Stuck on "completing installation" on Windows 7 X64

[halomaster]

I've been browsing Google and these forums for ideas the last week as to why the the installation would hang at this point, but have found no solid answers that work. so far I've tried the following:
Unplugging all USB devices that aren't needed.
Updated Bios to the most recent version available and reset back to defaults.
Double check that all essential hardware is compatible with 64 bit ( the documentation I've found says that all of my hardware is ok).
Tried booting from DVD, burned at slowest speed.
Tried booting from USB.
Tried both 32 and 64 bit versions with the same results

Any Ideas to why Windows hangs at the "completing installation" point?

 

[zigzag3143]

I've been browsing Google and these forums for ideas the last week as to why the the installation would hang at this point, but have found no solid answers that work. so far I've tried the following:
Unplugging all USB devices that aren't needed.
Updated Bios to the most recent version available and reset back to defaults.
Double check that all essential hardware is compatible with 64 bit ( the documentation I've found says that all of my hardware is ok).
Tried booting from DVD, burned at slowest speed.
Tried booting from USB.
Tried both 32 and 64 bit versions with the same results

Any Ideas to why Windows hangs at the "completing installation" point?

RAID driver? Max mem or Max cpu checked. Has the dvd been successful in installing win 7 before?

 

[halomaster]

RAID driver? Max mem or Max cpu checked. Has the dvd been successful in installing win 7 before?

Negative on any of the previous attempts of installing Windows 7 with the DVD. This is my first installation experience with Windows 7, and so far it's just been a pain. I am not using RAID currently, I'm trying to just install on a single 750gig HDD.
I'm not sure what you were reffering to when you said " Max mem or Max cpu checked."

 

[halomaster]

After it restarts and returns to the "completing installation" screen, I can access command line by pressing ctrl+f10. I typed in "compmgmtlauncher" and went under my devices to find that I still had a single Unknown device. It was kicking back at me with "ACPI/ATK0110" but I'm not sure how to fix it. I was wondering if this unknown device was the a possible root of my problems?

 

[halomaster]

any ideas?

 

[halomaster]

Still haven't had any luck with this, have tried being plugged into the internet while installing, but nothing has helped so far. Any Ideas?

 

[karlsnooks]

Backup everything dear to your heart

Using DiskPart, wipe the hard disk clean.

To use DiskPart:
Set the Bios to boot first from the CD/DVD drive
Pop open the dvd tray.
Power off computer
Insert the Win 7 dvd and close tray
Power on computer
When you get the very first dialog asking you to confirm or choose something, then use SHIFT + F10 to get to a command prompt.
The command prompt will look like X:
X: is the ram drive created by Win 7 and contains a Win7 PE (Preexecution Environment)
Now you can run DiskPart to clean the disk.

You will now be able to make a truly clean install of Win 7.

   [CENTER][CENTER]    [/CENTER][/CENTER]
   
  [CENTER][CENTER][B][U][FONT=&quot]WIPE A DISK CLEAN[/FONT][/U][/B][/CENTER][/CENTER]
   
  [FONT=Symbol]·        [/FONT]type [B][I]DiskPart[/I][/B], [B][I]Enter[/I][/B] key
  [FONT=Symbol]·        [/FONT]type [B][I]List disk, Enter [/I][/B]key
note the numeral of the disk you want to clean
for example purposes, I’ll be using the numeral 0
  [FONT=Symbol]·        [/FONT]type [B][I]Select disk 0, Enter [/I][/B]key
  [FONT=Symbol]·        [/FONT]type [B][I]Detail disk, Enter[/I][/B] key
this info will let you know if you selected correctly
  [FONT=Symbol]·        [/FONT]type [B][I]Clean ALL, Enter [/I][/B]key
your entire disk is being overwritten with zeros.
This can take a considerable amount of time
  [FONT=Symbol]·        [/FONT]type [B][I]EXIT, Enter[/I][/B] key (only after Clean is finished)
  [FONT=Symbol]·        [/FONT]type [B][I]EXIT, Enter[/I][/B] key (this gets you back where you were)
   
  [CENTER][CENTER]    [/CENTER][/CENTER]

 

[halomaster]

Tried the diskpart suggestion, but it still hangs at/or right after the completing install phase. sometimes after leaving it sit for a while at the completing install(1-2 hours or more) it will restart, and after POST it will just sit at a black screen. I'm still lost and confused by this, i've even tried an earlier build of windows 7 with no luck still. any more ideas?

 

[gregrocker]

Try resetting the CMOS in BIOS: Clear CMOS - 3 Ways to Clear the CMOS - Reset BIOS

Check the SATA controller setting: Try AHCI first, then IDE if necessary.

Remove all but 2gb of RAM, swap RAM sticks, test your memory.
http://www.tacktech.com/display.cfm?ttid=287
Test your HD using maker's full diag/repair CD scan: http://www.tacktech.com/display.cfm?ttid=287

Sometimes install hangs during phase where drivers are being started and the video or Tv tuner card driver is started, but is outputted to a tv or projector or other output causing monitor to go blank. Check settings in BIOS and how monitor is plugged.

Can you boot into Safe Mode (by tapping F8 at bootup) to troubleshoot and update drivers?

As a last resort, I will remove HD to another machine to do install. When returned to problem machine it will run normally if it starts, swapping out all drivers while requesting several restarts.

 

[halomaster]

Try resetting the CMOS in BIOS: Clear CMOS - 3 Ways to Clear the CMOS - Reset BIOS

Check the SATA controller setting: Try AHCI first, then IDE if necessary.

Remove all but 2gb of RAM, swap RAM sticks, test your memory.

Test your HD using maker's full diag/repair CD scan: Hard Drive Diagnostics Tools and Utilities (Storage) - TACKtech Corp.

