Laptop Won't Boot, can't get past Initial Windows Screen

[SlasherIT]

Once you access it, it will appear under Devices.

 

[Jim15]

... I'm embarrassed to say this, I can't even find where "Devices" is.

 

[SlasherIT]

i saw it in the screenshot u gave me... on the left side panel

 

[Jim15]

i saw it in the screenshot u gave me... on the left side panel

Ah, thanks. Though now that I've found it, it doesn't show up under devices when I select the usb. I'm thinking this may be because I'm booting from it. If I must, I now have access to some disks so I might have to do this by disk.

 

[SlasherIT]

You should be able to find it under Devices. If not, check the desktop, it might be there. And if not, try copying files to it when you browse it from Disk Utility...

 

[Jim15]

You should be able to find it under Devices. If not, check the desktop, it might be there. And if not, try copying files to it when you browse it from Disk Utility...

It's really hard for me to describe what's not working. Here's a screenshot:



I try dragging and dropping straight to the usb in device manage (Because I can find it anywhere else), but nothing happens.

I also tried it in cdrom, which the utility said the usb was mounted on. Figured that might work but I always get errors.

i'm going to try doing this by cd... certainly can't hurt, right?

 

[SlasherIT]

sure...

can't u get an external hdd though?

see wut i do normally is boot ubuntu from a cd, and copy over to a usb...

 

[Jim15]

That's exactly what I did. I just ran a bit of a test using the cd to boot up ubuntu and using the usb to back my stuff up. It worked, so I'm going to get to backing up everything now.

Now before we do the windows reinstalled, I was just wondering about those drivers... it's guaranteed that it'll work, correct? Don't want to be doing that and then left without any drivers after all.

 

[SlasherIT]

Don't worry, as long as you have you files tucked safely, you're all good. Note, its better to enter your key after installing and updating Windows to SP1, ok? Tell me when you finish install?

 

[Kaktussoft]

Drivers are here Download

 

[Jim15]

Don't worry, as long as you have you files tucked safely, you're all good. Note, its better to enter your key after installing and updating Windows to SP1, ok? Tell me when you finish install?

So then, just to make sure, I do the reinstall, gain access to windows, then update? I didn't think I could hold off on entering the key until after the reinstall. If I've understood correctly, that's what I'll do. At any rate, I'm about to do "Install Now", hopefully all goes well.

Drivers are here Download

Ah, perfect! Thanks Kaktussoft.

 

[Jim15]

I've just run into another problem when I attempted to install windows, a message popped up in the first stage:

"A required CD/DVD drive device driver is missing. If you have a driver floppy disk, CD, DVD, or USB flash drive, please insert it now.

Note: If the Windows installation media is in the CD/DVD drive, you can safely remove it for this step."

Then below it gives me options for Browse, OK, and Cancel.

I'm going to leave it at this screen until I'm sure what it's referring to, but until then, does anyone know what I can do to fix this?

 

[gregrocker]

This error almost always points to installer integrity.

Where did you get ISO? Are you using a DVD now or flash stick install? If DVD, did you burn it using ImgBurn at 4x speed, or if flash stick did you write using Universal USB Installer - methods which always work..

Is there an Acer Recovery partition on the HD? If so try triggering it now or using Recovery Disks if you backed them up previously: Acer Support: Recovery media and Restoring a system to factory load.

Can you boot the installer on another machine there? Does it see the HD partitions after choosing Custom Install?

 

[SlasherIT]

gregrocker - Can I post the link to the Microsoft Digital River Windows 7 download?

 

[Jim15]

This error almost always points to installer integrity.

Where did you get ISO? Are you using a DVD now or flash stick install? If DVD, did you burn it using ImgBurn at 4x speed, or if flash stick did you write using Universal USB Installer - methods which always work..

I got the iso from techpp.com. I guess posting a link is against the rules, so I understand if you remove it after you see this post.

I'm using a DVD which I burned with Imgburn, but not at 4x speed. Instead I did it at max speed. Do you think that may be what ruined it?

Is there an Acer Recovery partition on the HD? If so try triggering it now or using Recovery Disks if you backed them up previously: Acer Support: Recovery media and Restoring a system to factory load.

Can you boot the installer on another machine there? Does it see the HD partitions after choosing Custom Install?

I think so. Though I'll have a hell of a time accessing it because I messed with the partitions earlier and can no longer reach the recovery environment.

I do have this computer I'm currently using handy, but it's worth noting that it uses Vista, so I'm not really sure it'll handle that.

 

[SlasherIT]

Here look, try installing from your disk one more time, if it doesnt work then do this.

download windows 7
burn it with imgburn The Official ImgBurn Website at a speed of 4x. then try installing windows 7 again with it

 

[gregrocker]

We cannot post download links due to Forums' policy against encouraging piracy. I understand you have a license with a COA sticker so we can help you.

To get a safe download, google Official Win7 ISO downloads from My Digital Life, download his version or if link is down download any other version ISO, unlock all versions using eicfg removal tool, then write to stick using methods given or burn at 4x speed using ImgBurn.

The issue may indeed be write speed. You can try burning another with your ISO although we cannot vouch for its integrity.

 

[Jim15]

Here look, try installing from your disk one more time, if it doesnt work then do this.

download windows 7 from this link http://msft.digitalrivercontent.net/win/X17-24209.iso (save the link please somewhere)

burn it with imgburn The Official ImgBurn Website at a speed of 4x. then try installing windows 7 again with it

I tried it a few more times and interestingly enough, instead of starting over, it just starts up at the same message, even when I reboot.

So I'll download from your link at the recommended speed, thanks.

Edit: Very interesting. I just realized that the size of my download beforehand (And now) were 3.1 GB large, but after the download was complete, winrar compresses it to 2 GB. Could this be the problem?

 

[SlasherIT]

ok great.

 

[gregrocker]

The new behavior reported makes the HD suspect, just as it was when I suggested hours ago to test the HD with maker's diagnostics and run a full Disk Check.

If burning a confirmed ISO correctly doesn't help then I would wipe the HD to start: SSD - HDD Optimize for Windows Reinstallation

then if that doesn't work run the HD diagnostics and Disk Check from DVD Command Line as the HD may be the problem as first reported in auto-Startup-Repair.