Solved Windows 7 Install hangs after "Starting Windows" when booting from USB

[Taji34]

How far do you get to the Diagnostic software ?

It gets all the way to "Detecting IDE Primary Master ..." then stops. I let it sit for a couple of hours and nothing happens. I do have laptop with no disk drive, could I get a SATA to USB cord and plug my hard drive in that way? Then I could use a hard drive diagnostic test that just runs on windows.

 

[VistaKing]

Yes you could do it that way . Sata to USB or IDE to SATA which ever your cable is . Use Seatools for windows

Download SeaTools for windows below

:ar: SeaTools for Windows | Seagate

 

[Taji34]

So, I ordered the Rosewill RCW-608 USB2.0 Adapter For IDE/SATA Device (Include Protection case) to connect my hard drive to my other computer, but it seems the driver for the Adapter isn't installing, so I can't seem to use it, any ideas?

 

[gregrocker]

Nothing was said about plugging the HD in by USB, only that you should plug it in internally to SATA or IDE cable using an adapter if necessary.

The drive needs power to plug it in, even via USB, so if you are only able to plug it in that way you need to connect a power cable to it.. Make sure you've enabled Automatically deliver drivers via Windows Update (Step 3)

 

[VistaKing]

Taji34

Windows 7 should install it automatically no drivers needed for that Roswell device . Did you turn it on there is a switch .

 

[Taji34]

Nothing was said about plugging the HD in by USB, only that you should plug it in internally to SATA or IDE cable using an adapter if necessary.

The drive needs power to plug it in, even via USB, so if you are only able to plug it in that way you need to connect a power cable to it.. Make sure you've enabled Automatically deliver drivers via Windows Update (Step 3)

EDIT: Vista King's post alerted me to the fact that there is a switch I hadn't noticed on the power cord.
EDIT 2: I am currently running SeaTools on the HD, I will post the results of the tests when they finish.

 

[VistaKing]

Those little devices work wonders . I personally have one from GraniteDigital .

 

[Taji34]

Okay so here are the results so far:
Short Drive Self Test: Pass
Short Generic Test: Pass
Long Generic Test: Fail

I ran the long generic test over night last night, and when I got on my computer this morning, a dialogue had popped up asking me to format the drive. So I am running the test again just to make sure it didn't fail because my computer went to sleep or something. Also, every time I plug my hard drive in, it prompts me saying I need to format the drives (one for each partition on the HD) before I can use them, and windows does not recognize there is any data on the partitions. Is this just because of the way I am plugging the HD in or something else?

Also, should I run the advance tests in Seatools on this HD?

 

[gregrocker]

You're only able to diagnose with Seatools on another maker's HD, so the Extended Test is best option.

If it passes then go ahead and do a Quick Wipe, then move the drive back to target PC to try install again.

If it fails again try installing it plugged in alone internally to the other PC. If you can't do this then try booting the installer on the other PC to see how far it will proceed - does it reach the drive selection screen and see all partitions on the other PC?

 

[Taji34]

You're only able to diagnose with Seatools on another maker's HD, so the Extended Test is best option.

If it passes then go ahead and do a Quick Wipe, then move the drive back to target PC to try install again.

If it fails again try installing it plugged in alone internally to the other PC. If you can't do this then try booting the installer on the other PC to see how far it will proceed - does it reach the drive selection screen and see all partitions on the other PC?

By extended test do you mean the long generic test? Or is that one of the advance tests?

EDIT: Well, it failed the Long Generic Test again, I don't have the ability to plug it in internally to another computer, so I will check if the installer makes it to the drive selection screen on another computer.

 

[gregrocker]

Good. If it won't then you'll know its the installer.

Next try writing a new ISO to stick with UltraISO Software To Create Bootable USB Flash Drive which always works when others don't.

If that fails try another stick.

If a DVD burned with new ISO using ImgBurn at 4x speed fails again, then I'd focus on the HD. You can try wiping it with Partition Wizard Boot CD Wipe Disk - Video Help since sometimes wiping the HD will resolve issues like this.

With the same PW CD you can test a reluctant HD with Partition Wizard Partition surface test. If there are bad sectors then get a final diagnosis and possible repair HD with the maker's HD Diagnostic extended CD scan. If it passes you can wipe it with that tool and start again.

 

[Taji34]

Good. If it won't then you'll know its the installer.

Next try writing a new ISO to stick with UltraISO Software To Create Bootable USB Flash Drive which always works when others don't.

If that fails try another stick.

If a DVD burned with new ISO using ImgBurn at 4x speed fails again, then I'd focus on the HD. You can try wiping it with Partition Wizard Boot CD Wipe Disk - Video Help since sometimes wiping the HD will resolve issues like this.

