New build won't install/boot Windows

Hello everyone, I have been trawling these forums the past couple of days but I'm well and truly stuck and I'm hoping you will be able to help me!

I've just put together a budget PC (for the first time since a socket 939 build around 11 years ago) using the following:

Gigabyte 990FXA-UD3 R5
AMD FX8350
Sapphire R9 270
Corsair Vengeance DDR3 1866 16gb (2*8 with only 1 stick currently installed)
Corsair CX600 psu

My problems started yesterday when I installed a fresh copy of Windows 7. I didn't use a new HDD but erased the partitions/formatted using the options in the Windows 7 installer. The installation failed a couple of times, which I assumed could be due to using a DVD-RW disc, but was eventually successful.

Once in Windows I began to install the mobo drivers from the disc which came with the motherboard but after a few minutes the machine froze. Having restarted I managed to install the various drivers individually and moved onto the GPU's drivers...again the installer caused Windows to freeze. I downloaded the GPU drivers to install from the HDD rather than disk in case that was the issue, but again the installer locked up Windows.

Due to the above I burnt a new disc and reinstalled Windows, this time the installation went without a hitch until it reached the point of saying Windows would restart and the installation would continue. Upon restarting the system hung at Starting Windows, before the coloured logo usually appears.

When I attempt to boot in safe mode it tells me the installation can't be completed whilst in safe mode and restarts.

If I try to boot from my Windows disc it freezes on the grey loading files bar at the bottom of the screen. For the sake of clarity I'm using a genuine x64 Windows 7 Pro .iso from Microsoft.

I've tried many different things such as disabling UEFI in the bios and I've ordered a better psu (850w) and a new HDD to try tomorrow in case either of those is the problem. I'll also pick up a USB stick to boot from in case the DVD-RW disc or drive is at fault...I also wonder whether the CPU could be bad...?

For now I'm stumped and I hope someone smarter than me has some idea as to what's up.

Thanks for reading and any suggestions would be welcomed, if anyone can suggest a fix the beers are on me...

Tom

Thanks Thrashzone!

The CX600 is brand new, although my 11 year old 580w PSU seemed to be going strong I thought I should just replace it - as it stands I've had an 850w PSU delivered today because I've heard mixed things about the CX600.

The hard drive isn't new, it's a 500gb Toshiba SATA from a HP machine which I butchered some months back.

I've got a new HDD waiting for me at home to test later today.

As a side note, the HP machine which the HDD came from was randomly blue screening and restarting anywhere from 15 to 45 minutes of use - is it likely it's failing?

I haven't scanned the drive, I did try with the ultimatebootcd but it fails to load any of the applications on the disc.

Cheers,

Tom

I'll see what happens tonight when I swap out the PSU and HDD then - I'm just hoping I won't have to send the mobo or cpu back...

Thanks for your help!

Still no joy after swapping the PSU and HDD...I've bitten the bullet and ordered a replacement CPU which I suspect is the culprit and a mobo just in case!

TD1987 said:

Hello everyone, I have been trawling these forums the past couple of days but I'm well and truly stuck and I'm hoping you will be able to help me!

I've just put together a budget PC (for the first time since a socket 939 build around 11 years ago) using the following:

Gigabyte 990FXA-UD3 R5
AMD FX8350
Sapphire R9 270
Corsair Vengeance DDR3 1866 16gb (2*8 with only 1 stick currently installed)
Corsair CX600 psu

My problems started yesterday when I installed a fresh copy of Windows 7.
Tom

You didn't mention the burner you use or how old it is, sometimes a cheap one can get misaligned, producing lousy results even with ImgBurn™ . Did you use the lowest speed possible for burning?
As for PSUs I go straight to SeaSonic, Gold, they OEM for others, including Antec and even have their own OEM line for Off-the-Shelf vendors. {aka Dell} Though, in a pinch seven years ago, an expensive Cooler-Master blew on me, not having the funds, I got an Orion 585, no fancy features but performed more loyally than the CM, which don't build their own. This is 2013 edition, it may have been updated, this was the last time I used such a list;

Code:

Who's Who In Power Supplies, 2013: Brands Vs. Manufacturers
example
PSU Makers: C-D - Who's Who In Power Supplies, 2013: Brands Vs. Manufacturers

+what AddRAM and the others say......

Hi guys,

I haven't switched to SSD yet simply due to my current bank balance haha.

The second HDD I've tried is brand new.

I've disconnected anything inessential and still no dice.

Due to having an old burner I made a Win7 USB drive using the official MS software and that also hangs when loading files.

I've tried 3 sticks of ram in different channels also.

Thanks for your help.