Win 7 Installation Issues

[NanLaew]

I built a PC last year for home use with Win7 Professional and it worked fine. This year, I built another one and decided last year's model would be reformatted and set up for the kids to use. For that I opted to do a complete clean install with a legit copy of Win7 Home Premium.

The first install was a rush job and after the installation, validation and updates, I left the machine open for use without installing AV or spyware protection as I would be back in 5 days to do that. Since the kids aren't PC and internet savvy and didn't suspect they would go anywhere 'bad'. Mistake! It had serious speed issues and after looking at the downloads folder, I saw a whole lot of ringtones and other rubbish was in there. Suspecting infection, I opted for another clean reinstall (same o/s), this time ensuring that a working and updated AVG Free was installed and running. When I get home one week later it is once again acting strange, taking ages to boot and open programs. Another clean install with, validation, updates and AV installation ensued but sure enough one week later, when I turn it on, it throws up the 'unable to start Windows' and goes off into startup repair which after 7 hours reports that it can't be repaired! When this happened, I took the PC to Bangkok with me so I could eliminate internet abuse and power issues. I have really sh!t voltage early evening but could not guarantee the kids were turning off the machine when the UPS started beeping as instructed and possibly having multiple power fail crashes and thus screwing up the installation.

Suspecting that there may be some infection in the MBR in the HD, I wiped that using another PC and some 'wizard' software I had acquired and created a new one. Anyway, after deleting the old partitions (but no reformatting), a clean install #4 ensued and all went well... but taking longer than usual. Then I turned the machine off before doing any updates as I was going out of town for a day. I had forgotten to bring down the original drivers's CD, so on my return, I went to the mobo manufacturers website on my laptop, downloaded the latest ones and the utilities and burned to DVD.

When I turned on the PC to install the drivers, it immediately came up with 'loading file' and then unable to start Windows, it went off into startup repair again. This is on the FIRST startup after a clean Windows install and the machine has never been connected to the internet. Once again it reported that it was unable to repair the installation.... a brick!

So experts... is the one year-old hard drive causing me all this grief? I can't see how any other hardware is causing the problem since prior to that last failure, the peripherals on the mobo hadn't even had their drivers installed so were inactive. Basically only the basic mobo, RAM, DVD drive and HD are the only bits that Windows can see as connected at this point.

[Spoonman]

What model is the MoBo, I had a similar problem in that I connected the primary drive to a sata 6gb port instead of a 3gb port and without loading the driver for the sata 6gb port it would just go into a repair loop after the win7 install. moved HDD to a sata3gb port and its been happy days ever since.

[NanLaew]

What model is the MoBo, I had a similar problem in that I connected the primary drive to a sata 6gb port instead of a 3gb port and without loading the driver for the sata 6gb port it would just go into a repair loop after the win7 install. moved HDD to a sata3gb port and its been happy days ever since.

That's interesting! It's an Asus mobo; I don't have the model number here but it's only about 14 months old (and superseded already).

However, I have made no hardware changes between when it ran happily for a year with Win7 Pro and now when trying to get it to run with Win7 Home Premium. No wires changed or the like, just stuck the installation CD in and go.... four times (and counting).

[Spoonman]

No wires changed or the like, just stuck the installation CD in and go.... four times (and counting).

Suspecting that there may be some infection in the MBR in the HD, I wiped that using another PC.

You sure you did not move any wires when you pulled the HDD out ?

[NanLaew]

No wires changed or the like, just stuck the installation CD in and go.... four times (and counting).

Suspecting that there may be some infection in the MBR in the HD, I wiped that using another PC.

You sure you did not move any wires when you pulled the HDD out ?

101% sure. I disconnected the cables from the HD, not the mobo when I took it out for MBR work. Apart from that, it was acting the goat 3 times before I took out and reinserted the HD, i.e. the hardware setup is identical between the working Proffesional installation and the cratering Home Premium installation.

[Spoonman]

cool, must be something else then, you have eliminated the kids but not your self though. Time run some tests, memtest is one to start with.

[Darrel]

Some nasties are not removed by simple formatting.

I suggest that you use a Ubuntu LiveCD to boot with and scrub the drive properly before attempting to install Windows again. ie delete all the partitions and wipe the entire boot sector.

