Can Install 32 bit; cannot install 64 bit version

[wallyinnc]

Hi, I have just built a computer and I am trying to install Windows 7 64 RC 7100. I already instaled Windows 7 on another PC (on a partition to be precise) and it works fine. I used the same DVD (so it should be a good one) but when I try to boot from it on the new computer, it says it is copying windows files, then goes to the "Starting Windows" screen and stays there. Everything stops, no HD or DVD activity, and the USB LED turns off

I replaced all components on this build with the ones I have on my older computer where Win7 works, no success. I put the new HD in the old build and installed Win7 on it succesfully. When I plugged it on the new M4A78 plus, it hangs as well (I intended to do a repair installation, I cleaned most of the drives before I swapped computers)

I installed XP32 and Win7 32 on this build and they work fine, so I don't think there is a HW problem, but some incompatibility. I bdownloaded iso from MS directly and burned 3 copies at low speed, no difference
I wrote to Asus but they said they cannot supportr Win7 yet. Called them and they told me to call Microsoft. ... Yeah... right....

Any suggestions?

My configuration:
RC 7100 downloaded from MS and burnt at slowest speed
MoBo Asus M4a78 Plus
AMD 4200+ (taken from the old computer, worked fine)
4G DDR2 800Mhz Patriot (tested for 5 hours with Memtest, OK. I tried with 2G only and with 1G stick as well)
ATI Radeon HD4550 (works on the old computer. I also tried with GeForce 9500, no difference)
HD Western Digital 320G SATA (new, installed Win7 64 on it in the other machine)

Thanks

 

[zigzag3143]

Install Prob

Hi, I have just built a computer and I am trying to install Windows 7 64 RC 7100. I already instaled Windows 7 on another PC (on a partition to be precise) and it works fine. I used the same DVD (so it should be a good one) but when I try to boot from it on the new computer, it says it is copying windows files, then goes to the "Starting Windows" screen and stays there. Everything stops, no HD or DVD activity, and the USB LED turns off

I replaced all components on this build with the ones I have on my older computer where Win7 works, no success. I put the new HD in the old build and installed Win7 on it succesfully. When I plugged it on the new M4A78 plus, it hangs as well (I intended to do a repair installation, I cleaned most of the drives before I swapped computers)

I installed XP32 and Win7 32 on this build and they work fine, so I don't think there is a HW problem, but some incompatibility. I bdownloaded iso from MS directly and burned 3 copies at low speed, no difference
I wrote to Asus but they said they cannot supportr Win7 yet. Called them and they told me to call Microsoft. ... Yeah... right....

Any suggestions?

My configuration:
RC 7100 downloaded from MS and burnt at slowest speed
MoBo Asus M4a78 Plus
AMD 4200+ (taken from the old computer, worked fine)
4G DDR2 800Mhz Patriot (tested for 5 hours with Memtest, OK. I tried with 2G only and with 1G stick as well)
ATI Radeon HD4550 (works on the old computer. I also tried with GeForce 9500, no difference)
HD Western Digital 320G SATA (new, installed Win7 64 on it in the other machine)

Thanks

Maybe bios setting like max mem, legacy floppy support, or # of cpus. All should be unchecked

Hope this helps

Ken

 

[Snives]

Also check for ACPI XSDT Table settings in your BIOS while you are at it They are only used in 64 bit installs so it is likely disabled.

If all else fails... Give it time. I have installed W7 on 5 machines so far, and only the one I'm currently on has ever had problems with it. The install on this machine took several hours, with each "Starting Windows" screen with the colored window taking upwards of 30mins+ to progress, all the while the system seemed idle although it did eventually finish. To test this just simply start it before you call it a day and leave it sit over night

 

[wallyinnc]

Thank you zigzag, thank you Snives
I forgot to say I have played a lot with the BIOS as well. I have tried several options and have disabled everything not being used for installation. I also tried plugging the monitor to the VGA port. I have left it for several hours sitting there before and nothing.
Having said that, your other suggestions I had not tried yet. Unfortunately, zigzag, there are no options for max mem, legacy floppy support, or # of cpus. Snives, I enabled ACPI 2.0 (ACPI APCI was enabled) but it didn't help. It is right now stuck at the "Starting Windows" screen. I will leave it anyway, probably overnight and see what happens. Oh, I never get the colored window, it stops before that.
I suspect I need to slipstream the drivers for the video card in my installation CD. I just started reading about it, if yuo have any hint about, it is much appreciated.
Thanks anyway, and any other pointer is much welcome

Wally

 

[AndyA]

I had a similar problem when I bought a new system and tried to install 64 bit Vista on it, my problem turned out to be a fault with the dvd drive (which was also brand new), I bought a new drive (about £20) and that solved the issue. Do you have another drive to try ?

 

[wallyinnc]

Thanks AndyA
I tried that. Both the IDE drive from my other computer as well as a SATA drive I bought anew. No success...

 

[wallyinnc]

I could start installation in safe mode and see that it hangs aftyer loading "disk.sys".
any help is much appreciated

 

[kaninelupus]

Have you applied any BIOS updates available?? I know with my ASUS notebook, upgrades to the BIOS were required to ensure full x64 rollout - even though everything else was x64 capable. Did that and everything ran just fine.

 

[wallyinnc]

Thanks Kaninelupus
Yes, I am using the most recent BIOS from ASUS. I check regularly to see if they publish another one that could help, so far nothing

 

[datter]

Did you ever find a resolution to this? I'm dealing with the same thing... hangs at "Starting Windows" during install, or at "disk.sys" if I try through safe mode.

