Acer Aspire XC-603 Boot problems

gregrocker · 11 Feb 2015

The flash stick needs to be FAT32 formatted as shown below and not as shown in the picture you posted back. There is a problem with Rufus having the settings jump around when you change one.

I would do it over to make sure. If it fails I would try a DVD install since you obviously have a DVD drive.

I see no hard drive in the Boot Priority, only under SATA ports. What is the Hard Drive Boot Priority? I see the HD WDC device on Port0, however for a UEFI install the hard drive should change to Windows Boot Manager.

Next I'd try formattting the stick for Legacy to MBR disk and booting the stick as a Legacy (not UEFI) device to see if you can Bypass UEFI to Install WIn7.

number138 · 11 Feb 2015

I'm going to try to create a boot with FAT32 Again.

But I believe that the hard drive isn't recognized anymore? (I formatted it in NTFS without any GPT partition setting). It's isn't at the Boot device options.
Is it possible to format the hard drive without any windows? I tried to make a MS Dos boot but this isn't possible with UEFI boot.

gregrocker · 11 Feb 2015

We still have not seen HD Boot Priority choices.

The HD is listed under SATA ports, the WDC Device. It needs to be in Boot Priority, either as Windows Boot Manager for UEFI or WDC Device for Legacy install.

I explained also how to install in Legacy Mode.

The Commands to format the disk for Legacy are in Bypass UEFI tutorial I just linked.

number138 · 12 Feb 2015

The HDD isn't in the list. It is only shown in Advance AHCI Port0.
I can't select it as Boot device and it isn't in the HDD priority list.

Acer Aspire XC-603 Boot problems-20150212_082054.jpg

I've also tried the link but the problem is that I never get in the installation screen so getting in the command promt with shift F10 isn't possible

gregrocker · 12 Feb 2015

When you attempt to boot DVD does it show up as a UEFI DVD drive and a plain DVD drive to boot? I'd try each of those methods, deleting all partitions if you get to the Drive Selection screen.

At some point it would probably be good to test the hard drive just to be sure: WD Diagnostics for Flash Stick

If the WD Diagnostics stick will boot and run, and the drive tests OK, then I'd create a Legacy Win7 installation Flash stick the same way and follow Bypass UEFI to Install WIn7

number138 · 12 Feb 2015

I've been able to start the windows install in save mode and then I got this list.
When I tried to boot up an installed windows 7 on a USB stick(not a boot install) this also happened.
It always stops at disk.sys.

Acer Aspire XC-603 Boot problems-20150212_090840.jpg

gregrocker · 12 Feb 2015

If you can boot into Safe Mode, please post back a screenshot of Disk Management - Post a Screen Capture Image.

If not you can download Partition Wizard and burn to CD with Windows Image Burner, boot and take a picture of the full drive map showing all listings. This will tell us whether you have a UEFI or Legacy install.

There are many steps that have been given that have not yet been performed, so you need to catch up before we give any more. In many cases the step which has been skipped is the solution.

number138 · 12 Feb 2015

Ok. I've tried to install a windows 7 on an USB Drive with WinToUSB and tried to boot a fully installed windows on the desktop so I can see the HDD drive and maybe install windows on it or format it. When I started this Windows the screen kept being black so I tried starting it in Safe mode and saw that it stops at disk.sys.

Now when I tried to boot the Windows 7 installation from the USB when I pressed Shift F10 when the loading files bar showed up I was able to get in this screen.

Acer Aspire XC-603 Boot problems-20150212_092509.jpg

And then I tried to start in safe mode with command promt. And it also stopped at disk.sys.

gregrocker · 12 Feb 2015

Win2USB will never work for UEFI installs, which is why I gave you the tool needed from Option One of UEFI Bootable USB Flash Drive - Create in Windows. Make sure that before proceeding to check that every settting is exactly as shown in the picture there because the settings can slip when you change one or add an ISO.

Then the stick must be booted as a UEFI flash stick.

Similarly if you use DVD it must be booted as a UEFI DVD.

Trying Legacy install will not work unless the BIOS settings are changed to allow CSM or Legacy BIOS. In either case the disk must be deleted down to Unallocated space to allow the correct formatting to be applied.

If you have further questions, please ask back. Otherwise go to the top of the thread and follow every step given to catch up.

number138 · 13 Feb 2015

Gregrocker I've followed those steps to the letter. The boot was successful but it wouldn't go to the install screen (and believe me I've tried to do this many many times exactly as you told me to). I've also tried this on another PC with the same settings and also with a UEFI boot this worked perfectly. I want to thank for your help. I've send the PC back because I believe it has a hardware problem.