Solved Issue Installing Win 7 Ult x64 on New PC; Stuck @ "Starting Windows"

[Chrisau08]

Issue Installing Win 7 Ult x64 on New PC; Stuck @ "Starting Windows"

I just received my new laptop yesterday with the full intention of removing the Windows 8 installation and installing Windows 7 Ultimate 64-bit. After some work with the BIOS screen I finally made it so that the Optical Drive was first in the boot order but now I can't get it to run the Windows 7 setup.

Steps:
1. Turn on computer.
2. At prompt for "Press any key..." I hit a key.
3. The progress bar for "Setup is loading files" completes.
4. The screen comes to "Starting Windows" and the MS log comes on to the screen.
5. Nothing further happens, the screen remains with the MS logo and "Starting Windows"

Windows 8 boots without issue (but I don't want to use it). I tried reading through a number of other threads but they seemed to be dealing with desktop PCs where hardware was easily removed. I have never had an issue with installing Win7 from the DVD before. I have already tried removing one of the memory chips but that did not resolve the issue.

Comp Specs:
Asus A55A-TH51 (purchased from tigerdirect)
Intel Core i5
6 GB DDR3
Hitachi 500 GB HDD
Intel Integrated Graphics 4000

I thought this would be an easy change as it always has been but I really need some help with this one.

 

[gregrocker]

On a Windows 8 PC you likely have to turn off Secure Boot in BIOS setup first before you can install Win7.

Then you need to follow special steps to boot installer to install Win7 using UEFI (Unified Extensible Firmware Interface) - Install Windows 7 with - Windows 7 Forums.

All of this is detailed in Downgrade Windows 8 to Windows 7.

Some users decide not to mess with UEFI but to instead install normally to an MBR disk as shown in Bypass UEFI to Install WIn7

More information here about UEFI BIOS vs. Legacy BIOS - YouTube
so you understand your choices better.

 

[Chrisau08]

I attempted to follow the steps for installing using the USB flash drive for the UEFI BIOS but now I keep getting the message below:
Windows failed to start. A recent hardware or software change might be the cause. To fix the problem:
1. Insert your Windows installation disc and restart your computer.
2. Choose your language settings, and then click "Next."
3. Click "Repair your computer."

If you do not have this disc, contact your system administrator or computer manufacturer for assistance.

File: \EFI\Microsoft\Boot\BCD
Status: 0xc000000d
Info: An error occurred while attempting to read the boot configuration data.

I tried researching via Google but I was not finding a solution that didn't have to do with an already installed version of Windows 7.

 

[gregrocker]

The error normally means the installer is not written correctly to stick. UEFI Bootable USB Flash Drive - Create in Windows

If that fails try enabling Legacy BIOS to boot flash stick for a normal Custom install, during install delete all partitions to create new ones. If that fails, wipe the HD first with Diskpart Clean Command accessing DISKPART At PC Startup

 

[Chrisau08]

The error normally means the installer is not written correctly to stick. UEFI Bootable USB Flash Drive - Create in Windows

If that fails try enabling Legacy BIOS to boot flash stick for a normal Custom install, during install delete all partitions to create new ones. If that fails, wipe the HD first with Diskpart Clean Command accessing DISKPART At PC Startup

Thanks for the help. After two days of working on this I opted for the Legacy BIOS. I enabled the Launch CSM option in the BIOS screen and it is installing the way I'm used to.

 

[gregrocker]

Try to stick closely to the same steps in Clean Reinstall - Factory OEM Windows 7
to assure you get a perfect install.

When ready you can mark the thread Solved at top.

 

[damole]

I know this is an old thread but it replicates my problem exactly and so may be useful for others. I tried with 2 different USB flash drives, using both rufus and diskpart to create a UEFI bootable Windows 7 64 bit USB drive. Every time it failed with "File: \EFI\Microsoft\Boot\BCD" error. After trying many things and almost giving up I thought I would try one last time with a DVD burned from my retail ISO. When I tried that it seems to work but gets stuck at the "Starting Windows" screen. From what I've read on this site Windows 7 doesn't support the correct graphic protocol of UEFI so I was surprised it even got this far. My laptop a Clevo W355STQ doesn't have a CSM option so I'm going to have to install Windows 8.1 .

 

[gregrocker]

Make sure you followed exactly only Option One in UEFI Bootable USB Flash Drive - Create in Windows

Then it's a matter of getting the settings correct. What Legacy or CSM choices exactly are available in your BIOS? Even if you're installing to UEFI it sometimes requires enabling CSM or Legacy to install Win7. Then there may be Reset to Defaults choice separate from Reset to Windows 8 defaults that catches some users.

If you can take snapshots of the settings choices available for each of these we can usually spot the ones needed.


http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorial...e-firmware-interface-install-windows-7-a.html