Problem with installing

[MrSkippy]

Hello,
I recently purchased Windows 7 Home Upgrade for my computer. I had been using Vista. I started the installation of Windows 7 and after it restarted once the computer would start crashing at the start-up screen. After fooling around with it for a little bit I managed to get it to load off of the Windows 7 disk, but now it says to install it I must restart the computer and let Vista load then start over again.

But, I cannot get the computer to load without the Windows 7 disk, it keeps telling me to insert Boot Media. Vista came with the computer and it didnt come with a vista disk.

So my question, is there any way to force the installation of Windows 7, and if not, what now? I only purchased the upgrade version of 7 so doing a system wipe isnt the way to go. I had a computer backup saved onto a disk, but when I put it in the computer doesnt read anything on it.

Any help would be appreciated, and thanks in advance.

 

[richc46]

Hello,
I recently purchased Windows 7 Home Upgrade for my computer. I had been using Vista. I started the installation of Windows 7 and after it restarted once the computer would start crashing at the start-up screen. After fooling around with it for a little bit I managed to get it to load off of the Windows 7 disk, but now it says to install it I must restart the computer and let Vista load then start over again.

But, I cannot get the computer to load without the Windows 7 disk, it keeps telling me to insert Boot Media. Vista came with the computer and it didnt come with a vista disk.

So my question, is there any way to force the installation of Windows 7, and if not, what now? I only purchased the upgrade version of 7 so doing a system wipe isnt the way to go. I had a computer backup saved onto a disk, but when I put it in the computer doesnt read anything on it.

Any help would be appreciated, and thanks in advance.

You are in luck. Go to BIOS, and make sure you will boot from the DVD. Then insert the DVD, when you get to the screen that asks you to put in your key number, don't, just continue. When you are all installed try it for a while, if happy insert yournumber at that point. As long as you own a legit copy of vista you are ok. We have tutorials to explain the procedure. And I cheated with mine, I watched how to perform a clean install on u tube.

Botton line, MS put us on the honor system with the upgrade, this time

To avoid problems, disconnect everything, but monitor, mouse and keyboard. Use the Upgrade Advisor from Microsoft, first, to find any incompatablities.

 

[MrSkippy]

Thanks for the quick replay, but I am booting from the disk (even changed it around to where it boots from the disk first), but when Windows 7 installation screen comes up and I click install and upgrade it tells me that the upgrade was started wit the Windows 7 installation disk and to upgrade the computer I need to restart the computer without the 7 disk in the drive, but when I restart the comp it just keeps telling me to Insert Boot Media

When I try to perform a custom installation(?) (clean install) it tells me that I must select a location to install Windows 7, but nothing pops up.

My Vista was a legal copy, but I dont have any way to bring it back up, my back-updisk is saying its blank so I messed up somewhere there. (I checked it on my laptop which I'm using to write this).

Sorry, but I'm computer illiterate for the most part, as far as your suggestion went, I went to BIOS setting and tryed a bunch of different settings out, including disabling the harddrive boot and only allowing it to boot from DVD, but it just kept taking me back to the installation menu which told me I needed to start the computer without using the Windows 7 disk. Like I said, sorry if the advice you gave me was the right thing and I got it wrong, also, like I said, I cant get back to my main computer to change the stuff in regedit to do a clean installation. Thanks again for your time, and thanks for the first response.

 

[richc46]

Thanks for the quick replay, but I am booting from the disk (even changed it around to where it boots from the disk first), but when Windows 7 installation screen comes up and I click install and upgrade it tells me that the upgrade was started wit the Windows 7 installation disk and to upgrade the computer I need to restart the computer without the 7 disk in the drive, but when I restart the comp it just keeps telling me to Insert Boot Media

When I try to perform a custom installation(?) (clean install) it tells me that I must select a location to install Windows 7, but nothing pops up.

