Boot Loop while trying to install OS (Windows 7 x64 home premium)

jikenda · 21 Sep 2011

OK, so I installed 2 new SSDs (OCZ Agility 3 & Sold 3) and took out my Samsung Spinpoint F3 1TB...

Unfortunately, I'm still getting a boot loop when I'm trying to do a clean install of the OS. I will have more time to play with it this weekend and try a few things out, but any ideas on what else could be causing this boot loop??

Just to inform on what I actually did this time around. I unplugged and drained the power out and waiting for all lights to fade on the MOBO and M I/O boards (held for about 2 mins). I then plugged back in and powered up and I hit F2 to enter the BIOS (BIOS A10) and I configured to boot from my DVD drive and saved/exit. PC restarted, post, booted from DVD drive, Windows loading files.......screen goes dark and Alienware boot screen comes back up, PC post, boots from DVD again, Windows loading files.......over and over again.

I have no idea what else can be causing this and am desperate for help. Any other thoughts guys?? Thanks again for your help.

Can this be hardware related?

Alienware Area-51 (A10 BIOS)
Alienware J560M MOBO
Core i7 970
G. Skill Ripjaws DDR3 1600 tri-chan 12GB (4GB x 3)
OCZ Agility 3 SSD 60GB
OCZ Solid 3 SSD 60GB
Samsung Spinpoint F3 1000GB (1.TB) /32MB cache hard drive
ATI Radeon HD 5870
2x Optical Lite-On 24X Dual-Layer Burner (DVD±RW)
Alienware 1100Watt Multi-GPU Approved PSU
Win7 home premium x64

kegobeer · 21 Sep 2011

First, remove anything that you don't need to install Windows. If you have two DVD drives, get rid of one. If you have onboard video, remove your video card. Remove one hard drive. Remove all but 4GB of RAM. Once you've done that, install Windows.

theog · 22 Sep 2011

Take a look at these posts:
Windows 7 Installation Errors : Troubleshoot Step by Step
Common Installation Problems and Their Solutions
Questions to use for help with Installation Issues
Tutorial quick reference list for Installing Windows 7
Questions to use for help with Installation Issues

gregrocker · 22 Sep 2011

Where did you get Win7? Did you burn the DVD yourself and has it worked previously? Check its cleanliness, if necessary confirm ISO integrity and burn another DVD using ImgBurn at 4x speed, or write to flash stick using UltraISO trial version: on File tab select Open ISO or DVD, on Bootable tab select Write Disk Image, Format, Write. Boot under USB, Removable or HD using one-time BIOS boot menu key.

Next try resetting the CMOS: Clear CMOS - 3 Ways to Clear the CMOS - Reset BIOS

Remove all but one RAM stick to try install next. Swap sticks. Test your RAM: RAM - Test with Memtest86+

Remove all peripherals and all but one HD.

jikenda · 22 Sep 2011

Thanks for all the feedback guys. I will have time this weekend to give it another shot and run through all the options listed in this thread.

I will report back, but to answer a few questions...
1. I am installing from the Original Alienware Disk that came with the PC (pre-activated OS).
2. I tried installing with everything already connected to the board and I do not believe I have on-board video with the x58 mobo. I will disconnect everything besides the SSD, 1 optical drive & keyboard and go from there. Also will try 1 stick of RAM.
3. I recently changed motherboards, as before I was using a sandy bridge on a z68 chipset and I was experiencing VERY slow boot times (but never had a boot loop) with that and thus decided to change back to an Alienware x58 board and go with a Gulftown.

I'll report back, but once again, I really appreciate all the input guys. Have a great weekend!

sigmund · 24 Sep 2011

I had a simmilar problem after deploying a image to a brand new Dell Optiplex, and also when installing new OS. The workstation went into a startup loop.Turned out to be a BIOS setting. The harddisk controller setting was AHCI and when I selected SATA the problem was solved. Perhaps you will find a simmilar setting in your BIOS.

jikenda · 27 Sep 2011

Thanks for the reply and your input. I'm going to give this a shot this weekend. I don't know why I have not tried changing this setting in the BIOS yet. Does it matter if I already installed the OS on the drive while set to AHCI? Or do I need to do a clean install with the drive set to IDE/SATA/RAID?

Thanks again!

theog · 27 Sep 2011

Leave the BIOS set to AHCI.