 

[kaninelupus]

I installed XP32 and Win7 32 on this build and they work fine, so I don't think there is a HW problem, but some incompatibility. I bdownloaded iso from MS directly and burned 3 copies at low speed, no difference
I wrote to Asus but they said they cannot supportr Win7 yet. Called them and they told me to call Microsoft. ... Yeah... right....

Just as a tip, question them again, but tell them you are trying to install VISTA x64 (as should be the same)... then you should get their help

 

[zigzag3143]

Did you ever find a resolution to this? I'm dealing with the same thing... hangs at "Starting Windows" during install, or at "disk.sys" if I try through safe mode.

I dont know if this was suggested but try pulling all but 1gig of ram, and then try to install. we could also use info on the HD.

Thanks

Ken

 

[Kari]

Was talking with a pal just now over a cup of cappuccino, he had precisely the same problem, also with an Athlon 64 X2 processor (3800+). Solution was to remove second RAM (he had two * 2 gig) and ALL EXTERNAL DEVICES (printer, USB HD and DVD).

After succesfull installation he had just reconnected external devices and second RAM, everything works.

 

[zigzag3143]

Was talking with a pal just now over a cup of cappuccino, he had precisely the same problem, also with an Athlon 64 X2 processor (3800+). Solution was to remove second RAM (he had two * 2 gig) and ALL EXTERNAL DEVICES (printer, USB HD and DVD).

After succesfull installation he had just reconnected external devices and second RAM, everything works.

Cant imagine why it works just know it does. Glad you and your friend are working

Ken

 

[wallyinnc]

Datter, I haev not. I coudl get Asus' attention by posting a bad review at Newegg (I think it is called "coercion" ... and they contacted me via email (and a voice mail I returned but can't get them to call again) and the technician said he succesfully installed Win7x64 on a M4A78 plus, showing me the screen shots to prove. Nice and dandy, but doesn't solve my problem. He offered to test my board itself, but they stopped responding when I asked where to send it. Maybe I need to post yet another review...

In the meantime I tried other things (I had already tried with 1x2G stick and 1x1G stick from the other computer that runs Win7x64, tested memory extensively with Memtest, no difference). I installed and ran Windows PE (Vista based, Win7 based won't work eithe, it is definitely relatd to Win7). Under the WinPE nvironment I could run the setup and had a Win7x64 in one of my drives. Guess what, it doesn't boot! it stops at the very same spot. I also tried a VHD, same story (at one point I had 7 distinct instances of Win7 installed, only the x86 working). I tried to replace the boot.bin file in the Win7 ISO file, since that is known to cause problems (see UNAWAVE - Code 5 Error whilst booting Windows 7 DVD), but it gives me an error when booting, I don't have a Vista 64 boot.ini I can use, so my resulting DVD was not good.

I've just about given up. I removed all "attempts" from my drive (I left one just in case) and I am running Win7x86. I wanted to be able to use more memory, but it is not looking worth it anymore. If Asus will take this board back and replace it I will do. I won't send it back for testing, I am afraid I will end up with the same board and a few dollars shorter on shipping charges (I already have more than 10 useless installation DVDs with every configuration you can think of)

Datter, what is your system's configuration? Maybe we can find some sense in the common elements. Although I have seen posts about this problem in very different systems.

Thanks evrybody for trying to help so far.

 

[wallyinnc]

Just as a tip, question them again, but tell them you are trying to install VISTA x64 (as should be the same)... then you should get their help

Thanks Kanineplus. See my other post, I coerced them to talk to me, no help yet. I had called them and said that I was installing Vista, but that technician sonded even offended by my question, saying "there is no way" the problem is with the motherboard. He was the one telling me to call Microsoft. I can even imagine: "hey Mr. Gates, this piece of software of yours doesn't work on my computer, you better change it..."

 

[Kari]

Wallyinc, have you really tried to install it with minimum hardware configuration? Like zigzag3143 earlier suggested, leave RAM to slot 0 and take all other RAM out. Disconnect all external devices, even second display if you have it. Leave only mouse and keyboard. Make a clean install. (And get a Jamaican voodoo-doll of Bill Gates, put one needle in dolls heart and another to genitals. It don´t help but it gives you the right mood to continue fighting with install!)

I am very sorry you have so big problems, can not think anything else.

 

[wallyinnc]

Thanks Kari
that is basically what I did. I tried the memory in every slot. disabled everything else but keyboard and mouse and only one monitor (which I tried in both DVI and the VGA (or whatever it is called)
I used a Brazilian voodoo doll...

 

[Kari]

Have you changed your BIOS settings? The only things coming to my mind which could (?) help you are.
1) If you have changed your BIOS settings, reset BIOS to factory settings
2) If you have not updated your BIOS lately, do it now
3) completely wipe and format your hard disk
4) Use only basic hardware setup when doing a clean install, i.e. no USB or Firewire devices except possible mouse and KB

When it is still not working, it is (in my opinion) a driver issue and you should install 32-bit version.

Kari

P.S.

Cant imagine why it works just know it does.

Ken

Funny, I had never thought that it works but I have to believe, because of what Ken (zigzag3143) told here and what my friend told about his own experience. I say funny because isn´t this capability to use more RAM than 3 megs one of the reasons to install a 64-bit version?

 

[zigzag3143]

Thanks Kari
that is basically what I did. I tried the memory in every slot. disabled everything else but keyboard and mouse and only one monitor (which I tried in both DVI and the VGA (or whatever it is called)
I used a Brazilian voodoo doll...

Wally

I can only think of two things that would effect this. the BIOS, and the ISo image. Im just wondering what IM missing

Ken