Install fail, replacing Windows Server 2003

Downloaded RC1 to install it on an IBM R40 (1GB RAM), which had previously held Windows Server 2003.

Select booting from optical drive through the Access IBM button and selecting the optical drive; DVD boot fails, and Server 2003 comes up again despite selecting boot from optical.

Erase the hard drive with EASUS, reformating to FAT32 (so I know it's wiped).

Booting again from the DVD with RC1 fails, with the code Sfh> onscreen.

How do I install RC1?

k7aay said:

Downloaded RC1 to install it on an IBM R40 (1GB RAM), which had previously held Windows Server 2003.

Select booting from optical drive through the Access IBM button and selecting the optical drive; DVD boot fails, and Server 2003 comes up again despite selecting boot from optical.

Erase the hard drive with EASUS, reformating to FAT32 (so I know it's wiped).

Booting again from the DVD with RC1 fails, with the code Sfh> onscreen.

How do I install RC1?

Hi and welcome to SF
well we need a ton more info before we can help you much. things like computer mfr, model, OS, ram vid card etc. My first question is where did you get the win seven and how did you burn it to dvd?

thanks

Ken

>> IBM R40 2681-KLU, which had previously held Windows Server 2003.

> computer mfr, IBM

> model
R40

> OS
Windows Server 2003 on 1st attempt
Wiped clean, no OS, on 2nd attempt

> ram
1GB

> vid card
32MB ATI Radeon 7500

> etc.
What is this etc. of which you speak?

CPU
Pentium-4, 2.2GHz

> My first question is where did you get the win seven and how did you burn it to dvd?

Download from Technet, burn to a Tayo Yuden disc with Totally Free Burner.

k7aay said:

> My first question is where did you get the win seven and how did you burn it to dvd?

Download from Technet, burn to a Tayo Yuden disc with Totally Free Burner.

what ver of win 7 (build number) and 32 bit or 64?

Ken

PS: Upgraded the HD to 7200rpm 60GB

zigzag3143 said:

what ver of win 7 (build number) and 32 bit or 64?
Ken

7100 32-bit, specifically

7100.0.090421-1700_x86fre_client_en-us_retail_ultimate-grc1culfrer_en_dvd

it would drown out the crickets chirping in here.

I would try to burn another dvd, burn it at a slow speed to make sure it is a good copy.
I know it is a dumb question but are you sure the drive reads dvds? I know that is an older laptop and the dvd drive was only in the better r40's.

slithernet said:

I would try to burn another dvd, burn it at a slow speed to make sure it is a good copy.
I know it is a dumb question but are you sure the drive reads dvds? I know that is an older laptop and the dvd drive was only in the better r40's.

Well, it read the Windows Server 2003 install DVD well enough, so it does read DVDs. I will take the second download of the Win7 RC1 beta and reburn from that.

In lieu of a checksum verify which M$ has denied us, I did binary-compare the two images (on a trusty linux box) - no difference. That's as good as I can get to a checksum, unless there's a checksum hash to download from somewhere.

Is there any official M$ forum to check in at to help troubleshoot this? DId also try the Win7 forum at Neowin.net - Where unprofessional journalism looks better to no avail.