Sometimes install hangs during phase where drivers are being started and the video or Tv tuner card driver is started, but is outputted to a tv or projector or other output causing monitor to go blank. Check settings in BIOS and how monitor is plugged.

Can you boot into Safe Mode (by tapping F8 at bootup) to troubleshoot and update drivers?

As a last resort, I will remove HD to another machine to do install. When returned to problem machine it will run normally if it starts, swapping out all drivers while requesting several restarts.

Cleared the CMOS, and also have the most recent BIOS flashed to the motherboard.

The P5N-D has no AHCI support.

I've tried pulling out my second 2gig stick of RAM, but it had the same results. Even tried the single stick of RAM into another slot with no better luck.

I'll try and test the hard drive overnight tonight.

The bios settings look all good, and the monitor is only running out a DVI to VGA connector to my screen.

When I try and boot from safe mode, it tells me that I cannot complete installation and must restart to finish it. If I click okay then it restarts, and then hangs on a black screen after restart.

I don't have another 64-bit capable machine in my house so I can't really try and install on another machine currently.

 

[baarod]

After it restarts and returns to the "completing installation" screen, I can access command line by pressing ctrl+f10. I typed in "compmgmtlauncher" and went under my devices to find that I still had a single Unknown device. It was kicking back at me with "ACPI/ATK0110" but I'm not sure how to fix it. I was wondering if this unknown device was the a possible root of my problems?

That's an EeePC or variant. Definitely an ASUS brand product. It's a virtual device that collects system info for the AiBooster or other ACPI based utils from ASUS. It should not affect the install unless it threw a unrecoverable error during probe stage of install. Even then it should get passed up after a reboot.

I'll concur with others an recommend a BIOS update. 7's been out long enough for that to be workable.

 

[halomaster]

Tried updating bios again to the latest version, and it still had the same problems. Currently using a ps/2 mouse because of possible conflict with the usb usage while installing.

Still can't install!
Anymore ideas or suggestions? I'm lost and not sure what to do about it anymore.

 

[gregrocker]

What I would do at this point is move the HD to another machine for install, then swap it back to problem machine. Every time I've tried this it has started, swapped out all the drivers and run fine.

If you have a Win7 backup image for any machine, you can also boot the DVD or Repair Cd to "Recover Using an Image" and it will image your HD, then swap out all the drivers at restart to install drivers for your hardware. There is also a program that will do this for you, Paragon Adaptive Restore, although I've never had to use it.

You can borrow a friend's computer to do install to your HD, or have them make an image of their Win7 to reimage your HD. Afterward, swap out the Product Key at Control Panel>System activation link.

I do this regularly to save time with problem installs.

 

[halomaster]

Tried installing Vista enterprise, and upgrading to Windows 7 but it still didn't work.

I'll try and get a already working system image from a friend, or let him install windows 7 on his PC with my HD and see if it'll work.

 

[johnsonad11]

If you haven't tried installing windows 7 onto the HD from another computer, don't bother. I just tried this and it does not work. In my case, after the mobo loading screen the computer throws an "disk boot failure. Insert system disk and press enter" error.

Creating a backup image might work, but I have not tried this yet. I have seen some postings online that make it sound like this is a fairly common problem, I would have expected Microsoft to have a fix by now or make a statement at least-but to my knowledge (correct me if I'm wrong, anyone) Microsoft has not released any information about this problem.

Did I see that you have an ASUS motherboard? I have seen this in similar threads, and the machine I am having problems with has an ASUS motherboard. This would point to updating the BIOS, but like you I have tired this with no prevail. I am trying different things as well, if I find a solution I will let you know.

Just out of curiosity, are you getting any sort of error message where it asks you to restart the computer, or does it just freeze on the "completing Installation" screen?

Keep the ideas coming all, they've been great suggestions so far.
Thanks,
-Devon

 

[gregrocker]

If you haven't tried installing windows 7 onto the HD from another computer, don't bother. I just tried this and it does not work. In my case, after the mobo loading screen the computer throws an "disk boot failure. Insert system disk and press enter" error.

It didn't work on your computer. That doesn't mean that it won't work on his.

I've installed on other machines to about a dozen HD's then returned them to problem machine and they started, swapped out all the drivers, and run fine.

 

[halomaster]

finally figured it out, it was the Graphics card that was the culprit. I borrowed an old pci graphics card from a friend, and windows 7 installed just fine. After installing all the updates and swapping my card back in, it seems to be working but not completely stable.

When I install the newest drivers for my XFX GeForce 9800 GTX+ and restart the computer, it only comes up with a black screen and mouse. If I restart in safe mode, I can roll back to a previous system restore point but then when I restart it prompts me to restart to finish the driver install, then the whole process starts over again.

 

[gregrocker]

Try another driver like Vista driver installed in Vista compatability mode.

Are you using the driver given by the installer?

Check optional Windows Updates.

Look for Problem Solutions cued in Action Center.

 

[chev65]

finally figured it out, it was the Graphics card that was the culprit. I borrowed an old pci graphics card from a friend, and windows 7 installed just fine. After installing all the updates and swapping my card back in, it seems to be working but not completely stable.

When I install the newest drivers for my XFX GeForce 9800 GTX+ and restart the computer, it only comes up with a black screen and mouse. If I restart in safe mode, I can roll back to a previous system restore point but then when I restart it prompts me to restart to finish the driver install, then the whole process starts over again.

It could also be that your power supply isn't quite able to start your GPU and Windows 7 at the same time. If you have another PSU to try it might be helpful in determining if it's the GPU or PSU causing the problem. Minimum wattage for your 9800GTX is 450 watts. Certain PSU's have problems with start up regardless if there is enough power to run the system or not.