Solved Upgrade Install Problem

[Todd Sauve]

Hi all,

I have tried to do a clean install my Win 7 upgrade disc on a fresh rebuild of my old PC. After it is installed and does its update from the internet, it will only reboot to a blue Win 7 screen with no desktop. There is no taskbar, no icons, nothing but a light blue Win 7 screen with the logo as the desktop.

Have I done something wrong?

I have not activated the install yet, and I unchecked the automatic activation at the setup menu. Neither did I create a Windows.old folder yet in the C drive. All I did was let IE 8 update itself to 9 and download and install the latest Radeon driver for my HD 5450 video card. After it does this and reboots, all I can get is the empty desktop screen.

It does not even give me an error code or any kind of clue as to what has gone wrong. It lets me put it into Sleep Mode via my keyboard's sleep button, and it wakes up just fine when I move the mouse. But only to the light blue Win 7 screen with no icons or taskbar.

I have rebooted it several times from a complete shutdown, as well, but still no joy.

Does anyone have an answer to this one?

 

[karlsnooks]

I'm going to put you back at ground zero.

Please follow, dotting all 'i"s and crossing all "t"s, this procedure:
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/31402-clean-install-upgrade-windows-7-version.html

When that finishes, do not add any third-party drivers, but rather:

UPDATING YOUR WIN 7
ASSURE THAT YOU RECEIVE ALL UPDATES
WIN | type WINDOWS UPDATE | ENTER |
Change settings (left-hand column) |
checkmark all four of the boxes | OK button

Approve any dialog boxes presented. Let Windows install any update features.

WIN is the key with the Microsoft flag on top.

INSTALL CRITICAL UPDATES
Check for Updates (left-hand column)
Install ALL critical updates.
Restart your computer (even if not prompted)

Repeat this procedure until there are no more critical updates.

DO NOT TRUST the “Windows is up to date” in center of dialog. until you see that TWICE IN A ROW!

INSTALL IMPORTANT UPDATES
Use the “critical update” procedure until all important updates are installed.

INSTALL OPTIONAL UPDATES
Use the “critical update” procedure until all optional updates are installed.

Under Optional updates you will be presented with a list of about 34 language updates.
You can hide those updates so that aren't continually notified of those updates. When you click on 34 optional updates are available, then you
a) highlight all of the language updates,
b) right-click anywhere in the highlighted list.
c) click on Hide Updates,
d) OK button.


UPDATE GOLDEN RULES
Install ALL, yes, ALL updates.
This is Win 7 and not Vista or XP (eXPired).

UPDATE IS HUNG –TAKING FOREVER
Hung is very doubtful unless you interrupted updates.

CTRL + SHIFT + ESC key combo will pop-up the Task Manager.
Lo and behold, Windows Update is still running!

You hold down the CTRL and SHIFT keys.
While holding them down, tap the ESC key once.
=================================================

Awaiting your glowing report of success.

 

[Todd Sauve]

I'm guessing that the problem is that I didn't activate the OS once it had successfully installed and booted.

Thank you for your quick reply and help!

 

[ignatzatsonic]

I'm guessing that the problem is that I didn't activate the OS once it had successfully installed and booted.

I doubt activation is the solution. A good Windows install should work fine without activation for a month.

Did you use a burned disc, an OEM disc, a retail disc, or?

You say "fresh rebuild". What components did you change?

 

[karlsnooks]

Clean install, followed by the update procedure I gave.

When that is finished:
Install MSE, Microsoft Security Essentials. Link in my signature.
That is the one and the only AV solution I use, I recommend and I install.
More will not make you safer, but will slow down your system. Whether you notice the slowdown depends upon your hardware, but you will run slower. Every background program takes up time.

Read the following:
Understanding Microsoft Anti-Malware Software 2012 ~ Security Garden

When that is finished, then:
if you have not, then Activate your install:
WIN + BREAK keycombo | click on the icon or whatever there in the bottom-right of the page.

Use Win 7 Backup and Restore to make a SYSTEM IMAGE backup to an external USB drive.

You want to be able to restore your system to a know good state without having to once again reinstall everything.

Now, and only now, you can install 3rd party software.

 

[Todd Sauve]

I'm guessing that the problem is that I didn't activate the OS once it had successfully installed and booted.

I doubt activation is the solution. A good Windows install should work fine without activation for a month.

Did you use a burned disc, an OEM disc, a retail disc, or?

You say "fresh rebuild". What components did you change?

I've used this disc before and it worked fine. In fact, it installs with no problems, except I forgot to add the Windows.old folder and then activate it once it boots successfully. That has worked fine several times before. It's a burned disc of a retail upgrade 3 pack that I shared with sis and bro-in-law.

It is on the PC I retired back in 2010. AMD Athlon 64 X2 4600+ with 2 gigs of DDR RAM. Had this same OS on it but then I changed it all over to my new PC. But I got tired of 32bit and upgraded that to OEM 64bit.

