Solved Windows Vista system will not boot to Windows 7 from the CD/DVD or USB

[Senator]

System:
HP m8187c Desktop PC / Product #: GG779AAR#ABA - Media Center PC
Vista Home Premium (original OS)
Vintage circa 2008
Intel Core2 Duo E6750(a)
BIOS Version: 5.13 10/24/07
4GB RAM
WD 1TB hard drive
SuperMulti DVD Burner with LightScribe
New Windows 7 Professional (64bit) DVD
-I am not looking to upgrade from Vista to W-7. I want to build a new W-7 configuration.
-If I run Vista, it does not see the files on the W-7 DVD, but it can see the same files I copied to a USB drive.
-The system will boot from a Windows XP install disc and my VISTA Recovery disc. No obvious hardware issues.
-The DVD containing the original Windows 7 files will boot properly on a Windows XP laptop. Therefore the disc is good.
-If I try to Run the setup.exe file from the USB drive running VISTA (Safe Mode) Command Prompt, I get the message "The version of this file is not compatible with the version of Windows you're running. Check your computer's system information to see whether you need an x86 (32-bit) or x64 (64-bit) version of the program, and then contact the software publisher."

 

[SIW2]

If your current vista is 32 bit, you will need to install from boot.

How far do you get when you try to boot 7 install dvd? Any messages?

If I run Vista, it does not see the files on the W-7 DVD

 

[Senator]

Thanks for your quick reply!

If I try to boot from the CD/DVD it appears to make about four attempts to read the disc, then it just sits there. It is unable to read the disc.

 

[Ztruker]

Where did you get the install DVD? I suggest doing the following:

If you do not have a Windows 7 installation DVD, or it's not up to the Service Pack level currently installed, you can download a legal copy with SP1 integrated from here:

Windows 7 Direct Download Links

Make sure you get the same version you have unless you are changing from 32 to 64 bit, Home Premium, Pro or Ultimate and 32 or 64 bit. Note that Basic or Starter is not available.

I recommend using ImgBurn at 4X speed (or the slowest available) to create the DVD from the downloaded .iso file. Just be careful during the install not to accidentally install some of the bundled junk that comes with it. Always take The Custom Install option.

You can do this on any computer capable of burning a DVD.

YOU MUST HAVE A VALID KEY TO INSTALL THIS .ISO.
The one on the COA sticker on your computer will work.

If you are just using the Recovery Console you do not need a key.

You can also create a bootable USB Flash drive (4GB or larger) to install Windows 7 from.

1. Download and run Universal USB Installer Easy as 1 2 3
2. Select Windows 7 from the first drop down list, all the way to the bottom
3. Select the downloaded Windows 7 iso file
4. Select your USB flash drive
5. Click Create

For techies or folks who work on computers:

Create Windows 7 Universal ISO With All Editions Selection On Install with ei.cfg Removal Utility.

This will fit on a 6GB flash drive or can be burned to a DVD.

 

[Senator]

Thanks for your reply.

I suppose I could do what you recommend, but before I do all that, please explain why you feel this is necessary and what problem this method addresses. Did you see in my initial post that the disc will boot and load Windows 7 on another computer currently running Windows XP?

I believe the issue may be a 32 bit vs 64 bit thing. I know that the W-7 disc is 64 bit because that is what I ordered and I'm pretty sure I was running Vista Home Premium 32 bit.

When I spoke with Microsoft, before purchasing the Windows 7 disc, they asked me specific information about what my current hardware and software were (Vista Home Premium). I understood them to say that the hardware I had would support W-7 64 bit. But this is where I'm somewhat in the dark. How would you know if the hardware could support a 64 bit OS? This would seem to open a whole bunch of questions; BIOS, processor spec, drivers, etc.

Cheers

 

[AddRAM]

It makes no difference what bit version of Vista you are running, it has nothing to do with it.

As long as you have a 64 bit capable cpu, which you have, you can install 64 bit Windows 7

What do you mean "the original windows 7 files" ????

You didn`t just copy it did you ?

The iso has to be burned.

Download a fresh iso and burn to dvd, as suggested.

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/1649-clean-install-windows-7-a.html

http://pcsupport.about.com/od/toolsofthetrade/ht/burnisofile.htm

 

[Senator]

Let me try saying it another way.

I have a valid, legal and functional Window 7 Professional SP1 64 Bit DVD. It boots just fine on another computer I have that is currently running Windows XP.

I'm trying to use this same disc on the machine that was running Vista Home Premium. However, that machine will not boot from the Windows 7 DVD. It can't read the disc!

As long as you have a 64 bit capable cpu, which you have, you can install 64 bit Windows 7

But it won't read the disc! And when I copy the files to a USB drive it can see the files, but it will not exicute the setup.exe file. See my original message for the error message it generates.

So how will the ISO version be any different?

I'm simply trying to avoid spending a lot of time performing suggested tasks if I don't know why I'm doing them and have some degree of confidence they will solve the problem.

Sorry if I'm missing something.

Cheers

 

[AddRAM]

Once again, you can`t just copy the files to the usb drive.

Are you using the files from this dvd to put on the usb drive ?

They have to be extracted first, which is then called an iso file ) then put on the usb drive with a program like Rufus or Wintobootic.

http://bootableusb.net/wintobootic-bootable-usb-drive-windows-vista78/

http://rufus.akeo.ie/

-If I try to Run the setup.exe file from the USB drive running VISTA (Safe Mode) Command Prompt, I get the message "The version of this file is not compatible with the version of Windows you're running. Check your computer's system information to see whether you need an x86 (32-bit) or x64 (64-bit) version of the program, and then contact the software publisher."

This message means you are trying to start the install from within windows, that`s not how you do a clean install.

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/1649-clean-install-windows-7-a.html

If the dvd player is not reading the disc, then there`s nothing you can do about that

If you have a key then everything you need is here.

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/219487-clean-reinstall-factory-oem-windows-7-a.html

 

[SIW2]

Could be a bios problem.

You may find dvd with vista bootsector will be fine.