Unable to install Windows

[Barraind]

I bought a new mobo and processor, and am currently having problems installing windows 7 (or xo or vista).

When attempting to install from CD, I keep getting the error "Insert boot media in selected boot device", with either XP, 98 SE, or Windows 7 in the DvD drive. My computer is recognizing my drive as the primary IDE master, with my secondary HD as primary slave, and my primary HD as a SATA device.

I have attempted to change drive recognition from IDE to ACHI, but no change.

I can always go back to my old mobo/processor and try to fresh install from there, switch to the new mobo and hope it works doing it that way, but that doesnt sound like it would (and the only reason I bought 7 was because I had to reinstall windows with the new mobo anyway).

Any help would be appreciated.

 

[Saltgrass]

Do you have the bios set to boot to CD/DVD first?

Where did you get the Win 7 DVD?

 

[Orpheous]

Do you have the bios set to boot to CD/DVD first?

Where did you get the Win 7 DVD?

Good call...
This often occurs as the result of either a bad burn, or a corrupted dowload.
If you burnt the disc yourself, try again at a slower speed on a good quality blank media. Make sure you finalise the disc also.
If that doesn't work and you downloaded it, you may have to download it again unfortunately.

 

[Barraind]

Bought it at best buy a couple hours ago.

its set to ONLY read from the dvd drive right now, when set to anything else, it strings through an endless loop of attempting to start windows, failing, informing me, repeat.

 

[Orpheous]

Do you have access to another DVD drive that you can test it with?

 

[Barraind]

Just a cd drive, but i should be able to to xp on it, and 7 once everythings set if I need to. Assuming it works!

 

[Barraind]

Installed an old cd driver and tried to load XP, apparently my SATA hd is corrupted, trying the old one, and hoping i dont have to shell out more cash for another HD.

 

[Orpheous]

If it's just the information on the drive that's corrupted, you won't need to replace the HD, just the OS.
I'm pretty sure that the Windows 7 install disc is a DVD(?), which won't be readable in a CD drive.
Also, it might pay to check all of your connections ie. SATA/IDE & power cables, remove and re-insert both ends. For SATA drives, make sure the drive is connected to a standard SATA connector on the motherboard, ot some proprietary type like G-SATA etc.
For older IDE drives, make sure that you have the jumpers on the back of the drive set to either master or slave, some motherboards don't like cable select with older drives. With IDE cables, the master drive is the furthest connector from the motherboard connector and slave is the one in the middle.
Primary IDE hard drives should always be set to master.
If you don't have any luck with all of that, try replacing your data cables (SATA or IDE)

 

[IggyAZ]

Barraind
You never said in your original message if you had a Windows 7 Upgrade or a Full Version disk.
It sounds like it may be an upgrade because it's asking for a previous Windows version.
Please clarify

 

[Barraind]

Its a full version. Windows 7 wont load off my DVD drive though, so I had to bust out a cd drive to install XP, then 7 once I am able to get something to recognize the DVD on the drive.


After I got the corrupted HD message, the computer wont recognize the other HD through SATA.

XP is installing fine, after which, I hope I can get 7 to work on the drive, and use the 320 as storage with my external. I dont keep too much on the internal HD's, so its not a huge deal, as long as everything sets up correctly.

 

[DocBrown]

Can you tell us the make & model of your HD's & DVD drives ?

" Doc "

 

[Barraind]

I managed to install xp with no service packs, and after a restart, after the XP splash screen, I get a black screen, with nothing.

My SATA drive is recognized, but I cant boot to it, its simply not an option. I am completely lost now, heh.


Edit - This is only when I try to boot to the HD first, and not the DVD drive.

My DVD drive is now refusing to read any DVD's, from my mobo drivers to its own software, to windows 7

 

[win7clutz]

Before you spend any more time on trying to install an OS you need to eliminate the hardware issues...

You previously posted that you installed a new mb and cpu. You’ve also said that you have problems with the DVD reading Windows 7 disc. Now you’re getting the message that the hd is corrupt and your XP install has failed…

Forget about loading an OS at this point, put the machine back together with your new mb, your dvd drive and don’t bother hooking up a hard drive. You’ll need a memtest bootable cd which you can get the iso here: Memtest86+ - Advanced Memory Diagnostic Tool . Boot the box and set the bios to optimized defaults. Boot to the memtest cd and let it run two or three complete cycles of all test. If and when you can pass those, it’s time to try to install Win 7, until then, don’t bother until you can resolve the hardware issues…

Of course post back so we know your progress...

EDIT: One more thing, I know this whole process is frustrating; but you can do it, you can fix the problem, and you can pat yourself on the back as a master tech when you're done. Good Luck!

 

[gregrocker]

Download and burn to CD the DOS diagnostics for your HD from the Support Downloads page for that model.

Please fill in your System SPecs in the bottom left corner of post so more will stop to help.

Once you have XP installed, if you want a dual boot with Win7, then suggest you use free Partition manager to shrink XP to create and format a Win7 partition.

Then try booting the Win7 DVD, or if it fails try running from within XP.