difficulty installing win7 64bit via USB key

[valjo]

I was trying to install Win 7 64 bit by the DVD but it froze at "Starting Window" so I followed the tutorial on copying and installing by a USB key. Now if I make the USB key first boot priority it does not install at all and if I make the UEFI USB key the priority it comes up with the Shell prompt. How do I proceed from here. I imagine I put the directory after the Shell p[rompt but I must be entering it incorrectly.

Thanks

 

[Saltgrass]

A little more description about what messages you may be getting could be helpful, but it doesn't sound like the USB key is set up correctly. Did you use the tutorial here?

Did you try booting to the UEFI version of the Install DVD?

 

[gregrocker]

Did you follow these steps if installing to GPT disk in EFI mode? UEFI (Unified Extensible Firmware Interface) - Install Windows 7 with - Windows 7 Forums

If you want to install to normal MBR disk then remove EFI Boot Disk from BIOS boot order or enable BIOS Legacy mode, wipe the HD with Diskpart Clean Command followed by command "Convert MBR" to install.

For flash stick install use Universal USB Installer with Win7 in dropdown menu, after extracting ISO from DVD using ImgBurn. Clean Reinstall - Factory OEM Windows 7

 

[valjo]

I tried the following -

1. I tried to install the OS from the DVD (without UEFI). I got just a blank screen with blinking cursor.
2. I tried to install the OS from the DVD (with UEFI). I got as far as the screen that said "Starting Windows" but it then froze before the 4 Windows colors appeared.
3. I copied the OS files from the DVD to a USB key following the tutorial from this website.
4. I then tried installing the OS from the USB key (without UEFI). I got a blank screen with blinking cursor.
5. Finally I tried installing the OS from the USB key (with UEFI). I got the DOS type screen with the "Shell" prompt.

That is as far as I have gone.

Along the way I tried all of the above by removing various components such as HDD, SSD USB key for keyboard and mouse (and used the old fashioned keyboard). I also made sure the MSI replacement for the BIOS screen showed USB legacy as "enabled". It is my understanding that if I get the MSI screen for the settings rather than a traditional BIOS screen then the mainboard is UEFI enabled anyway. I also tried the graphics screen in another computer and it worked fine.

I have not, at any time, formatted either the HDD or the SSD. They are straight out of the box. Finally, I removed the mainboard and CPU and put them back in again to make sure they were seated properly.

 

[Saltgrass]

I supppose I will ask where the original install media came from?

If you burned it yourself, perhaps you could try reburning at a slower speed if you can.. You may even want to re-download it if it was originally.

Maybe try taking out some of the memory to see if you can get it working.

 

[valjo]

I purchased the OS DVD from the same component retailer I purchased the components from. It is an official legitimate Microsoft OS DVD.

I took out all the memory modules except one. Then I exchanged the modules in slot number 1 but the problem still exists.

I will review the message from 'Gregrocker" now and come back to you.

 

[gregrocker]

Installation is complicated with an EFI BIOS.

You need to decide if you want to install to a GPT disk (unlimited partitions of any size) or MBR disk and then use the steps I gave you to install for either of those choices.

 

[valjo]

Thanks to Gregrocker

I shall go through the steps you have listed in your posts and let you know the outcome.

 

[Saltgrass]

Installation is not complicated with a UEFI bios. Since it will install with whatever you boot to, it is not involved in your situation...

 

[gregrocker]

So is there a way to avoid these complicated steps, Saltgrass? UEFI (Unified Extensible Firmware Interface) - Install Windows 7 with - Windows 7 Forums

The only alternative I'm aware of thusfar is to remove EFI boot disk or enable Legacy BIOS to install per normal to an MBR disk.

How is an EFI install done easily?

 

[Saltgrass]

If the OP's problems involved UEFI, a configuration error would have been generated when trying to set up a drive. He also tried both versions.

Since it was not, I must assume the problem is a hardware one. UEFI is only the bios, not the OS. If it loads all the files, but is not able to start Windows, perhaps running the Windows 7 compatibility checker might help.

Again gregrocker, a system defaults to a particular boot version. All of mine default to a MBR install. The Install will take care of whether the drive is configured as GPT or MBR. But, of course, there are situations that might alter the normal install.

 

[Saltgrass]

If you have the 32 bit version of Windows 7 available, you might try that. It would help with possible driver problems, media, and any UEFI involvement since the 32 bit version does not have UEFI capability.

