fresh install, stalls right after "windows starting" screen. mbr?

[nicksil]

fresh install, stalls right after "windows starting" screen. mbr?

Hello, all. I'm flirting with my sanity and have decided to finally reach out for help. I have been googling and searching these forums for the better part of 26 hours, yielding little in the way of results. I'm also browsing/typing with my cell phone; you might imagine nerve endings....

Anyhow, here's the story: OS is W7 x64 Ulti. oem disk in possession. Yesterday, I formatted c: then attempted to install OS. It installs without a hitch. After restart, process continues until right after "windows Is starting" display. The screen then goes black. The HDD activity LED goes to its intermittent blinking for system idle.

Attempting to restart via the smaller restart button case more often than not freezes machine. Using power button to cycle, same results all the way to the aforementioned screen.

In previous installation, I was dual booting Linux which lends to my suspicion of a corrupt MBR.

Startup recovery states that I may have plugged in some sort of peripheral - that's not the case though. I think it was referring to an instance when someone might leave in some sort of flash drive. Again, not the case.

I'm no where near a seasoned IT professional, but I've attempted everything that I know.

Diskpart shows two volumes and two partitions. The allotted sizes are correct, but it also states that both are "Primary " now, I wouldn't know any better, but I thought I would see the system partition read just that, system. Nevertheless, ill include that information in case it could lend toward a solution

I've also ran through a myriad if mbr fixes and resets, most of which were researched today, all to no avail.

I have also swapped harddisks, formatted, installed OS, and was still met with same predicament.

I just don't know where to take it from here

Thank you all for your time.

 

[zigzag3143]

Hello, all. I'm flirting with my sanity and have decided to finally reach out for help. I have been googling and searching these forums for the better part of 26 hours, yielding little in the way of results. I'm also browsing/typing with my cell phone; you might imagine nerve endings....

Anyhow, here's the story: OS is W7 x64 Ulti. oem disk in possession. Yesterday, I formatted c: then attempted to install OS. It installs without a hitch. After restart, process continues until right after "windows Is starting" display. The screen then goes black. The HDD activity LED goes to its intermittent blinking for system idle.

Attempting to restart via the smaller restart button case more often than not freezes machine. Using power button to cycle, same results all the way to the aforementioned screen.

In previous installation, I was dual booting Linux which lends to my suspicion of a corrupt MBR.

Startup recovery states that I may have plugged in some sort of peripheral - that's not the case though. I think it was referring to an instance when someone might leave in some sort of flash drive. Again, not the case.

I'm no where near a seasoned IT professional, but I've attempted everything that I know.

Diskpart shows two volumes and two partitions. The allotted sizes are correct, but it also states that both are "Primary " now, I wouldn't know any better, but I thought I would see the system partition read just that, system. Nevertheless, ill include that information in case it could lend toward a solution

I've also ran through a myriad if mbr fixes and resets, most of which were researched today, all to no avail.

I have also swapped harddisks, formatted, installed OS, and was still met with same predicament.

I just don't know where to take it from here

Thank you all for your time.

Maybe I missed it but have you tried booting into safe mode (F8)?


Ken

 

[nicksil]

Hello, all. I'm flirting with my sanity and have decided to finally reach out for help. I have been googling and searching these forums for the better part of 26 hours, yielding little in the way of results. I'm also browsing/typing with my cell phone; you might imagine nerve endings....

Anyhow, here's the story: OS is W7 x64 Ulti. oem disk in possession. Yesterday, I formatted c: then attempted to install OS. It installs without a hitch. After restart, process continues until right after "windows Is starting" display. The screen then goes black. The HDD activity LED goes to its intermittent blinking for system idle.

Attempting to restart via the smaller restart button case more often than not freezes machine. Using power button to cycle, same results all the way to the aforementioned screen.

In previous installation, I was dual booting Linux which lends to my suspicion of a corrupt MBR.

Startup recovery states that I may have plugged in some sort of peripheral - that's not the case though. I think it was referring to an instance when someone might leave in some sort of flash drive. Again, not the case.

