Unusually long installation time at certain points

[cokewithvanilla]

Ok guys, I've installed operating systems hundreds (if not, thousands) of times. I've installed W7 at least 75 times.... this is the first time I've ever run into this problem.

I put the usb drive in to install > setup loads files > brings up blue install screen > HUGE wait time, 5 minutes > Brings up install screen >next> install> HUGE wait time.... 10-15 minutes > next> next> partition HD blah blah> installs quickly> reboots two times while doing various things > gets to "Preparing your computer for its first whatever" HUGE wait time... like I waited 3 hours... then went to bed. This morning.. it's ready.

Now, of course, when I first experienced these wait times, I never waited. I tried installing from a cd, I tried downloading a different cd to install from, I removed hard drives and tried to install on a different one, I tested the cpu, ram, hd's, usb drive, cds, usb ports, cd rom.... I just can't figure out what the hell took it so long.

I've installed w7 on this computer before, and this never happened. Can anyone think of anything that happens at those three steps (initial blue screen with NOTHING on it except the w7 background, after you click "install windows", and during preparing for first boot) that might cause such a problem?

 

[gregrocker]

Try removing all but 2gb of RAM to see if same thing happens.

 

[cokewithvanilla]

Tried that... didn't work.... not to mention that if I had 4gb sticks, that wouldn't be an option

this whole thing is pretty weird... it hangs at those steps, but everywhere else it is fine... install didn't take a long time... doesn't run slow in windows... I just don't know what it is trying to do at those three steps that it is having such a problem with

edit: just tried removing all unnecessary hardware, updated the bios for shits and giggles, and no luck. This just has to be a hardware issue, but now I am really down to the cpu/mobo... else the video card, but that's doubtful

 

[Bare Foot Kid]

How large a partition are you trying to do the installation to?


If it's a new 1 or 2TB HDD create a single 100GB partition and see if it does any better installing to that; have a look at this info below and be sure to post back with any further questions you may have and to keep us informed.

   Note

Whether you use diskpart to run either the clean all command to completely wipe a HDD / SSD or just the clean command to remove the format configuration data and don't use diskpart to create at least a single partition to do the installation to, letting the Windows installer do the format you will end up with the new Windows 7 System Reserved partition, if you want to make your own decision whether this partition is added, study these two (2) options below.

• Then if you do not want to create the new Windows 7 "System Reserved" partition use the outline in Step Two #2 to create, format and mark Active a single 100GB partition to do the installation to.
• If you do want to create the "System Reserved" partition use the outline in Step Two #3 to create, format and mark Active the System Reserved partition and then create and format the 100GB partition to do the installation to.

SSD / HDD : Optimize for Windows Reinstallation

 

[cokewithvanilla]

The hard drive in question is 250gb. Like I said, this happens before I even get to the step where I choose a hard drive.

 

[Richardc269]

Is the HDD in good working order still? Kinda doubt this, but maybe the HDD is starting to give out?

 

[gregrocker]

What hardware tests exactly did you run?

HD Diagnostic
RAM - Test with Memtest86+

 

[cokewithvanilla]

I used a free memory tester, I forget which. I used HDDScan for the hard drive. I used Prime95 for cpu... I ran sisandra benchmarks on everything for shits and giggles. Everything did fine and all the benchmarks came out matching their documented specs.

I tested multiple hard drives, multiple copies of 7, two USB drives and one DVD. I removed all unnecessary hardware (useless sticks of ram, hard drives, raid controller, sound card), I updated the bios JIC.... i might have done other things that I forgot. I am running passmarks burn in test right now... when I wake up, I'll stop it.

I can promise it's not the hard drive, usb drive, copy of windows. I'm pretty sure it's not the ram. hopefully, I'll have something to go on when I wake up...

edit: wow... passmarks test took 15 minutes... wtf? Running sandra continuous burn in test until I wake up. GPUs at 95 degrees at the beginning of the test... that can't be good... but I did have a blanket over the computer (don't ask why).

 

[cokewithvanilla]

update... burn in test running for about 8 hours... no issues... the gpu temp went down after I took off the blanket

so now what? I don't understand what's going on. Does anyone know if there is anything done at those 3 steps that is common to all of them?

 

[Bare Foot Kid]

What's the matter, was the PC cold? :shock:

 

[cokewithvanilla]

What's the matter, was the PC cold? :shock:

lol actually, I have a mildly reasonable excuse... I was using tons of pillows and blankets as room treatments for my 2ch system.... testing to see if I could use real room treatments.


Anyone got any ideas here? I just stopped the burn in test and everything looks normal.. voltage, temps, fan speeds... no errors... this is getting mad annoying. I am used to 30 or so minute installs...

 

[gregrocker]

You were able to install, correct?

Are there any performance problems with the installation?

Run through these troubleshooting steps to see if anything becomes apparent.

 

[cokewithvanilla]

You were able to install, correct?

Are there any performance problems with the installation?

Run through these troubleshooting steps to see if anything becomes apparent.

Yes, I was able to install.. it only hangs at those few steps.. the actual install process took 30 or so minutes, as it should.

Alright, let me add some interesting facts here. This computer has been alive since the e6600 came out. As far back as I can remember, it has had issues on every install at certain times. I have not expereicened some of these yet on this fresh install, but here goes:

computer would randomly hang... everything would stop, sound, video, inputs for around 30 seconds.. then it would continue like nothing happened (((this hasn't happened yet on this install)))

playing music would result in a terrible grainy sound, clicking stop, then play fixes it. this still happens, happened on previous install.. also this happens over a USB DAC which is, in theory, simply getting passed the digital info... no processing (I have tested the DAC on other computers, no problems).

Applications are unstable.. for example, I cannot get sandra to start back up again... jriver media center crashes nine of out ten times I load it.

Problem is, nothing comes up wrong on any tests... games play just fine... I beat portal 1, 2, no issues.. I played DA2 the other day, no problems... just generally effing around in windows seems to be fine... I can't really explain this behavior.

Sure, stuff like application hangs appear in the event viewer.... there are 110 events currently, mostly user profile service/app hang/sidebyside

I've run sfc, nothing, and obviously there is no malware on this fresh install. There are only three programs on the computer right now: DA2, jriver, sandra. I feel this is a hardware issue, and I am betting CPU/motherboard, but nothing actually leads me to believe that except those are the only two constant things that have never changed in this computer.

 

[gregrocker]

Let us know if any further performance issues come up with this install.

 

[cokewithvanilla]

Let us know if any further performance issues come up with this install.

I am going to reinstall... just for the hell of it. I usually use this as a test platform for my usb drives that I use to install all my other computers... I reloaded this one because I updated my usb drive to SP1.

We'll see if these issues persist.

 

[cokewithvanilla]

Ok.. that was special. Just reloaded... took 1 minute 33 at the step that took hours last time..... no explanation here, but... I guess I can't complain?