 

[valjo]

Thanks to you both for your comments. I have tried everything you all suggested but to no avail. I have tried both within the UEF Interface and in legacy Bios but it won't insall past the message "Starting Windows". There is just one more thing to try before I move on to something else. In Step 1 of the tutorial called "How to Install Windows 7 Using UEFI" there is a comment about putting the directory of the file cdboot.efi at the Shell Dos prompt. Can anyone tell me how to put this in please. I can easily get to the Shell prompt via the boot priority of "Launch from EFI shell" but I don't know the command lines to enter to tell it to search for the *.efi file .

If that doesn't work then I have come to the conclusion the problem does not lie within UEFI. I have also tried all sorts of combinations of hardware and put the components in other computers to prove they work so I am thinking it must be either a faulty Installation disc or a faulty mainboard or CPU. If I have to start down this path I will start with the cheapest component first and that is the installation disc.

If someone can give me some clues on the command to put in at the Shell prompt I would be eternally grateful.

Cheers
Valjo

 

[kegobeer]

Check out the link in my signature for instructions on how to install Windows under EFI.

 

[gregrocker]

If you are installing in Legacy mode with no EFI Boot Disk in the BIOS boot order, but instead have the DVD/USB or HD drive set first to boot, then we can help you troubleshoot the install normally.

Try wiping the HD with Diskpart Clean Command
from Win7 installer command line in System Recovery Options

Just to make sure follow the Clean command with the command Convert MBR, then Exit. Then try install.

If it fails define an NTFS Primary partition marked Active using Step 2.2. in SSD - HDD Optimize for Windows Reinstallation

Check in BIOS for SATA controller setting. Try AHCI first, then IDE mode.

Remove all but 2gb RAM to try install.

Report back results for more steps if necessary.

 

[Saltgrass]

Can anyone tell me how to put this in please. I can easily get to the Shell prompt via the boot priority of "Launch from EFI shell" but I don't know the command lines to enter to tell it to search for the *.efi file .

I am really surprised you are talking about the EFI shell. So you must be using something like shellx64.efi?

I have been running a UEFI system for 2 years, numerous installs and never had a need to us that, which I can launch from the bios.

The questions you are asking, along with the results you were getting earlier, make me think you are not using a normal Windows 7 install DVD... Can you tell us?

I can't look right now, but what chipset are you using?

 

[Saltgrass]

I tried the following -

5. Finally I tried installing the OS from the USB key (with UEFI). I got the DOS type screen with the "Shell" prompt.

I have been doing some research and thought this would be a good place to mention, making a bootable Flash Drive using the normal tutorial is not enough to be able to boot to the UEFI version. Even the Microsoft Windows 7 USB/DVD download tool will not make the flash drive UEFI bootable.

First, make sure you format the flash drive as FAT32, NTFS will not work.

Then you need two extra steps to get it to boot UEFI. One is create a folder named boot in the efi folder, so it will be efi\boot, then put a file called bootx64.efi in that folder.

To get the bootx64.efi file, you need to rename bootmgfw.efi to bootx64.efi.

You can get bootmgfw.efi from a normal Windows 7 x64 install from the Windows\boot\efi folder. Or you can use 7-zip to extract it from your flash drive in the sources\install.wim\1\Windows\Boot\EFI folder

 

[valjo]

Thanks for that. Some one else said the exact same thing a few hours ago and I am in the middle of that right now. When I originally generated the flash boot drive I used NTFS and did not generate the extra directories. I guess that is why it did not work. I will let you know how it goes.

Some one else also asked for my system details. I posted these when I registered with the forum. Look there and you should find. If you can't open that let me know and I will be happy to re-list the details for you. He also asked if I have a genuine Microsoft DVD or something else. I have always purchased genuine Microsoft CDs and DVDs and this one is no exception.

Cheers

 

[Saltgrass]

I hope we can get this thing working. But even though your install media is genuine, there still be some type of error with it. A scratch or fault in manufacturing can do strange things.

You comment earlier about "Shell" after trying to boot to the UEFI flash drive confused me. I was thinking UEFI shell...

 

[valjo]

Well I went through the process as suggested above and it at least got me to the same location that the DVD got me i.e. the screen that says "Starting Windows" and just before the 4 colors appear as a windows logo. To me it seems that, if there is a scratch or some fault on the DVD then that same fault has been transferred to the USB drive.

I think I will now buy another copy of the Microsoft Win 7 DVD. That is the cheapest of all options at this time. Hopefully I will hit the problem first up. Purchasing another copy of Win 7 in this part of the world can be a time consuming process. I have to order it from interstate. When it arrives next week I will come back to you to tell you if it solved the problem.