Random Windows 7 x64 crashes and freezes

[bmelrose]

every time i try to install windows 7 on my new build, i do a clean install, however it spends about a second on the copying files part, then waits a few minutes before it starts expanding files. it hangs at 0% for a few more minutes then it will start accelerating. it will crash at random points while it is "expanding files". the crashes vary, sometimes the display will explode and look lagged out then look like small tiles, the display sometimes turns red where shadows are as well, it also likes to just freeze. it frequently likes to freeze at 76 or 46%.

i had 7 installed one time when i kept my mouse moving constantly throughout the installation, but then the freezes would happen when i would boot into normal windows, but not safe mode.

specs:
mobo: GIGABYTE P43-UD3L intel P43 express chipset
proc: Intel Core 2 Quad Q8400
PSU Rosewill 630W ATX
HDD: WD 1TB enterprise storage
Gcard: GIGABYTE Radeon 4550
Ram: 2x1Gb Crucial Ballistix tracer
DVD: 2x HP 1260i
Case: Aero cool VX-R

 

[zigzag3143]

did you download it? if so it sounds like a bad dvd burn. If I were you I would re download it and re burn it.

Ken

 

[bmelrose]

i recieved it from my computer science teacher who got it from MSDN.

its not a burn issue because the same thing happens when i try to install vista ultimate x64 from a disc ive used before successfully.

 

[zigzag3143]

things it can be

BIOS setting
Ram, bad or too much (when installing 2 gigs)
Connected hware, usb, blue tooth
Ocer clocking
raid
HD

I would check and reset to default) bios, dis connect any non critical hardware,

 

[bmelrose]

ive restored the bios to both the "fail safe" defaults and the "optimized" defaults. neither of which did much

i memtested the ram and it came out clean

only things connected to the PC are power, monitor, mouse and keyboard.

no overclocking or raid config

the hard drive passed a few consistency checks.

im beginning to think that it is a motherboard error.

 

[DocBrown]

Last night after several different trys, the user only used 1 RAM stick in the computer for the install, & it proceded just fine.

 

[bmelrose]

i tried using either stick of ram to no avail.

 

[chev65]

I had this same problem. I tried a different CD and it worked the very first time. Just happened a minute ago IMO and Windows 7 is up an running on my old Dell after a bunch of failed attempts.

The first CD I tried with had already worked on another machine so go figure. :sarc:

So many people are having this problem and the actual fix seems to change from machine to machine. It looks like persistance pays off here.

Some people have luck just using a different HDD.

Going to one stick of Ram has worked quite a few times.

Clearing the cmos works sometimes also and making sure the bios is set up correctly.

Reformatting the HDD as also been known to help.

Simply using a different CD to install Windows 7 worked for me with my old Dell XPS P4 machine. I used a copy with all Win 7 versions and it worked.

It makes no sense at all but just going through those steps and sticking with it seems to fix the problem eventually.