My Vista was a legal copy, but I dont have any way to bring it back up, my back-updisk is saying its blank so I messed up somewhere there. (I checked it on my laptop which I'm using to write this).

Sorry, but I'm computer illiterate for the most part, as far as your suggestion went, I went to BIOS setting and tryed a bunch of different settings out, including disabling the harddrive boot and only allowing it to boot from DVD, but it just kept taking me back to the installation menu which told me I needed to start the computer without using the Windows 7 disk. Like I said, sorry if the advice you gave me was the right thing and I got it wrong, also, like I said, I cant get back to my main computer to change the stuff in regedit to do a clean installation. Thanks again for your time, and thanks for the first response.

Thats your mistake, try again, but this time do a custom install and follow the instructions that I gave you, above it should work. Just do not give your number until installed, and you are sure that you are satisfied.

Our Administrator Brink has put together a valuable tutorial on the subject, take a look. I can almost guarantee, you will be up and running in no time. This does not seem like a big problem.

 

[MrSkippy]

Thanks once again for the quick response.

I'm going to Custom Install and it is asking to select where I wish to install Windows... and there is nothing there. I goto advanced and it asks me to select a driver to install, after searching around I couldnt find any.

Thanks again for your help. Sorry for being complicated, but it never lets me get to the screen to ask me to put in my key number.

 

[richc46]

Try to install from safe mode, while the computer is booting up, repeatedly press f8. This merely stops some programs from loading, it may avoid the conflict that seems to be going on. If you can boot from safe mode, try to do a custom install. In the future, if I or anyone else uses any other term, he means custom or clean, not an upgrade.

 

[richc46]

While you are reading my prior post, I just want to say that I appreciate your concern about your being complicated, well you are not. We, at this forum, are volunteers, time is not of the essence. Everyone here gets satisfaction from helping other.

Its getting late, so I do not know if we will get this corrected before I have to leave. But, I will watch this post and will pick up with you tomorrow. If someone gets here before me, I can asssure you he will have expertise in the area of Win 7 and one of us will get you running.

 

[gregrocker]

You said earlier you booted from the disk and selected Upgrade which cannot be done and would have prompted an error similar to what you report.

It sounds like you got at least a partial install since Vista will not start. How was this commenced? Did you run the installer from Vista at all? Or did you finally figure out that you need to use Custom install when booting from the DVD?

Are you trying to dual boot with Vista, or do you want to overwrite the Vista partition?

If you want to dual boot, you needed to prepare a second partition in Vista Disk Management. It can only be done now using free Partition Wizard bootable CD, which can also show us what has happened .

You also say you went into BIOS and disconnected Hard drive to force DVD to boot? This would cause the partitions to fail to show up. You need to have your HD set to boot after DVD. While in BIOS check the SATA controller setting. Try AHCI, and report its previous setting.

Try now to boot from the DVD, select Custom install and tell us what you see on the drive screen where you select which partition to install Win7.

 

[MrSkippy]

Well, I ran it in safe mode and now it keeps crashing no matter what I do. I'm not sure if this is the problem but it says on the bluescreen "Unmountable_Boot_Volume". Like you said, its getting kinda late so ima head to bed, thanks for your help and I will check back in the morning to see if you or anyone else has anymore ideals.

 

[MrSkippy]

Heya greg, I managed to get the computer to the installation screen, but when I tried to do a clean install it asks me to select a location to install windows, and it lists no option. I tried running it in safe mode and it just crashes no matter what now at "Starting Windows" screen. If you have any ideals for the installation screen that would help, I can probably get it to stop crashing, but if you have any ideals on that, that would be helpful too.

 

[gregrocker]

I am not sure how you lost your Vista boot if you never installed anything. Unless it was the changes you made in BIOS.

Go into BIOS and set back to defaults. Make sure DVD drive is set to boot first, then HD.

Also check SATA controller to see if it is set to AHCI.

Now boot into Win7 DVD and see if it shows partitions for install after you select Custom.

