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

[SlasherIT]

Wiping the HD won't help fix anything if the Hard Drive is bad. Lets just wait and see if the install fails or not, and work on from there.

 

[gregrocker]

Wiping the HD will help if it is not bad, and is the next step which works on this error after confirming installer ISO, DVD burn, trying USB installer.

The HD should have been confirmed when I suggested it this morning, after auto-Startup Repair said it wanted an hour to check the disk and then failed repeatedly. Next step then is running Startup Repair from disk to see if Disk Check can complete, if not running HD diagnostics followed by Disk Check again.

 

[SlasherIT]

Lets just wait and see on the results of the install from the new Windows 7 ISO ok?

We each like to troubleshoot and fix Windows differently...

 

[Jim15]

Ok, from what I'm reading, this problem comes from the 64-bit installer only, supposedly a bug. I'm thinking it would be best to do as gregrocker suggested and try this with the usb. Almost everyone who's done that (That I google searched) reported that this made it work.

So that's the next thing I'm going to try. Will update as soon as possible.

 

[SlasherIT]

@gregrocker - Nono man I didn't mean it like that... All I was saying is we each do things differently, didn't mean to upset you or anything .

@Jim15 - Ya, go ahead and try with USB, should be better and faster. Is this with the downloaded ISO or with your existing one?

 

[Jim15]

@gregrocker - Nono man I didn't mean it like that... All I was saying is we each do things differently, didn't mean to upset you or anything .

@Jim15 - Ya, go ahead and try with USB, should be better and faster. Is this with the downloaded ISO or with your existing one?

It's the iso I already downloaded. The one currently downloading is going pretty slow, says it'll take 7 hours which I'd rather not wait for. So I'm going to give the current install a shot, and if that doesn't work, I guess I'll just have to wait.

 

[SlasherIT]

Ya, the Digitalriver downloads are pretty slow, although if you don't want to use a torrent, are your best bet

 

[Jim15]

I followed online directions and put it on the usb drive like I did ubuntu earlier, but whenever I try to boot up with it, the installation screen never comes up. I get windows boot manager instead telling me to use the installation disk...

 

[gregrocker]

Did you write the stick with Universal USB installer with Win7 in dropdown menu?

Are you sure it's booting the stick? It sounds like its trying to boot into Windows instead.

Set stick first boot in BIOS setup, before HD.

If that fails use the one-time BIOS Boot menu key which on Acer is F12 to trigger the stick. Is it listed, under USB, REmovable or HD's?

You can then try the other ISO, a DVD, or wipe the HD which will cause any good installer to autostart.,

 

[Jim15]

I did try that, but upon booting it tells me that linux failed to load and left me at that screen.

Yeah, in BIOS I made sure to switch to my USB taking the priority for booting. I suspect that i hadn't formated the usb boot correctly and that was the problem.

I ended up installing and using UNetbootin, which seemed to work, but gave me a new error message telling me my boot manager was missing. Obviously not a good sign, though I don't understand why that would be a problem when it's supposed to go to the installation disk anyway.

Currently I'm reformatting my flashdrive to FAT32. I'm hoping that will solve this, but I'm guessing it won't. My computer is making this WAY harder than it should be. lol

Thanks again for the response.

 

[gregrocker]

The Universal USB Installer with Win7 installer in the dropdown menu doesn't apply Linux code at all, so I don't know how you have Linux involved. It should format the installer in it's native format then write the ISO flawlessly. Is this what you used?

 

[Jim15]

Finally got the usb to boot... I get the same problem as before, it claims that I am missing a driver. Even worse, this is happening after I used the new iso instead of the one from before. It doesn't even start to load either, it just goes straight back to that message, as if the install never stopped. I can't understand what the deal is here.

This is really frustrating. Something as simple as reinstalling windows has taken up over a dozen hours of my time.

 

[gregrocker]

I've given you the steps which can repair Win7 or overcome this installation error, which have worked hundreds of times before here. Go back over the thread and work through all the steps given and don't skip any this time if you want to get it resolved.

Try the other ISO, both with DVD and USB install.

Try wiping the HD: SSD - HDD Optimize for Windows Reinstallation.
Test the HD with maker's diagnostics/repair full CD scan: HD Diagnostic followed by Disk Check from installer Command line.

Reset the BIOS to optimal defaults: Clear CMOS - 3 Ways to Clear the CMOS - Reset BIOS

Unplug all peripherals.

 

[Jim15]

I've given you the steps which can repair Win7 or overcome this installation error, which have worked hundreds of times before here. Go back over the thread and work through all the steps given and don't skip any this time if you want to get it resolved.

Try the other ISO, both with DVD and USB install.

Try wiping the HD: SSD - HDD Optimize for Windows Reinstallation.
Test the HD with maker's diagnostics/repair full CD scan: HD Diagnostic followed by Disk Check from installer Command line.

Reset the BIOS to optimal defaults: Clear CMOS - 3 Ways to Clear the CMOS - Reset BIOS

Unplug all peripherals.

Well I suppose there's no other choice then. Alright, I'll get to those steps and update what has happened as I do them, thanks.

 

[Jim15]

I may have figured out the problem with the drivers. I don't think I've been downloading the full isos. Initially, both said they'd be around 3 GB large. The first ISO is only 2 GB, while the second doesn't even reach one GB. I think this may be because Google chrome's downloader is garbage. I'm going to try my luck with IE.

... sorry if it seems like I'm dodging your advice gregrocker, but I just can't go through any more of that stuff. I just want this to be over.

 

[gregrocker]

Your ISO should be at least close to 3gb.

The error is almost always an installer problem and this is it.

 

[Jim15]

Your ISO's should be at least 2.34 gb

Yep, that confirms it then. For some reason, google chrome's installer just stopped abruptly. Very odd because it's the first time I've had that happen.

If there's any justice in this world, maybe IE will get the job done and download the full iso.

8 hour long download... wonderful. lol

 

[gregrocker]

Get some sleep while it downloads, then write to stick and do the clean reinstall.

Here the steps again to get a perfect reinstall: Reinstalling Windows 7

If you're feeling frustrated, imagine how I feel when I spent an hour this morning typing up the steps to recover your WIn7 only to have you say you didnt' need them but were going to reinstall.

In that same time I normally would help several others fix their OS's or get Win7 installed.

I'm curious Jim15: Are you 15 years old?

 

[Jim15]

Get some sleep while it downloads, then write to stick and do the clean reinstall.

Here the steps to get a perfect reinstall: Reinstalling Windows 7

If you're feeling frustrated, imaging how I feel when I spent an hour this morning typing up the steps to recover your WIn7 only to have you say you didnt' need them but were going to reinstall.

In that same time I normally would help several others fix their OS's or get Win7 installed.

Are you 15 years old?

I can sympathize with what you're saying, but you wrote those things when clearly I was following what someone else was saying at the time. How can you seriously be blaming me for that? Be reasonable.

And now you're resorting to petty insults like that? What's the point? If you feel like you're wasting your time on me, I'm sure SlasherIT will help me out when he logs back on.

 

[gregrocker]

I didn't mean to be insulting at all. Your screename is Jim15 so why would someone NOT think you are that age. I have helped several that young and had some really good results. I stayed up all night with Mitch in Sydney doing a complicated partitioning operation which he pulled off with flying colors, only at the end finding out he was 14.

We have a team approach here. I didn't know you were following someone else and not wanting my help. I had helped solve those same repair issues at least a huindred times so can use the steps again anyway. Most are glad to have all the help they can get from the senior Guru's here. We have a rating system based on reputation which you can see at the left.