Solved Windows 7 Restore/Install Error

[bgrantIII]

I have a Toshiba Satellite A-215, all original hardware, that I was trying to do a restore on yesterday before I gave it to my friend. Well it was nearing the end of the installation progress, but had seemed to have stalled, when the computer got unplugged. That was very bad because the battery in it is shot and it will only run on AC power.
So it shut off during the install. I start it back up and I get this error:
"The computer restarted unexpectedly or encountered and unexpected error. Windows installation cannot proceed. To install Windows, click "OK" to restart the computer, and the restart installation."

I press okay and it restarts and gives the same error. I repeated this cycle a dozen times with no variance in the outcome. I tried putting in a BIOS disk and the original Vista disk that came with it. Nothing is making a difference. What should I do?

 

[mohammadzeitoun]

You might be using a Raid driver that will not support 7 try to change setting from bios

 

[bgrantIII]

Well how do I go about that because I don't have an opportunity to do anything? As soon as the computer boots it says it checking something then brings up the error.

 

[gregrocker]

This is why it's best to make the Recovery Disks, run Recovery from its partition on HD first, then if it fails you have the disks as a secondary backup method to run it again.

If not then you can Clean Reinstall - Factory OEM Windows 7 the licensed version with the Product Key on bottom of laptop. Everything you need is provided in the tutorial including the disk and steps which will result in a perfect install for as long as you stick with the tools and methods given.

 

[bgrantIII]

I have put a Windows 32bit recovery on a USB and booted from it but the only thing it did was sit on a black screen. If I boot the computer up normally it tells me bootmgr is missing. I tried to use the recovery partition but I can't get it to come up by the instructions from Toshiba so I'm guessing it doesn't have one. I just burned the same Windows 7 32bit to a disc so I will see if that works.
If Vista is what come on the machine do I need to recover to it or can I recover to 7 since that's most recently installed on it?

Edit: I was told that to recover the machine from it's current (broken) state I would have to recover with the factory OS which is Vista. I am having a very difficult time finding a downloadable recovery disc for Vista, so If I download this would I be able to recover with it?

 

[gregrocker]

If you have a license for Win7 which you'd installed on there, then use it to Clean Reinstall - Factory OEM Windows 7.

If you prefer to go back to the Vista version which is on the COA sticker and its key is still readable then follow the same steps above but use Vista ISO download

 

[bgrantIII]

I was finally able to get Windows 7 to install but now it isn't accepting my key. The same key that I used to set up the OS the first time. Any idea why?

 

[gregrocker]

Is this Win7 Upgrade version? If so you may need to skip the key during install then afterwards do the Option 3 workaround given in Clean Install with a Upgrade Windows 7 Version to activate Upgrade version on a new or cleaned HD.

Otherwise the problem is almost always inputting an incorrect character.

If failure persists post back the exact error message or use How To Activate Windows 7 by Phone Step-by-Step Guide

 

[bgrantIII]

I believe the Windows 7 I have is an upgrade version.
I don't recall seeing an option to skip the key input but I will look again when I get home.

 

[gregrocker]

If there is no Skip button then leave the key field blank. You can skip the key during install.

Was the HD wiped? Normally when booted the installer will see an OS to allow use of Upgrade version key. So if you inputted the key and it took it then that is not the issue. More likely it is incorrect characters.

What is the error messge exactly?

 

[bgrantIII]

I'm not sure if the drive got wiped but I definitely couldn't get it to do anything before the install. Although when I did the install it asked me if I wanted to upgrade or new install and I picked new install. If I have the upgrade version should I just install it again an pick upgrade this time?
The characters were right, I say this because I triple checked it a couple of times and input them a single character at a time.
The message just says the product key is invalid.

 

[gregrocker]

No, the Upgrade button is only to do an in-place Upgrade from Vista which is not what you want. It would also not affect how the Product key is accepted.

Go ahead and try the Option 3 workaround in tutorial.

Where did you get Win7? Is this a boxed retail disk with COA key on card insert?

Are you using the disk which came with it or did you download another? Are you sure you installed the correct licensed version as shown on COA sticker?

 

[bgrantIII]

I got 7 a few years ago but I didn't get a hard copy. I got the digital download which was being offered through my school at a super good student discount with the option to make spare disc and so I am working off of that spare disc now. I am using the code that was provided to me at the time of the download.
Because I had multiple machines in my house I got the license for multiple machines and I installed 7 on my wife's computer with the same disc and using the same code that I am using now and it worked perfectly fine.
The whole reason I got into this was because I got a new computer and I am giving this one to a computerless friend of mine so I wanted to get everything off of there so he would basically have a factory new computer.

On a side, kind of unrelated note; I tried to use the recovery partition on both this machine and my wife's (Both Toshiba Satellite A215-S7422s) and it would never come up so I figured it wasn't there but while doing the install yesterday I was asked which partition to use and the two given were the regular partition and what seemed like the 1.5 GB recovery partition. Why could I not get the recovery partition to work. I followed the instructions for the computer model which is to hold "0" while the computer is booting.

 

[gregrocker]

I'm not aware of any Student offers for Win7 that come with multiple license keys, only Home Premium Family 3-pack Upgrade. If you'd provide the requested error message we can better interpret it but it may be already activated on another machine from what you say.

It appears the Recovery partition isn't functioning. Try it again following the steps here: Toshiba HDD Recovery Utility.
If it won't run try setting it Active then reboot and try again: Partition - Mark as Active
If you need to change it back to Inactive to boot Win7 use the Command Line on DVD System Recovery Options to Mark Partition as Inactive - Windows 7 Forums

If Recovery will not in fact run at all then you can delete that partition and recover the space in Disk Mgmt or during reinstall: Partition or Volume - Delete
Partition or Volume - Extend

What I would do if you are using a one-license Student version which isn't transferable anyway is reinstall the licensed version of Vista using the Product Key on the COA sticker on machine with ISO provided here burned to DVD using ImgBurn at 4x speed: Vista ISO download

 

[bgrantIII]

I won't be able provide you with the exact message until I get home this evening. I can tell you though that it isn't popping up an "error" message it just simply highlights the key and says that it is invalid. Once I get home I will give all the above listed things a go. Thank you for being patient with me and also for being so helpful.

 

[gregrocker]

Can you also confirm that this key is already activating another PC, if necessary auditing it from the HD using Belarc Advisor to compare and confirm? This might also draw your attention to a character that is being interpreted incorrectly. For example on some MS COA's a B looks a lot like an 8.

 

[bgrantIII]

I definitely used the same key on my wife's computer right after I installed it on mine and it installed without any problems.
I will take a picture of the screen when I am having the issue. I will also use that tool on her machine to confirm the key.
If the issue is happening because the license is on another computer then I don't understand why I was able to install it on a second machine to begin with.

 

[gregrocker]

Do you have any link to the original download or offer, since I think we would have heard about any multiple-license student offer besides retail Home Premium Upgrade 3-pack.

It's possible the second activation was a one-off anomaly. Someone else may know more.

Student offers aren't transferable anyway, so your best option is to reinstall the licensed Vista.

 

[bgrantIII]

Like I said I downloaded it a few years ago so I don't have any of that. I figured it was okay to use it on multiple machines in my house.
If I have to, I will just put vista back on it with the ISO you linked.

 

[gregrocker]

Vista isn't that bad now with Win7 advancements which were Service Packed into it. Stick with the same steps to get a perfect Clean Reinstall - Factory OEM Windows 7