Can't do a fresh install of Windows 7.

My problem is that I am unable to do a fresh install of Windows 7 over and existing installation.

I've been working on this problem for over 2 weeks and can't make any progress. I won't bore you with all the details but here's a brief summary of the background:

-I'm working on an older computer that was being used as a back up.
-It had Win 7 Ultimate and Win XP installed in a dual boot arrangement
-After a Win 7 crash, the system wouldn't boot past the Boot Manger screen (it froze)
-After a lot of different attempts, It finally would boot to Win 7 but the Boot Manager screen was still frozen. (It timed out to Win 7)
-Win 7 operated like it was stuck in molasses (CPU usage at 100%)
-I removed Win XP and formatted that partition and using tutorials from this forum and changed the bootmgr to remove XP as a choice
-Win 7 boots but still runs like molasses.

I decided to give up and reinstall Windows.
-I have the BIOS set to boot first from the DVD drive, 2nd from the HDD
-When I try to boot from the Windows DVD, I get the message "Searching for boot record from CD"
-Then I get the message, "Press any key to boot from CD". I do this but the system still boots from the HDD to Win 7

I have attempted F11 & F12 from the POST screen but the system seems to ignore this and still boots to Win 7.

I have searched for suggestions but most recommend booting from a system restore disk or the Win 7 disk which doesn't work.

I suspect that my problem is a corrupted bootmgr file but I'm getting a little out of my depth here.

Does anyone have any suggestions on how I can force this system to boot from the DVD drive or to examine the bootmgr file is that is really the problem.

AddRAM said:

Can you get to a working PC with a cd burner ?

Make and use a Partition Wizard boot cd.

Boot from the cd.

Delete the entire drive down to unallocated space.

Then create a Primary Partition, then align, format and mark it active ( all done with PW cd)

Click apply in the top left corner.

Remove the cd, put your install disc in and restart the PC.

Use the 1 time boot menu key to bring up the boot menu and choose your cd/dvd drive.

Post your results.

Bootable Partition Manger | MiniTool Partition Wizard Bootable Edition

My problem is that I can't boot from the DVD/CD drive. I have a bootable DVD with partition magic on it but it won't boot. The computer insists on booting to Win 7 no matter what I do.

AddRAM said:

OK then you need to replace your dvd drive.

Well, maybe I'm missing something....

The DVD drive works. I can insert a DVD or CD, read the contents and open any file.

To me, it seems like Windows will not react to the boot information on the DVD.

Test your boot-able CD/DVD discs on another PC and see if they work.

AddRAM said:

Well then, if you`re confident the dvd drive works, then you must have a bad installer.

Test your disc as David has suggested.

Or create a new one while you have a chance.

Microsoft DigitalRiver Mirror

Free ISO Burner

I've tested the disk on another system and it boots correctly.

I downloaded an ISO of Win 7 and burned it to a DVD using the DVD drive on the problem computer. It also won't boot on the problem computer but will boot on another computer.

Although I admit that I'm getting out of my depth, I believe that my problem is the bootloader (or start up process). I believe that I need to repair the startup. Here is what I'm experiencing that makes me believe that:
1. I have removed a dual boot using the guide in this forum. (Win 7 & XP)
2. When booting I still get the black dual boot screen but am unable to do anything on that screen. (Enter, Tab or arrow don't work. I have to wait until the screen times out to default.)
3. If I boot and press F11 or F12 at POST, it has no effect. The system still boots to Win 7.
4. If I press F8 during POST, I get the black screen with options for Safe mode, normal boot, etc. Again Enter, Tab or arrow keys are unresponsive. I have to wait until it times out to Win 7 boot.
5. I'm thrashing about looking for a solution so I ran the Win 7 disk setup file from Windows Explorer within Windows 7. When I tried to reinstall over the existing Windows on partition C, it failed and gave me a BSOD. Then I tried to install it in the empty partition F: and it installed correctly. Now, when I boot, I still get the black bootmgr screen (with 2 Win 7 options) but it is still unresponsive. It ultimately times out and boots to the new Windows on partition F: This new Windows on partition F works as it should. Interestingly enough, it created a "windows.old" file on the C partition:
6. When I look at the Disk Management console, the C drive is shown as active. Therefore, the old bootmgr file resides there and is likely still causing me the problem.

I've searched for "startup repair", "fix bootmgr" and similar search terms and every result tells me to boot to the Repair Console from the Windows DVD. I obviously can't do this.

If all of my assumptions are correct, I need to fix the startup process without a DVD boot. I'm tempted to delete the C partition from the Disk management console to see if that will allow me too boot from the Win 7 DVD and recreate the bootmger file.

Any thoughts on this line of logic?