Windows 7 RC boot

MonkeysUncle

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Goodday everybody. It seems that most people are installing and running Windows 7 RC without any problems. I seem to have a strange problem that I have yet to solve. Maybe some of the clever guys or gals on this forum can, hopefully, help.

I downloaded Windows 7 RC without a problem; burnt the ISO to DVD and promptly, and excitedly, proceeded with the installation of Windows 7 on a new harddrive. Did all the usual stuff of changes BIOS to boot from DVD, etc. Windows 7 started copying installation files to the RAM, the Windows 7 animation started with the “Starting Windows” screen, and then everything stops. I tried leaving it for a 10-15 minutes, still nothing. I did verify the downloaded ISO file:confused:.

But when I use my older harddrive with XP on and run the Windows 7 setup files within XP, everything works fine, giving me the option to install it on new partition.

So, what could be wrong? Does this mean I have to install XP on new harddrive, with Win 7 on new partition of new harddrive, and every time pick which version of Windows to boot up?

Is it possible to install XP and then Win 7, then remove the XP partition? What about the boot record?

Anyone’s help would be very much appreciated.
 
Try and remove everything from USB and see if it works, also remove any PCI cards not needed for the install and then only after windows booted up once install it. This worked for me when I installed it on an old computer... (not that I'm saying you have an old pc :) )
 
I installed Windows 7 on my current XP machine by using Norton PartitionMagic 8 and creating a 50Gb partition in the free space of my drive. Booted up with the Windows 7 disc, and chose to install it on the new partition -> waited FOREVER for the setup to complete then when all was done i logged into XP and changed the partition with Win7 on it to the primary one. Win7 is wild btw! Loving the speed and looks of it! Plan to slowly migrate my apps over and see how they perform and when im sure ive got all the data i need ill format the initial primary partition and merge them back into one again, just running Win7.
 
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Try and remove everything from USB and see if it works, also remove any PCI cards not needed for the install and then only after windows booted up once install it. This worked for me when I installed it on an old computer... (not that I'm saying you have an old pc :) )

Now that you mention USB devices. . . When I get to the "Start Windows" screen, the number keylock led on my keyboard goes off and the keyboard does not work anymore. I will borrow a PS2 keyboard and try again, Thanx

If all else fails, I'll try TheRidDlerX's approach:)
 
I will still maintain when you load a new OS your best bet is too unplug the other OS drives and use your bios to manage the OS's

Try loading windows 7 with your other drive unplugged.
 
Now that you mention USB devices. . . When I get to the "Start Windows" screen, the number keylock led on my keyboard goes off and the keyboard does not work anymore. I will borrow a PS2 keyboard and try again, Thanx

If all else fails, I'll try TheRidDlerX's approach:)

Lol funny enough now that YOU mention it i forgot about my little hickup i had at the start also!! When trying to set the PC up to boot from the DVD drive i cudnt enter the BIOS! i almost broke my poor keyboard hitting DEL for an hour or so and having it just boot XP anyways then resetting before i realised i had my keyboard plugged into the PCI USB card and not the MB USB. Thought my Legacy support was stuffed :D:D Swapped it out and all was well from then! - Installed it with no hassles using USB keyboard.
 
I will still maintain when you load a new OS your best bet is too unplug the other OS drives and use your bios to manage the OS's

Try loading windows 7 with your other drive unplugged.

That was actually the first thing I did. I unplugged my existing SATA harddrive, with XP installed, and connected the new harddrive. Still nothing
 
Lol funny enough now that YOU mention it i forgot about my little hickup i had at the start also!! When trying to set the PC up to boot from the DVD drive i cudnt enter the BIOS! i almost broke my poor keyboard hitting DEL for an hour or so and having it just boot XP anyways then resetting before i realised i had my keyboard plugged into the PCI USB card and not the MB USB. Thought my Legacy support was stuffed :D:D Swapped it out and all was well from then! - Installed it with no hassles using USB keyboard.

Now that I'm thinking about it, my keyboard is also plugged into the PCI USB:o. I will also remove my soundcard. Hopefully that will solve my problem.
 
