USB installation of Win7 fails to create boot sector

[phazed]

Long story short, I ran the Win8 (64bit) dev install on top of my Win7 (64bit). I thought it would prompt me where to install it (I have 2HDDs in my laptop and no ODD).

All was well, but I didn't really like the UI. No big deal, right? Just re-run the Win7 install and wipe out 8... Wroooong!

I used a linux pen drive boot-iso making program (grub bootloader), gave it the Win7SP1 64 bit ISO and went off on my merry way. The installer is running, just as expected. I delete the existing partitions on the OS drive and it finishes the install with no problem... until it goes to reboot the first time. It just sits at a black screen with the blinking cursor. First thing I do is power down, take out the usb stick and boot back up... same thing.

So I go and download a new iso, thinking the first one may have been bad (despite having used it half a dozen times already). Same issue. Install completes, system reboots and nothing.

I download the MS version of the Win7/USB boot key installer maker thingy. Format the usb stick and let it copy over the iso again. Installed win7 without issue. Reboot. Black screen w/ blinking cursor.

@($#*%^@($*^(*!@$

I ran the installation repair. Windows finds the installation and says... oh, nothing to repair! *bangs head on desk* Ok, so let's try all of these fancy bootsect and diskpart commands. 30 minutes of repairing, deleting, repartitioning, full formatting, reinstalling... same issue installing to both HDs.

Now, the laptop I have is a Dell XPS15 (L502X). There's only one USB2 port and Windows can't install from USB3 ports (no native driver). I'm screwed.

I take out the primary HD and swap it with another HD. Go through all of this crap over again and it has the same issue.

I can't actually remove the second HD (ODD bay with an HD caddy) because the f'ing screw was in there SO tight from the factory and the screw is way too soft... so it's pretty stripped. I mean, it's smooth as a baby's bottom in there by now.

I run up to Fry's thinking there might be some issue installing from USB as I couldn't even get a linux distro to install from the damn thing. It was doing the *exact* same thing as the Windows install, with a few minor differences. The bootloader would almost act like it was going to work, but then it would just say "file not found" and die.

I get to Fry's and they have some cheapo Memorex usb2 DVDRAM drives on sale for 30$. Great! I take it to the counter and it rings up 60$. WTF? So we go back there and I show the guy the whole rack of them and the sign. The descriptions match perfeclty but the guy says the sku numbers are different. How exactly is that my fault? You don't sticker your products and we have to rely on these signs everywhere and you won't honor the price, even with these other 7 drives all right here?? Ok, so Fry's isn't getting any more business. I head to Microcenter and they have Toshiba equivalents on sale or 25$... I pick one up and home I go...

I get home and take the drive apart to find it only has a USB-Y connector for power. The USB ports on my laptop are not at all close together to begin with and the usb2 connector is on the opposite side from the other two. *sigh* I go dig through my closet and find an ancient usb1 hub... good enough for power, yippee!

I burned the original Win7 iso to a disc... lo and behold, it freaking works! It was kinda slow to install off the external dvd drive... but yaaay I have a working laptop again!

Now that your eyes are bleeding, you can share some of my pain.

What I really want to know is... why would the Windows installer not create a proper boot sector? I couldn't do the bdc repair because there had been no initial boot. I tried copying over the bootmgr file and other system files from the dvd to the c: drive and that didn't work either. Neither did installing to the second HD in the system. I wasn't quite sure that would work anyway because Dell's BIOS is hardcoded to call the second connection an ODD, regardless of what is connected.

Also, anybody have any ideas for something I could use to cut a slit into a stripped laptop screw so I can use a flathead to back it out? I already tried binding epoxy to a throw-away screwdriver, thinking I could glue them together and then use that to back it out.

I was looking at some dremels, but I haven't been able to find a cutting blade small enough to cut the screw and not split the laptop in half. This is the first laptop I've ever had with such soft, crappy screws and such a freaking retarded placement for the only screw that holds the ODD in place.

 

[Darryl Licht]

Try to delete all partitions with the win7 install usb on the drive before you try installing Win7 again!

 

[phazed]

I had done that about 10 times hehe... I was wiping everything out and I had a second memory stick that I was using for the knoppix attempt

 

[Darryl Licht]

I had done that about 10 times hehe... I was wiping everything out and I had a second memory stick that I was using for the knoppix attempt

So, trying the same with knoppix didnt do it either? Try GParted...GParted -- About

 

[phazed]

Yep, 3-4 times maybe from the smaller 2GB thumb drive (the one with Windows was 16)... made sure to apply the settings before closing it out and rebooting... nothing at all would write properly to that dang bootsector.

 

[theog]

Do a full clean & full format in command prompt.
1) Boot DVD & Press Shift+F10 (for command prompt)
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/119713-diskpart-pc-startup.html
2) Boot DVD, & http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/682-command-prompt-startup.html
(for command prompt)

Type in command line
DISKPART
LIST DISK
SELECT DISK # (win HD)
CLEAN ALL
CREATE PARTITION PRIMARY
SELECT PARTITION 1
ACTIVE
FORMAT fs=NTFS
ASSIGN
EXIT
EXIT



http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/91339-ssd-hdd-optimize-windows-reinstallation.html

Dual Boot Windows 7 and Windows 8 - Delete Windows 8 Developer Preview

 

[phazed]

Yep, did that stuff too... I really spent 2 full days on this. The fact that it worked absolutely perfectly from an actual CD is kinda the catch here... I didn't go and re-do all of the partitioning procedures before attempting it, either... it just worked. That is what is so baffling...

 

[gregrocker]

Did you use this tool to write the ISO to stick? Universal USB Installer – Easy as 1 2 3

Have linked it hundreds of times here without a single complaint so far.

The other method which always works and can lift the ISO from DVD at the same time is Ultra ISO trial version: on File tab Open ISO or DVD, on Bootable tab Write Disk Image, Format, Write. Done.

Follow the steps in the Perfect Reinstall link in my signature picture below to get the best possible install.

 

[phazed]

I used YUMI (which is also on pendrivelinux.com) and the MS provided usb tools.

 

[gregrocker]

What happens when you try the others?

 

[phazed]

The two I used had the same issue, just displayed the issue in different ways.

 

[gregrocker]

Gotta be the installer, likely the way it was written to stick.

 

[phazed]

how many others would I need to try lol... I used both of the ones I listed in my OP several times, several isos burned onto them and deleted/reformatted/partitioned them a couple times... I'm surprised they both still work!