Solved Help! Windows is loading files stuck. Can't install Windows 7!

[zenou]

--Posted on wrong section-- --Moved here by me--
Hi all,
New to the forum, delighted to be here.
I'm having some issues installing Windows 7 on my new pc. (3 attempts were made).

First and second attempt - When launching setup, the laptop freezes at "Starting Windows"
I tried a 2nd image, and at the the 3rd attempts it just hangs at windows is loading files (the progress bar is finished).

I'm tired of Windows 10, I would really like to go back to 7. Any help is appreciated!

Specs:
Lenovo IdeaPad 5-15IIL05
Intel Core i3 - Ice Lake
Intel UHD Graphics 620
930 GB Disk
USB 2.0 - 1 slot
USB 3.0 - 2 slots

Thanks again!

 

[Megahertz07]

Welcome to the Forum.

New hardware requires some drivers that are not on the Win 7 installation files. You have to add those drivers (at least USB3.x, SATA, NVMe) to the installation drive. That is why you don't have mouse and / or keyboard (missing USB3.x drivers) and you may not see the drive (missing NVMe driver).

Update your Win 7 installation media

The main problem is to find Win 7 drivers to new generation hardware. Also UEFI BIOS must allow to set to work with Win 7. Fast boot and secure boot must be set to disabled. OS must be set to "other" etc.
SIW2 knows everything about. Wait for his help.

 

[zenou]

Hi Megahertz07,

I have just created a UEFI disk with Rufus. , but stuck on "Starting Windows" for the setup. I can't seem to get past the frozen screen. Thanks for the tool, I will employ it and try again;

I'll wait for SIW2 too for more instruction.

Thanks again.

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Hi Megahertz07,

I have just created a UEFI disk with Rufus. , but stuck on "Starting Windows" for the setup. I can't seem to get past the frozen screen. Thanks for the tool, I will employ it and try again;

I'll wait for SIW2 too for more instruction.

Thanks again.

 

[Megahertz07]

Hi Megahertz07,

I have just created a UEFI disk with Rufus. , but stuck on "Starting Windows" for the setup. I can't seem to get past the frozen screen. Thanks for the tool, I will employ it and try again;

I'll wait for SIW2 too for more instruction.

Thanks again.

The screen isn't frozen. As you don't have the USB3.x drivers, mouse and / or keyboard doesn't work.

To make a Win 7 USB boot able drive:

Open a CMD window as administrator and type:

diskpart
list disk (it will list all drives. Identify the USB drive number)
select disk n (replace n by the USB drive number obtained with list disk)
clean
convert mbr
create part primary
select part 1
format fs=fat32 quick
assign
active
exit (to exit diskpart)

Use 7Zip to extract all files and folders from the Win 7 iso file to the USB drive

To make it UEFI boot able you must add the \efi\boot folder

 

[zenou]

Update-

No, it's actually frozen, I can't use the keyboard or mouse, as I haven't even reached setup. I'm stuck at Starting Windows with the colored balls. (I have used SIW2's tool to update my iso, still same problem)

Please suggest anything to do in this case.

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Update-
BIOS Update performed. Still same problem.

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SIW2

 

[SIW2]

It probably doesnt have csm support.

You could try the image here:
https://www.dell.com/community/Vost...0-Windows-7-install-problem/m-p/7801886#M4576

It contains the esp partition and the windows partition.

I am not sure it will work because the included graphics drivers are for 9th gen - I dont know if it supports 10th gen.

If you cant get that to work, you are out of luck..

 

[zenou]

Thanks SIW2. I'll try that and report back. Appreciated

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While I download it, do you know the method to make the "tibx" file a bootable usb?

 

[SIW2]

.tibx is an Acronis image file.

It can be viewed in explorer if acronis is installed. The contents each partition can be carefully copied to a folder. One for the esp partition, the other for the main partition. Ther are a lot of files in the main partition, it has to be done bit by bit, it takes a little while and some patience.

Then each of those folders can be captured as wim files. You could capture the small one as esp.wim and the main folder as main.wim .The wim files can then be applied to the pre partitioned target disk. Then the bcd entry can be adjusted by using bcdboot.

Or you can try and coax Acronis to apply the .tibx file to your target disk.

 

[zenou]

Great! Yep; I can see the main part. and the EFI one after downloading Acronis. I'll restore them and let you know.

Thanks again!

 

[SIW2]

Which acronis version did you d/l. Do you have a link?

The current western digital acronis version wont restore the image, though it does show the contents.

 

[zenou]

Hi!

I have downloaded Acronis True Image 2021 and restored the disk. Unfortunately, a 0x0000007B bsod appears on starting Windows. I Guess its over then. I really appreciate your help and thank you very much for your Time.

 

[Megahertz07]

Reinstall Win 10.
Make a boot able Win 10 installation drive using MCT
Boot from the Win 10 installation drive, go to install and delete all partitions BUT any data partition.

Reset BIOS or load defaults.
Set Disk mode to AHCI, not RAID
Select OS mode = UEFI or Select OS mode = other + UEFI (depends on BIOS).
Disable fast boot and secure boot (you can turn it on after installation)

Windows can be installed in two ways: Legacy-MBR or UEFI-GPT
To install as Legacy-MBR you must boot the installation drive as Legacy
To install as UEFI-GPT you must boot the installation drive as UEFI.

As you have a new MB, you should install as UEFI-GPT
Detach any other drives (SATA or Power cable) from the MB.

During POST, press F12(?) to launch the boot menu. You will see two options for the USB drive. USB UEFI (Name) and USB (Name). Select USB UEFI (Name).
Go to install and delete ALL partitions on the SSD till you have one and only one unallocated space and then proceed.
If you don't want to use MS account, don't enable updates or connect to the internet during installation.

 

[SIW2]

0x0000007B

Sounds like it is trying to load the iastor driver that was installed for the dell machine

I suppose you could try an adjust to new hardware module, which should prevent that - such as in paragon or O&O disk image.

Nomal way is to use the boot media those programs create, boot it up and point the module at the affected windows.

Worth a try if you can get hold of one of those.

 

[zenou]

Thank you. So I should reinstall windows 10 on the new partition, then re delete the partition and install windows 7? is that correct?

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SIW2, Perfect, I'll try that.

 

[SIW2]

I would suggest paragon 15 or newer.

It will adjust using whatever is in the driverstore\file repository already and should alert you if anything important is missing.

 

[zenou]

I would suggest paragon 15 or newer.

It will adjust using whatever is in the driverstore\file repository already and should alert you if anything important is missing.

I found this tutorial on the forum:
Make Windows 7 bootable after motherboard swap
Will this work?

 

[SIW2]

I would use a more recent version. You wont get that to boot on your machine, and that older program version wont run in win10 winpe environment.

I suggest paragon15 or newer is the best bet..

Or you might try the O&O version - which is available on giveaway, but I am not sure it is as good as the paragon.

 

[zenou]

I would use a more recent version. You wont get that to boot on your machine, and that older version wont run in win10 winpe environment.

I suggest paragon15 or newer.

Or you might try the O&O version - which is available on giveaway, but I am not sure it is as good as the paragon.

Perfect, I'll go with Paragon 15 then I will keep you updated.

 

[SIW2]

It is called paragon hdm15 ( as in hard disk manager 15)

the boot media needs to be made from win10 so it will boot on that machine.

 

[zenou]

It is called paragon hdm15 ( as in hard disk manager 15)

the boot media needs to be made from win10 so it will boot on that machine.

No worries, I have access to a Win 10 machine. Can I have a link to the software?

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Nevermind, I found the giveaway you talked about earlier, (O and O DiskImage 14). I'll use it.