How long should Windows 7 take to install?

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ADKM

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#175339 25-Jun-2015 16:23

Think I have problems, so far 20+ minutes. Operation 2 "Installing Windows" the green progress bar has been at 70% for most of that time.
Occasional HD light activity. Dialog showing 4 green ticks and 'Completing Installation..."

1101

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#1331481 25-Jun-2015 16:33

How are you installing it ?
Via a Windows7 DVD/CD , via a manufactures system restore , a clean install (wipe of the HD)
was there perhaps an option to check for updates during the process?

INTIAL Install of win, via Windows DVD doesnt take long at all, surprisingly quick. Its the Winupdates & driver download/installs that takes hours
But, I have seen install via from manufactures restore disk take an hour++ to run through

You could also have a faulty HD, faulty install disk, faulty DVD drive

xpd

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#1331502 25-Jun-2015 16:45

Im usually up and running within 20mins.... potentially your HDD is faulty as mentioned above.

XPD / Gavin

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trig42

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#1331504 25-Jun-2015 16:47

I do it from USB, about 10-15 minutes. Onto a blank HDD.

ADKM

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#1331534 25-Jun-2015 16:52

It's from the DVD. It's not connected to the web (at the moment).

Trying now on a different HD. First one was an SSD which may be the problem. Not that old but the previous install fell over with BSODs
so I changed the motherboard. Perhaps it was that drive all the time.. it's nearly up to where it stopped previously.

Dairyxox

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#1331536 25-Jun-2015 16:52

Yeah if its an Atom processor and a 5200rpm notebook drive, installing off a burnt disc etc it could take 40+ minutes,
If its a i7 with SSD and fast USB install media then it might take 5-10 minutes.

ADKM

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#1331541 25-Jun-2015 16:58

Thanks for the replies... yes it just shot past the lockup point (immediately sfter resizing the screen).

Now it;'s behaving... pity about the SSD (sob) !

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ADKM

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#1331587 25-Jun-2015 17:32

Now the product key is invalid! These don't expire do they ?

dan

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#1331631 25-Jun-2015 18:16

the problem you have i see quite often with Windows 7 installs, on newer hardware such as SSDs, happens on all the models of PC i sell last couple years, all with the same AMD Chipset

its going to sound funny, but during install, after you have partitioned the disk etc, and and it starts its initial install, remove anything USB, mouse kb, kvm switch etc from the machine

Once windows is finished installing, plug them back in again

freitasm

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#1331648 25-Jun-2015 18:56

You probably entered a wrong character - the key won't expire.

Installing from a USB to a SSD on my i5 laptop could take anything like seven minutes...

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#1331699 25-Jun-2015 20:18

For what it's worth... another reason for slow Windows 7 installs, especially at the start of the install, is having references to the "A" diskette Drive in the bios.

I've been caught by this more than once.

The cure... just remove all references to the "A" Drive in the bios and away you go.

Works for me :)

ADKM

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#1331713 25-Jun-2015 20:32

Thanks for the tips... after a few more hours I think I've nailed it!

RAM

I had 4 sticks, 2x 667 2x 800 DDR2. As well as install issues there were BSODs.
I pulled the 2x 667 ones and all is great. New install on SSD went perfectly and key OK.

Maybe faulty RAM. maybe didn't like the combination but I suspect RAM as this
was the problem prior to this motherboard.

So still out of pocket but not as much. Anyone know a good source for 2GB sticks of DDR2 800 ?

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1101

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#1331961 26-Jun-2015 11:05

ADKM: Now the product key is invalid! These don't expire do they ?

Nope, but there are some gotch-ya's

The key HAS to match the install media : Win home, pro, OEM, Retail or ug all require different install keys
If you extracted an install key from a pre-installed Win, that possibly wont work if its a manufacturers install key (it wont activate)

So easy to get 8 & B mixed up.
I dont know why MS used those 2 characters, and print the COA install key in such a small font. Unless you have perfect eyesight & really good lighting or a magnifying glass ..... :-)

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#1331968 26-Jun-2015 11:14

Sometimes with SSDs you get a 30 minute random delay near the start of the install process. Can't remember what OS, Win 7 or 10.

ghettomaster

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#1331984 26-Jun-2015 11:33

ADKM: Anyone know a good source for 2GB sticks of DDR2 800 ?

My rubbish bin about 2 weeks ago. It's been sitting around the house for years too. Pity...

ADKM

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#1331996 26-Jun-2015 11:46

Yes , a real pity.. but comp still going fine after 12+ hours continuous. Looks like it must be the RAM and I see they offer a lifetime warranty... I wonder...

Was really odd about the Product Code. I rang MS who were really helpful and came on line to my comp and activated it for me.
But I re-installed again after that (with the RAM out) and all went perfectly in less than 10 minutes. (Then all night getting updates LOL)

It there any significant difference between 667 and 800 speeds ? If I can get the 667 RAM replaced that will save $100 or so on 800 RAM from trade me.
Or, could part of the problem be mixing the two types ?