Solved Windows 7 install problem catch 22

[superkev1503]

Hi All,

First time poster here, my system specs should be listed with this as I filled it out when registering. System is home built and previously was running Win XP 32 bit. I am trying now to install Win 7 Professional 64 Bit but having a spot of trouble with it. Namely I get a Blank screen with a "No Signal" error on final reboot after running the installation. This seems to be a rather common problem and I have tried several fixes I have found here and elsewhere but so far no joy.

I wiped the HDD using a Linux Live CD and Gparted so as to do a clean install.

I tried different options after pressing F8 on boot but I get a blank screen when I try "Low Resolution Mode" (I get no option for a VGA mode) and when I get in to Safe Mode I get a large Error message saying that "Windows Cannot Complete Installation In Safe Mode" which causes me to have to reboot. So I have no way of installing perhaps some GPU drivers.

I attempted to use a USB Thumb drive to install the WHQL ATI Drivers during install but the install program did not recognize them as being on the USB drive when pointed to it.

Tried switching the DVI ports but got no output at all from that. I have tried different Bios settings but nothing has helped there either. I do not have any type of VGA output to plug in to and I don't have another GPU to try as well.

I know the machine is in working order as a Linux Live CD boots up and functions flawlessly, so hardware-wise everything appears fine.

I hope this is enough information for someone to lend me some advice. Thanks in advance for any help.

 

[Ztruker]

You can try disabling your video card/device during Windows 7 install, then load the Windows 7 driver for it after the install completes. Worth a try.

See here: How to Access Device Manager During the Installation of Windows 7

The part to follow is down a ways under Now for Safe Mode:.

Did you run the Windows 7 Upgrade Advisor so you know your hardware is compatible?

 

[superkev1503]

My hardware is compatible.

I don't have a VGA connection of any sort, will I still be able to get a video output with the DVI connection? Just in a lower resolution?

Thanks for the reply

UPDATE: That worked!! Thank you so much!!

 

[superkev1503]

Looks like I spoke too soon

I can only get in to the regular boot up with no video acceleration even though I installed the drivers in safe mode, if I activate the video card and reboot I still get the blank screen issue. Any ideas on that? I'm almost there.

 

[gregrocker]

Try the drivers provided by Windows Updates after enabling Automatically deliver drivers via Windows Update (Step 3).

In fact run all rounds of Important and Optional Windows Updates to get important Performance Updates which might affect this.

Unlike XP, Win7 is driver-complete so should be given the first chance to provide drivers.

The problem during install may be that you have no VGA and until SP2 the Driver Store in the installer is sparse for the latest DVI drivers.

 

[superkev1503]

It should not be this hard to install a simple OS

Started getting a BSOD instead of the blank, tried to repair, no go, doing full reinstall and getting very frustrated with this bloody thing.

I tried to find the setting to auto update the drivers but could not find it, maybe not available in safe mode??

 

[gregrocker]

Kevin, is it using Standard VGA display driver in Safe Mode? Then when you try another driver and reboot into Normal Mode it fouls out?

Do you have an onboard video chip you can use to get into Normal Mode, then enable the video card to see if Windows Update will automatically deliver a driver Win7 wants? Try also any other Win7 drivers for that card the same way?

You could also try it this way with another video card, unless you like the replacement better.

I understand the frustration but stick with it as we don't give up here and will help you until it's fixed. Can call in hardware experts if necessary.

 

[superkev1503]

Is it using Standard VGA display driver in Safe Mode? Then when you try another driver and reboot into Normal Mode it fouls out?

Do you have an onboard video chip you can use to get into Normal Mode, then enable the video card to see if Windows Update will automatically deliver a driver Win7 wants? Try also any other Win7 drivers for that card the same way?

You could also try it this way with another video card, unless you like the replacement better.

I understand the frustration but stick with it as we don't give up here and will help you until it's fixed.

Yes it seems to be but when I install the drivers for my card and try to boot normally it just gives me the blank screen again.

No onboard video on my MoBo

I appreciate the help so far, doing the reinstall now, I have the drivers for my card on a USB drive ready to go as internet seems really slow in safe mode. Got the fangs out now and am going to get this working some how.

 

[superkev1503]

Did a re-install and now I can't get in to safe mode with command prompt, I can select it but no command prompt shows, I just get an error message saying set up cannot be completed in safe mode grrrrrrrrrrrr

 

[gregrocker]

You can access Command Prompt from the installer's System Recovery Options.

Where did you get Win7? Is it a known-good installer which has worked successfully recently? If not try another from Clean Reinstall - Factory OEM Windows 7
Steps 1 and 2.

I'd also reset the BIOS to defaults. Clear CMOS - 3 Ways to Clear the CMOS - Reset BIOS

I'll ask for more hardware expertise.

