Windows XP to 7 failure

Jer · 28 Dec 2009

Thank you so much for the reassurance, and the fast replies. Good to know that I have solid help.
Ure absolutely right, this couldve been the problem with any other OS. Unlucky for me.

BTW, Ive tried booting with other DVD ROMs, ie, external ones, but to no avail. same loop.

Jer · 28 Dec 2009

fillup said:

Download the Partition Wizard bootable CD: Free Download Partition Wizard

Go into bios and set to boot from CD first. Boot with Partition Wizard. Delete all partitions.

Follow these instructions to do a clean install of Windows 7: http://www.winsupersite.com/win7/cle...rade_media.asp

I'll be on this tonight.
Thanks.
Off to the pool now for some laps... been on this nearly all day, need to get away from this for a bit.
Will be back with the details later.
Thanks again.

Jonathan_King · 28 Dec 2009

Sounds kind of like a BIOS problem to me. Can you download the latest BIOS for your motherboard and follow the instructions for creating a bootable floppy?

Jer · 28 Dec 2009

Ok Im back.

Things are going wrong here... dont seem to want to work out for me.
I burnt the Partition wizard onto DVD, and now when i chose to boot from DVD... something called Caldera DR DOS would load instead of Partition Wizard.

Basically what i did was I burnt the DVD with Nero, and chose the "burn a bootable DVD" option... the second step of preparing for the burn process, it asked to select boot image. I didnt have any bootable floppy disks so i chose the Nero standard bootable floppy image, and set it to English(United States).
This DVD lead me to the Caldera DR DOS thing

After this I decided NOT to choose the "burn a bootable DVD" option in Nero, and just made a Data DVD....But this DVD just gave me a restart loop again...

Is there a Region Code for the Windows 7 DVD btw?

Jer · 28 Dec 2009

I just found this:
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 ...

Looks like what Im going through, Jonathan King you may be right!
The BIOS version i have now is 207
I might have to look into a BIOS update.
Maybe the problem for Vista will apply for 7 as well.

fillup · 28 Dec 2009

Jer said:

Ok Im back.

Things are going wrong here... dont seem to want to work out for me.
I burnt the Partition wizard onto DVD, and now when i chose to boot from DVD... something called Caldera DR DOS would load instead of Partition Wizard.

Basically what i did was I burnt the DVD with Nero, and chose the "burn a bootable DVD" option... the second step of preparing for the burn process, it asked to select boot image. I didnt have any bootable floppy disks so i chose the Nero standard bootable floppy image, and set it to English(United States).
This DVD lead me to the Caldera DR DOS thing

After this I decided NOT to choose the "burn a bootable DVD" option in Nero, and just made a Data DVD....But this DVD just gave me a restart loop again...

Is there a Region Code for the Windows 7 DVD btw?

Use ImgBurn instead of Nero: The Official ImgBurn Website

gregrocker · 28 Dec 2009

Make sure you have the latest BIOS version.

The DVD should be booting to correctly install from boot if prompted to press any key. You will need the DVD to boot for future repairs.

It probably won't complete install from XP because it is incompatible formatting.

Instead create a second partition formatted Primary NTFS using Partition Wizard and install to there from XP. You can install PW to XP since you're backed up; but be aware Resizing can fail. Attachment 44212

If the install to second partition fails, then you need to concentrate on getting the DVD to boot: take Network out of boot order list (why is it there anyway?), set DVD drive first, then HD. Confirm correct BIOS version and check what SATA controller setting is, try AHCI.

Do you have a 4gb+ flash stick?

Jer · 28 Dec 2009

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.

Jer · 28 Dec 2009

GregRocker.
Nope, I dont have a 4Gb+ flash. I'll ask around tmw, maybe my friends may have one. What will I need it for?

I've already deleted the Recovery partition on my HD... but i didnt format the whole thing to be in NTFS. I'll get on that now.
Maybe I should try to reinstall XP since my HD is now clean, and I can update my BIOS through XP if the OS recovery doesnt fail on me again.

gregrocker · 28 Dec 2009

Its safer to update BIOS from windows. There should be such an option.

You are right to concentrate on getting Win7 DVD to boot since it is needed for critical repairs.

However, some are able to get a flash stick to boot when DVD won't: USB Windows 7 Installation Key Drive - Create