Last night I tried everything you guys suggested. I removed all the PCI connections. I even got my old PS2 keyboard and mouse out. Actually formatted the new harddrive twice. Disconnected the existing harddrive. So, tonight I will install XP and run the Windows 7 setup from XP and see what happens.:(
 
Sorry to hear :( you could try that XP install, if you want you can drop the specs on your pc here so we can try and find the problem / solution?
 
Ok here goes. . .

Asus M2N SLi Deluxe M/B
AMD 4200+ CPU
2x1GB RAM
Creative XFi Music Soundcard
EVGA GTS250 grafix
Samsung Spinpoint 1TB H/D - NEW
Seagate 500GB H/D - Existing (with XP installed)
Samsung DVD-RW

Well, I think it might be hardware related, because I brought the Win7 install disk to work this morning, booted up PC with DVD and it easily got past the "Starting Windows" screen. And at work I've got a Pentium 4 2.8Gz, with 2GB RAM, 40GB IDE H/D and Intel M/B.

So far I've excluded the ISO file, the Win7 DVD, the new Harddrive (by formatting it twice:D), the existing H/D (by disconnecting), the PCI connections (by disconnecting) and mouse & keyboard (by using PS2).

The only hardware left is DVD, M/B (BIOS?), RAM and graphics card.

I am stumped :confused: and disappointed :(
 
hmmm, google can't find anyone with the same mobo and problems. a few things you can try:

1) Install Windows 7 on your drive from another computer. Pop the drive in your PC and boot Windows 7. I've done this on a PC with windows 7 and it worked fine with no slowdowns.

2) Test you RAM with Memtest

3) Make sure your bios is up to date

Edit: dont upgrade from another OS in RC... your system will be slow.
 
hmmm, google can't find anyone with the same mobo and problems. a few things you can try:

1) Install Windows 7 on your drive from another computer. Pop the drive in your PC and boot Windows 7. I've done this on a PC with windows 7 and it worked fine with no slowdowns.

2) Test you RAM with Memtest

3) Make sure your bios is up to date

Edit: dont upgrade from another OS in RC... your system will be slow.

1] I was gonna try the harddrive swap next. just trying to find a spare computer:)

2] I tested RAM with Memtest, no problems found

3] Updated my BIOS to the latest revision (1701) last night before "trying" to install Win7

Maybe it's a good excuse to get a new PC :D
 
1]3] Updated my BIOS to the latest revision (1701) last night before "trying" to install Win7

You just reminder me of nother quirk i had installing win7 - apologies that im so damn forgetful. I sometimes play around with my BIOS settings to try and optimise my PC and it seems that something i changed and didnt think would make a big difference didnt go well with Win7 - a simple 'Load Default Settings' in the BIOS and all went smooth from there... Hope it works!!
 
You just reminder me of nother quirk i had installing win7 - apologies that im so damn forgetful. I sometimes play around with my BIOS settings to try and optimise my PC and it seems that something i changed and didnt think would make a big difference didnt go well with Win7 - a simple 'Load Default Settings' in the BIOS and all went smooth from there... Hope it works!!

Good idea. I've made so many changes to the BIOS, it could be one of the problems. Thanx for remembering :)
 
1] I was gonna try the harddrive swap next. just trying to find a spare computer:)

2] I tested RAM with Memtest, no problems found

3] Updated my BIOS to the latest revision (1701) last night before "trying" to install Win7

Maybe it's a good excuse to get a new PC :D

Just an update on the exciting world of operating system installations:)

I got Windows 7 to install :D . . . I found out, while installing Ubuntu actually, that my USB ports were giving errors when booting Ubuntu in "safe mode'.

And then yesterday when I booted my PC I found that my clock in XP was a few hours behind. More BIOS checking found that all my settings were gone. And then it dawned on me . . . my battery on the motherboard was finished. I cleared my CMOS and installed new battery and Win7 started installing without a hitch, knock on wood as I'm still to complete the installtion.

But thanx for everybody's help;)
 
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