2013

How to Run WD Data Lifeguard Diagnostic for DOS:

I am limiting myself to running the WD Diagnostic for DOS. It is not an ISO file but a DOS executable to be run on DOS.

Download the dlgdiag_5_20.zip. from http://support.wdc.com/product/download.asp?groupid=613&sid=2&lang=en

To create your DOS bootable flash drive, download the latest version of Rufus from http://rufus.akeo.ie/ and run.

Select your flash drive, give it a distinct Volume Label, say MSDOS, select MSDOS with the dropdown arrow in “Create a bootable disk using” and click on Start. On completion Close it.

Extract the contents of the dlgdiag_5_20.zip directly into the DOS flash drive or extract to a folder and move the extracts to the DOS flash drive.

At the end of it your bootable flash drive should have the contents as shown below.

You are now ready to run the Diagnostics.

Invoke the onetime boot menu and boot from this flash drive or change your boot order in your Bios to boot from the flash drive first.

At the DOS prompt type dlgdiag5.exe and press ENTER to run the program.

ToiletNinja · Jul 9, 2013

Alright, update.

I can successfully enter the dlgdiag5.exe diagnostic system, doesn't matter if I select quick test, or extended test, after it runs for a bit, I get this;

After hitting 'any key';

After hitting CTRL-ALT-DELETE, the computer restarts, Mobo logo, then this;

At which point I again hit CTRL-ALT-DELETE, and it goes into a 'BOOTMGR is missing' reboot loop.

Don't know what to do at this point.

gregrocker · Jul 9, 2013

I'd get a second opinion from Seagate Seatools ISO written using Windows Image Burner to CD, or free Partition Wizard bootable CD Partition Wizard Partition surface test.

If you can pull the HD and put it in another PC you can run the Windows version of WD Data Lifeguard.

You can also burn Data Lifeguard to a CD which might work better to knock off the Extended Test this time: Western Digital Data Lifeguard CD ISO (extract first) http://support.wdc.com/product/download.asp?groupid=605&sid=2&lang=en

ToiletNinja · Jul 9, 2013

gregrocker said:
I'd get a second opinion from Seagate Seatools ISO written using Windows Image Burner to CD, or free Partition Wizard bootable CD Partition Wizard Partition surface test.

If you can pull the HD and put it in another PC you can run the Windows version of WD Data Lifeguard.

You can also burn Data Lifeguard to a CD which might work better to knock off the Extended Test this time: Western Digital Data Lifeguard CD ISO (extract first) http://support.wdc.com/product/download.asp?groupid=605&sid=2&lang=en

I was able to put it into this PC and am running WD Data Lifeguard. The quick test failed abruptly within ~10 seconds due to an error, then it shows a red X and 'FAIL' right next to 'Quick test'. The extended test seems to take way too long for me, as I'm writing this it's at '20 hours remaining'. Edit: Down to 13 hours. Still quite some time.

Oh, and Windows Explorer shows the drive, 'D:' as only 100GB, probably due to me making a 100GB partition as some other attempt at solving the problem earlier.

gregrocker · Jul 9, 2013

I always run the maker's Diagnostics followed by Disk Check, if necessary from the Win7 command line as shown in Option 2. Either test repeatedly failing really means the drive is unsalvageable. Most would not trust it even if repaired.

mjf · Jul 9, 2013

On a new HDD your RAW reallocated sector count should be zero. I'm not sure what your SMART readout mean but dlgdiag5 suggests problems. Check it further but consider returning the drive.

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