Installing Win7 OEM on second HD

Wouldn't it be the same to create a bootable Install on an USB stick, or on the other HD, or somewhere in the network?

The reason why I ask is because the system is extremely unstable while running the HD test, just like it was when I was try a full format or clean all. I've monitored the process for hours yesterday. I've just got a 1-milimiter wide blue bar on the HD test now. In this pace, it shall take about 100 hours to complete.

I'm afraid I'll be wasting time again if I interrupt the HD test to download Windows Home Basic installation. Also, how do I that? Microsoft's website isn't very intuitive to find the download for customers that already own the product.

I'm BUMPing this to see if anyone has any suggestion or input on the matter.

As of now, Win7 can only see the empty HD when the BIOS is set to not automatically detect it. If I set the BIOS to detect it, Win7 won't boot (gets stuck on drive.sys or no Windows logo, Starting Windows screen - if POST messages are not visible).

Even when the Win7 sees the empty drive, it seems it's not saving any formatting or created partitions or volumes. I checked and both the HD firmwares seem to be updated.

I would also check that the MOBO, CPU, & Ram are matching.

All parts are brand new but the HDs, so I don't think there's any hardware issue on them. To be honest, I don't think there's anything wrong with the HDs either. It's just that Windows 7 is terrible when it comes to reverse compatibility. Both HDs, despite being a bit old, were functioning perfectly fine before all this.

But answering your question, I have that checked before I bought the new parts. CPU (Phenom II), MOBO (Asus M4A77T/USB3) and RAM (4GB Kingston DDR3-1333) are compatible. The GPU is a Geforce GT 430.

I didn't need all the parts I've bought but to prevent any problems like the one I'm having now, I opted for the full package. I didn't even need to buy Windows 7, since I had a perfectly good XP running - but I decided to buy it so I could use the shop's warranty (which I now voided, since they were being useless) and because I believed I would face less problems and count with good support options.

Ironic how it all turned out, right?

OK, so now I exhausted all possibilities that it's a hardware issue. Just finished running CHKDSK and after processing over 30 million free clusters, no errors at all.

So it's definitely a Windows issue.

So now I want to change the focus of this thread. The support for one of the best-selling products in the world could be a tad better.

I called Microsoft, they told me to call the manufacturer since it's an OEM OS. I called the manufacturer, but they were the ones who originally couldn't even get my HD to be installed by Windows (something I managed to do myself). So this is it for me? If the manufacturer partnering with Microsoft to sell an OEM Windows 7 doesn't meet the skills you'd expect them to have, what are your options? I didn't know OEM stood for no-support.

Well, anyways, I hope a bored employee runs by this thread and takes interest on it. For now the OEM Disc still is acting funny, no one was able to tell me how and if I can get a new DVD to be shipped to me. I'm on a limbo.

I'll leave you now hoping one day Asus, Microsoft, Seagate and local manufacturers start working together, instead of pushing the "burden" of support to one another. Some people just don't have money to spare.

Would you like to finish troubleshooting your install now?

Make sure you have the latest BIOS update. If so, reset the CMOS: Clear CMOS - 3 Ways to Clear the CMOS - Reset BIOS.

Unplug all other HD's and periperhals. Boot the Win7 installer, select Custom Install, use Drive options to delete all partitions, create new ones and format before installing. Illustrated steps here: Clean Install Windows 7

What exactly happens next? Give full text of any error messages.

Your installer appears to be unusual. Try writing to flash stick using Universal USB Installer with Win7 in dropdown menu, then boot stick from one-time BIOS Boot Menu under USB, Removable, HD's.

If same occurs, borrow or download another ISO of Win7 searching "Official Win7 ISO downloads" from My Digital Life, unlock all versions in ISO using eicfg removal tool then burn to DVD or write to flash stick to try install for your licensed version.

Test your RAM using Memtest86+ for 5-6 passes or overnight. Remove all but 2gb of RAM, swap RAM sticks.

Finally try install on another computer to target HD, then SysPrep install before moving back to problem machine: SysPrep to move HD to another computer

Well, anyways, I hope a bored employee runs by this thread and takes interest on it. For now the OEM Disc still is acting funny, no one was able to tell me how and if I can get a new DVD to be shipped to me. I'm on a limbo.

You can order MS Replacment disks from here:
Help and Support

Thanks for all the hints, guys. I'm sorrry if I don't rush into a new clean install every time one suggests that to me, but I have already done so several times.

More and more, this seems to be solely a Windows 7 issue and not anything hardware-related, which would be the most simple explanation for anything.

Despite all the problems and the slowdowns, I managed to check the memory and hard disks, and they've all been approved with honors. Of course, they're still IDE and therefore are hogging the performance of my new computer down. I plan to have this solved by next month when I'll be able to purchase a SATA drive.

But even so now it's personal. The computer is working and I'm using Windows 7 with both HDs. I can see them both, I'm even installing games on the second HD. So for the sake of science, if anyone is interested please give me your two cents.

The symptoms now are:

• Computer is overall slow, even before BIOS boot. But more than that, it appears to work normally as a high-end gaming rig for a while, then all of a sudden something like a bad process starts running and brings Windows to a massive hang. I barely can do anything while it's hanging, but after a few minutes the hang stops and everything is back to normal. Only to hang again after a few minutes.
• The hangs seem to happen more often while I'm browsing the Internet. Apparently running it as Administrator makes the hangs rarer. I"m not sure I'm running it on 32-bit or not, but I heard FF 64 doesn't go well with Win 7 64.
• Did I mention disks were verified and have shown no errors?
• I did follow your advice and downloaded an update for my Asus M4A77/USB3 MOBO. Flashing the ROM might not have been the smartest thing to do, as now I'm back on previous state, where I have to set the 2nd HD as "Not Installed" on BIOS so Windows can start it. I hope I haven't sent the files I've just installed on the 2nd HD to the limbo once again. (Just checked, 2nd HD is mounted and as before).
• Oh, with the HD automatically installed on BIOS, Windows 7 just won't take it. Hangs on "Starting Windows" message with no Windows logo above.
• After updating the BIOS I also cleaned the CMOS as suggested. Not sure if it was the smartest thing doing it concomitantly but what the hey - can't get any worse than this. Now I'm not sure if the BIOS is updated or not. (Just checked, I've got the latest BIOS now).

Since the computer is now working again, with pretty much most of the basic troubleshooting requirements met, I'd like to change the focus of my thread.

Forget about fixing the Install DVD or getting Win 7 installed on the 2nd HD. I will order a replacement DVD definitely (thanks theog, btw), probably to get everything re-done properly in a month when I get a better HD. But right now I just want to use my computer like a normal person who's severely poorer now with this non-functioning and very expensive toy.

What are you thoughts on the current slowdowns? Don't be afraid to say even the most absurd things you think it could be happening. Let your imagination fly free on this one.

Since I barely can game with the computer as it is now, I'm willing to add a few more weeks to these 4 days I've been looking at diagnosis screens and scrolling through log messages.

Work through these troubleshooting steps

Oh and I just checked what I have is an OPK DVD. Still, shouldn't it boot properly?