Windows 7 error in compag presario F700

[Hoefie]

Hi all,

I have a comaq presario F700. It had windows Vista x32 bit installed. I installed windows 7 but I keep getting this message:

Windows cannot access the specified device, path or file. You may not have the appropriate permissions to access them etc.

I' can't go into control panel nor my computer nor you say it.

Can somebody please help me?

Thx

 

[gregrocker]

Did you complete the install? When exactly do you get the error message?

If the error is blocking install, try booting the Win7 DVD to do a clean install. Back up your files and gather your program installers as programs will have to be reinstalled. But it will be a much cleaner install.

 

[Hoefie]

Thx for your reply gregrocker.

I already did a clean install (4 times). The message pops up when I click on my computer, or control panel etc. Later today I'll try another win 7 disk. I hope it will fix the problem. But if you still have another solution, its welcome. Thx

 

[gregrocker]

Check your BIOS version to see if it needs updating from the model's Support Downloads webpage.

What is the SATA controller setting in BIOS? Try AHCI, then IDE if neccessary.

Are you wiping the HD when you attempt install? You'll need to boot the installer, select Custom install and use Drive Tools to delete all, create New partition(s), then format before installing to first partition.

I'd go an extra step and clean the HD deeper: Boot Win7 DVD into Repair, open Command Line, type:

DISKPART
LIST DISK
SELECT DISK # (replace # with Win7 target HD #)
CLEAN ALL
EXIT

Now use Custom>Drive tools to create and format your partition(s).

 

[Hoefie]

Hey gregrocker,

I fixed it. I used your advice about booting windows 7 into repair. I found a window there which I could use for browsing my harddrive. The partition of 100mb that windows 7 creates when installing was set as the C: drive and the OS was installed on the D: drive, pushing my earlier D: whit the backup to E:
So I deleted both the new c: and d: and selected the unallocated space as the target path to install windows. It worked.

Thx gregrocker

 

[gregrocker]

Good work, Hoefie.

So others know, you can remove the letter form the 100mb System Reserved partition if necessary. Win7 should then assume C:

You can also remove the 100mb partition and recover the MBR into WIn7 partition by marking it active and running Startup Repair from Win7 DVD or Repair CD up to 3 separate times with reboots to force MBR move.

To avoid having 100mb Sys Reserved boot partition assigned at install, pre-partition the HD. It's only needed for Bitlocker encryption in Ultimate or if you want the Repair Console added to the F8 Advanced Boot tools which to me is it's only plus.