I'm no where near a seasoned IT professional, but I've attempted everything that I know.

Diskpart shows two volumes and two partitions. The allotted sizes are correct, but it also states that both are "Primary " now, I wouldn't know any better, but I thought I would see the system partition read just that, system. Nevertheless, ill include that information in case it could lend toward a solution

I've also ran through a myriad if mbr fixes and resets, most of which were researched today, all to no avail.

I have also swapped harddisks, formatted, installed OS, and was still met with same predicament.

I just don't know where to take it from here

Thank you all for your time.

Maybe I missed it but have you tried booting into safe mode (F8)?


wKen

H
Hi Ken, I tried on one attempt but was given an error message stating windows could not complete setup from within safemode, and my only option we as to restart.
this would be the point where one would normally be taken through the steps of setting up profiles and various system and network settings. I'm thinking that's why it won't allow me in safemode...

 

[gregrocker]

If you had GRUB on that HD, it can indeed mess with Win7 install. Best to wipe the HD before install.

Boot Win7 DVD, press Shift F10 to open a Command Line, type:

DISKPART
LIST DISK
SELECT DISK # (for Windows 7 disk)
clean all (applies zeroes, deepest clean, takes about an hour per 320gb)
create partition primary
select partition 1
assign letter=c:
active
format
exit

Now reboot into installer to Custom install to partition you've created. If you receive an error message, please post back its exact text.

 

[nicksil]

Also an interesting find I just now noticed: upon initially getting into system recovery options, your prompted to select an OS. Naturally, my windows 7 install is displayed, but it states its location to be, (D Local Disk... what??

 

[nicksil]

If you had GRUB on that HD, it can indeed mess with Win7 install. Best to wipe the HD before install.

Boot Win7 DVD, press Shift F10 to open a Command Line, type:

DISKPART
LIST DISK
SELECT DISK # (for Windows 7 disk)
clean all (applies zeroes, deepest clean, takes about an hour per 320gb)
create partition primary
select partition 1
assign letter=c:
active
format
exit

Now reboot into installer to Custom install to partition you've created. If you receive an error message, please post back its exact text.

Gregrocker, thanks a lot for your reply. I'll get started on that now.

I did attempt to format via diskpart in previous attempts, but I wasn't quite sure of what I was doing.
I'll get to work on this and report back


Thanks.

 

[nicksil]

Alright. So, some four hours later, I'm still having to resort to my cell phone to post this message, lol.

I followed each step precisely. Everything went along just fine. I installed OS on the partition created after the clean. It installed just like it has always. And I finally got to the place where it'd cease before and it... well it did it again!

Wow, what possibly could have fine wring here? I've done this numerous times in the past without a hiccup.

Anyhow, any ideas where I could go from here?
Thanks again.

 

[nicksil]

Some additional info as I've been poking around. Diskpart recognizes one volume on disk. Only one partition as well, no system separate partition. Now, I don't know if there is supposed to be two separate partitions or not, just going off of what I'm used to seeing

 

[theog]

How any partitions do you have on your HD?

 

[Tews]

You might want to read this thread for some more suggestions...

Common Installation Problems and Their Solutions

 

[nicksil]

How any partitions do you have on your HD?

Just the one right now. At least, that is what's listed when called in diskpart.

 

[gregrocker]

Some additional info as I've been poking around. Diskpart recognizes one volume on disk. Only one partition as well, no system separate partition. Now, I don't know if there is supposed to be two separate partitions or not, just going off of what I'm used to seeing

The formatting you did with DISKPART precluded the installer from adding the 100mb SYstem Reserved boot partition. If you want it, use installer's Drive Options to Delete and create new partition(s) before formatting and then installer will offer it.

DISKPART Clean All command eliminates the possibility that GRUB is interfering, or MBR derailed.

As requested we need exact error message you are receiving to Google it for solutions, as you can do yourself.

