Windows XP to 7 failure

fillup · 28 Dec 2009

Jer said:

Fillup, ure a genius.
I used imgBurn and Partition wizard worked. However, After deleting my recovery partition and formatting the rest, the Windows 7 DVD was still unbootable... whenever it says "press any key to boot from CD or DVD", the system would restart again regardless of what I do.

I didnt even know I still had the recovery partition prior to using Partition wizard... since the recovery F8 option does not seem to want to work! So I have no idea whats going on there.

The next step for me I think is to update my BIOS.
Does this sound like a good idea? from the previous link I posted... here it is again
W3J (Windows Vista Capable) Unable to inst ... ... I just purchased this brand new pack of Vista Ultimate and I can't install it on my W3J with Windows Vista Ca ...

IM COMPLETELY NEW TO UPDATING ANYTHING TO DO WITH BIOS.
Can someone give me a comprehensive, easy to understand guide I can follow?
On the W3J asus support, theres a utility to update BIOS called AFlash for updating under DOS... I think I will be needing this one since I am now unable to use WinFlash (which needs a working OS from what I understand).
HOW do I make a bootable floppy if I dont have a floppy disk drive? I've only laptops... I can make DVDs tho.
Any help for this BIOS noob would be much appreciated.

Thanks in advance.

You could try making a dos bootable cd along with the AFlash program and new bios on it. MS-DOS Bootable CD Images | Boot Disks

Jer · 28 Dec 2009

OK thanks.
So for now, I will try to recover Windows XP again. Previous attempts resulted in the blank, black screen with the flashing underscore, but since Ive wiped everything off the HD, maybe it will help?
We'll see.

If I can get XP up and running, I will update BIOS with WinFlash, and not AFlash... cos its safer I heard...haha. Thanks Greg. I will have to do research on how to do this part first, I've also heard that messing around with BIOS can be very dangerous. Again, If anyone has a good guide I can read over, please post me the link.

Once the Bios is updated, i will install Windows 7 through XP again, and HOPEFULLY, the reboot loop will not happen anymore.

Fingers crossed.

Jer · 28 Dec 2009

Thanks Fillup, u replied while i was still typing up my last post.

If my XP installation does not work out, I will have to look into that method and update BIOS ur way.

Thanks all.

gregrocker · 28 Dec 2009

Is there a BIOS update for the version you need on the Asus website to run from Windows? That would be your safest option.

However, I am wondering why the Partition Wizard CD would boot while Win7 DVD won't.

Did it just start booting on its own (it has that ability if no OS is present) or did you press any key to trigger PW boot?

I wonder why Win7 DVD won't start on its own when the HD is completely wiped.

Can you try booting the Win7 DVD in another computer to verify it that way? Also you can load it into ImgBurn and select Verify Disk to confirm it is bootable and verify the DVD.

Try one more time then booting it to see if it will autostart as it should on a blank HD.

Jer · 28 Dec 2009

Nope PW didnt boot on its own.. i had to press Esc while it was still at the Asus welcome screen with the POST sound... and select which drive to boot from.

Well
I tried installing XP on the blank HD... but its the same story... Im stuck at the blank black screen with the flashing underscore again... which I dont understand... XP came with this system, and its designed for XP... so something must be very screwed up for it to not load to the splash, loading screen!

After the failed XP recovery, i ran partition wizard again and saw that the XP recovery did make two partitions, one 60% and the other 40% of the volume... but the primary drive, in which the OS should be installed in, only has 1.75Gb used up!!! the other has like 1XXmb used up!!!
Whats going on?

Since it was a failed attempt to recover XP, i ran PW again and deleted all the partitions and put in the Windows 7 DVD... it wouldnt boot on its own, and when i make it boot CD/DVD first, the "press any key to boot from CD or DVD" doesnt even appear anymore.
It just restarts.

Really letting me down.

gregrocker · 28 Dec 2009

There may be problems with your BIOS with such problems trying to boot from disk.

Try resetting your CMOS: Clear CMOS - 3 Ways to Clear the CMOS - Reset BIOS

Now check to make sure the DVD drive is set to boot first, followed by HD. Try to boot Win7 DVD again.

I would next check both the memory and HDD. Download and burn to CD memtest86 and run at least 6 passes.

Here's a good bootable version of DataLifeguard diagnostics/repair for WD drives: Attachment 44250 It extracts to C:cabs where there will be an ISO to burn to CD. Boot and run the full test, then use zeroing function to wipe the drive completely.