Windows 7 Pro 64-bit Install Problems.

[Boozad]

Hi all,

I have done a quick search around here to see if I could locate this problem so as not to replicate it but couldn't find anything so I'll fire away.

I recently bought Windows 7 Pro 64-bit upgrade, I'm currently running XP Pro 32-bit. I ran into some problems during setup, most of which I managed to fix, but the latest one has me stumped.
Basically when the setup reaches the 'expanding Windows files' part of the setup I get a BSOD which reads: Clock interrupt not received on secondary processor within allocated timeframe.

My system is as follows:

ASUS M2A-VM motherboard.
Athlon 5000+ x2
4gb DDR2 memory (not paired - 2 x 1gb + 1 x 2gb)
256MB Radeon HD 2400 Pro PCI Express + DVI
500gb SATA HD (three partitions)
350W (Peak) Dual Rail PSU
Super Quiet 22 dBA AMD CPU Cooler

I suppose I can safely assume that the problem is hardware related, but exactly what is beyond me. I was wondering if it could be to do with the memory not being paired? I have recently replaced my hard drive with a new one as my last XP installation's registry became corrupt beyond the point of salvaging.

I've ended up reinstalling XP just so I can get back on my machine for the time being, but I'd love to get Windows 7 installed and running. Thanks for any help in advance.

 

[OldMX]

Make sure you have latest bios for the motherboard.

 

[myzr7]

Boozad, Welcome to SevenForums
You may try the old trick of removing taking out all but 1 gig memory. Also have a look at the clean install tutorial. You know that you can't do a regular upgrade install with xp right? Good luck to you with your problem
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/31402-clean-install-upgrade-windows-7-version.html

 

[Boozad]

Thanks for the replies people.

Make sure you have latest bios for the motherboard.

This is something I've been looking at but for the life of me I can't find which is the latest update. ASUS don't make it easy, unless it's just me being thick!

Boozad, Welcome to SevenForums
You may try the old trick of removing taking out all but 1 gig memory. Also have a look at the clean install tutorial. You know that you can't do a regular upgrade install with xp right? Good luck to you with your problem
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/31402-clean-install-upgrade-windows-7-version.html

Thanks for the welcome.

Removing memory was one thing I hadn't thought of. Is 1gb the minimum required for running 7? I've been stuck to XP for the best part of nine years

The version I bought was listed as an upgrade, but I did look into it before I bought it and have gone the custom install route. As soon as I installed XP I threw in the 7 disc and chose the partition with XP on and formatted before continuing. I've been surprised at the trouble I've had trying to install this OS (having to disable floppy in BIOS as I don't have one, monitor bombing out as it was set to 75Hz for some reason), is this my penance for never buying Vista?? :sarc:

 

[myzr7]

Boozad
Yes remove all down to 1 gig and then boot the dvd. That looked like a good buy on that upgrade. If you burned your own dvd then maybe a bad burn. Try burning at slower speed.

 

[Boozad]

I actually had the media delivered on DVD so it is a genuine copy.

One more bit of info that may be relevant (I only just thought to look into it). My two sticks of 1gb RAM (Corsair) have a 667MHz memory speed, whereas my 2gb stick (Transcend) has a speed of 800 MHz. Could this be the cause of the problem?

 

[Bare Foot Kid]

Hello Boozad, welcome to Seven Forums!



Have a good look through these tutorials at the links below and be sure to post back with any further questions you may have and to keep us informed.


SSD / HDD : Optimize for Windows Reinstallation

Do a Clean Install with a Upgrade Windows 7 Version

 

[Boozad]

Hello Boozad, welcome to Seven Forums!



Have a good look through these tutorials at the links below and be sure to post back with any further questions you may have and to keep us informed.


SSD / HDD : Optimize for Windows Reinstallation

Do a Clean Install with a Upgrade Windows 7 Version

Thanks for the welcome and the links!

I've had a quick flick through those links, I'll look at them more in depth when I have a bit more time. Basically one quick question, looking at those links does it mean that the problems I'm having are not actually hardware related?

 

[Boozad]

I eventually solved the memory problem, installing a second stick of 2gb DDR2 800 MHz sorted it. I managed to get the installation through to the finalising stage when I get yet another BSOD saying 'Attempt to recover display driver abd timeout failed'. So now this is a graphics card issue, I have ordered another graphics card, but I'm so annoyed at the problems I'm having trying to install this OS. I wouldn't mind if I hadn't downloaded the Microsoft compatability software which said everything was fine.

 

[Boozad]

I eventually solved the memory problem, installing a second stick of 2gb DDR2 800 MHz sorted it. I managed to get the installation through to the finalising stage when I get yet another BSOD saying 'Attempt to recover display driver abd timeout failed'. So now this is a graphics card issue, I have ordered another graphics card, but I'm so annoyed at the problems I'm having trying to install this OS. I wouldn't mind if I hadn't downloaded the Microsoft compatability software which said everything was fine.

So, I bought another graphics card, replacing the ATI Radeon HD2400 Pro 256mb PCI-E with an XFX ATI Radeon HD4350 512mb PCI-E HDMI, but still I'm getting the 'Attempt to recover display driver and timeout failed' BSOD when Windows 7 is finalising the installation.

