W7 will not start, various errors

[gregrocker]

I think you need to go back and do all the steps in post #23, especially cleaning the HD and defining a Primary NTFS partition which you mark Active.

If that fails again then test the HD with the maker's HD Diagnostic extended CD scan, as you may have a failing HD. If your maker doesn't have a tool for this use Seagate Seatools burning the DOS ISO to CD using Windows Image Burner. Seatools likely won't be able to repair the HD but it can diagnose it.

 

[Maesen]

I think you need to go back and do all the steps in post #23, especially cleaning the HD and defining a Primary NTFS partition which you mark Active.

If that fails again then test the HD with the maker's HD Diagnostic extended CD scan, as you may have a failing HD. If your maker doesn't have a tool for this use Seagate Seatools burning the DOS ISO to CD using Windows Image Burner. Seatools likely won't be able to repair the HD but it can diagnose it.

OK so I let the computer try to install again last night and it went past "Installing Update". It reached the "Completing Installation" but froze again. I let it all night and this morning it was still frozen at this step.

So I rebooted, again. Everytime it froze I restarted all the steps on post #23. I did it again this morning and now it is at the "Expanding Files" step. If it fails again, I will try booting on the Seagate SeaTools for DOS.

 

[Maesen]

OK so I let the computer try to install again last night and it went past "Installing Update". It reached the "Completing Installation" but froze again. I let it all night and this morning it was still frozen at this step.

So I rebooted, again. Everytime it froze I restarted all the steps on post #23. I did it again this morning and now it is at the "Expanding Files" step. If it fails again, I will try booting on the Seagate SeaTools for DOS.

Well it froze once again on "Completing Installation". So I removed my W7 DVD and checked it, it's all fine, no scratches. I put the Seagate SeeTools Boot CD in and booted on it. It booted fine, but detected no disk (only my C: is plugged in). I turned off the computer and changed the SATA Port of my disk. Rebooted and now it detected it. Ran the short test but it failed it within seconds. I told me to run the long test and that the long test can fix most errors.

So I began the long test and it is still running. Still 0% and got quite alot of errors (60 errors when I left the computer room). I believe my disk might be failing. Do you think wiping it to 0 might fix something or I have to buy a new disk?

If I need to buy a new disk, do you have any good disks to recommend? I would like a fast disk that has good storage capacity too. This current disk is only a 250gb and is pretty old.

Thanks,
Maesen

EDIT: Long test failed. Many errors. Is there a similar boot program for Western Digitals that could repair or atleast try to repair the disk before changing it?

 

[VistaKing]

Purchase a new hard drive . Stay away from seagate . Go with a western digital blue or black . If you want an SSD I'd recommend a Samsung 840 or 840 pro 250 GB .

 

[gregrocker]

Go ahead and zero the drive and run the long test again. Do you have a Seagate HD?

If you have files to rescue you can first try to Copy & Paste - in Windows Recovery Console
or Paragon Rescue Kit Free Edition 11.0 Free

 

[Maesen]

Go ahead and zero the drive and run the long test again. Do you have a Seagate HD?

If you have files to rescue you can try Copy & Paste - in Windows Recovery Console
or Paragon Rescue Kit Free Edition 11.0 Free

Both my drives are Western Digitals. I am looking online at a 1TB Caviar Black from Western Digital. Looks like a good disk. I could go buy it right now before the stores close.

I am trying, just for the sake of it, to reinstall Windows now that I changed the SATA port. I will go out and see if I can buy that new disk. Having more space will be nice when I can finally use the computer.

When I get home, I will search as of how to wipe the drive to zero, since I dont know how. Then re-run the Long Test. If it fails, I will use the new disk for Windows. If it passes, I will use Windows on the 250gb.

I can read this forum on my phone, so if you can recommand me other disk while I am at the stores, I could compare them. I'll be back in a few minutes

Thank you,
Maesen

 

[gregrocker]

Did you try Data Lifeguard DOS CD burned to CD using Windows Image Burner?
http://support.wdc.com/product/download.asp?groupid=605&sid=3&lang=enWD Data Lifeguard CD download page

 

[Maesen]

Did you try Data Lifeguard DOS CD burned to CD using Windows Image Burner?
WD Data Lifeguard CD download page

Back from stores, I did a few stores but none had em in store. I'll have to buy online. Oh well.

