Solved Windows 7 install problem

[AirPower4ever]

So I got a bunch of new parts, but when I go to load Windows 7 Pro, it will not load up.

Asus P7P55D Deluxe - updated BIOS to current 2003
CPU - Intel Core I7 870
Corsair Dominator memory - 2 x 2GB = 4GB total
EVGA GT 240 video card - in top blue slot
PSU - Corsair 750W
HDD - 2 Seagate 7200.10 in RAID1
CD/DVD drive - Samsung

In the BIOS I set the RAID, cd/DVD as first boot, RAID drives 2nd and I have turned off the sound, LAN and Firewire for now. I then went and created the RAID1 using the Ctrl+I and it says the array is good

I put the Windows 7 full install disc in the cd/dvd drive, install begins. First there is a bar at the bottom which then reaches the end, then another shows up and does the same thing, reaches the end. The I see the "Starting Windows" pop up and as those small little color balls appear and start becoming the flag, they freeze and my whole system freezes. Even the keyboard. I read that this board has 4 lights that if an error occurs the light will light up for the following;

CPU
Memory
VGA
SATA

So I am wondering if anyone else has had this issue?

I also wanted to add that these two drives were in another machine and they were RAID'd as RAID0. I did delete the RAID before installing into this system. I also did a format on each drive separately to make sure, again, prior to installing in to the new system.

Anything I can provide in more details, please let me know. Does anyone know what is going on with why it does this? I am a novice so details would be a plus for me.

Thanks

 

[Minotar]

Is it a retail disc or an ISO you burned yourself?
If you burned it yourself do so again using the slowest write speed and verify the data if your program allows.

Return you BIOS to default only changing it to allow to boot from CD if needs be.
Try again using 1 stick of ram and 1 HDD.

 

[AirPower4ever]

I bought the OS from Micro Center.

I'll try these, but a question though on the 1HD. I should install it on just one drive? Is this just to troubleshoot?

Thanks and I'll do the other things and let you know

 

[AirPower4ever]

Okay, this is what I did and then what it is doing

Just 1HD
Reset BIOS to defaults
Set CD/DVD to boot first
All other boot set to disabled
Just 1 stick of RAM

What it is doing is I still see the "Windows is loading files" bar, it goes twice and the "Starting Windows" comes up, the colored balls start coming up and then it freezes. But now it restarts. I am wondering if it is that video card, it says it will work with Win7.

Not sure, what do you think? What next?

Thanks for your help M

 

[lodimas]

I would recommend trying a different ISO, if that still doesnt work find another addition of windows and run the patch on the ISO to unlock all versions of windows. Also have you tried with a SATA drive (If you have one). Said patch can be found here Lifehacker, tips and downloads for getting things done

lodimas

 

[AirPower4ever]

To L, I have tried with both discs of Windows 7. I tried the 32-bit installation and I have tried the 64-bit installation. Both do the same thing. I will read on though

 

[AirPower4ever]

Figured it out. If you have this board and you have similar issues, use the three switches at the top right hand side. They control voltages for the CPU, IMC and memory.

After upping the voltage, Windows 7 is installing. My guess is that leaving the voltage low for the CPU and leaving the BIOS for the CPU voltage as "AUTO", the CPU starved.

Thanks M for the process of elimination and thanks to everyone else.

Windows 7 is almost done installing.

 

[Minotar]

Figured it out. If you have this board and you have similar issues, use the three switches at the top right hand side. They control voltages for the CPU, IMC and memory.

After upping the voltage, Windows 7 is installing. My guess is that leaving the voltage low for the CPU and leaving the BIOS for the CPU voltage as "AUTO", the CPU starved.

Thanks M for the process of elimination and thanks to everyone else.

Windows 7 is almost done installing.

Congrats

Strange that the voltage would be set too low,did it say so in the MB manual?
What v.core is it running now and before out of curiosity?

Dan

 

[AirPower4ever]

Well, in the manual it did mention the three switches, but it just mentioned to use them if you overclock

I left everything on "auto", but here are the default settings for the CPU
.85V to 1.7V

So I am assuming that the .85V was too low for whatever reason because I left things on "auto". If you move the switch to "On", these are the settings
1.25V to 2.1V

So the lowest setting is now 1.25V. Once I turned this setting on, the system booted and was able to let me install Windows 7. Only thing I did was move this to make this happen. So again, I am assuming what was happening is that the CPU was "starving" when Windows 7 began to put a load on the CPU and it just starved.

Currently the V-core is at 1.25V, but I am going to put the setting switch back, run again and if it screws up again, I will then up the V-core manually.

 

[Minotar]

Well, in the manual it did mention the three switches, but it just mentioned to use them if you overclock

I left everything on "auto", but here are the default settings for the CPU
.85V to 1.7V

So I am assuming that the .85V was too low for whatever reason because I left things on "auto". If you move the switch to "On", these are the settings
1.25V to 2.1V

So the lowest setting is now 1.25V. Once I turned this setting on, the system booted and was able to let me install Windows 7. Only thing I did was move this to make this happen. So again, I am assuming what was happening is that the CPU was "starving" when Windows 7 began to put a load on the CPU and it just starved.

Currently the V-core is at 1.25V, but I am going to put the setting switch back, run again and if it screws up again, I will then up the V-core manually.

.85v would be too low but if you generally 1.55V is the absolute limit in most cases,I'd assume at 2.1V your chip would, to be blunt, die.

Try setting it manually to 1.25v seeing as it's stable at that level

 

[AirPower4ever]

Okay, so I put everything back and then went in to the BIOS (same results, would not boot at all) and I checked the v-core. Came in at .856. So I set the v-core to manual and raised the voltage to 1.25V and it booted up and stable.

Once you set the BIOS to manual, the BIOS will show you the setting and right below the setting will be the voltage it is actually drawing. The IMC and memory were set to low and the readings were right on. But you were right M, the v-core was too low at .856 setting and draw.

I know this board is old, but if someone does get this board, be advised to raise the v-core if you had the same problem as myself.

Going to start OC'ing and then find the sweet spot.

 

[Minotar]

Okay, so I put everything back and then went in to the BIOS (same results, would not boot at all) and I checked the v-core. Came in at .856. So I set the v-core to manual and raised the voltage to 1.25V and it booted up and stable.

Once you set the BIOS to manual, the BIOS will show you the setting and right below the setting will be the voltage it is actually drawing. The IMC and memory were set to low and the readings were right on. But you were right M, the v-core was too low at .856 setting and draw.

I know this board is old, but if someone does get this board, be advised to raise the v-core if you had the same problem as myself.

Going to start OC'ing and then find the sweet spot.

Good to hear its's running well for you now,ill keep an eye out for your posts to see how you got on with your overclock