Stuck at "Setup is loading System Devices"

[LightningLdr180]

Stuck at "Setup is starting services"

Hello everybody. Installing Win7 Home Premium x64 on a new 1TB from the offical DVD, and the computer hangs at "Setup is starting services" Only running with 2GB of ram in. My video card is a nvidia 9800 GT 1GB, and i've tried it with an older nvidia 8800, with the same issue. I don't have any USB devices hooked up besides my keyboard and mouse. I've tried reinstalling twice with the same issue. I've also tried using the "VGA 640 x 480" option in the F8 boot menu. Safe mode just says I need to complete setup first, and restarts.

Any suggestions?

 

[Dave76]

Welcome to Seven Forums.

You have done some good trouble shooting already.

By 'offical DVD' do you mean MS DVD or MS ISO file burned to DVD?

Are you using the Clean install or Upgrade method?

What mother board are you using?
Try with one of the other RAM modules. Have you done a memtest?

Do you have on board graphics? Try installing with that if possible.
Try with VGA cable if possible.

Have you checked for updated BIOS version?

Any Over Clocking of the RAM, CPU or GPU?

You might try running Windows 7 Upgrade Advisor, this might find any hardware, settings and device issues.

 

[LightningLdr180]

Thanks for the welcome, and thanks for the reply!

By 'offical DVD' do you mean MS DVD or MS ISO file burned to DVD?
It is an actual Windows 7 Home Premium x64 Upgrade MS DVD.

Are you using the Clean install or Upgrade method?
Clean Install on a new HD, which is the only one in the system.

What mother board are you using?
Asus P6T Deluxe

Try with one of the other RAM modules. Have you done a memtest?
All the RAM modules are identical, and trying a different one had no effect.

Do you have on board graphics? Try installing with that if possible.
Try with VGA cable if possible.
Unfortunately my card only has DVI and S-Video outputs. Tried both with no success. I have no onboard graphics card, but I've tried an older Nvidia 8800GT with same problem. (DVI / S-Video only also)

Have you checked for updated BIOS version?
Not yet, I will look into that after trying accessing the device manager via safemode as posted in this other thread: http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/15856-device-manager-access-during-windows-7-installation.html

Any Over Clocking of the RAM, CPU or GPU?
No.

 

[LightningLdr180]

Updates on my situation.

I have tried swapping memory modules, and running memory diagnostics. Memory is fine, swapping does nothing.

I have upgraded my BIOS to the latest version, no luck.

I have also accessed the device manager via the safe mode command prompt, tried disabling my video card and other devices, still no luck.

Running out of things to try... Anybody with any suggestions please let me know. Thanks!

 

[DocBrown]

No second monitor or TV hooked Up ?

Bios settings, acpi, max memory, legacy, do you have a floppy in your hardware ?

" Doc "

 

[LightningLdr180]

No second monitor or TV hooked up. Tried it with a second monitor hooked up just to see if it made a difference, it did not.

I've been running through BIOS settings a lot, with little else to try... Nothing is overclocked, disabled all unnessecary onboard hardware, and BIOS is most recent version.

No floppy drive in this system, used a USB stick when I flashed the BIOS. Have 6GB (3 x 2GB) of Memory , but i'm only running with 1 x 2GB in.

 

[DocBrown]

Since you do not have a floppy is it disabled in the bios Bootup order ?

Also how long did you wait ? when "Setup up is starting services"

Some have had to wait over 2 hours for some strange reason on initial setup while Win7 checks hardware & drivers. Then after it completes install everything is okay for a fairly fast boot up !

" Doc "

 

[LightningLdr180]

Ah, overlooked the Floppy drive settings in the BIOS. Disabled it and took it out of the boot order. Reinstalled but still hanging on same spot, I'm out of ideas so I'll just let it sit, maybe like you said, it'll be okay after a few hours.

 

[LightningLdr180]

After about 10 minutes it says setup will continue after restarting. This is an endless loop.

 

[H2SO4]

After about 10 minutes it says setup will continue after restarting. This is an endless loop.

I empathise - that sounds like a complex issue and you've done some great troubleshooting already. Have rep.

Personally, I'd try to get to the setup log files in order to check whether there's anything useful being logged. Here's a list of logfiles and the specific phase of installation where each one is recorded:

Windows Vista setup log file locations

The article references Vista but that doesn't matter in this instance - the info should be identical or very similar for Win7. It's probably best to start off by checking setupact.log and setuperr.log. There may be clues in there as to why the installation is looping.

 

[Adrian]

MOBO

Good morning,
Lightning, for some reason, I'm getting a flag here! (I'm quoting you here)
"Do you have on board graphics? Try installing with that if possible.
Try with VGA cable if possible.
Unfortunately my card only has DVI and S-Video outputs. Tried both with no success. I have no onboard graphics card, but I've tried an older Nvidia 8800GT with same problem. (DVI / S-Video only also)"

In an earlier post some one had the same issue woth the DVI set up.
Have you gone to the ASUS web site and updated your chipset for windows 7?
Report back and let us know and we will continue on.

Regards,
Adrian

 

[Adrian]

Motherboard

Lightning, I looked up your MOBO and I don't see any vga connection?