No I did not try the Data Lifeguard DOS yet, I will burn it in a few minutes. While I was gone Windows was trying to install. I came back home with an Error message saying: "Setup cannot continue due to a corrupted installation file. Contact the vendor of your Windows installation disc or your system administrator for assistance.".

 

[Maesen]

No I did not try the Data Lifeguard DOS yet, I will burn it in a few minutes. While I was gone Windows was trying to install. I came back home with an Error message saying: "Setup cannot continue due to a corrupted installation file. Contact the vendor of your Windows installation disc or your system administrator for assistance.".

Umm, I am trying to burn the Data Lifeguard, but it is a .exe file instead of the usual .iso. I wont let me burn in onto disc because of unsupported file (ImgBurn). How am I supposed to burn it?

 

[Maesen]

No I did not try the Data Lifeguard DOS yet, I will burn it in a few minutes. While I was gone Windows was trying to install. I came back home with an Error message saying: "Setup cannot continue due to a corrupted installation file. Contact the vendor of your Windows installation disc or your system administrator for assistance.".

Umm, I am trying to burn the Data Lifeguard, but it is a .exe file instead of the usual .iso. I wont let me burn in onto disc because of unsupported file (ImgBurn). How am I supposed to burn it?

I found the .iso and burned it on a disk. Went on the computer and booted on it; No drive found. It doesnt detect my hard drive. How else can I write zeros onto the disk?

I just bought online a new disk, I should get it within a couple days. While waiting, I would like to return the disk to "brand new out of the box" state.

 

[DocBrown]

Double check your power & data cables to the hard drive, to make sure they have not lost a good connection.

 

[gregrocker]

You can zero out the HD with Seatools CD, or using Diskpart Clean All Command
from the Win7 installer Command line: DISKPART At PC Startup.

When your new HD arrives get a perfect Clean Reinstall - Factory OEM Windows 7
which steps work the same for retail.

 

[Maesen]

Hi. Got my new HD! But it is still in its box for now. I want to save the other drive before.

So last night I started a Clean All operation via Command Prompt at boot. I wanted to give it all night but we got a blackout during night so it didnt complete.

I restarted the command early this morning and let it run all day while I wasnt home. Got back from work and went on the computer and it still isnt done.

I read many posts asking how long it takes and the average answer is "many hours". So I will give it time to complete, if it ever does.

Then after the cleanup I will try installing W7 on it (if it works) and then plug my new HD as storage later on.

If I still cannot install Windows for some reason, I will install the new HD and install W7 on it instead.

I will come back to this thread once I reached this step or if questions are asked.

Thanks again,
Maesen

 

[Maesen]

Alright, it's been 36 hours for a 250gb drive. What is going on?

 

[VistaKing]

Try the FORMAT FS=NTFS quick and should be a really quick format . If you don't use quick it will take a while

 

[Maesen]

Try the FORMAT FS=NTFS quick and should be a really quick format . If you don't use quick it will take a while

This is not what I am trying to do. I am trying to zero the disk with the "Clean All" command.

It's been 36 hours and still counting. I would like to use the computer someday.

 

[VistaKing]

Well same day next month you shall you're writing to every sector on the 250GB drive

 

[Maesen]

Well same day next month you shall you're writing to every sector on the 250GB drive

I read it was "about 1 hour per 300gb"...

 

[gregrocker]

That's an average time. But haven't you been warned enough about the disk that you have no reason to believe it will even finish? I'd want to have the drive maker's diagnostics opinion and it won't even recognize the disk. Seatools failed, correct? So you may be beating a dead horse.

I'd go ahead and install to only the new HD following the Best Practices in Clean Reinstall - Factory OEM Windows 7.

 

[Maesen]

That's an average time. But haven't you been warned enough about the disk that you have no reason to believe it will even finish? I'd want to have the drive maker's diagnostics opinion and it won't even recognize the disk. Seatools failed, correct? So you may be beating a dead horse.

I'd go ahead and install to only the new driver following the Best Practices in Clean Reinstall - Factory OEM Windows 7.

Yea SeaTools failed. I guess I will abort the command and install the new disk. It is a 2TB Caviar Black. Do you suggest me making a partition for Windows 7 only? If so, how big should I make it?