Having a weird issue when booting from CD.

[Belgian Waffle]

Hello,

you guys must feel exhausted of all the double work with the tons of windows 7 questions that keep flooding these forums. I however will (unfortunatly) be no difference. I have as well bumped into an issue.

So, I recently bought the Windows 7 Home Edition Upgrade. It came nicely with both 32bit and 64bit discs as expected. Since I "upgrade" (read clean install) from a windows XP 32bit OS I decided to go with the 32 bit version. However, after doing some reading I saw the 64 bit would be the better option if your hardware could handle it.

I downloaded this handy tool called SecureAble and it told me my PC could handle a 64 bit OS.

I think I'm going a bit overboard on the extra info here, but just want to make sure you guys see I've done all steps necesarry.

I read that when you want to install the 64 bit version over the 32 bit version you need to do a clean install. Since I recently done one and haven't spent hours yet in configuring my PC I defenatly did not mind this and went for it. I hopped into my BIOS and enabled CDROM as the first boot tool to use. I restart with the 64bit DVD in the DVD station, I hit a key when it asks if I want to boot from CD. Then it takes me to a few loading screens so I start smirking "Ah yes, finally something that goes smooth" yet then I see a colorfull windows background image but nothing moves at all. It just sits there. I see my mouse pointer without any "busy" signs or anything, nor does my DVD drive gives me any busy-lights or does my processor seems to be working on anything.

Does this sound consistant with a known issue? Is there some option I need to change in my BIOS? Or does it mean my PC just wont take any 64bit version?

Any help or suggestion would be welcome, and I already thank everyone of you wholeheartedly beforehand!

Best regards,
Sven.

 

[Belgian Waffle]

Update

After digging deeper into old threads here on the forum I found this one:

http://www.sevenforums.com/installation-setup/53023-booting-blank-screen.html

The problem the OP discribes is exactly the issue I'm having right now. I'm currently trying to see if I need some BIOS updates (which seems to be the case). Once finished I'll keep you informed about the outcome for future reference (if I get lucky )

Sven.

 

[Belgian Waffle]

So far the attempts were unsuccesfull... :X

Any suggestions would still be helpfull

Sven.

 

[gregrocker]

You need the latest BIOS version. Then set your BIOS to defaults, with SATA controller set to ACHI.

Please fill in your System Specs in bottom left corner of your post.

Remove any more than 2 gb of RAM to try install, along with any USB connections or extra HD's.

 

[Belgian Waffle]

Hi, thanks for looking into this greg.

Anyways, to business. I updated some of my specs so you have an idea what I'm running here.

I also noticed the following under RAM memory when I ran Belrac:
"3328 Megabytes Usable Installed Memory

Slot 'A0' is Empty
Slot 'A1' has 2048 MB
Slot 'A2' is Empty
Slot 'A3' has 2048 MB"
I'm not a wiz, but the math doesn't seem to add up... But then again, could be "normal" or something, don't know.

Update on what I've tried so far:
- cleared out CMOS and restored default BIOS settings: unsuccesfull
- I tried looking into updating my BIOS: ran Driver Robot which found some outdated drivers. Which I then couldn't find, or when I found them they didn't seem to install properly... (If you want I can copy the list that Driver Robot gave me to see if the problem lies there somewhere)
- For reference I tried booting from the Windows 7 32 bit DVD which was unsuccesfull either.
- I'm a bit reluctant to dive into my PC case unplugging one of the RAM sticks I've got, but I think I'll manage that. Do I need to pull out one and then try to boot from the DVD again?

Thanks already
Sven.

 

[SIW2]

I'm no hardware expert , but looking at your specs - it would be astonishing if your pc can't support x64 o/s.

The ram thing is normal as you are currently running 32 bit o/s.

This is one of my preferred install methods - see if it works for you.

You currently have 7 x86 installed on partition C ? You can do this:

d/l this .zip , rt click Properties>Unblock, Apply, ok.

View attachment imagex.zip

extract the .zip and copy imagex into your C:\Windows\System32 folder.

Put the x64 dvd in the drive - open to view files - in the sources folder - you will find install.wim. Copy and paste install.wim onto the C drive.

Make sure you have another ntfs primary partition ready made to install 7 x64 - e.g. D partition. ( make it smaller than your current C partition - 16gb is recommended - you could get away with less)

Open an elevated command and type:

imagex /apply c:\install.wim 2 d:\

press enter.

it will take about 6 mins.

type: d:\windows\system32\bcdboot d:\windows

then press enter. close cmd prompt.

Restart the pc and select windows 7 from the boot menu. Should be finished in 5 mins or so.

 

[Belgian Waffle]

A new update, just tried Greg's tip to boot from the DVD with just one 2GB RAM card in place and it had the same result.

