Solved Windows 7 installation hangs at "Completing Installation” - I’m at my

[Slackjaw190]

Windows 7 installation hangs at "Completing Installation” - I’m at my

Comp Spec

CPU – E6600
GPU-ATI 4780
MB - Gigabyte 965P-DS3P (rev 3.3 I think although manual says 2.0)
Ram - GeIL 2GB (2x1GB) DDR2 PC2-6400C4 800MHz

What should have been a straight forward installation of a new SSD (that I have done before) has turned into a nightmare.

First of all I attached the hardrive and installed windows 7 without a hitch. Then for some reason the installation got corrupted (I think in my haste I restarted the comp while it was installing a million updates). No problem I thought, I’ll format the hdd and install it again. This is where things started to go wrong.


First of all I got the bootmgr missing error when trying to install from the disk so I created a bootable usb pen and everything seemed to be going fine, however when the system reboots it hangs on completing Installation and after 5 mins or so I get the BSoD (restarts too quick of me to read) and the comp restarts. I’ve spent hours/days trawling the forums and trying various fixes but none seem to work for me




What I’ve tried

- AHCI is enabled
- Swapped an usb keyboard for an old one (whatever they’re called)
- Disconnected everything when window reinstall during installation that I can (keyboard, mouse
- Disconected everything I Can from the MB – wireless adapter, 3 sticks of ram (Left with 1 stick of 1GB), optical drive
- Swapped gfx cards
- Booted in safe mode as far as I could and tried to disable the VGA display adapters.
- Run RAM tests – passed also running at the recommended voltage of 2.1
- Used Intels toolbox to run a drive diagnostic scan – all fine.
- Run dban to fully clear the hdd
- Tried installing drivers during W7 installation
- Typing start explorer.exe in the cmd box
- Every SATA port

I really don’t know what else to try. An hour before Windows installed flawlessly on the same drive. Also if I reset bios defaults and plug the old hdd back in the computer boots and runs fine.

Any suggestions?

 

[gregrocker]

Unplug all other HD's and peripherals,

Boot into BIOS setup, reset to defaults, save changes. Next if an EFI BIOS, enable Legacy BIOS, set DVD drive first to boot, HD second. Then set SATA controller to AHCI. Save changes and Exit.

Then boot into installer DVD or flash stick burned or written using tool and latest ISO for your licensed OS version here.

At first installer screen Press Shift + F10 to open a Command Box, type:

DISKPART
LIST DISK
SELECT DISK 0 (after confirming Windows 7 target HD #)
CLEAN
CREATE PARTITION PRIMARY SIZE=102400 (for 100gb partition, adjust as desired)
FORMAT FS=NTFS LABEL="WINDOWS 7"
ACTIVE
EXIT
EXIT

Next click Install Now, then Custom install to Clean Install Windows 7 to the partition you created. If it fails then report back at which step and the verbatim error message.

In addition read over these steps to understand the tools and methods which work best to get and maintain a perfect Clean Reinstall - Factory OEM Windows 7. The steps are the same for retail.

After install you can adjust partition size or Create new partitions for data, etc. in Disk Mgmt. We are creating the partition here to mark it Active which overcomes certain install failures.

 

[Slackjaw190]

Hi,
Thanks for the reply.
Still doesn’t seem to work. I followed your instructions and I still get exactly the same problem. The only bit I couldn't do was put the "" bits in "WINDOWS 7" as the default keyboard layout seems to be US and I couldn't find them.

 

[pebbly]

Hi Slackjaw190, Try shift +@ that should give you the quotation marks ,once you are up and running you can set your keyboard to English UK

 

[Slackjaw190]

Thanks,

Still didn't make any difference though

 

[pebbly]

Hi slackjaw190 have a look here http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/149969-ssd-install-transfer-operating-system.html see if you can do it this way

 

[gregrocker]

Do you have an EFI mobo? It doesn't say so in the online specs.

Test your RAM - Test with Memtest86+ for 5-6 passes or overnight.

Test your HD using maker's HD Diagnostic extended CD scan.

Double check cables and connections.

Next move HD to another PC alone to install, run SysPrep to move HD to another computer then return it to problem PC to try starting it.

 

[Slackjaw190]

Thanks for the suggestions guys.

I'll give the SysPrep method ago before transferring it.

I need more time then I got atm as it looks quite complicated. Is it method 2 I need?

ty

Slack

 

[gregrocker]

An easier method is using Paragon Virtualization Manager.

SIW2 knows a way to write it to bootable CD so it performs like Paragon Adaptive Restore CD which is no longer available except for those of us who have a copy.

 

[Slackjaw190]

Before I start, as I can't seem to find a dummies guide to Paragon

I put the SDD into my other comp and disconnect all of its current hdds

Install Windows 7

Install Paragon and run the ‘Adjust to different hardware’ option

Pick Windows 7 Pro

Switch off comp and reinsert hdd to other com that Windows wouldn’t install on and it will work?

 

[gregrocker]

As far as I know the Paragon Virtualization PNP Adjust operation to adjust Win7 to boot on different hardware needs to be done on new hardware. This is why I said you may need to find a way to put the app on a CD as it was in it's earlier Paragon Adaptive Restore form.

But since we are allowed to link to Partition Wizard's older freeware version 4.2 CD to non-destructively convert Dynamic disks back to basic, here is a download link to the older freeware Paragon Adaptive Restore CD ISO to have it in bootable CD form. Boot on target hardware to run PNP Adapt, providing drivers if prompted.

 

[Slackjaw190]

I'll have a go tomoz, looks rather confusing to me atm.

I managed to get a screen shot/photo of the BSOD message if it helps.

 

[Golden]

Hi,

I have seen an instance where the 0x00F4 stop code was fixed by updating the firmware of the SSD (in this case it was a Crucial). I recommend checking to see if a firmware is available for your SSD....what type is it?).

http://forums.majorgeeks.com/showthread.php?t=271137

Regards,
Golden

 

[Slackjaw190]

It's an Intel 520 120GB.

According to Intel Toolbox the Firmware is up to date

 

[Slackjaw190]

It works.

After hours/day of frustration I’m in
I don’t really know how but I just thought I could try a few basic things. I used a different cable and inserted it in the pink (Intel?) SATA port (think I’ve tried this before however)
Guess what it installsJ
Thanks for all your help and suggestions guys.

 

[Golden]

 

[gregrocker]

From a day ago:

Do you have an EFI mobo? It doesn't say so in the online specs.

Test your RAM - Test with Memtest86+ for 5-6 passes or overnight.

Test your HD using maker's HD Diagnostic extended CD scan.

Double check cables and connections.

Next move HD to another PC alone to install, run SysPrep to move HD to another computer then return it to problem PC to try starting it.

 

[Slackjaw190]

Very true gregrocker.

I had reinserted the cable many times, but never tried a different cable(don't forget I did have a sucessful installation) and I had never tried the Intel SATA port as the yellow ones are recommended.