Do you have all other HD's and USB devices unplugged? Is there a tv tuner card or video card outputted to tv or projector, as this sometimes causes monitor to go blank when card driver is loaded.

Can you remove video card to default to onboard graphics chip?

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

 

[theog]

Can you post your specs.

http://www.sevenforums.com/general-discussion/22550-filling-out-system-specs.html

 

[nicksil]

The formatting you did with DISKPART precluded the installer from adding the 100mb SYstem Reserved boot partition. If you want it, use installer's Drive Options to Delete and create new partition(s) before formatting and then installer will offer it.

No, not necessary. It was just an instance I had never observed before as I had never cleaned and formatted a drive in that manner. More curiosity than anything.

As requested we need exact error message you are receiving to Google it for solutions, as you can do yourself.

I was being sincere when I remarked about the lack of any error messages. Everything literally operates normally, but when installations attempts to finalize and start Windows for the first time, it hangs.

Do you have all other HD's and USB devices unplugged? Is there a tv tuner card or video card outputted to tv or projector, as this sometimes causes monitor to go blank when card driver is loaded.

Can you remove video card to default to onboard graphics chip?

Remove all but 2gb of RAM, test your RAM, then test your HD using maker's full diag/repair CD scan: Hard Drive Diagnostics Tools and Utilities (Storage) - TACKtech Corp.

All additional HDDs unplugged, additional monitor cables removed, everything taken off with exception of necessary items such as ps/2 connected keyboard and single monitor cable.

I ran a memtest last night with all RAM intact, which yielded no errors, but had no tested the HDD itself. I just had presumed it was in order when experienced the same situation when attempting an install using a completely different drive.

I had since dug up an old IDE drive and crossed my fingers as I tried to give it a go. To my sheer amazement, it formatted and installed without a hitch. I was elated until I was finally logged in to find out I had no internet connection -- my internet modem had since died in the time between my computer crippling, and getting it back online. Such is my luck with technology!

Now, with the help of my fathers laptop, and his wireless internet, I'm going to get to work on these other drives and see if I can't see just what the hell is going on not that I have some sort of interface to work with and an unimpeded internet connection.

Thanks again for your time and great advice; I appreciate it

 

[nicksil]

Can you post your specs.

http://www.sevenforums.com/general-discussion/22550-filling-out-system-specs.html

I went ahead and updated my information just now. I hadn't earlier because I signed up using my cell phone and didn't really have the drive to complete all of that on such a small screen, haha

 

[gregrocker]

Startup recovery states that I may have plugged in some sort of peripheral - that's not the case though. I think it was referring to an instance when someone might leave in some sort of flash drive. Again, not the case.

Was it during Startup Repair that you got this error message about plugged peripheral?

Can you retrace your steps to see if the error replicates, then post up it's exact wording?

I had since dug up an old IDE drive and crossed my fingers as I tried to give it a go. To my sheer amazement, it formatted and installed without a hitch.

This could point to SATA controller setting if failed install was to SATA HD.

What is the SATA controller set to in BIOS setup: AHCI, IDE or RAID? Try AHCI first, then IDE.

 

[theog]

I believe gregrocker means, What is the SATA controller set to in your BIOS: AHCI, IDE or RAID? Try AHCI first, then IDE.

 

[gregrocker]

I believe gregrocker means, What is the SATA controller set to in your BIOS: AHCI, IDE or RAID? Try AHCI first, then IDE.

Thanks, Theog. Edited to make it clearer.

Do you think getting it to install to IDE HD while the SATA HD fails points to controller setting? Anything else you can think of?

Maybe make sure BIOS version is up to date, from manufacturer's Support Downloads webpage for mobo model.

 

[theog]

Hi gregrocker

Sata controller may be set to Raid, but not asking for drivers.

Up to date BIOS may help.

Use 2g of ram, not 6g.

I have seen problems with large Hd's, so may be a partition of 500g may help.

Ray

 

[windowsapple]

What is the chance Windows 7 was installed on a RAID volume? Quite possible.