Reinstalled windows 7 and get gray screen

[Knife Collector]

My ASUS U52 laptop was having issues, so I reinstalled windows from the recovery CDs. (I have done this before with them). When everything was finished, it tried to start by saying ASUS, loading files, starting windows, then a gray screen shows up, and a dos screen that pops up, then goes away, and all I have is a gray screen.
I tried to start in safe mode, I get the safe mode wording at the four corners of the screen, but that's it.
Tried to start with other options, but nothing...
Will add, the cursor works on the screen.
Any ideas I can try?
Thanks

 

[gregrocker]

Factory preinstalled Win7 is an inferior install, which is why most tech enthusiasts will not use it but instead choose to http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/219487-clean-reinstall-factory-oem-windows-7-a.html#post1839164. Everything needed to get a perfect install is in the link.

If you prefer the factory bloatware, try wiping the HD first using http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/52129-disk-clean-clean-all-diskpart-command.html, but you'll need the booted installer to run the command so you might as well do the reinstall and have a much better install.

 

[glassofwater]

I just got my OS reinstalled. nothing wrong happens to me by now. if any, i will turn back to this thread for help.

 

[gregrocker]

Did you do the Clean Reinstall with the disk provided in tutorial, or get the Factory Recovery disks to install? Please let us know what worked so it will help others.

 

[Knife Collector]

Factory preinstalled Win7 is an inferior install, which is why most tech enthusiasts will not use it but instead choose to http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/219487-clean-reinstall-factory-oem-windows-7-a.html#post1839164. Everything needed to get a perfect install is in the link.

If you prefer the factory bloatware, try wiping the HD first using http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/52129-disk-clean-clean-all-diskpart-command.html, but you'll need the booted installer to run the command so you might as well do the reinstall and have a much better install.

Excuse my lack of experience, but the download is over 3 gigs, and a CD won't hold it. Is there a way to make it burn to several CDs? The laptop I am on won't give me the option to burn this to multiple disks.
As usual, I am probably missing the obvious.
This is what I am trying to download, under the English tab. Windows 7 Home Premium x64 SP1 U (media refresh) I presume I am downloading the correct item.

It also says some ISOs aren't bootable but contain single installation files that can install Windows 7 from an existing Windows installation, my installation no longer exists, so my download will need to be a bootable version.

 

[derekimo]

You can't use CD's, you have to use a DVD or a flash drive.

Windows 7 Home Premium x64 SP1 U (media refresh) X17-58997.iso, under the English tab is the one you want.

 

[Knife Collector]

You can't use CD's, you have to use a DVD or a flash drive.

Windows 7 Home Premium x64 SP1 U (media refresh) X17-58997.iso, under the English tab is the one you want.

Thanks, I tried using a flash drive, but the other computer would not select it to boot from. I have DVDs, but am on my way to work, so will try this when I get home.
Thanks

 

[derekimo]

You can't use CD's, you have to use a DVD or a flash drive.

Windows 7 Home Premium x64 SP1 U (media refresh) X17-58997.iso, under the English tab is the one you want.

Thanks, I tried using a flash drive, but the other computer would not select it to boot from. I have DVDs, but am on my way to work, so will try this when I get home.
Thanks

You're welcome.

 

[Knife Collector]

Downloaded and tried to burn and got "Selected Disc Image File Isn't Valid". I checked online and it made me think this might be a bad download, so deleted and downloading again.

 

[derekimo]

Sounds like it was a bad download. What are you using to burn it?

 

[Knife Collector]

Sounds like it was a bad download. What are you using to burn it?

I finally got it to download an burned a copy. I put it in computer, and restarted, it went loading files, windows starting, gray screen with a dos window, dos went away, and nothing. I could hear the CD drive spinning, then it finally stopped. The gray screen has a splash of light streaks on the right upper corner, so it's not totally gray, but still, that's as far as it goes.
I tried booting from CD drive, and Hard drive. Same outcome. Even tried starting in safe mode. Drivers loaded, and got a black screen with the safe mode in the 4 corners, and nothing.
Could the other failed installations with the other CD restore disks have corrupted the HD? They will show they are installing, even though they don't work as planned, this one doesn't even try to install.
Would buying another HD be an easy route to take?
I'm not good at software as you can tell.