 

[superkev1503]

You can access Command Prompt from the installer's System Recovery Options.

Thanks I was not aware of that.

Here's what I did, partially out of frustration I guess: Loaded a Linux Live CD, nuked the partitions and reformatted the entire drive to ntfs.

I am now in the middle of my second re-install of the day :shock:

It is frustrating because Linux works great on this machine and recognizes everything right off no issues. But this is my gamer machine so I need Windows on it to play my games.

Any advice or tips while I am waiting for this to install once again??

Thank you for all the help, much appreciated!!

 

[lehnerus2000]

HDD Problem?

You said that the Live Linux CD/DVD works correctly.
Have you run a disc check from GParted or your Windows install disc?
Maybe the HDD has some dodgy sectors.

Can you pre-partition your HDD and install Linux and Windows successfully (ignoring the display issue)?
If you can, then you should do so.
Does Linux run correctly when it is installed on your HDD?

If the problem is some sort of corrupted file, you may be able to replace it (i.e. download a new version and use Linux to copy it to your Windows install).

Do you have a backup HDD image of your old system?
You may be able to copy files from that to use as replacements.

Obviously you would have to discover which files (if any) are broken.

 

[superkev1503]

Just did a full re-install on a formatted clean HDD, when I select the option for safe mode with command prompt all I get is the error message saying that windows cannot complete the installation :huh: And I do not get a command prompt just the big error message box.

I am at my wits end with this.

 

[gregrocker]

Did you reset the BIOS to defaults from my last post?

I also asked where you got the Win7 installer, if it has successfully installed recently and what to do if not.

In rare cases old HD code can interfere with install so I'd wipe the HD first with Diskpart Clean Command to get a clean slate.

I've asked experts on hardware and video cards to look in. Be patient. You may need to rest as frustration can work against resolving it.

 

[essenbe]

superkev1503, If you can get into windows safe mode or any mode, click the start button, type device manager into the search box and click on device manager that appears. Expand 'display adaptors' see if your video card is listed. you will see I have a GTX 670. Also, the automatically update drivers is in CCC, but is not very reliable. You can also, if you are on a clean install, go to AMD web site, in the first box select desktop graphics, in the second box select automatically detect and install. But only do that if your card is listed in device manager and you have no graphics drivers installed.

EDIT: also where did you get the install disk? If you downloaded it, where from and how did you burn it to DVD or put it on flash drive?

 

[superkev1503]

Did you reset the BIOS to defaults from my last post?

I also asked where you got the Win7 installer, if it has successfully installed recently and what to do if not.

In rare cases old HD code can interfere with install so I'd wipe the HD first with Diskpart Clean Command to get a clean slate.

I've asked experts on hardware and video cards to look in. Be patient. You may need to rest as frustration can work against resolving it.

BIOS are set to defaults, yes

The install medium is a standard OEM DVD.

Yeah, I am pretty close to tossing this thing out the window, very frustrating when something like the command prompt won't even come up for you when you select that option. Half tempted to just go back to XP :shock:

Thank for the help so far, maybe those you have asked to look at this will have some ideas, I am just so used to Linux almost always working and easy set up that this is double the frustration for me. I know my hardware is fine, so it's definitely a software issue.

 

[Britton30]

If your installer is from the Windows iso download site, try doing it all over on a freshly formatted USB flash drive or new DVD-R. Occasionally the iso is corrupted the first time.

Try using a graphics driver maybe 2-3 version back, newer is not always better.

 

[gregrocker]

Does your OEM DVD have SP1? I'd download the latest just to be sure, for the Media Refresh alone. Clean Reinstall - Factory OEM Windows 7.

So far even the hardware guys still think the install still needs proving.

 

[superkev1503]

superkev1503, If you can get into windows safe mode or any mode, click the start button, type device manager into the search box and click on device manager that appears. Expand 'display adaptors' see if your video card is listed. you will see I have a GTX 670. Also, the automatically update drivers is in CCC, but is not very reliable. You can also, if you are on a clean install, go to AMD web site, in the first box select desktop graphics, in the second box select automatically detect and install. But only do that if your card is listed in device manager and you have no graphics drivers installed.

EDIT: also where did you get the install disk? If you downloaded it, where from and how did you burn it to DVD or put it on flash drive?

I can't get in to any mode, regular boot is just a blank screen and any type of safe mode I go to just gives me the error message that windows cannot complete installation in safe mode and it will finish next time I boot up, so it's just an endless circle unfortunately.

My disk is a OEM DVD as I said above.

 

[superkev1503]

Does your OEM DVD have SP1? I'd download the latest just to be sure, for the Media Refresh alone. Clean Reinstall - Factory OEM Windows 7.

So far even the hardware guys still think the install still needs proving.

Yes, it's Windows 7 Professional with SP1 according to the packaging