If not then we need to put your SATA controller driver into installer at the bottom left link on that Custom partition selection screen.

Better fill in your System Specs in bottom left of post.

 

[MrSkippy]

I reset everything back to normal underneath BIOS and just changed the boot sequence of harddrive/dvd around to where dvd loads first. Now it keeps crashing ever since I tried to load it in safe mode, (no matter which mode it is in).

I did do a partial installation from Vista, after the first reboot it crashed and won't let me go anywhere (even when it wasnt crashing) without the Windows 7 installation disk. I only started trying to do the custom installation after I realized I couldnt upgrade it because... I guess it delated vista (I dunno, just cant do anything without the installation disk).

I dont mind doing a complete memory wipe to get my computer running again, I saved most of my important files onto an external harddrive, and my computer onto a disk, but the disk isnt reading so I cant do a system restore.

It used to let me get to the installation screen, but now it doesnt even do that, it just goes to "Starting Windows(?)" then sits there for about 2min, then crashes.

Edit: I'll list my specs in a second, my vista wont load at all (it was a legit version).

 

[gregrocker]

You have a failed in-place Upgrade of Vista, but cannot start Vista to troubleshoot it. If you bought Win7 retail Upgrade you can call MS to try to salvage the in-place as they have all the fixes if it can be done.

I am glad you backed up your files. You will get a beter installation by proceeding with a clean install from booted DVD anyway. If you want to do that, we can help here.

What was the SATA controller's setting in the BIOS: AHCI, IDE, or RAID? Set it to AHCI to start.

Now we are not interested in booting into Windows at all. We only want to now boot the Win7 DVD to see exactly what happens when you select Custom install.

What is your exact make and model computer?

 

[MrSkippy]

My BIOS is set to AHCI. My computer information is: Intel Core i7 CPU 920@ 2.67 GHz
2.66 GHz
3g RAM
Gateway
Product Name: FX6800-0le
At the Custom Install it asks me where do I want to install Windows, and then it gives no options (it used to ask about my external hardrive but informed me it couldnt because of the usb port connection, but I disconnected it so it doesnt ask me about it anymore)

Edit: I'm also trying to install the 64bit version. My Vista was the 64bit Vista, so I figured it would be the same, just letting you know in case that is the problem.

 

[gregrocker]

Do you have a drivers/apps disk that came with your model.

Confirm the exact model number is gateway FX6800-Ole. Insert specs in bottom left of your post for others to see so they will help too.

Go here and insert your S/N for exact drivers: http://support.gateway.com/support/drivers/dlcenter.asp

The SATA driver will need to be inserted into installer at Custom drives screen link using a CD or USB stick

 

[win7clutz]

Why would he need a SATA driver? I haven't needed one for any install with any OS on any machine for two years? Not a challenge, just a question...

 

[MrSkippy]

Alright, updated the computer specs page, my computer did not come with any installation/driver disks.

 

[gregrocker]

What was the SATA controller set to?

This is 64 bit Chipset for model FX6800: View attachment 43401 Confirm it with your S/N at link above. You will be unzipping onto stick and browing to any folders which will yield drivers.

There is also a BIOS Upgrade posted there today which might well be for this issue since its that current.

 

[gregrocker]

Why would he need a SATA driver? I haven't needed one for any install with any OS on any machine for two years? Not a challenge, just a question...

If no drives are showing on the Custom drives selection screen of installer, then the next step is normally to put the relevant controller driver in.

Since AHCI is now enabled on the board, it may need a different driver from the chipset.

Any other ideas?

 

[MrSkippy]

SATA mode is set on AHCI, I have both the Chipset and BIOS and a usb drive now, but not sure what to do with them since I cant access the main part of computer, should I plug it in and try to install windows through the chipset drive?

Edit: I'm heading to bed, thanks for the help everyone, I'll start my efforts up again in the morning. Thanks again and I'll check back in the morning if anyone has anymore ideals.