Can't do a fresh install of Windows 7.

[dsscottage]

My problem is that I am unable to do a fresh install of Windows 7 over and existing installation.

I've been working on this problem for over 2 weeks and can't make any progress. I won't bore you with all the details but here's a brief summary of the background:

-I'm working on an older computer that was being used as a back up.
-It had Win 7 Ultimate and Win XP installed in a dual boot arrangement
-After a Win 7 crash, the system wouldn't boot past the Boot Manger screen (it froze)
-After a lot of different attempts, It finally would boot to Win 7 but the Boot Manager screen was still frozen. (It timed out to Win 7)
-Win 7 operated like it was stuck in molasses (CPU usage at 100%)
-I removed Win XP and formatted that partition and using tutorials from this forum and changed the bootmgr to remove XP as a choice
-Win 7 boots but still runs like molasses.

I decided to give up and reinstall Windows.
-I have the BIOS set to boot first from the DVD drive, 2nd from the HDD
-When I try to boot from the Windows DVD, I get the message "Searching for boot record from CD"
-Then I get the message, "Press any key to boot from CD". I do this but the system still boots from the HDD to Win 7

I have attempted F11 & F12 from the POST screen but the system seems to ignore this and still boots to Win 7.

I have searched for suggestions but most recommend booting from a system restore disk or the Win 7 disk which doesn't work.

I suspect that my problem is a corrupted bootmgr file but I'm getting a little out of my depth here.

Does anyone have any suggestions on how I can force this system to boot from the DVD drive or to examine the bootmgr file is that is really the problem.

 

[AddRAM]

Can you get to a working PC with a cd burner ?

Make and use a Partition Wizard boot cd.

Boot from the cd.

Delete the entire drive down to unallocated space.

Then create a Primary Partition, then align, format and mark it active ( all done with PW cd)

Click apply in the top left corner.

Remove the cd, put your install disc in and restart the PC.

Use the 1 time boot menu key to bring up the boot menu and choose your cd/dvd drive.

Post your results.

Bootable Partition Manger | MiniTool Partition Wizard Bootable Edition

 

[dsscottage]

Can you get to a working PC with a cd burner ?

Make and use a Partition Wizard boot cd.

Boot from the cd.

Delete the entire drive down to unallocated space.

Then create a Primary Partition, then align, format and mark it active ( all done with PW cd)

Click apply in the top left corner.

Remove the cd, put your install disc in and restart the PC.

Use the 1 time boot menu key to bring up the boot menu and choose your cd/dvd drive.

Post your results.

Bootable Partition Manger | MiniTool Partition Wizard Bootable Edition

My problem is that I can't boot from the DVD/CD drive. I have a bootable DVD with partition magic on it but it won't boot. The computer insists on booting to Win 7 no matter what I do.

 

[AddRAM]

OK then you need to replace your dvd drive.

 

[dsscottage]

OK then you need to replace your dvd drive.

Well, maybe I'm missing something....

The DVD drive works. I can insert a DVD or CD, read the contents and open any file.

To me, it seems like Windows will not react to the boot information on the DVD.

 

[DavidE]

Test your boot-able CD/DVD discs on another PC and see if they work.

 

[AddRAM]

Well then, if you`re confident the dvd drive works, then you must have a bad installer.

Test your disc as David has suggested.

Or create a new one while you have a chance.

Microsoft DigitalRiver Mirror

Free ISO Burner

 

[dsscottage]

Well then, if you`re confident the dvd drive works, then you must have a bad installer.

Test your disc as David has suggested.

Or create a new one while you have a chance.

Microsoft DigitalRiver Mirror

Free ISO Burner

I've tested the disk on another system and it boots correctly.

I downloaded an ISO of Win 7 and burned it to a DVD using the DVD drive on the problem computer. It also won't boot on the problem computer but will boot on another computer.

