"Windows Cannot Configure to Hardware in Your Computer"

sabre · 31 May 2011

Hi there,

I am currently trying to upgrade my - admittedly - old desktop PC from XP to Windows 7 32 Bit Professional Version. I downloaded the image from software4students and burned it to the disc and as far as I can tell this is not the problem.

The setup complete the first four stages, restarts and then gets to the last stage of installation and then gives an error; 'Windows cannot configure for the hardware in your computer'.

The specs of my Dell Dimension are:
Intel Pentium 3.0 Ghz processor
3GB DDR2 RAM - Crucial if that matters (Upgraded from 1)
ATI Sapphire Radeon Graphics Card 4670 HD (Upgraded)
80GB SATA HDD
-> These are rough - except for the figures - as I do not have access to them due to formatting the harddrive.

NB: I have upgraded the graphics card and RAM from the originals.
I have been searching forums etc. to find a solution. There seem to be numerous ways to fix this depending on the PC and Windows 7 version. Things I have tried:

- Extending a partition to cover all of the data space.
- Formatting the partition and HDD.
- Changing the HDD to AHCI in the BIOS.

Any help would be much appreciated, otherwise my £40.00 is down the drain I guess.

PS: I'm not great with hardware so please don't expect me to know how to change the HDD connection to master straight off the bat. I can always look into it if you need me to however, just please be patient.

Thanks!

Bare Foot Kid · 31 May 2011

Hello sabre, welcome to Seven Forums!

There is no upgrade path from Windows XP to Windows 7, it will have to be a clean install and the best way forward, after you have copied out or made back-ups of the data you need to save to external media, is to do a wipe of the entire Hard Disk Drive, have a look at this information below.

All the installed programs/apps will have to be reinstalled so be sure to save the activation keys where applicable and be sure to post back with any further questions you may have and to keep us informed.

Whether you use diskpart to run either the clean all command to completely wipe a HDD / SSD or just the clean command to remove the format configuration data and don't use diskpart to create at least a single partition to do the installation to, letting the Windows installer do the format you will end up with the new Windows 7 System Reserved partition, if you want to make your own decision whether this partition is added, study these two (2) options below.

Then if you do not want to create the new Windows 7 "System Reserved" partition use the outline in Step Two #2 to create, format and mark Active a single 100GB partition to do the installation to.
If you do want to create the "System Reserved" partition use the outline in Step Two #3 to create, format and mark Active the System Reserved partition and then create and format the 100GB partition to do the installation to.

Either way, running the "clean all" then creating and formatting the partition(s) using diskpart will get you the best possible space to do a clean install of Windows 7 to; you can always extend the Windows partition to include the remaining unallocated space on the HDD / SSD or create additional Primary partitions or an Extended partition after the installation completes if you choose.

SSD / HDD : Optimize for Windows Reinstallation

DISKPART : At PC Startup

Do a Clean Install with a Upgrade Windows 7 Version

sabre · 31 May 2011

Hello!

I'm afraid I may not have made myself clear; I am not trying to upgrade Windows 7 32 to 64, I am trying to upgrade from Windows XP to Windows 7 32 Bit.

If you can shed anymore light on this matter that would be great!

Bare Foot Kid · 31 May 2011

sabre said:

Hello!

I'm afraid I may not have made myself clear; I am not trying to upgrade Windows 7 32 to 64, I am trying to upgrade from Windows XP to Windows 7 32 Bit.

If you can shed anymore light on this matter that would be great!

Oops,

I fixed it, though the concept is all the same, I still suggest a complete wipe secure erase of the entire HDD and a clean install I'm sure this will sort the issue for you; just take your time and study the info and be sure to post back with any further questions you may have.

sabre · 31 May 2011

Okay, the software which I can use is DBAN if you're familiar? I take it that will do the job? Just to check; reformatting won't do the same as cleaning the HDD in this case?

Bare Foot Kid · 31 May 2011

No a format will not do what needs done and it would be best to use the Windows 7 installer to do the wipe, have a look at Step One and then Step Two of this tutorial at the link below.

SSD / HDD : Optimize for Windows Reinstallation

sabre · 31 May 2011

Okay, cleaning now and I'll try. Will get back to you!

Bare Foot Kid · 31 May 2011

If you're doing an 80GB HDD, it should only take about 20 minutes; just be sure to create and mark Active a partition using diskpart, just follow Step Two #1, to do the install to after the clean all finishes.

sabre · 31 May 2011

Hi again. I successfully cleaned the partition - the only one I have - and tried reinstalling however to no avail. I had to go do something so I didn't watch the installation but when I came back the PC was turned off. I turned it on, let it run without CD input and an error came up:

'Windows encountered an unexpected error and had to shut down. Restart to continue the Windows 7 setup' or similar - my memory doesn't stretch four lines after coming downstairs again! I restarted PC but it came up with the previous error, the thread title.

Thanks for the help so far, hopefully we can fix this.

Ztruker · 31 May 2011

Try removing all but 1GB and see if it boots. If not, remove the 1GB and put the 2GB in, see if it boots.

Did you run the Windows 7 Upgrade Advisor before doing this upgrade? Did it indicate any problems?