please don't laugh...

[DocBrown]

As Greg suggested sometimes more than 1 memory stick causes hang ups during an install.. Here is a link on adding laptop memory, so just think about it in reverse to only have 1 stick of memory installed in your laptop.

How To...Install RAM on a Laptop [Video] - How To

 

[Dave76]

I agree with Greg and Doc, take out one RAM stick.

Just continue with what you are doing now, run memtest86+ overnight, before the next install take one RAM stick out.

Let us know if memtest gives you any errors.

Can you give us another PW partition picuture?


@ everyone trying to help.

She keeps getting sector or file errors, check disk and all the work with PW should find any errors on the HDD but, maybe it hasen't.
Boot files have been repaired several times and still won't work.

Do you see any advantage loading the IDE (or SATA) drivers during install?

For testing purposes, should there be a 100MB to maybe 1GB of unallocated space at the begining of the HDD, maybe get away from those sectors and see if this will help with the boot files?

Since this has been a stubborn install, just brainstorming.

I see the likely HW caused to be faulty HDD or controller.
Possibly the drivers causing this, also new BIOS may help.
Clearing the CMOS hasen't seemed to help any.

 

[tw33k]

Her last pic shows 3 partitions. Where did the 3rd one come from?

That would be the 100mb system reserved partition that windows made

ummm...no it isn't. The 100mb partition is listed first. Underneath there are 2 others. But there should only be 2. The 100mb and the c: partition.

http://www.sevenforums.com/installation-setup/119113-please-dont-laugh-23.html#post1034132

 

[Dave76]

Saw that also, another PW patition pic should explain it.

The PW partition pic before that had the System Reserve listed as a logical partition, that needs to be changed to Primary.

 

[gregrocker]

Dave, et al: a setting like SATA controller in BIOS could very well be responsible. We lost focus on that pages ago when it was listed in boot order as an IDE drive, but last she reported was SATA controller is set to AHCI as I recall. I'm not sure it was changed to IDE.

We need to see BIOS snaps for all the related SATA and IDE controller settings, not just boot order which is all we've seen.

This will clarify if she's running SATA controller in IDE mode, or IDE controller. Loading the relevant driver from Acer Downloads pages (which have everything except BIOS) into the Load Drivers link at selection screen is a good idea. Who can sort what controller is being used?


The obscured 3rd listing in screenshot is Unallocated Space because she made install partition 100gb on that attempt.

The only logical was free space in her first PW screenshow here: http://www.sevenforums.com/installation-setup/119113-please-dont-laugh.html#post1024210

 

[mypcbroke]

I'm currently letting Memtest run, will let it go through the night. Attached is a PW snap and BIOS screens you guys were asking about (hopefully they're the right screens).

 

[gregrocker]

Great, let memtest run all night to really stress the RAM, then remove a stick to try install next. Remember to unplug power, remove battery, always touch metal on the case to discharge static electricity before touching any electronics parts. Ease the stick out which appears to be in the second slot. Doc posted a video which will prepare you.

Good screenshots: SATA controller is IDE mode. What are the other choices? This could matter.

Is my memory correct that you originally had it set AHCI but changed to IDE (I can't re-read this thread but once per day - takes too long)?

It is likely a SATA HD since aspire 4810 is new enough to spec SSD's in some editions.

You are doing great btw, far better than most.

 

[Dave76]

Good job on the BIOS pictures, I agree with Greg "You are doing great btw, far better than most."

You will be helping other people with installation issues after you're finished with this.

The first BIOS picture lists the 'File System' as 'Other', this will be OK if you format during the install, if you're not going to format during the install you will need to format it to NTFS before the installation.

Good screenshots: SATA controller is IDE mode. What are the other choices? This could matter.

Is my memory correct that you originally had it set AHCI but changed to IDE (I can't re-read this thread but once per day - takes too long)?

It is likely a SATA HD since aspire 4810 is new enough to spec SSD's in some editions.

Was thinking the same thing, the HDD is more than likely SATA.
The specs on the Acer site doesn't say this specifically but, would be very strange if it's not SATA.
The strange name in the BIOS is probably a bad name choice by someone.

 

[zzz2496]

I hope the storage controller doesn't give up while she's doing the test...

Btw, I read several page back, if I'm not mistaken (I forgot which page), mypcbroke wrote something about "the checksum doesn't match", referring to her Windows 7 install disk... If that's the case, then all of this might be caused by a corrupted install media, instead of dying hardware...

zzz2496

 

[Dave76]

Good point zzz2496 , I just saw that again, Will need to check that.


mypcbroke, down load and save the information at these links, you will need this information.

The Specifications for the WD 2.5 inch Scorpio Blue Serial ATA hard drives (model WD3200BEVT).

It is a SATA II 3 Gb/s HDD.

For future reference your hard drive has a 3 year warranty (< click for warranty info) from WD.

Download your Guides and Manuals

Here is your Acer Aspire 4810TZ Notebook Specifications

Your laptops driver link

 

[mypcbroke]

The other option in SATA mode is AHCI.

Chkdsk, GWScan and Memtest all cleared and I am attempting to install one more time. I'll try Vista because I seem to have a little better luck with that one.

As to the WD warranty, I was looking on their website and I thought I read somewhere that the warranty does not appy if the HD came with your computer. In other words, you have bought the HD alone. Or am I wrong?

 

[gregrocker]

Let's also check the ISO to make sure it's checksum matches the official HASH, and verify the DVD.