With the same PW CD you can test a reluctant HD with Partition Wizard Partition surface test. If there are bad sectors then get a final diagnosis and possible repair HD with the maker's HD Diagnostic extended CD scan. If it passes you can wipe it with that tool and start again.

Okay, so I have a USB that makes it to the drive select screen on a different computer with a different HD. Should I now try it with the HD that is acting up to see if it works?

 

[gregrocker]

Try the Steps in Step #4 again to see if you can boot the stick on the problem PC. Don't skip any steps, post back the exact step it fails at and any error message.

If it fails you can use the PW CD as I just suggested to wipe the HD in the problem PC or move its HD to the other PC to run Diskpart Clean Command from the existing OS, then move it to problem PC to try install again.

As a last resort if it fails to boot after trying again all steps in Post #4, then move HD to other PC plugged in by itself to try install. If it works move HD back to problem PC, if it' won't boot then download Paragon Adaptive Restore CD freeware ISO, burn to CD with Windows Image Burner, boot and run PNP adjust on Win7 partition to adjust to different hardware.

 

[Taji34]

Try the Steps in Step #4 again to see if you can boot the stick on the problem PC. Don't skip any steps, post back the exact step it fails at and any error message.

If it fails you can use the PW CD as I just suggested to wipe the HD in the problem PC or move its HD to the other PC to run Diskpart Clean Command from the existing OS, then move it to problem PC to try install again.

As a last resort if it fails to boot after trying again all steps in Post #4, then move HD to other PC plugged in by itself to try install. If it works move HD back to problem PC, if it' won't boot then download Paragon Adaptive Restore CD freeware ISO, burn to CD with Windows Image Burner, boot and run PNP adjust on Win7 partition to adjust to different hardware.

When creating the partition, if I run CREATE PARTITION PRIMARY without specifying a size, will it just use all the space on the HD for the partition?

 

[VistaKing]

Yes it will use the entire hard drive space if you don't specify a number amount in MB .

 

[Taji34]

Okay, so I just finished trying to boot it from both a USB and a DVD, both of which got to the disk select screen on another computer. Both times the boot would get to "Starting windows" screen, sit there for a few minutes, then change to a black screen with a movable cursor. I let it sit there for a little bit and nothing changed, so I shut the computer down. I will now burn a Partition Wizard Boot CD so I can wipe the drive, I will post after I have done that, and tried the install again.

EDIT: What wipe method should I use to wipe the disk?

 

[VistaKing]

Press enter when you see the screen that says Press any key to boot from cd or DVD…( image below )

When you get to this screen ( image below )

Press Shift and F10 . You will get a command prompt window . It should open up to X:\Sources . In there input these commands and press enter after each line .

DISKPART
LIST DISK
SELECT DISK 0
CLEAN
CREATE PRIMARY PARTITION 
SELECT PARTITION 1 
ACTIVE 
FORMAT FS=NTFS LABEL="Windows 7 OS" QUICK 
ASSIGN LETTER=C
EXIT
EXIT

   Note

Change the label to anything you want

Back on the image above press Install Now . Check the I accept the license terms box and click on Next. Click on the Custom (advanced) option. Then choose
Disk 0 Partition 1: Window (C:\) and click Next

When it reboots don't press any keys it will continue on its own

 

[Taji34]

Press enter when you see the screen that says Press any key to boot from cd or DVD…( image below )

When you get to this screen ( image below )

Press Shift and F10 . You will get a command prompt window . It should open up to X:\Sources . In there input these commands and press enter after each line .

DISKPART
LIST DISK
SELECT DISK 0
CLEAN
CREATE PRIMARY PARTITION 
SELECT PARTITION 1 
ACTIVE 
FORMAT FS=NTFS LABEL="Windows 7 OS" QUICK 
ASSIGN LETTER=C
EXIT
EXIT

   Note

Change the label to anything you want

Back on the image above press Install Now . Check the I accept the license terms box and click on Next. Click on the Custom (advanced) option. Then choose
Disk 0 Partition 1: Window (C:\) and click Next

When it reboots don't press any keys it will continue on its own

I am unable to get to that screen when booting, hence why I posted here. I am going to use a Partition Wizard Boot CD to wipe the drive, and when wiping a drive it asks what wipe method to use.

 

[VistaKing]

Delete Partition - Partition Wizard Help Video

Take a look at the link above

 

[Taji34]

Delete Partition - Partition Wizard Help Video

Take a look at the link above

Gregrocker said to actually wipe the disk clean, instead of just deleting the partitions. In the video he refered to in his earlier post, it shows when wiping a disk, there are multiple methods you can use to wipe the disk, I was wondering which one to choose. Here's the video he linked to: Partition Wizard Boot CD Wipe Disk - Video Help