Solved Can't install Windows 7

[xreyuk]

Hey guys, trying to install Windows 7 on the following desktop

Intel Core 2 Duo E6750
4GB Crucial Ballistix 1066Mhz RAM
640MB Nvidia 8800GTS
ASUS P5K-E

Firstly, I'll start of by saying Windows XP installs and works fine. I have also tried TWO different Windows 7 disks.

So, when I first tried installing Windows 7, it would start installing, and when needed to reboot, rebooted with a black screen. It then just kept rebooting and wouldn't install. After some googling, I found that I could enter in Safe Mode, but would get the message 'setup cannot complete installation in Safe Mode'. I also saw that I could run the device manager here and try and identify anything that could be causing the problem. I suspected graphics cards issues and then when I rebooted again, it rebooted okay and went on to try and continue the installation.

So even though it was now trying to install the Windows, it was coming up with the message 'setup quit unexpectedly and cannot continue'. So I thought, fair enough it restarted a few times, I'll try re-installing.

I then tried re-installing twice, from two different disks. However, it is installing, rebooting okay and getting the stage of 'completing' installation. At this point, in then cuts off, restarts and gives me the option to boot normally, or in safe mode because Windows shut down unexpectedly. When I try to boot either normally or in safe mode, it tells me that Windows cannot boot because there is an essential file missing called fwpkclnt.sys. Tried fixing it from the repair option on the disk, but it can't fix this problem.

Tried re-installing, and got the same error again, and now I'm stuck.

Any ideas?

 

[Lemur]

Xreyuk,

Welcome to SF.

Sorry you are having trouble. Please check the link below and see if it resolves your problem:

http://www.sevenforums.com/installation-setup/18602-black-screen-after-installation.html

 

[xreyuk]

Hey,

I have already tried deleting the drivers from the device manager, and it reboots okay but then when it says 'completing install' it just restarts and then gives me the .sys file error and I cannot even boot into safe mode.

 

[Lemur]

Hey,

I have already tried deleting the drivers from the device manager, and it reboots okay but then when it says 'completing install' it just restarts and then gives me the .sys file error and I cannot even boot into safe mode.

Another dude claimed ...

I have the same card, and I know what your problem is. your display is switching to the tv output as main. I contacted Nvidia about this problem. I had bought my card in the US and brought it with me to Spain and was about to go through the hassle of having to send it for repair from here because I thought the card was faulty, had an RMA and everything ready to send, until I thought about it over and over and then plugged in my TV and VIOLA there was my desktop. I know this thread is VERY old but I'm sure this might happen to more people so I thought that I'd at least leave this note here just in case in can help someone with the same problem.

And another ...

What I found worked for me is get to the point where the screen boots up to a black screen.

Then disconnect the cable from the existing DVI output and change it over to the other one while the computer is still on and see if picture comes onto the screen. You'll notice there's a numbering system to the DVI outputs, however, when I tried to boot my PC for the first time with a monitor and TV connected the outputs would keep swapping.

 

[xreyuk]

I'm not having an issue with a black screen.

I'm having an issue where the Windows setup is saying a file is missing. The fwpkclnt.sys file is missing, however, I have done 3 re-installs with different disks and always get the same error.

 

[xreyuk]

I have just tried re-installing again, and am now getting the error

'The computer restarted unexpectedly or encountered an unexpected error. Windows Installation cannot proceed. To install Windows, click OK to restart the computer and then restart the installation".

This is the same error I was getting before.

 

[gregrocker]

Where did you get Win7? If you burned the DVD yourself, confirm the ISO or download another, burn another DVD using ImgBurn at 4x speed. If this fails, write the ISO to flash stick using Universal USB Installer with Win7 in Dropdown menu. Boot under USB, REmovable or HD's using one-time BIOS Boot Menu key.

This eliminates the installer as a possibility.

Next wipe the HD to clear the boot sector: SSD - HDD Optimize for Windows Reinstallation

Unplug all other HD's and peripherals. Disconnect any floppy drive. Try disconnecting the DVD drive while using USB install method.

Reset the BIOS to defaults: Clear CMOS - 3 Ways to Clear the CMOS - Reset BIO.
While in BIOS setup set SATA controller to AHCI first to try install, then IDE if necessary.

Do you have the latest BIOS version. Check what it was issued for.

 

[xreyuk]

I have tried resetting BIOS to defaults, and tried AHCI and IDE modes.

I am using an official Windows 7 Home Premium OEM x64 disc. I have also tried it with a downloaded ISO.

I don't have the latest BIOS version at the moment, but I have previously installed Windows 7 on this machine no problem.

The only things I have plugged in are the keyboard and mouse in terms of peripherals.

I will try the HDD/SSD thing.

Can you suggest anything else I may try? seeing as the only thing I haven't really done is the HDD boot sectors?

Thanks for the help.

 

[gregrocker]

Try removing all but 2gb RAM to install. Swap RAM sticks. Test your RAM: RAM - Test with Memtest86+

Test your HD using maker's HD Diagnostic extended CD scan and Disk Check.

As a last resort you can move your HD to another machine to install by itself, then SysPrep before moving back to problem hardware: SysPrep to move HD to another computer

But it's better to troubleshoot the install, so check off every step or ask back to get them done fully.

 

[xreyuk]

Just running Memtest now, is it essential to do 7 passes, or can I do less? A couple of places online say 2, or running for 1hr should be sufficient?

 

[gregrocker]

The more passes, the more it stress tests the RAM.

 

[xreyuk]

I have now tried all of the things you listed. Nothing returned any errors, and I'm still having the same problem.

chkdsk never returned any bad sectors or errors as far as I could see. Only thing it said was about failed to transfer logged messages to the event log with status 50.

It appears to install, boots to the 'completing installation' page. It then reboots, and when it boots back up says there was an error, and Windows has recovered. I boot into safe mode and delete any incompatible devices (although there are a lot of unknown devices appearing). Restart, and still have the same issue saying that the installation has failed.

 

[gregrocker]

You have tried uninstalling the display driver in Device Manager during install?

Can you unplug or turn off the graphics card in BIOS, default to onboard graphics chip if you have it?

Can you try another video card?

Are you still getting the error message you reported at first? Google the exact text of the error to see how others have solved it.

 

[xreyuk]

Other appear to have solved it by either changing graphics card or various other methods.

I have a new GPU arriving this morning so I'll try that, but yes, I had been removing the device in the device manager. I have to wait for that because unfortunately I have no on board graphics.

Like I say, the only other thing is it's coming up with a lot of other unknown devices, and the wireless card is bringing up a few problems.

It's looking more and more like the graphics card is the issue, but I'm going to try another hard drive just in case, but as I say, chkdsk didn't find any problems on it.

 

[gregrocker]

You have wiped the HD to clean the boot sector?

 

[xreyuk]

Installed new graphics card, turns out this was the problem.

 

[gregrocker]

Now that install has completed, you can try changing back to the old graphics card to see if it will install. Watch the progress installing drivers in the System Tray. You can install one there if prompted. Watch optional Windows Updates for newer for this and any others.

When all is well you can click Solved at the top of this thread.

 

[xreyuk]

Think GPU is nackered.

Thanks for your help!

 

[gregrocker]

Not if the only evidence you're basing it on is the install failure.

Sometimes after install the device which blocks it can be made to work.

If there are other symptoms, then maybe so.

Glad to help.