Install Hashtab: HashTab... is the coolest thing ever!

When you rightclick on the ISO file there will be a HASH tab on it's Properties box. Compare HASH by pasting in the official Win7 HASH given here: Windows 7 RTM SHA-1 hash / checksums

Now open ImgBurn, click on Verify Disk, load the ISO file making sure it says "Bootable" in text at left, then insert the DVD and click the Verify button.

You can also extract the ISO from your Acer Install DVD to test it's HASH and verify that DVD the same way.

 

[DocBrown]

QUOTE=;1025975]
mypcbroke
rb:
And my HD I think is this:
IDE0 Model Name: WDC WD3200BEVT-22ZCT0[/QUOTE]



WD Scorpio Blue
Mobile Hard Drives
320 GB, SATA 3 Gb/s, 8 MB Cache, 5400 RPM
Big capacity for portable computing.

WD Scorpio Blue 2.5-inch drives offer high-performance, low power consumption and cool operation, making them ideal for notebooks and other portable devices.
Interface: SATA 3 Gb/s w/AdvFormat SATA 3 Gb/s


All along I was asuming this was an IDE laptop HD, since we keep talking about IDE0 & IDE1 in the bios setup.

Dave's last post brought my attention to the fact it is a SATA HD :huh:

So should we have the bios set for SATA & load the Sata controller drivers ?

rb:



:ar: @mypcbroke
Congrats on earning your Skilled Badge through all this

:ar:

rb:

 

[Dave76]

Congrats on the Skilled badge


The HDD should be still under warranty from either Acer or WD.

When was the laptop purchased?

 

[kodi]

I know it is a while back but can you remember what the SATA controller Mode was set at IDE or AHCI when you first started this repair if so set it at what it was as we know it used to work from when the laptop was new

 

[gregrocker]

Had to search this thread like a database, but here is the AHCI>IDE history:

Check now in BIOS setup via F2 just to be sure that HD is set to boot first.

Can you post back a camera snap of the Boot Order listings and your IDE/SATA drives listings. Where is this?

I notice on your Acer model's drivers page there are AHCI drivers. Check if SATA controller is set to AHCI in BIOS setup. This solves similar probs.

Before changing SATA controller, clear the CMOS: Clear CMOS - 3 Ways to Clear the CMOS - Reset BIOS

The factory default has Network Boot enabled and F12 Boot Menu disabled. And SATA mode has been in AHCI

Disable network boot
Set sata mode to IDE
You are correct there is only one harddrive installed and it is at IDE0
Clear cmos
Try again
Let windows format and install if it asks.

If the only SATA controller settings are AHCI and IDE, and it was originally set at AHCI then I don't get why it has always been labeled IDE0 in boot order if it is a SATA drive.

In most BIOS there is a page where the HD and CD/DVD drive register. Can you find that?

Perhaps changing the setting back to AHCI and loading the AHCI driver at the HD selection screen during install is needed:

 

[mypcbroke]

Congrats on the Skilled badge


The HDD should be still under warranty from either Acer or WD.

When was the laptop purchased?

Currently at work (break hour), just wanted to report in that my last install didn't work, but I'll follow the suggestions since then and try again when I get back.

I bought my pc June 2009, and out of the 1 year warranty with Acer. I have called and emailed them but I get the automated response that I am out of my warranty. However, in a response I received this morning, it said I can buy a recovery CD for 20 bucks. I was going to order it (as the word "recovery" gives me hope), but I wasn't sure if it would resolve me problem.

As for the default settings in BIOS, the SATA mode was set in AHCI (the only other option is IDE).

PS- thanks for the congrats on the "skilled" badge
although the title is severely misleading, but I can press the heck out of F2 and F12 now

 

[Bare Foot Kid]

Hello again.



You're doing good!



How did the hash ckecks go?

 

[kodi]

I think the help is getting way too technical.
Windows is designed to install by inserting the CD/DVD and restarting that's it no other preparation is necessary.
It will format and mark active and all that other stuff you have been trying to do before installing.
My 2 cents worth;
Set the bios to the way it was when it was working.
Insert the VISTA disc and try to install.
If it fails that points to either hard drive or CD player.
I would not have the OP removing hard drives etc as that can be disastrous.
Get some money together and take it to a friendly small computer store and get them to check the hard drive.
They can do it quickly and correctly and should not charge too much for it.

 

[Dave76]

Congrats on the Skilled badge

The HDD should be still under warranty from either Acer or WD.

When was the laptop purchased?

Currently at work (break hour), just wanted to report in that my last install didn't work, but I'll follow the suggestions since then and try again when I get back.

I bought my pc June 2009, and out of the 1 year warranty with Acer. I have called and emailed them but I get the automated response that I am out of my warranty. However, in a response I received this morning, it said I can buy a recovery CD for 20 bucks. I was going to order it (as the word "recovery" gives me hope), but I wasn't sure if it would resolve me problem.

As for the default settings in BIOS, the SATA mode was set in AHCI (the only other option is IDE).

PS- thanks for the congrats on the "skilled" badge
although the title is severely misleading, but I can press the heck out of F2 and F12 now

Your hard drive warranty should be good with WD, follow up with them.

How many passes did memtest86+ make?

Do the hash checks as explained by Greg, this will tell you if the Vista and/or Win7 installation copy you have is complete and hasn't been corrupted during any burning or coping to USB.

Before your next installation, remember to take out one of the RAM cards.
This has worked in many win7 installs.