Cannot install windows 7

[Palegathon]

Hello everyone, i recently built a computer and put the windows 7 installation disk in it and it would not recognize so then i realised I did not have a dvd rom so i installed windows xp. I now have a dvd rom and when i put my windows 7 disc in it just says upgrade then when i try it fails. also if i boot from the cd it will not install. Any idea whats going on? i fdisk reformatted the drive with windows 98 then formatted again with windows xp not really sure whats going on.

 

[zigzag3143]

Hello everyone, i recently built a computer and put the windows 7 installation disk in it and it would not recognize so then i realised I did not have a dvd rom so i installed windows xp. I now have a dvd rom and when i put my windows 7 disc in it just says upgrade then when i try it fails. also if i boot from the cd it will not install. Any idea whats going on? i fdisk reformatted the drive with windows 98 then formatted again with windows xp not really sure whats going on.

What version of win 7 do you have retail, or OEM?


Are you sure the dvd works? have you tried it on another machine?

 

[Palegathon]

yeah it works, but i think its an upgrade only disc or something cause it just says upgrade theres no partition or format when i boot from cd with it.

 

[Bare Foot Kid]

Hello Palegathon, welcome to Seven Forums!


It would be best to do a complete wipe of the entire Hard Disk Drive to over-write all the old code that exists on the HDD and then use one of the methods below to use Windows 7 diskpart to create and format the partition to install Windows 7 to, so there's no doubt you get the correct file structure; there is also a link below to show how to do a clean install with an upgrade version.

Be sure to post back with any further questions you may have and to keep us informed.


After you have copied out or made back-ups of the data you need to save to external media, use Step One of this tutorial at the first link below to do a wipe (secure erase) to the entire Hard Disk Drive / Solid State Drive.

• Then if you do not want to create the new Windows 7 "System Reserved" partition use the outline in Step Two #2 to create, format and mark Active a single 100GB partition to do the installation to.
• If you do want to create the "System Reserved" partition use the outline in Step Two #3 to create, format and mark Active the System Reserved partition and then create and format the 100GB partition to do the installation to.

Either way, running the "clean all" then creating and formatting the partition(s) using diskpart will get you the best possible space to do a clean install of Windows 7 to; you can always extend the Windows partition to include the remaining unallocated space on the HDD / SSD or create additional Primary partitions or an Extended partition after the installation completes if you choose.

SSD / HDD : Optimize for Windows Reinstallation

DISKPART : At PC Startup

Do a Clean Install with a Upgrade Windows 7 Version

 

[gregrocker]

Make sure you have the latest BIOS version update. If so, reset the CMOS: Clear CMOS - 3 Ways to Clear the CMOS - Reset BIOS

You cannot Upgrade install from XP. Boot the DVD, choose Custom Install, delete the partitions you don't want using Drive Options, repartition and format. Screenshots here: Clean Install Windows 7 - Windows 7 Forums

Where did you get Win7? Did you burn it yourself? If so, confirm the ISO and burn another DVD using ImgBurn at 4x speed. Or try install from USB flash stick: USB Windows 7 Installation Key Drive - Create - Windows 7 Forums