Then it should work, if you are certain that your Windows DVD is original and hasn't been tampered with.

[NanLaew]

I haven't reformated the HD; just deleted or overwrit the original partitions which is all the Win7 installer lets you do. Apart from the MBR wipe and build, I still suspect the HD and the Ubuntu scrub suggestion is appreciated. Give me a link and an estimate of how long that will take and I will either do that or go and buy a new HD.

The Windows Home Premium DVD was in the original packaging that my late dad received it in; genuine, untampered product.

[Darrel]

I haven't reformated the HD; just deleted or overwrit the original partitions which is all the Win7 installer lets you do. Apart from the MBR wipe and build, I still suspect the HD and the Ubuntu scrub suggestion is appreciated. Give me a link and an estimate of how long that will take and I will either do that or go and buy a new HD.

Good luck finding a new hard drive at last month's prices, or at all for that matter.

I'm not surprised that a simple Win7 reinstall might still give you trouble.

Win7 install does allow you to delete and change partitions. Just look for the "advanced" button when starting the install. This would normally be adequate.

The LiveCD is here: http://www.ubuntu.com/download/ubuntu/download

Depending on your equipment and internet connection it shouldn't take more than an hour to download, burn and clean the drive.

There are various other programmes that will completely erase drives for you from a USB stick or boot CD.

[Spoonman]

I haven't reformated the HD; just deleted or overwrit the original partitions which is all the Win7 installer lets you do. Apart from the MBR wipe and build, I still suspect the HD and the Ubuntu scrub suggestion is appreciated. Give me a link and an estimate of how long that will take and I will either do that or go and buy a new HD.

The Windows Home Premium DVD was in the original packaging that my late dad received it in; genuine, untampered product.

You should have done a format when you went to the trouble to pull the HDD and put it into another machine for "cleaning".

[Darrel]

Formatting is not enough to get rid of some nasties. To be certain of removing all nasties you must delete the partitions and overwrite the boot sector, preferably via a completely different operating system. That should give you a clean drive.

[NanLaew]

I haven't reformated the HD; just deleted or overwrit the original partitions which is all the Win7 installer lets you do. Apart from the MBR wipe and build, I still suspect the HD and the Ubuntu scrub suggestion is appreciated. Give me a link and an estimate of how long that will take and I will either do that or go and buy a new HD.

The Windows Home Premium DVD was in the original packaging that my late dad received it in; genuine, untampered product.

You should have done a format when you went to the trouble to pull the HDD and put it into another machine for "cleaning".

Hmmm... there's a lot of 'should have' options in life. I just try to minimise the time I spend supporting the computers and laptops in my life.

[NanLaew]

Formatting is not enough to get rid of some nasties. To be certain of removing all nasties you must delete the partitions and overwrite the boot sector, preferably via a completely different operating system. That should give you a clean drive.

I have downloaded Ubuntu and have a CD and USB version ready for when I get back to Bangkok.

I am also going to get a new HD while I am over here.

Another point; now that I have activated this legit version of Win7 Home Premium 3 or 4 times already, what's the odds of MS blocking another activation just as I have the problem licked!

'puters? I hate 'em!

[smokie36]

Formatting is not enough to get rid of some nasties. To be certain of removing all nasties you must delete the partitions and overwrite the boot sector, preferably via a completely different operating system. That should give you a clean drive.

I have downloaded Ubuntu and have a CD and USB version ready for when I get back to Bangkok.

I am also going to get a new HD while I am over here.

Another point; now that I have activated this legit version of Win7 Home Premium 3 or 4 times already, what's the odds of MS blocking another activation just as I have the problem licked!

'puters? I hate 'em!

I just checked on my Windows 7...it seems you get 6 hits at it before you will need to speak to them I guess. Now if I could only get my Office key to activate properly.....yep hate 'em!

[Darrel]

I have always found MS to be very flexible with activation. They have always given me an unlock code whenever I ask for one.

You do have 30 days to test an installation anyway before needing to activate it. That should be enough.

[NanLaew]

I have always found MS to be very flexible with activation. They have always given me an unlock code whenever I ask for one.

You do have 30 days to test an installation anyway before needing to activate it. That should be enough.

Good point. I will decline to activate it on the next installation and wait to see if it falls over again.