Yours sounds a bit complex SIW, the part where you suggest to make another ntfs primary partition ready took me off guard

Perhaps my problem is my C drive itself? It only has room for 24GB, I use another drive, the E drive to save the larger files on such as movies, music, etc... That one has 500GB space on it. Could the fact that my C drive only has 24Gig be the origin of my issues?

Thanks!
Sven

 

[SIW2]

Before you do anything else - you need a disk backup program - you have 10 mins left to get this one - free:

Paragon Backup & Recovery Compact Free registration

Paragon Backup & Recovery 10 Compact [32-bit]

Paragon Backup & Recovery 10 Compact [64-bit]

Don't wait for the registration email to arrive - start downloading - it will run out soon.

 

[Belgian Waffle]

Allright here's the screenshot you've requested.



It's dutch though, but I assume you know where to look and what to look for, if not, let me know!

Sven

 

[Belgian Waffle]

And I'm currently downloading the 32bit and 64bit one as well.

Sven

 

[Belgian Waffle]

Ok and I have downloaded both versions succesfully and have received their registration data etc... Was a close one!

Anyways, for tonight I'm hitting the sack. Should you still be up for helping me, then feel free to post me a to-do list. All help is welcome since I don't have any idea where to go from here.

One more question I have. I find it very inconvenient to have such a small primary disk (the C-Drive of 24gig). Is it possible to make my E Drive primary so I can simply partition that one and have more GB to work with?

Sven

 

[gregrocker]

Here is the Mobo Downloads page for your BIOS update and drivers: http://www.gigabyte.us/Products/Motherboard/Products_Overview.aspx?ProductID=2557

Check your current BIOS version using Belarc or by entering BIOS setup. When in BIOS, check to see what is your SATA controller setting.


Here is what I would do to add more space from E: to your C: partition so you can install Win7 there:

Back up your files from C: and a backup image if you want a path back as Resizing operations can fail.

Download and burn to CD free Partition Wizard bootable CD

Boot partition manager CD, select 1 for screen res, rightclick C partition to Delete.

Then rightclick E partition Modify>Convert to Primary, then rightclick>Resize, slide left border to the right to make as much space as you want for a new C: partition. Apply all steps.

Now boot Win7 DVD, select Custom install, then use Drive Tools to create a New partition for unallocated space you have made, then format partition before installing.

 

[SIW2]

E is logical in the screenshot.

 

[gregrocker]

Can Paragon convert E: to Primary before Resizing to make more space for C?

 

[SIW2]

Not the program he already downloaded - that was a backup app.

The Paragon 2010 Free can resize it.

Otherwise use PW to convert it Primary , then resize - probably best for this job. There is 100gb of data to move during the resize - will take a while.

 

[Belgian Waffle]

Hey! A new day, almost going home from work, so I'm about to head in and try those new suggestions.

First of all: What is the 100GB you were talking about SIW? Which 100GB would take long to move? If you are talking about the data that's on my E drive, I have no problems at all formatting that drive, since I've backed it up recently (just 2 days ago).

But I got lost in the woods a bit? What do I need to do right now exactly?

Sven

 

[SIW2]

That was when there was suggestion about increasing the size of the partition you want to install7 x64 on.

The 24 gb shouldn't be the cause of the issue - the recommended min. is 16 gb.

 

[Belgian Waffle]

Ah I see.

Well in any case, I'll attempt to download and install the update for my BIOS to start with. Perhpas that was just the thing bugging the whole setup. I'll let you know how it ends.

Sven

 

[Belgian Waffle]

This whole ordeal is getting a bit frustrating.

Trying to fix one problem I bumb into another one. *sigh*

Anyways, as Greg suggested I tried looking for an UPDATE for my BIOS.

I found this with Belrac:
Board: Gigabyte Technology Co., Ltd G33M-32
BIOS: Award Software, Inc F4 09/07/2007

So on the website you suggested I clicked the link for BIOS at the right hand side and got the following list:
http://www.gigabyte.us/Support/Motherboard/BIOS_Model.aspx?ProductID=2557

Since Belrac said my BIOS was F4 I assumed that F7 was the latest update for my BIOS and downloaded the top link there. I unzipped the package and tried to run the FLASHSPI file and I get the following error: NTVDM.exe has stopped working. So I thought I might have used the wrong shortcut so I try to run the autoexe file which gives me the same error... :X I'm doomed to fail on this particular project!

Ah also, when in BIOS I checked my SATA settings which said:
SATA AHCI Mode [disabled]
SATA Port 0-1 Native Mode [disabled]

 

[gregrocker]

Follow the instructions on the website or in the BIOS update Read Me file carefully to update the BIOS. Do it only from Windows as it is safer. If you still have a question which file is to be run, then post back a screenshot of the files so we can help you.

Which SATA controller setting was enabled? Try ACHI first, then Native.