So the old upgrade disc goes back on the old PC, which will be used as a HTPC. I only had to add a new 400 watt PSU, a HDMI equipped Radeon 5450 and a wireless keyboard/mouse combo. It plays hi-def video with no problems, and surfs the net with aplomb. Might add Netflix, too. Will be hooked up to my AVR and 52" HDTV running at 1080p resolution.

In a year or two I'll change the MB, CPU and video card to something more suitable for my "Wings of Prey" flight sim, which is the only game I play. I already have a Radeon 6850 that I use for that, on my new PC.

So I have about $100 invested in the oldie. Not bad for a decent HTPC, eh?

By the way, I remember Ignat the mouse. He used to throw bricks at Krazy Kat, didn't he?

 

[gregrocker]

Todd -

Activation isn't the problem, it's likely an Update - possibly the display driver.

When Win7 won't start after an Update, boot into System Recovery Options to System Restore before the Updates.

Then install the Updates singly with Restore points to find which is the problem, post it up here in our updates forum and to MS Updates website Tech Support via email.

You can migrate the retail Win7 licenses as often as you want as long as they are only installed on 3 machines at a time. Delete Win7 using Diskpart Clean Command
from System Recovery Options Command Line to uninstall the OS.

 

[Todd Sauve]

I did try the System Recovery, from the install routine. It told me that the start up sequence was ok. Nothing else from the other options seemed likely to be the cause.

 

[gregrocker]

I was referring to System Restore from System Recovery Options.

 

[Todd Sauve]

I was referring to System Restore from System Recovery Options.

The funny thing is that I mistakenly installed the 64bit version when I first got the old beast running again. It seemed to boot and reboot fine but I finally noticed I had put the wrong OS on, ha, ha!

So I formatted the drive and put the 32 bit on. It all worked fine, rebooted ok after installation and whatnot. But the next day when I started it from Sleep, it would only go into the blank Win 7 light blue screen with the logo on it. So this is something a little screwy. I'm too tired to do much with it today but will try to reinstall again tomorrow.

 

[gregrocker]

Even though you have retail Win7, the steps given here to Clean Reinstall - Factory OEM Windows 7 will assure you get and maintain a perfect reinstall.

 

[Todd Sauve]

OK, the problem turned out to be the fact that I had the HDMI cable plugged into my AVR and video card. The PC had been built and the OS installed with the monitor hooked to the video card via the VGA cable. Having the HDMI port on the card also occupied seems to have made the PC unable to decide which monitor to use--the LCD or the HDTV. So it decided to not give me anything other than a blank desktop. Once I unplugged the HDMI cable from the card and rebooted, everything worked fine again. So, to get the video driver to display the option of also having the HDTV to use REQUIRED that I use a DVI cable to connect to the LCD display.

It was either all digital, ie, DVI, or all analog, so to speak, via VGA. It just would not even display the HDTV option in the AMD Catalyst Control Centre software unless the LCD monitor was connected using the DVI port.

So how is that for weird?

Believe me, I could not have made this story up if I tried. In fact, I'm rather proud of myself for having finally figuring out what went wrong. It only took about 5 hours of laying in bed and wondering what could possibly have happened.

I suspect this is one for the record books ...

Thanks for your help guys.

Now the PC seems to have gotten itself hung up in the middle of a Windows Update install. It is just sitting there whirring like there is no tomorrow, as it tries to shut itself down to complete the update. If it is still stuck in the morning I'll just have to hope it can survive a shutdown and reboot without completing its update install. Maybe I need a little Divine intervention at this point, eh?

 

[gregrocker]

This is why it says in Clean Reinstall - Factory OEM Windows 7:

8. Unplug all other HD's and peripherals

 

[Todd Sauve]

This is why it says in Clean Reinstall - Factory OEM Windows 7:

8. Unplug all other HD's and peripherals

Alas, my version is the retail Upgrade, not OEM.

Trying to get the AMD Radeons to do multi monitor output, especially to my 1080p HDTV, is quite an experience in frustration. But I imagine that is a problem for a different line of inquiry in the forum.

 

[karlsnooks]

todd,

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/1649-clean-install-windows-7-a.html

 

[gregrocker]

It doesn't matter what the OS version is, the Best Practices for install are the same which is why I specifically said

Even though you have retail Win7, the steps given here to Clean Reinstall - Factory OEM Windows 7 will assure you get and maintain a perfect reinstall.

 

[Todd Sauve]

Windows did finally install correctly. It took a few twists and turns but it finally saw the wisdom of obeying my wishes, ha, ha!

The hard part now is getting the dumb thing to boot up with only my 52" HDTV as the monitor, via the HDMI output. I have a Radeon 5450 and it is giving me all I can handle right now!

 

[Todd Sauve]

OK, the problem turned out to be the brand new HIS 5450 video card. Took it back and exchanged it for a Gigabyte 5450. End of problem!

I have never had a HIS card that actually worked properly.

 

[gregrocker]

Good work getting it replaced.

When ready you can mark the thread Solved at top.