Windows 7 Installation Freezes

[Slashmolder]

This is an msdn version of windows 7 if this matters.

I tried to clean install windows 7 x64 on a computer which before had Vista x86. I the first time though the install went and froze on extracting files. I looked on the internet and saw to remove anything that wasn't necessary so I left only the mouse, keyboard, and vga cable. That time the installer froze after it attempted to create a new partition to install on. I tried a few times over and even tried plugging stuff back in and it would always freeze there.

I tried installing in safe mode and that worked fine but it would freeze on completing installation after it rebooted. You aren't allowed to run that step in safe mode. I though the cause is most likely faulty hardware/drivers since safemode fixed the earlier freezing. I attempted to install only using the integrated graphics with 1 stick of ram to no avail. Just for the heck of it I tried x86 which did not work and installing off a usb with the dvd drive detached and nothing has shown any change.

I eventually gave up and for now I only have Vista x86 on the machine for now but getting a working install of x64 7 would be nice.

 

[Jonathan_King]

Hello, Welcome!

Is it possible that you have a bad DVD? Try burning at a slower speed- to be safe, try burning at the slowest speed possible.

 

[richc46]

If Jonathan's excellent advice does not prove sucessful, go to the Microsoft web site and download windows upgrade advisor. Let be sure there is nothing in the computer causing the problem.

 

[gregrocker]

A 64 bit Win7 installer cannot be run from a 32 bit OS, even in Safe Mode.

Boot from the installer, select Custom intstall, then use Drive tools to delete, create New partition(s) as you wish, then format before installing Win7 on first partition created.

 

[Slashmolder]

I tried burning a few times I also tried installing from a usb. I know the x64 installer doesn't work on x86 when I said clean install I mean I boot off the disc, erase the partitions and then make new ones. I ran upgrade advisor and it says my computer should be fine for windows 7.

 

[richc46]

I tried burning a few times I also tried installing from a usb. I know the x64 installer doesn't work on x86 when I said clean install I mean I boot off the disc, erase the partitions and then make new ones. I ran upgrade advisor and it says my computer should be fine for windows 7.

Did you format?

 

[gregrocker]

So what OS was running in Safe Mode when you attempted to install 64 bit there and got further?

Did you also try running 32 bit installer from Vista?

Please fill out your system specs in the bottom left corner of your post so others are more likely to help.

Check in BIOS setup for BIOS version and what the SATA controller setting is. Try AHCI first, then IDE.

Check for BIOS updates on Support Downloads webpage for your computer model or mobo.

Resetting the BIOS CMOS also sometimes helps: Clear CMOS - 3 Ways to Clear the CMOS - Reset BIOS

 

[Slashmolder]

I erased the old partition and then created new ones. It automatically created a 100mb one for system and what not. I've installed 7 before with a retail disc with no problems. I tried the retail disc on the computer and had the same issues.

Safe mode was the installer itself. I held f8 while booting the disc and it went into safe mode and installed. My bios for some reason doesn't have AHCI as an option. I just checked and I have the most recent bios.

Cleared the CMIOS now and I get the same freezing. I will try the x86 installer from vista now.

 

[Night Hawk]

Hello Slashmolder Welcome to the Se7en Forums!

Generally when that many problems are seen trying to perform a clean install of any version of Windows on a fresh primary you likely seeing this due to bad memory. Some system specs might be a help here especially if you are running 4gb or more of memory where you might have to remove some until Windows is installed.

The first now however would be running memtest to either confirm or rule out any defective ram modules. If you mixed two different brands of memory you may have mixed two different types as well.

 

[Slashmolder]

Service Pack 1 of Vista isn't wanting to install so I can't try the upgrade for now.

I will look into the ram. My other desktop which already has win7 on it uses the same type of ram so I can try to swap out that ram too and see if it works.

 

[Night Hawk]

A good run of memtest to see if any bad dimms are present would be the best move so you can isolate and remove any. That will also show if any are present before touching the other system you know is working.

The idea is to either confirm or rule bad memory as the problem. Another thread lately saw a bad dimm when someone added more memory on and started seeing problems solved by bringing the bad dimm back for a replacement. Apparently all 3 dimms the original pair and the returned defective one were the brand and type as well as speed and timings there.