I'm about given up on this installation and am going to stick to XP Pro, at least I have that running sweet due to all the formats and clean installs I've been doing. I'm wondering if ATI cards have a problem with Windows 7, I suppose I could disable the adapter and use the onboard VGA but I really can't be bothered after buying a new card.

Windows 7 has me beat, kudos to you Microsoft :sarc:

 

[Bare Foot Kid]

ATI Radeon HD4350 512mb PCI-E HDMI



Hello again.



It can't be the card as I'm using this exact same card as a second to run my TV without a hitch.

 

[myzr7]

Hello Bo
Did you try completing the install by taking out your new graphics card and letting onboard handle the video. Then after install is finished and Win7 is booting for you then insert your new card and install driver? Again good luck to you with your problem.

 

[Bare Foot Kid]

Hello Bo
Did you try completing the install by taking out your new graphics card and letting onboard handle the video. Then after install is finished and Win7 is booting for you then insert your new card and install driver? Again good luck to you with your problem.

This is an excellent idea!

 

[Boozad]

Hello Bo
Did you try completing the install by taking out your new graphics card and letting onboard handle the video. Then after install is finished and Win7 is booting for you then insert your new card and install driver? Again good luck to you with your problem.

Unfortunately no, as it was the sixth attempt I sort of got slightly angry and just threw XP back on (I'm getting very quick at getting my PC back to where it used to be now!). As a side note, the first time this happened with the old graphics card in, I did move my monitor connection to the onboard VGA connector, but as I had no operating system I couldn't disable the soundcard/enable the onboard. I never actually thought of physically removing the graphics card and seeing if the onboard took over.

I may give this another week or so as I'm sick to the back teeth of trying at the moment, but I'll remove the graphics card while running XP, set the onboard graphics as default and try again. I have read in a few different places that Windows 7 doesn't like ATI drivers, but that looks like it's been proved wrong right here.

One thing I did think of was that when you perform the custom install, on the page where you format whichever partition/disk you want to install on, there's a 'Get Drivers' option. Would it be worth inserting the ATI disk and trying that? I'm not sure what the option does as I've never clicked it.

Again, thanks for all of your input and putting up with my moaning

EDIT: I may have missed out a pertinent piece of information. The BSOD doesn't sit there permanently, it flashes up briefly before the system restarts itself and boots back into the Windows finalising process. Then it goes through the same routine over and over again. I had to watch the BSOD seven or eight times just to get part of the error message, that's how briefly it's on the screen.
I have tried booting into Safe Mode, but obviously Windows can't finalise the installation in Safe Mode. From what I've seen (although I'm probably completely wide of the mark) this is some sort of driver loop? I can't see it as there can't be any bad/conflicting drivers.

 

[DocBrown]

Windows 7 installs best & the quickest with the least amout of extra memory & hardware add-ons. Also best to be connected to the internet so Windows 7 can check for & get the latest drivers need during the install. I did a bare bones install of 32 bit Home Premium in 25 minutes 2 weeks ago, with only 1 x 2gb stick of ram, onboard video, mouse, keyboard, & virgin 1tb HD. Then you can usually add in the additional hardware & Windows 7 will get the proper dirvers for them. Don't give up, our members here will get you installed.

 

[DocBrown]

The re-boot of the BSOd is sometimes the fault of a BIOS setting, that is set to re-boot the computer to Power ON after a power failure. You might check for that in your BIOS setup.

 

[Boozad]

Hey Doc,

Luckily I do have my sticks of 1gb RAM still available, although the paired 2gb sticks seemd to have solved the problem that memory was causing me. I'm tempted to try the onboard graphics solution, like I said earlier if it fails I can get my XP setup back to how it was in roughly two hours, programs and all. I'm just tired of doing it right at the moment.

I do have the internet connected whilst performing the install so that shouldn't be an issue.

It's very frustrating as I haven't even seen Windows 7 in action yet and knowing it's sitting right in front of me is a killer!
I won't give up, that was eerily like you read my mind as I was on the verge, I'll just have a little respite for a week or so. But I will definitely persevere and keep you guys here updated.
And on that note, it's about time I thanked you all for your help so far and offer kudos for a very helpful and informative site. I have spent many an hour browsing through reading about different problems and solutions offered.

 

[Dogz]

Have you tried installing the asus update utility?
It should when installed and when you run it ask you whether you wnt to doownload or if you have it on disk click download and click search for the closest net provider than click download bios than it will download the will take a few minutes before it starts downloading than after that is finished close it than reopen it and click install from disk find the download of the bios than click install this will freeze your desktop DO NOT RESTART YOUR COMPUTER than your BIOS should be updated

 

[Boozad]

I have indeed tried the ASUS updater, but it reads: 'Warning! The date of BIOS image is later than the current one, please flash the BIOS using ASUS DOS utility if you still want to do this.'

I've always had automatic updates on BIOS settings before, but for some reason I never installed the updater on this PC when I bought it. It was a raw PC with driver discs as I had my own OS to install. My fault on that one, and I've never manually flashed my BIOS so I'm a bit in the dark on how to do it with EZ Flash. A bit more legwork is required I think.

 

[Dogz]

ASUSTeK Computer Inc.-Forum- EZ Flash 2 - the safest way to update BIOS

try this to guide you.