Solved Windows 7 Installation error

[ajdj]

Hello,

I'm trying to install Windows 7 with a USB stick. When I boot into the flash drive, it gives me this error message:

Windows failed to start. A recent hardware or software change might be the cause. To fix this problem:

1. Insert your Windows installation disc and restart your computer.
2. Choose your language settings, and then click "Next."
3. Click "Repair your computer."

If you do not have this disc, contact your system administrator or computer manufacturer for assistance.
File: \EFI\Microsoft\Boot\BCD
Status: 0:000000d
Info: An error occurred while attempting to read the boot configuration data.



The iso I used was created with rufus (GPT, FAT32). ((If I set it to MBR, the flash disk can't be detected during booting))

• Secure boot is off.
• My BIOS is updated to the newest version.
• I tried inserting the USB with iso into different USB ports but didn't resolve the error.
• I have no access to other Windows versions since I use Linux on my computer

 

[SIW2]

Did you have a look and see if the bcd file is present on the usb stick?

\efi\microsoft\boot\bcd

 

[ajdj]

Yes, I have it

 

[SIW2]

the efi folder should contain a folder called Boot and a folder called microsoft.

Inside the microsoft folder is another folder called boot . That is where bcd lives.

If bcd is in the correct place, it might be damaged.



You could try extracting this onto your usb stick :ar: View attachment EFI.zip

 

[ajdj]

I have extracted your zip file but I still got the same error.

 

[SIW2]

perhaps there is something wrong with the usb you created. Use something other than rufus.

the usual way

1. format usb stick to fat32

2. copy the contents of the win7 iso onto the usb stick

3. copy bootmgfw.efi into EFI\BOOT folder and rename it to bootx64.efi. You can use the bootx64.efi file from the zip I posted.

 

[torchwood]

Hi

W7 doesn't like being in 2nd place, are you keeping Linux and installing W7 in a partition AFTER it on your hard drive

have a read of these

note the warning

Dual Boot - Windows 7 and Linux

 

[Megahertz07]

Please edit your profile with ALL your hardware specs. It will help us to help you
System Info - See Your System Specs

To make a Win 7 USB boot able drive:

Open a CMD window as administrator and type:

diskpart
list disk (it will list all drives. Identify the USB drive number)
select disk n (replace n by the USB drive number obtained with list disk)
clean
convert mbr
create part primary
select part 1
format fs=fat32 quick
assign
active
exit (to exit diskpart)

If you have a Win 7 installation iso file
On Win 7 use 7Zip to extract all files and folders from the Win 7 iso file to the USB drive.
On Win 10, mount the iso file and copy all files and folders to the USB drive.

If you have a Win 7 installation DVD
On another computer that has ODD, copy all files and folders from the DVD to the USB drive

To make it UEFI boot able you must add the \efi\boot folder

To make it universal (all Win 7 versions), go to \sources on the USB drive and delete \sources\ei.cfg

Windows installation
Reset BIOS or load defaults.
Set Disk mode to AHCI, not RAID
Select OS mode = CSM or Select OS mode = other + UEFI (depends on BIOS).
Disable fast boot and secure boot.

Windows can be installed in two ways: Legacy-MBR or UEFI-GPT
To install as Legacy-MBR you must boot the installation drive as Legacy
To install as UEFI-GPT you must boot the installation drive as UEFI.

If you have a UEFI BIOS, you should install as UEFI-GPT
Detach any other drives (SATA or Power cable) from the MB.

During POST, press F12(?) to launch the boot menu. You will see two options for the USB drive. USB UEFI (Name) and USB (Name). Select USB UEFI (Name).
Go to install and delete ALL partitions on the main drive till you have one and only one unallocated space and then proceed.

 

[SIW2]

I tried inserting the USB with iso into different USB ports but didn't resolve the error.
I have no access to other Windows versions since I use Linux on my computer

The problem is the usb stick won't boot properly. The OP does not have access to a windows machine to create a bootable usb.

 

[Megahertz07]

He can update his computer specs. At least MB and CPU

 

[ajdj]

Solution

Update

I borrowed a Windows 7 laptop and followed Megahertz07's instructions which made the error disappear and now I can boot to the Windows 7 installation.

Thank ya'll for your patience and will to help me.

 

[SIW2]