Installation Crashes

[davik]

Update: Problem solved - turned out it was caused by SpeedStep, a couplr of bios settings that stepped down the multiplier whilst the CPU is under light usage. Turning this off solved the problem. Now if I could only figure out how to put the little "Solved" prefix on this post..​

Just as countless other people are doing, I'm trying to install Windows 7 7600 and having crashing problems, so I effectively can't install it..

I used EASEUS Partition Manager to create a ~20GB partition from free space on my current system drive, an old Maxtor 80GB one. Upon trying to install W7 onto this, I get to anywhere within the installation process, and it will crash, at an apparently random time. Sometimes it goes through the first install, restarts as required, then will crash on the second section. A further restart will ask me to begin the installation again.

The crashes essentially involve the computer losing all visual output, and the monitor goes on to standby, until I restart the computer myself. I am assuming the system has crashed at this point, although it's possible things are still happening with no video output.

I have tried creating a similar small partition on my newer SATA 320GB WD drive, only with the same results.

I have removed 3 of the 4 GB of RAM, with no luck.

The exact same issue occured with both the 32 and 64 bit RCs, each burned twice, at slow speeds, so I don't think it is a dodgy ISO problem.

I have removed my X-Fi, with still no luck.

I can't format a whole drive and try installing on that as I need to retain my XP installation, in the event that I cannot get Windows 7 working and have to continue using XP for school work.

If there's any more info that could help, please ask. I've included my system specifications in my profile.

Thanks a lot

 

[davik]

An update - it's not working from a USB Key Drive either. Same issue.

Edit: 32 bit doesn't work either.

 

[Kari]

Hello davik, welcome to forum.

Sorry to tell you this but 20 gigs seems to be awfully little to install Windows 7. I know Microsoft tells 20 gigs is the minimum (16 gigs for 32-bit), but even if you manage to install, the space is simply not enough. The fact it didn't work from USB key supports this, though it must not be the problem.

If you search this Installation & Setup subforum you'll find you're not alone: a lot of us have had an issue or two. Most common issues are hardware related.

A short checklist to install a 64-bit Windows 7 (my version, the pros here may add something):
- disconnect all external devices except mouse and kb
- use only one RAM module
- reset your BIOS to factory defaults
- burn install disk as slowly as possible
- let your burner software verify the disk
- do a clean install

Hope you'll manage it, Windows 7 is worth every effort.

Kari

 

[davik]

I'm just heading to bed now, so I'll try d/cing everything except the essentials and slow burning in the morning. I'll also free up some space and try to make the partition 30GB or so.

The only reason I'm using a small partition is that I wanted to ensure that I could get the OS to install (wisely, it seems), before formatting my whole hard drive and installing afresh. I didn't want to be stuck with no OS whatsoever, if I couldn't get W7 to install.

Edit: forgot to mention, since the previous post I tried once again, having removed my wireless card, still with no luck.

 

[davik]

Another update: Disconnected all usb devices except for keyboard/mouse, burnt the disc at 1x, verified, freed up space for a 30GB partition, bios reset to fail-safe defaults.

Still no luck.

 

[Kari]

The crashes essentially involve the computer losing all visual output, and the monitor goes on to standby, until I restart the computer myself. I am assuming the system has crashed at this point, although it's possible things are still happening with no video output.

This quote from your first post indicates it is probably a display driver issue. Doing some heavy googling, tell you if I find something.

Kari

 

[davik]

Ok, thanks a lot, I really appreciate the help.

Even if I just leave it waiting around on the start of the installation, after some amount of time, it will crash.

 

[wallyinnc]

Davik
I agree with Kari, it looks like a video card / drivers conflict. Are you able ot get to the part of the installation where it asks you for drivers, and have you loaded the ones for your card?
I see you have no onboard video, do you have another card to try?
The DVI connection to the monitor seems to be problematic in installation, but you have no VGA, so not much to do there. Sorry if it didn't help much...

 

[davik]

The only Drivers section I have come across is at the point when choosing which partition to install onto. Should I try installing my video card drivers at that point? I don't have another card to try, unfortunately.

 

[davik]

Well, I installed it starting from in Windows, something I hadn't thought to do before (for some reason). It worked. It installed fine, and all seemed well. After shutting down and restarting a handful of times, it decided to crash, just like before, whilst I was just deleting some files off the C: drive.

Any thoughts?