 

[gregrocker]

Unplug all other HD's and peripherals,

Boot into BIOS setup, reset to defaults, save changes. (If an EFI BIOS you'll need to decide if you want UEFI BIOS vs. Legacy BIOS. If UEFI follow these special steps for Install, otherwise enable Legacy BIOS or Compatibility Support Module to proceed with normal install.) Set DVD drive first to boot, HD second, set SATA controller to AHCI, Save changes and Exit.

Then boot into Windows 7 installer DVD or flash stick burned or written using tool and latest ISO for your licensed OS version here. Your installer is at question, try another with the tool given or if it fails use ImgBurn at 4x speed.

At first installer screen Press Shift + F10, or enter System Recovery Options to open a Command Box, type:

DISKPART
LIST DISK
SELECT DISK 0 (after confirming Windows 7 target HD #)
CLEAN
CREATE PARTITION PRIMARY
FORMAT FS=NTFS LABEL="WINDOWS 7"
ACTIVE
EXIT
EXIT

Next click Install Now, then Custom install to Clean Install Windows 7 to the partition you created. If it fails then report back at which step and the verbatim error message.

In addition read over these steps to understand the tools and methods which work best to get and maintain a perfect Clean Reinstall - Factory OEM Windows 7. The steps are the same for retail.

After install you can adjust partition size or Create new partitions for data, etc. in Disk Mgmt. You are creating the partition here for the purpose of wiping the HD and marking Active which overcomes certain install failures.

 

[Knife Collector]

This is getting hard lol..
System Recovery Options
Repair your computer in system recovery options, is not there. All of the other options are there. I had used it a few days ago thinking it might help, but it is now gone ...
Option 2 Using a disk is out as it won't do anything except what it has done.
I did shift and F10 and it went to a screen, but I couldn't type anything useful.
It said edit boot options, path/windoes/system32 etc and [/minit/redirect rdimageoffset and so forth ending with \boot.wim] and between the brackets is the only place it would let me type.

I can get into BIOS, Recovery Options (no repair option) and the Shift F10, as mentioned above. I did set the Bios as you mentioned, but that's as far as I could get.
Will retry something in the morning. Thanks for your help. Even though something isn't working for me, I am learning things I didn't know before and that counts for something.

 

[gregrocker]

Nine times out of ten the disk will not boot due to not being booted correctly: How to Boot A Computer from CD or DVD - YouTube.

You'll need to get the installer to boot to do the wipe and reinstall.

If not then you can try self-booting Partition Wizard CD to Wipe Disk
which will then force the installer to boot itself or autostart.

Or better yet boot your HD's maker's HD Diagnostic extended CD scan to test the HD to make sure it's good, then use the wipe function on it to clean the HD, which will force the installer to start.

 

[Knife Collector]

Thanks for the help. Nothing does anything. No matter what I try or change, same outcome. A guy at work who does a little of the computer work, looked at everything done, and told me a new HD would be the easiest fix as he thinks the HD is bad.
I have been on the computer a lot lately, and my eyes are hurting pretty bad and need to take a break, so I ordered a new HD and hopefully that will fix the problem
Again,, many thanks for your time and patience.

 

[gregrocker]

What were the results of the HD Diagnostics bootable CD test? A guy at work is not a HD test.

 

[Knife Collector]

Other than the gray screen, nothing happened. No matter what I changed, it always had the same result. And no CD would do anything except spin in the drive. I downloaded what I was told, and booted from CD drive, and all it would do is spin for a bit and stop. Including the HD diagnostic. The only thing that will try to install is the restore disks I had made, but that ends up with the gray screen over and over. And it only uses 5 of the 6 disks before it says 100%, so I think something isn't being installed.

 

[gregrocker]

Is HD detected in BIOS setup at all? If not try changing the cables or reinstalling it.