Although I admit that I'm getting out of my depth, I believe that my problem is the bootloader (or start up process). I believe that I need to repair the startup. Here is what I'm experiencing that makes me believe that:
1. I have removed a dual boot using the guide in this forum. (Win 7 & XP)
2. When booting I still get the black dual boot screen but am unable to do anything on that screen. (Enter, Tab or arrow don't work. I have to wait until the screen times out to default.)
3. If I boot and press F11 or F12 at POST, it has no effect. The system still boots to Win 7.
4. If I press F8 during POST, I get the black screen with options for Safe mode, normal boot, etc. Again Enter, Tab or arrow keys are unresponsive. I have to wait until it times out to Win 7 boot.
5. I'm thrashing about looking for a solution so I ran the Win 7 disk setup file from Windows Explorer within Windows 7. When I tried to reinstall over the existing Windows on partition C, it failed and gave me a BSOD. Then I tried to install it in the empty partition F: and it installed correctly. Now, when I boot, I still get the black bootmgr screen (with 2 Win 7 options) but it is still unresponsive. It ultimately times out and boots to the new Windows on partition F: This new Windows on partition F works as it should. Interestingly enough, it created a "windows.old" file on the C partition:
6. When I look at the Disk Management console, the C drive is shown as active. Therefore, the old bootmgr file resides there and is likely still causing me the problem.

I've searched for "startup repair", "fix bootmgr" and similar search terms and every result tells me to boot to the Repair Console from the Windows DVD. I obviously can't do this.

If all of my assumptions are correct, I need to fix the startup process without a DVD boot. I'm tempted to delete the C partition from the Disk management console to see if that will allow me too boot from the Win 7 DVD and recreate the bootmger file.

Any thoughts on this line of logic?

 

[DavidE]

Can you get into your BIOS settings when booting the PC ?
You might need to do a BIOS reset.

Your specs show a Custom Build Desktop with W7 Ultimate.
Who built the PC and installed the OS ?

 

[AddRAM]

I don`t understand, if you delete the drive to unallocated space, there is no bootloader.

Maybe you should try the clean command, or try another drive.

And if you haven`t yet, set the bios to defaults (F5) as David has suggested.

 

[Layback Bear]

How old is your hard drive. (WDC WD1200JB-00CRA1 120 GB)?

If it was my compute I would start with a new SSD and cables.

 

[DavidE]

Or maybe even just disconnect the hard drive, and see if it will boot from the DVD when no HD is connected.

 

[Layback Bear]

David that is a very good, (or maybe).

 

[dsscottage]

Can you get into your BIOS settings when booting the PC ?
You might need to do a BIOS reset.

Your specs show a Custom Build Desktop with W7 Ultimate.
Who built the PC and installed the OS ?

One of the many things that I have done is to replace the MB battery. (I once received a strange error report that made it seem like the MB had forgotten the HD configuration.) Therefore, I replaced he battery and reset the BIOS to default.

How old is your hard drive. (WDC WD1200JB-00CRA1 120 GB)?

If it was my computer I would start with a new SSD and cables.

If this was my production computer, I would have done something like that. Actually, I did. I have previously replaced this computer with a newer model. Even that replacement has been replaced by an even newer model. The Win 7 computer that is giving me trouble is a backup computer that I use to test new software just to make sure that software doesn't screw up my production computer. As such, I'd rather not spend any significant amount of money on it. However, if I put a dollar value on my time, it probably would have been cheaper to replace the computer. Anyway, this is a challenge!

Or maybe even just disconnect the hard drive, and see if it will boot from the DVD when no HD is connected.

I like that idea! I'm going to try it and will post back.

 

[dsscottage]

This problem gets more curious by the moment!

As suggested, I disconnected the HDD and attempted to boot from the DVD drive. Here are the results:

1. Commercial OEM Windows XP CD:
Boots correctly

2. Bootable CD (with utilities originally burned on this computer)
Boots correctly...
...but accessing the utilities on this disk requires using the keyboard arrow keys to navigate. They don't work.

3. Bootable Win 7 DVD (This is my original Win 7 DVD. I had to download it when I upgraded from XP to Win 7)
-Boots correctly in another computer
-Will not boot on on my problem computer
-The DVD can be correctly read from Windows Explorer

4. New Bootabe Win 7 DVD (a few days ago this ISO was downloaded and burned to a DVD on the problem computer)
-Boots correctly in another computer
-Will not boot on on my problem computer
-The DVD can be correctly read from Windows Explorer

Therefore, it seems that I have two problems:
1. My problem computer will boot CDs but not DVDs
-I don't have a commercially produced bootable DVD to see if that would work.
-There is an EFI folder on both Win 7 DVDs. My computer does not have a UEFI BIOS. Is that the reason? If so, how can I make the DVD non EFI?

