unable to install windows 7 64 bit after replacing with multiple OSs

[vipuld]

My laptop came preinstalled with win 7. anyways I was trying to install ubuntu 13.04 on it and unfortunately I ended up replacing it with ubuntu. Later on I found ubuntu to be almost unusable and instead replaced it with windows 8 32 bit because I couldn't find my win 7 setup disc. Win 8 sucked so after a week I tried to install win 7 on top of it but there was error everytime along the lines of : " windows doesn't support your hardware". After some searching on the net I found something about how win 8 uses GPT formatting on the drives and win 7 uses NTFs and win 7 can't really work on GPT.
So once again I installed ubuntu wiping win 8 and reinstalled win 7 . I got the menu and everything, repartioned the drive (effectively butchering ubuntu) formatted and installed win 7 on a 150 GB partition. Again the installation got all the way to "finishing installation" when I get the incompatible hardware error. What's wrong? Any help will be appreciated. And yes this is my first time installing OSs. Gotta beging somewhere right? Any help will be appreciated. Thanks.

 

[theog]

As the new MOBO's now have a uEFI/BIOS firmware.
How to install Windows 64 bit on a uEFI/BIOS firmware:
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorial...e-firmware-interface-install-windows-7-a.html
or
UEFI (Unified Extensible Firmware Interface) - Install Windows 8 with


For more info on uEFI:
Windows and GPT FAQ
Unified Extensible Firmware Interface - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
UEFI Firmware
Technical Note: UEFI BIOS vs. Legacy BIOS, Advantech(EN) - YouTube
Sample: Configure UEFI/GPT-Based Hard Drive Partitions by Using Windows PE and DiskPart

 

[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.

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.

 

[vipuld]

Thanks for your replies !!

I've started doing as you ask gregrocker. I don't have any os installed on my laptop at this point. Also I am unable to change SATA settings from bios. So I did the rest and am currently formatting the HD to NTFS . Its taking quite a vit of time. 7 percent in 15 minutes. I will update when it is done

 

[gregrocker]

What is the current SATA controller mode in BIOS setup? Why is it you can't change it? Did you see the written directions on the BIOS page?

What's most important is to Clean the HDD. But formatting a partition to mark Active also solves other problems. If format is slow it could be bad sectors being quarantined, or a failing HD. Have you checked its condition lately?

You may need to confirm your HD condition using the maker's HD Diagnostic extended CD scan, or run Partition Wizard CD HD surface test, followed by Disk Check run on the partition you created from the booted Win7 installer command line.

 

[vipuld]

Thanks for your replies !!

I've started doing as you ask gregrocker. I don't have any os installed on my laptop at this point. Also I am unable to change SATA settings from bios. So I did the rest and am currently formatting the HD to NTFS . Its taking quite a vit of time. 7 percent in 15 minutes. I will update when it is done

 

[vipuld]

There is no SAtA option in BIOS. No tab or option in submenus I checked.
Failing HD? It seemed to work just fine in win 8.

 

[gregrocker]

OK then one of the steps given should help. They solve most installation issues. If not report back the exact failure, any verbatim error and at which step in Clean Install Windows 7

 

[vipuld]

Ojay so the format just finished and I've started installing win 7 64 bit. :fingers crossed: also it seems that the primary partition has only 700 gigs of space. My harddisk is 750.

 

[gregrocker]

Did you mark the Partition Active?

The formatting takes up some space, but as stated you could have had bad sectors quarantined which is why it took so long.

If it installs after getting online, enabling Automatically deliver drivers via Windows Update (Step 3)
while it is running all rounds of Important and Optional Windows Updates (with reboots) until there are no more offered, I would install CrystalDiskInfo - Software to read the HD's status.

If install fails I'd run the diagnostics and Disk Check from the links posted in #5.

 

[vipuld]

Setup failed again. Got to the fifth point "completing installation" just like before but install failed " windows couldn't be configured to run on your hardware".

 

[vipuld]

I've started a HD check from system diagnostics in the boot menu. Will take 3 hours to complete

 

[gregrocker]

Which diagnostics are these? There should be no built in System Diagnostics any longer if you wiped the HD.

Are you referring to Disk Check run from the Win7 DVD's System Recovery Options Command Line? This will check the file system on the HD and attempt to repair errors if you run it with the -f switch. But those should have been quarantined during formatting.

More important is to diagnose the HD's condition using the maker's HD Diagnostic extended CD scan, which can be determined by looking on the HD or looking at its listing in BIOS setup (if necessary googling the model or serial). WD must be slaved to another PC to run from an OS. If no bootable DOS ISO is available for your model then use Seatools from Seagate which will diagnose but not be able to repair another brand.

 

[vipuld]

Pressed esc key during boot. Brought up 6 options such as : boot options,system info,systen diag, etc. Selected the system diag option bought up the HP system diag tools, and selected HD diag and extensive check from the sub menu. Didn't. Choose it from the DVD

 

[vipuld]

Also buddy my comp is empty it doesn't even have a recovery partiton. There is nothing

 

[gregrocker]

Selected the system diag option bought up the HP system diag tools, and selected HD diag and extensive check from the sub menu. Didn't. Choose it from the DVD

It couldn't run HP diagnostics because the drive is wiped. So you are running it from an HP utilities disk, or a HD maker's diagnostics CD I've now linked for you twice?

 

[vipuld]

Everytime I start my laptop it says on the bottom left, click esc forboot options. I do that startup is paused and a new menu appears aking me to slect a option as stated in my previous post. The last optionm it press esc to continue startup. If I continue win 7 loads and say that install failed and please reinstall from DVD

 

[gregrocker]

Enter BIOS setup to look again for SATA controller setting to change it to AHCI first to try install again, then IDE mode. It should be under the storage area. If in doubt post back camera snaps of all settings on each tab.

You were also given options earlier about UEFI BIOS. Did you look for Legacy Mode or Compatibility Support Module (CSM) to enable them in order to Bypass UEFI to Install WIn7? If not and you have UEFI BIOS you'll need these special steps to install to UEFI (Unified Extensible Firmware Interface) - Install Windows 7 with - Windows 7 Forums . So look for UEFI choices in BIOS as well.

Where did you get the Win7 installer? Use the latest official ISO burned to DVD with tool in Steps 1 and 2 of Clean Reinstall - Factory OEM Windows 7.

Set HDD to boot first in BIOS setup, wipe it clean again to try install one more time.

If DVD install fails, try flash stick install.