[innerspace]

Starting well and performance deteriorating is sometimes caused by overheating.

Worth a quick check that all of the fans are spinning properly.

Otherwise if you try an ubuntu live cd format - try running ubuntu for a week and see how it is.

If ubuntu works fine then you know 100% that it is not hardware and the problem lies with windows.

Just one last thought, have you installed the latest chipset drivers for the motherboard?

Get all of the latest drivers from asus.com rather than your 14 month old cd.

[NanLaew]

Starting well and performance deteriorating is sometimes caused by overheating.

Worth a quick check that all of the fans are spinning properly.

Otherwise if you try an ubuntu live cd format - try running ubuntu for a week and see how it is.

If ubuntu works fine then you know 100% that it is not hardware and the problem lies with windows.

Just one last thought, have you installed the latest chipset drivers for the motherboard?

Get all of the latest drivers from asus.com rather than your 14 month old cd.

The CPU and case fans are running OK.

The last 'crash' was after the clean Win7 install and BEFORE loading any chipset drivers that I had just downloaded since I had left the original mobo driver support cd at home.

[Jiu-Jitsu]

Starting well and performance deteriorating is sometimes caused by overheating.

Worth a quick check that all of the fans are spinning properly.

Otherwise if you try an ubuntu live cd format - try running ubuntu for a week and see how it is.

If ubuntu works fine then you know 100% that it is not hardware and the problem lies with windows.

Just one last thought, have you installed the latest chipset drivers for the motherboard?

Get all of the latest drivers from asus.com rather than your 14 month old cd.

The CPU and case fans are running OK.

The last 'crash' was after the clean Win7 install and BEFORE loading any chipset drivers that I had just downloaded since I had left the original mobo driver support cd at home.

It is also possible to pick a BIOS infection. AWARD BIOS?

[NanLaew]

Starting well and performance deteriorating is sometimes caused by overheating.

Worth a quick check that all of the fans are spinning properly.

Otherwise if you try an ubuntu live cd format - try running ubuntu for a week and see how it is.

If ubuntu works fine then you know 100% that it is not hardware and the problem lies with windows.

Just one last thought, have you installed the latest chipset drivers for the motherboard?

Get all of the latest drivers from asus.com rather than your 14 month old cd.

The CPU and case fans are running OK.

The last 'crash' was after the clean Win7 install and BEFORE loading any chipset drivers that I had just downloaded since I had left the original mobo driver support cd at home.

It is also possible to pick a BIOS infection. AWARD BIOS?

Possible but less likely?

I went HD shopping (in Aberdeen) yesterday and stocks were low and choices limited. I ended up at Maplin's who had a wide selection at higher prices with a note mentioning that the Thai floods would be causing price increases and cancelling any advertised special offers. I chose a 250Gb SATA which was about 50 quid since the 1Tb I wanted was nearer 150 quid! The chap at the checkout said it was the last day of a HD promotion and they had just changed the display I shopped on. He looked up the expiring promo details and it showed I could get an 800Gb SATA for 40 quid... So I grabbed two!

The best bit was when I opened the boxes at home and there was a note inside from Maplin congratulating me on a 'free upgrade' and BOTH HD's were actually 1Tb drives.

Bonus!

[bendejo]

Another vote for re-partitioning.

I recommend using gparted, part of the Ubuntu Live CD, but they also have a bootable gparted.

I use a lot of partitions, and gparted is my tool of choice. My laptop currently has a 500Gb drive and I cut it up so that no partition is larger than 50Gb or so.

There is also something called "low-level formatting." You need special tools to do this, and it takes a long time, maybe more than 24 hours. This inspects the disk in fine detail. After that you would then partition the disk and do a regular format of each. I haven't been keeping up with things, and I suspect that newer drives have more sophisticated self-monitoring which may make low-level inspection a thing of the past. Anyway, if all else fails bear this in mind.

Even if you don't use Ubuntu much having your machine dual-boot can be handy for maintenance. For example, if you're having a persistent problem it can help you determine if it really is your hardware acting up or a Windows peculiarity. A case where this really helped me was when playing with some maintenance utilities the wi-fi got turned off. After pulling my hair out for an hour I booted into Ubuntu and discovered that the wi-fi was turned off at the hardware level.