2. Once booted into a non-windows environment the keyboard keys doesn't work.
-The only thing I can think of is that there is some BIOS setting that was reset when I restored the default BIOS settings and that caused the keyboard to be inactive before Windows loads. I searched through all the BIOS setting and didn't see anything that would be obvious to enable the keyboard (it's a USB keyboard)

Any ideas?

 

[DavidE]

Can you try using a PS2 keyboard ?
You would need to have or borrow a PS2 keyboard, and have a PS2 keyboard port on the MB.

Your specs show
Motherboard AMI MS-6380E 1.0
I couldn't find anything to help for that MB, so i can't find a manual that might explain BIOS settings.
Did you check BIOS settings for something like Enable Legacy USB devices ?

Try Speccy and make sure it shows the same motherboard as your specs.
A portable version is available here:
Speccy - Builds

 

[dsscottage]

Can you try using a PS2 keyboard ?
You would need to have or borrow a PS2 keyboard, and have a PS2 keyboard port on the MB.

Your specs show
Motherboard AMI MS-6380E 1.0
I couldn't find anything to help for that MB, so i can't find a manual that might explain BIOS settings.
Did you check BIOS settings for something like Enable Legacy USB devices ?

Try Speccy and make sure it shows the same motherboard as your specs.
A portable version is available here:
Speccy - Builds

Problem 1:
Yup! That did it. The BIOS has an option called "USB Legacy Support". The options were "disabled" (default), "No Mice" and "all Devices". I set it to All Devices and now the keyboard works in the non-windows environment.
Thank-you, thank-you, thank-you!

I'm still left with problem #2 - A DVD will not boot in the DVD drive but a CD will.
I've been searching the net for terms like "booting UEFI DVD in a non-UEFI system". So far I haven't found anything that relates to my issue. Still looking.

Thank-you again!

 

[DavidE]

-There is an EFI folder on both Win 7 DVDs. My computer does not have a UEFI BIOS. Is that the reason? If so, how can I make the DVD non EFI?

I don't think the EFI folder on the DVD is the problem.
I have an EFI folder on my Win 7 Pro x64 w/SP1 disc, and it boots my Legacy MBR PC fine.

Just guessing, but i would look through BIOS settings, especially anything about Boot options.
The Bios reset changed one setting that you fixed, maybe there is another setting that needs to be changed.

Here is a pic of what i see on my Win 7 DVD in Windows Explorer.

 

[dsscottage]

-There is an EFI folder on both Win 7 DVDs. My computer does not have a UEFI BIOS. Is that the reason? If so, how can I make the DVD non EFI?

I don't think the EFI folder on the DVD is the problem.
I have an EFI folder on my Win 7 Pro x64 w/SP1 disc, and it boots my Legacy MBR PC fine.

Just guessing, but i would look through BIOS settings, especially anything about Boot options.
The Bios reset changed one setting that you fixed, maybe there is another setting that needs to be changed.

Here is a pic of what i see on my Win 7 DVD in Windows Explorer.

View attachment 381177

My disk folder structure is exactly the same.

I managed to get to another computer that does not have UEFI and the disk does boot on that computer.

Therefore, there has to be something in my configuration that is allowing a CD to boot but not a DVD.

Out of curiosity I took AddRAMs suggestion in the second post. I downloaded minitool partition and burned it to a DVD rather than a CD and it boots correctly.

Just to frustrate myself further, I copied the boot folder from the minitool partition DVD and all the files & folders from the Win 7 DVD (except Boot & EFI) and burned them to a DVD - didn't work.

I also looked at my BIOS again and can't see anything that looks like it might enable DVD booting.

My BIOS setup program is AMIBIOS Version 3.31a. I searched for a manual and found a few that were designed for other systems. Their settings were similar to mine but not exact. Even so, I didn't see anything that looked like it would solve the DVD boot issue.

 

[DavidE]

You could try creating a USB flash stick and see if that will boot / install Windows.
You need at least a 4 GB flash stick, and nothing on it that needs to be kept !

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/2432-usb-windows-7-installation-key-drive-create.html