After new Win 7 install - msg: Operating System Not Found

[gregrocker]

I prefer 32 bit on less than 4gb RAM for best performance, so try that ISO Win7 Home Premium x86 SP1 English Official ISO download written to stick using UltraISO Software To Create Bootable USB Flash Drive . Be sure to press format button first.

First run WD Diagnostics for Flash Stick,
or slave HD to another PC to run WD Dadta Lifeguard from Windows.

 

[jesbkemp]

Chaps I'm a computer storage specialist of 20 years on Unix (tried to stay clear of Windows).
I must be on my 30th install (no kidding) now each time changing one parameter at a time.
If this was a linux install it would have worked first time or there would have been a decent log
to look in to figure out what was going wrong.
I guess what I'm saying is to fix it it looks like I need root cause analysis either by turning on
better/deeper logging/tracing or manually looking at the MBR to see what's going on.
Is this possible?

 

[gregrocker]

We've dealt with tens of thousands of install failures here since Win7 was in beta and always get it installed.

I would test HD and try 32 bit install next.

This is because a bad HDD cannot be ruled out as this is the way it often reveals itself.

And you'll get better performance with 32 bit anyway.

 

[jesbkemp]

AddRam, I have tried unallocated, pre-partitioned with diskpart and partitioning with the install drive options (advanced).
I have also followed all the different clean install procedures/tutorials on this forum.

 

[AddRAM]

What happens when you delete the drive down to unallocated space and then click next ?

Please be specific.

 

[jesbkemp]

OK gregrocker, I'll give it a shot.

 

[jesbkemp]

OK, ran WD Data Lifegaurd on HDD and USB stick, both passed.
Down loaded 32 bit version, installed on USB stick with Ultra ISO.
During install (at first screen language selection) started cmd line diskpart and:
SELECT DISK 0 (after confirming Windows 7 target HD #)
CLEAN
CREATE PARTITION PRIMARY
FORMAT FS=NTFS LABEL="WINDOWS 7"
ACTIVE

Still operating system not found on first reboot.
One slight difference is it will now not boot into the HDD O/S even with the USB stick plugged in.
Goes straight back to install process from USB stick.

Also tried recovery options startup repair. Still operating system not found.

 

[gregrocker]

Unplug the flash stick at first reboot and don't plug it back in.

Try DVD install.

 

[OldMX]

OK, ran WD Data Lifegaurd on HDD and USB stick, both passed.
Down loaded 32 bit version, installed on USB stick with Ultra ISO.
During install (at first screen language selection) started cmd line diskpart and:
SELECT DISK 0 (after confirming Windows 7 target HD #)
CLEAN
CREATE PARTITION PRIMARY
FORMAT FS=NTFS LABEL="WINDOWS 7"
ACTIVE

Still operating system not found on first reboot.
One slight difference is it will now not boot into the HDD O/S even with the USB stick plugged in.
Goes straight back to install process from USB stick.

Also tried recovery options startup repair. Still operating system not found.

On first reboot turn computer off, remove usb, turn computer on, enter bios setup and load bios defaults, see if that helps, or as stated eralier, try to install from dvd?

 

[jesbkemp]

Update:
I have 2 laptops Emachine (emac) with the boot problem and an MSI no boot problem.
Both running Win 7 x64. Both have SATA WD 3200BEVT HDDs.
emac has the brand new install on it.

If I take the HDD out of MSI and put it in emac, emac boots fine.

If I take the HDD out of emac and put it in MSI no problem
Surely this validates the new install.

However, with the new drive, if I install Win7 (the same applies for Ubuntu, I tried today)
either from MSI or emac I always get the msg Operating System not found when the new
drive is plugged into emac.

Therefore the problem appears to be between the new drive and the bios on emac.
I just don't understand what that problem is.

 

[gregrocker]

Do you have the latest BIOS version?

Have you tried a DVD install?

 

[jesbkemp]

Hi gregrocker, Yup to all of the above. Down level BIOS was my first thought so flashed the
latest I could find (V1.18).
Tried numerous different DVD installs. I'd need a pretty big matrix to cover all options:
DVD, USB, Formatted HDD with various tools both bootable from emac machine and external to MSI machine via USB to SATA cable, Pre-partitioned with various bootable tools, Partitioned during install. Removing USB stick on first reboot etc etc. I have tried everything mentioned in the thread and every other option I can think of. Also a variety of bootable MBR tools as well as bootrec and bcdedit. Different BIOS settings. A Mixture of all options. 5 days worth of everything I can think of and everyone on the thread. Still comes down to Operating System not found on the emacs machine but boots on the msi machine.
Starting to think strange things now. Could eMachines have altered the BIOS to look for something strange??
The V1.18 I flashed was from their website. But how would that explain my MSI disk booting no probs when
in the emachines hardware..

 

[gregrocker]

You've tried other HD's booting in the eMachine? You can adapt another Win7 to boot using Paragon Adaptive Restore CD - SkyDrive

 

[jesbkemp]

Gregrocker, cheers. The beauty of the cloud eh? Just had a quick look. Does this mean I can store a bootable image from my working system (MSI) through skydrive then network install on emachine? Sorry to bring my Unix roots up, but like NIM on AIX..

 

[gregrocker]

The file size limit on Skydrive is 2gb I believe. You can buy extra space for cheap.

I would keep trying different HD's until you find one that agrees with that eMachine. There is something very strange about your issue. I've not seen one like it before.