 

[davik]

Seems I just got lucky that time. I formatted the partition and tried installing again using the same method but it crashed before it finished installing. I'm going to try to get hold of a friend's ATi graphics card.

 

[wallyinnc]

Well, I installed it starting from in Windows, something I hadn't thought to do before (for some reason). It worked. It installed fine, and all seemed well. After shutting down and restarting a handful of times, it decided to crash, just like before, whilst I was just deleting some files off the C: drive.

Any thoughts?

Good, Davik, I am glad you made progress. I thought of whether you were doing a clean install or an upgrade and would suggest to upgrade, since it should carry on at least basic drivers. A clean install is more recommended, but it not always works.
Now, have you installed Win7 drivers for your video card before the crash? I would recommend you do that first then work on it.
Let us know if it helps

 

[davik]

I tried that, but it crashed before I was able to install the drivers, and it kept crashing before I was able.

Although I started the install from within XP, it was a clean install onto a different partition. I can't afford to lose my current OS, and so can't upgrade over, or format this drive until I'm sure it can be installed stabley. I'll give it another go later, and try to get the drivers installed. I'm also waiting on a friend who's going to drop off his old graphics card, to try that.

 

[Frostbite]

Reading from above you have managed to install it fully? Have you tried running in safe mode (press F8 as soon as windows starts to load) and does it still crash then? I take it the Windows XP install is stable?

 

[davik]

I did manage to get it installed fully, but have since formatted that partition, in an attempt to install again, to check it wasn't a fluke. Seems it was, and I've not yet been able to manage a complete install again, though I haven't had much time to try today. When I get some more time, and possibly this spare graphics card, I'll try installing again. If I manage, I'll try running it in Safe Mode, and I'll try installing the graphics card drivers.

Edit: Yes, the XP Install is stable.

 

[davik]

Jesus Christ, even when using a different graphics card entirely (ATi X1900), I get the same issues.

 

[Frostbite]

Perhaps it's a corrupted ISO image. Try downloading it again.

 

[davik]

I'm just clearing a partition on my laptop and oging to try installing it onto there. If it gets the same problem, it suggests it's the ISO image, like you said. I'll get back to you.

Oh, it's worth noting that with the ATi graphics card, I get the glowing Starting Windows logo, but with my 8800GT, I only got the little scrolling loading bar with (C) Microsoft.

 

[wallyinnc]

Davik
Have you tried to install in safe mode? If you do so, I suggest some things:
- check where it stops. It might give you a hint what driver is the one causing the problem. Maybe or maybe not, since it might be the next one to what you see on the screen but it is a good place to start. Ppl might know what comes next.
- try also to boot with the log file recording on (or whatever that safe mode option is called...). Depending on how far your boot goes, it should indicate what is making it crash. I had a problem where the boot process didn't go far enough for the log file to be created.
- Finally, if you have access to the drive, check if you have any ".dmp" file (those are generaly generated in BSOD situations, but you might have gotten one). Those contain the memory dump info. We have a guru who would be able to diagnose this if we had a bsod dump file. If you have them you can reply to a post in the thread, zip the file, then use the paperclip icon to attach the file. Put BSOD in the header so he can search on it (italics are quoted from my friend Ken)

One final far fetched thing: I had a somewhat similar problem but in my case it always stopped at the same spot in the boot sequence (after disk.sys). My problem was that Win7x64 didn't like my CPU (an AMD 4200+, which is 64 bit capable). After I changed CPU it is working great. It is probably not your case (completely different config). I just mean: be prepared for it to be anything, explore all options!

Keep us posted
Wally

 

[davik]

It's not the ISO - I've installed it from the same disc (same version, too - x64 Home Premium), onto my laptop, and it's running fine. I'm actually posting from it right now.

When you say installing from Safe Mode, I'm not sure I get what you mean, exactly. Do you mean going into Safe Mode in XP and installing from there, or trying to install as usual, and then booting up into Safe Mode? As for the latter, I think it's unlikely I'll be able to manage to successfully install it. Also, it doesn't appear to crash in the same place each time.

I decided to do MS's Win7 upgrade advisor, and it came up fine, aside from saying I'll need to get new drivers for my X-Fi and Wireless Card, it said "An update is required to make this device compatible with Windows 7", about the Gigabyte GBB36X Controller. It said the same for the X-Fi and the Wi-Fi card; I'm not sure what that controller does, though, and if it's significant.