Expanding Windows File hangup

[furbie]

I'm trying to install 7 on my older laptop as an upgrade from XP on a clean installation (bought a new hard drive and put XP on it first that I intend to wipe out in the 7 installation) but when I boot from the 7 disk it takes about 10 minutes to get to the installation. The graphics are funky and when I get to the point of expanding Windows files it takes a very long time to get anywhere. I figured I'd leave it overnight, and when I woke up the computer was at the XP desktop, so it had obviously reset itself.
I read somewhere that I should remove all hardware except a stick of RAM, but...it's a laptop. Are there any other suggestions?

 

[torrentg]

Install from USB Key.

 

[wallyinnc]

Welcome to the forums furbie

We will need to know more about your system to be able to help. You can use SIW to give you a snap shot and then click on the left lower corner of your post.

This behavior seems to be because of too little memory, but this is a guess

 

[furbie]

Well, I have a gig, less 64 mb, in there.

How does one do the said snapshot? Which screen are you looking for?

 

[furbie]

I'm trying to boot from USB, but the option isn't coming up...is there a way to boot from a floppy or CD and then run the startup from the USB?

 

[torrentg]

All motherboards are different. Play around with boot settings to find right one for USB key. Hopefully someone will come here and tell you which specifically to try. Sometimes, it's not so easy to even guess because it's different than what it says.

http://www.pendrivelinux.com/usb-bios-boot-options/

It could be one of the "hard drives."

 

[wallyinnc]

Are you trying to install Win7 x64 or x86? 1G is theoretically below the threshold for 64 bits. I have read it will work, but the installation might be loooong. For 32bits it should work, but also it might take a while to install

 

[furbie]

32 bit. Oh, i also got this error message:

"Windows cannot install required files. Make sure all files required for installation are available and restart the installation. Error code 0x80070737"

 

[Dave76]

Can't find anything on that error code, is it correct?

 

[wallyinnc]

Furbie, are you installing from a DVD or a downloaded student copy? That error suggests your installation files are corrupt.

 

[chev65]

I've had these same types of problem on a few of my machines. The expanding files problem is widespread with many different fixes.

I have also seen that error code on another machine. I managed to get W7 to install on that machine by using a different CD and clearing the cmos.

Simply clearing the cmos got it going on three different machines. Using a different installation CD worked on another.

I would find the clear cmos hole on your lap top and use the end of a paper clip to clear cmos and then try the installation again.

 

[furbie]

I'm using a retail upgrade DVD.

Clear CMOS hole? Is that like the restart button? I've never noticed a clear CMOS button, and I can't find one.

 

[wallyinnc]

furbie, what's your laptop model? You can or we can look up the manual and see how to clear the CMOS. Chances are you would have to open it up

 

[furbie]

Compaq Presario 2180CA. I upgraded the RAM and hard drive.

 

[wallyinnc]

furbie, I can't find anything. I think you will have to open it and remove the CMOS battery to reset it. I would search the manuals before opening it: http://h20000.www2.hp.com/bizsupport/TechSupport/DocumentIndex.jsp?lang=en&cc=us&taskId=101&prodClassId=-1&contentType=SupportManual&docIndexId=64255&prodTypeId=321957&prodSeriesId=242202

Just occured to me: you said you replaced the memory. How much memory does it indicate to have in the BIOS? Can you have a bad contact? Somebody solved a problem the other day by correct installing the memory stick. I also just read in teh HP site they recommend to do that in some cases: Compaq Presario 2100 Notebook PC series- HP Notebook PCs - Notebook Does Not Startup or Boot Displaying a Blank Screen - c00372748 - HP Business Support Center

let us know if you make progress

 

[furbie]

I tried the installation off the USB drive (had to format the hard drive first so it booted off the USB) and at 58% of expanding the files it errored and said "Windows cannot access the installation sources. Verify that the installation sources are accessible, and restart the installation."
When I try to install it again, the hard drive disappears from the "Where do you want to install Windows?" screen.

BIOS indicates the RAM accurately. 980992 kb. Re-set the RAM chips and I'll try again after I post this. I switched them around.

I have another thought - could I install it on another computer onto the laptop hard drive (I have a usb to IDE adaptor) and then transfer it to the laptop once the installation is completed?

 

[DocBrown]

From the search I did on the Compaq Presario 2180CA, it looks like max memory is 1gb.

 

[torrentg]

I have another thought - could I install it on another computer onto the laptop hard drive (I have a usb to IDE adaptor) and then transfer it to the laptop once the installation is completed?

Possible, yes, as in "nothing is impossible."

Strongly suggest this isn't what you want to do.

It's a little bit of work, but what you can do is pull the drive and attach it to another pc. Give it a drive letter in disk management if you need to.
Access the drive for any dump files. Search like this - *.dmp

(P.S. This is a good way to fix PS3 native drives when they are corrupted from erroneous system updates and PS3 refuses to boot. More work is involved though.)

Rar them and upload here by attaching to a post. Maybe I could locate a definitive cause for you like this.

 

[furbie]

I was thinking of disconnecting the main drives before doing the installation using this computer. I can't remember when I installed 7 on this computer (which was flawless, btw ) if anything else was installed from the DVD after the computer restarted. If not, I could theoretically get away with it and not have to confuse windows with this computer's specs.

Oh, there it goes again. The 0x80070037 error.

And no dmp files. Sorry guys...it's just not co-operating, is it?

 

[furbie]

Uhhh...yeah, so apparently you can't install Windows through a USB connected drive. And since I can't find a place to plug a 2.5" drive in via cable, my idea's out the window.