Solved Windows 7 Install hangs after "Starting Windows" when booting from USB

[Taji34]

Windows 7 Install hangs after "Starting Windows" when booting from USB

Hello-

So recently my laptop started to act up; freezing, really long start-up times, etc. It's gotten to the point where I can't start windows. After some research, I've decided to run Disk Check and System File Checker from the Recovery Console to see if that helps with the problem. If not I am just going to do a clean install of windows 7.

I'm trying to boot the windows installation from a USB drive. I am doing this because the computer in question is the only one I have with a disk drive, so I can not burn an installation disk. I do not own an installation disk or a recovery disk, as the computer did not ship with one. I have integrated the USB 3.0 drivers I need into the installation, since the only USB 2.0 port on the computer is broken.

When I boot from the USB it gets past the "Starting windows" screen, and then hangs on a black screen with a cursor. I can move the cursor around, but no matter how long I wait, it does not progress past this point.

I have noticed, however, that I only encounter this problem when my Hard Drive is recognized in the bios. When I changed the bios settings to troubleshoot and my hard drive stopped being recognized in the bios, the USB booted up without a hitch, but since I couldn't see my hard drive, I couldn't do anything. I have since switch the settings back, my hard drive is once again recognized, and the problem is still happening.

Any ideas on why this would be happening, and how to fix it? If you need any more info, I will do my best to provide it. Thank you.

UPDATE: I burned a Windows Install dvd, and it hangs in the same place, so I can't complete an install or get to the recovery console. Could something with my hard drive be causing the boot from the USB and the DVD to fail? I restored my Bios to default settings, and put the cd/dvd drive to boot first.

 

[theog]

Check the hard drive with the manufacturer's diagnostic tools.
Hard Drive Diagnostics Tools and Utilities (Storage) - TACKtech Corp.
Hard Drive Diagnostic Procedure

   Information

We always assume you have made your Recovery Disks using the OEM manufacturer's Recovery Media Creator app the first day you had your new PC.
& made the Startup Repair CD.
startup repair disc-create
​

Did you make the OEM manufacturer's Recovery Disks?


How to use Dell Recovery Partition,make Recovery Disks & how to order Recovery Disks.
Manuals | Dell US
RouteTo
Dell - Support

 

[Taji34]

Check the hard drive with the manufacturer's diagnostic tools.
Hard Drive Diagnostics Tools and Utilities (Storage) - TACKtech Corp.
Hard Drive Diagnostic Procedure

   Information

We always assume you have made your Recovery Disks using the OEM manufacturer's Recovery Media Creator app the first day you had your new PC.
& made the Startup Repair CD.
startup repair disc-create
​

Did you make the OEM manufacturer's Recovery Disks?


How to use Dell Recovery Partition,make Recovery Disks & how to order Recovery Disks.
Manuals | Dell US
RouteTo
Dell - Support

No I did not make the OEM manufacturer's Recovery Disk. At the time, I didn't realize it had a recovery partition, and I just never got around to it. My concern right now is not with whether the hard drive is faulty or not, while I do plan to do what you suggested in addition to what I plan to do already, my main concern is why it seems to have problems booting from USB when my hard drive is recognized. I have been able to get access to a computer with a disk drive, so I am burning the windows 7 installation files to it see if it will boot from the dvd.

 

[gregrocker]

Unplug all other HD's and peripherals,

Boot into BIOS setup, reset to defaults, save changes. (If an EFI BIOS you'll need to decide if you want UEFI BIOS vs. Legacy BIOS. If UEFI follow these special steps for Install, otherwise enable Legacy BIOS or Compatibility Support Module to proceed with normal install.) Set DVD drive first to boot, HD second, set SATA controller to AHCI, Save changes and Exit.

Then boot into Windows 7 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, or enter System Recovery Options 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. You are creating the partition here for the purpose of wiping the HD and marking Active which overcomes certain install failures.

 

[Taji34]

UPDATE: I burned a Windows Install dvd, and it hangs in the same place, so I can't complete an install or get to the recovery console. Could something with my hard drive be causing the boot from the USB and the DVD to fail? I restored my Bios to default settings, and put the cd/dvd drive to boot first.

 

[Layback Bear]

I suggest going back to post #2 by theog.

 

[Taji34]

I suggest going back to post #2 by theog.

Alright, I am going to go through the hard drive diagnostics in post #2. However, if I still want to do a clean install of Windows 7, I need to fix the current problem. Could it be something with the hard drive that is causing the install disk to hang? I'll edit this post with updates on my progress after the hard drive diagnostics.

 

[Layback Bear]

Yes it could be. That why it was suggest to test the hard drive in post #2.

 

[Taji34]

Yes it could be. That why it was suggest to test the hard drive in post #2.

It seems I can't run the Toshiba diagnostic tool, because it needs to be run through MS-DOS, and DOS doesn't seem to see my hard drive, I tried to access drives a-z in dos, and nothing worked, any ideas? The Hard drive was visible in the boot menu.

 

[VistaKing]

Try this diagnostic test

:ar: http://www.hgst.com/hdd/support/downloads/dft32_v416_b00.iso

Burn the .iso file to a disc (CD-R) boot off the CD

Leave everything default . Follow the prompts

 

[Taji34]

Try this diagnostic test

:ar: http://www.hgst.com/hdd/support/downloads/dft32_v416_b00.iso

Burn the .iso file to a disc (CD-R) boot off the CD

Leave everything default . Follow the prompts

I did what you said, and it's stuck at "Detecting IDE Primary Master ...", does my hard drive have to be in a certain mode? Also I was able to get the model of my hard drive from the bios, it's a Toshiba MK6461GSY hard drive.

 

[VistaKing]

Can you press the S key to start the test or A for the Advanced test ?

 

[Taji34]

Can you press the S key to start the test or A for the Advanced test ?

Nope.

 

[VistaKing]

Do you any clicking noises coming from the hard drive ?

 

[Taji34]

I didn't hear any clicking until my fan turned on, which drowns everything out (It's been making a "gurgling" sound, but thats another issue that has been going on since long before the current hard drive issue). Also, The hard drive light on the computer blinks up until the point where it says "Detecting IDE Primary Master...", then it stops.

 

[VistaKing]

Do you have another PC you could test it on ?

 

[Taji34]

Do you have another PC you could test it on ?

Yes, I'll test it tomorrow to see if the same thing happens.

 

[VistaKing]

Unplug it from the PC the hard drive is in now and plug it to another PC . If its a SATA hard drive you could use the same cable that a SATA DVD is plugged into . You will need to have 2 DVD drives so you could boot off the DVD if one of the DVD drives is unplugged .

 

[Taji34]

Unplug it from the PC the hard drive is in now and plug it to another PC . If its a SATA hard drive you could use the same cable that a SATA DVD is plugged into . You will need to have 2 DVD drives so you could boot off the DVD if one of the DVD drives is unplugged .

Oh, I didn't think you meant that, sorry, in that case, no I don't have another computer to test it in.

 

[VistaKing]

How far do you get to the Diagnostic software ?