 

[gregrocker]

Try running the installer from Vista to do a Custom install, not Upgrade.

You may not need SP then.

This sometimes works as it can pick up missing drivers from system32.

Another thing I've done several times is move the HD to another computer, unplug it's HD, install Win7 without activation and then transfer back to old machine.

It will swap out all the drivers in quite a show, requesting restarts. But it has always worked with good performance when I've had to do it.

 

[Night Hawk]

Even without activation any installation on other then identical hardwares will run into problems due to the hardware profile created during the installation itself. You would still need to perform a full install later.

The idea is to find out what is preventing a normal installation and see that problem corrected so you won't be running into other problems later. If you do find bad ram that will cause programs to crash and Windows to run haphazardly if not seen to.

Besides memory bad sectors on the hard drive from wear if the drive has been in use for some will hamper things. If the memory is found free of errors when tested a good drive diagnostics is one thing to go with next to see if that's the problem.

 

[Slashmolder]

Just finished a mem test, no errors. Windows Vista is stuck on installing service pack 3 of 3 37% right now so I can't get all the specs but I know it is an ASUS M2V-MX mobo with 1202 bios, 2 gigs of ddr2 (667 iirc) ram, the cpu is an AMD Athlon 64, the gpu is an nvidia geforce 7300.

The computer is a few years old but it hasn't has too much use so I doubt the harddrive is bad. I've never had issues with it before.

EDIT: actually the ram is DDR2 800

 

[Night Hawk]

Something is wrong since Vista is also seeing problems as well as 7 attempts. As far as drives never say never even if you haven't seen a lot of wear put on it. With no error found with the memory you have to start looking at the drive as one possible source there.

When preparing to install 7 did you reformat the drive or simply replace the previous Vista install with the custom option? Generally when starting off with a newer version or simply going to clean an older drive I first nuke the existing primary and create a new for a total fresh start. That prevents anything lingering around causing problems later.

 

[Slashmolder]

I completely deleted everything and then created a new partition and it automatically created the system partition.

 

[gregrocker]

Even without activation any installation on other then identical hardwares will run into problems due to the hardware profile created during the installation itself. You would still need to perform a full install later.
.

I've done it a dozen times, including on the computer I'm writing this from. There is not even a performance hit if it works.

The hardware issue is resolved as soon as the drivers are swapped out. It then activates as if it was installed on that machine in the first place. There is no signature retained of the previous hardware.

Maybe you are thinking of XP, which normally required a Repair Install to start up after changing HD between machines.

OP: May I suggest you try a Custom install from Vista first? If it works it is a much better installation than an In-place Upgrade.

 

[Slashmolder]

Even if I get this to work, I would like to add a few more gigs of memory to this computer. Is there a way that I should be able to get the x64 version of 7 on my machine? If need be I can download x64 vista off mdsn.

 

[gregrocker]

Can you run the Win7 installer from Vista and get it to Custom install over Vista?

If not, try making a second partition in disk Management, format NTFS primary, then direct Win7 Custom install there.

 

[Night Hawk]

Even if I get this to work, I would like to add a few more gigs of memory to this computer. Is there a way that I should be able to get the x64 version of 7 on my machine? If need be I can download x64 vista off mdsn.

The 64bit Vista even will run on 2gb of memory. The MS recommendation however since the 64bit uses about 300mb more then the 32bit due to less swapping out to the drive by paging file is 2.5gb.

7 will be more efficient with the present memory to start with. Going backward from 7 to Vista isn't the answer to start with there. You need to find out what is preventing any installation from working.

How long did you let memtest run? That's supposed to be left running for some time in order to let the stress tests repeat over and over.

Besides bad sectors on a drive bad read/write heads can be another cause easy enough for problems installing. You could try plugging the drive in on the other system to see if 7 will go right on with ease. Simply unplug the present OS drive to avoid any changes to that just to see if the drive is working normally.

The other option is simply download of the manufacturer's drive diagnostics program that should show what problems if any are being seen. Ive run into that a few times on old builds where you could read from but not write to the drive installed in order to even nuke them! You wouldn't even be able to install anything to the working OS already on.