Hi Dusty. Sorry if these questions are redundant, but this is a very long thread.....
1. Could you tell me how many physical hard disk drives are installed inside the case of this computer?
2. If I read your specs correctly you have 2 optical drives connected-
- The HP DVD 1140d
- and a Sony CD-RW CRX320EE
Is this correct?
3. In your BIOS Settings > On the MAIN Tab > Under "Storage Configuration" > what does it say?
There are 4 HDs however, one has been disconnected. I started with a RAID5 on four HDs. I experienced a crash and rebuilt with three individual drives. Right now I have two of those disconnected to isolate them from what I have been doing. So, I guess the short answer to your questions is ONE.
Yes, those are the the two optical drives.
There is no category titled "Storage"
This is an image of "Main"
Looks like my system time needs to be reset.
Are these temps with your computer running at Idle (minimum programs opened)?
If that is at idle, then the temps are high.
When installing an OS(Operating System) the OS functions are not running, Cool 'n Quiet (an Operating System function) will lower the frequency and voltage letting the system run cooler, this won't be running during the OS installation.
When Windows 7 is installing the CPU is running at maximum settings as set in the BIOS, this will cause more CPU heat and if it gets hot enough it will throttle down the frequency and voltage, to protect the CPU from being damaged.
This fluctuation in CPU speed can cause the installation to stall and/or fail.
I recommend to resolve this CPU temperature issue before trying to install Win7 again.
1) You need to ensure the CPU cooler and fan are clean from any dust buildup.
2) Remove CPU heat sink.
3) Clean top of CPU and bottom of CPU cooler with alcohol and a clean lint free cloth, a coffee filter works well for this.
4) Apply thermal paste, Arctic Silver 5 is recommended. Too much thermal paste can result in much less cooling, apply a very thin layer.
5) Install CPU cooler.
Thermal paste application instructions.
Artic Silver Instructions
Best Thermal Paste Application Methods
I'll try to find a good video of how to do this.
You are receiving good advice from the senior members here.
I think you should clean/wipe the partition before the next install.
When the CPU thermal paste has been re-applied, check that these are done before you start the installation.
As you mentioned previously, install your other graphics card.
1) Have only one graphics card installed.
2) Check that no other devices are installed that is not absolutely necessary for the computer to run.
3) Only one hard drive installed.
4) No USB devices, hubs, etc.
5) One monitor connected.
6) No printer connected.
7) Only one CD/DVD device connected.
All these things can be reconnected after the installation is finished.
There are 4 HDs however, one has been disconnected. I started with a RAID5 on four HDs. I experienced a crash and rebuilt with three individual drives. Right now I have two of those disconnected to isolate them from what I have been doing. So, I guess the short answer to your questions is ONE.
Yes, those are the the two optical drives.
There is no category titled "Storage"
This is an image of "Main"
Looks like my system time needs to be reset.
Last edited by Dave76; 25 Aug 2011 at 00:01.
Again, this is because the DVD is not booting. You see this menu because the opportunity to boot from the BIOS has been passed and is now handed over to Windows Boot manager.When it starts like shown here, I never get to the Custom Install Option, Greg.How is the graphics card listed in BIOS? What are it's settings choices?
If you click on the Chipset VGA (Disabled) BIOS listing you referenced earlier can you Enable it? What are the options?
If you are getting the Windows Boot Menu as shown in screenshot linked then the DVD does not appear to be booting. Try booting the flashstick installer. Use Custom install>Drive Options to delete failed Win7 install, create new partition, format, install.
You need to boot from the DVD or flash stick.
How to Boot your Computer from a Bootable CD or DVD
Or tap the Asus F8 key at boot to choose DVD/USB drive to boot.
This means installing a Dual Boot on the same HD was unnecessary, and there is no reason you should not be able to wipe one of the HD's to try install to it with all others unplugged.
You said you reset the CMOS in the beginning. Were you mistaken about that too?
Please look deeper into settings for SATA controller (Storage) setting. You may have it still RAIDed. You need to know the SATA controller is set to AHCI or IDE. Try AHCI first.
Dave,
Those temperatures were taken almost immediately after the memory test which ran for about 9-10 hours.
The CPU temp right now is 43-44°C and the M/B is 39-40°C.
I have the sides off of the case and did have during the memory test. I wonder if that might be a bad practice. It would certainly alter the directed air flow.
What temperatures are considered ideal?
PS I put the sides on to see if there was a change. Room temperature where the computer is located is about 74° F.
Last edited by dustywoodworker; 25 Aug 2011 at 06:46.
Boot from the CDAgain, this is because the DVD is not booting. You see this menu because the opportunity to boot from the BIOS has been passed and is now handed over to Windows Boot manager.When it starts like shown here, I never get to the Custom Install Option, Greg.How is the graphics card listed in BIOS? What are it's settings choices?
If you are getting the Windows Boot Menu as shown in screenshot linked then the DVD does not appear to be booting. Try booting the flashstick installer. Use Custom install>Drive Options to delete failed Win7 install, create new partition, format, install.
You need to boot from the DVD or flash stick.
How to Boot your Computer from a Bootable CD or DVD
Or tap the Asus F8 key at boot to choose DVD/USB drive to boot.
I get it. I get it.
But maybe my HD or DVD do not.
Greg, I have questioned this screen (the condition it represents) from the very beginning of these discussions. Even before I received the lecture on booting from the DVD.
Sometimes it just seems that the existence of a DVD in the reader goes undetected and it boots from the HD anyhow. I have double checked the BIOS Boot Priority several times. If I install a floppy, I am so told. If I install a non-system disc in the DVD and boot, I get an NTDETECT failure which I think is normal. Take the CD out and boot and it goes to the HD. Normal.
But I do not argue - it appears to be operating off the HD when it should be reading from the installation CD.
My BIOS "Boot Device Priority" is CDROM/Removable/HD.
If I just disconnect that CDROM, does it default to the other? Is this even a reasonable thought?
BTW If I change the BIOS to BOOT from the flash stick and then do so - it does not sequence through according to the script either.
I'd like you to do a simple test.There are 4 HDs however, one has been disconnected. I started with a RAID5 on four HDs. I experienced a crash and rebuilt with three individual drives. Right now I have two of those disconnected to isolate them from what I have been doing. So, I guess the short answer to your questions is ONE.
Yes, those are the the two optical drives.
There is no category titled "Storage"
This is an image of "Main"
Looks like my system time needs to be reset.
First, Disconnect the Sony CD-RW. Either remove the power connector, the data connector, or both. (Tip: leave this optical drive disconnected for now - you do not need it to install W7. It is best to install the OS on a "simple system" - just the minimal devices need to run)
Second, Disconnect the one hard disk (zero hard disks connected)
Boot the computer. Note what you get for messages. You will get either a black screen with just a blinking cursor, or a "no operating system found" message, or something similar. Let us know what it says.
While the computer is still on, put the W7 installation DVD disk in the HP DVD drive and then reboot the computer using the reset button on the front of your case.
You should get the "press any key..." message. Press any key and see if the installer will start. It won't go far if it can't find a hard drive, but that's OK.
Shut down, reconnect the hard drive, and post back anything that happened, including any messages.
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