Windows 7 Won't start.

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Gringuito

21 posts

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#76667 4-Feb-2011 14:16

I realize this is about windows, but is a primarily desktop related plea for help.

I've just build a new computer (first time I've done it), had it checked over by my brother-in-law who knows more about computers than I do. He gave it the all clear, so I'm fairly sure it's not a hardware issue...
I have only 1 copy of Windows 7 Professional, and I can't transfer it to the new one (as its running on my old PC). So I installed it anyway only as a trial to see if everything was running smoothly. It loaded fine and everything was working smoothly. (note: I did not authenticate or update Windows 7) I then proceeded to install the drivers for my motherboard. Whilst installing, the PC restarted and Windows crashed as it was loading. I tried again to see if it was a once off, but no, it happened every time. I tried safe mode, still wouldn't load. I gather from this, the Windows files must be corrupted in some way.

I tried to boot from CD drive but it kept reverting to HDD, not sure why as I changed the BIOS boot sequence and chose CDROM from the boot menu.

I've now decided to just format the HDD and start over with a new copy of windows, but I can't do that without booting from the CD drive.

Please help!

bcourtney

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#435351 4-Feb-2011 14:52

When trying to boot from the CD/DVD drive, a message will come up during bootup asking you to press any key to boot from CD/DVD - make sure you do this in time as it gives you only about 3-5 seconds to respond to this before reverting to the next item in the boot sequence (your HDD most probably)

xpd

Geek @ Coastguard NZ
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#435356 4-Feb-2011 14:59

Failing the advice above, try tapping F8 at the BIOS screen, most of our machines here then take you to a Boot Device menu where you can override the BIOS choice (before Windows tries loading else you'll end up in the Safe mode menu etc).

Gavin / xpd / FastRaccoon / Geek of Coastguard New Zealand

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Gringuito

21 posts

Geek

#435366 4-Feb-2011 15:20

Well, I could find no message asking for input to load from CD Drive, it kept reverting to booting the operating system no matter what. Also, pressing F8 while in BIOS would lead me to Q-flash, not sure what that is, but I'm fairly sure it not what I'm looking for.

Would it be possible to put the hard drive from my current computer into the new one without Windows having driver issues? Could I then format the HDD?

Also, I've read that you can format the HDD using a MS-DOS boot disk, however the only ones I've found are only for floppy drives, something I don't own...

Dreamy

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#435394 4-Feb-2011 16:01

Gringuito: Would it be possible to put the hard drive from my current computer into the new one without Windows having driver issues? Could I then format the HDD?

You can put the hard drive you're having problems with in your other computer and then format it there.

~~Dream.Catcher~~
iPhone 4s 16 GB, Ipad2 32gb
windows 7 computer

Gringuito

21 posts

Geek

#435405 4-Feb-2011 16:32

I was probably doing that as you wrote your reply. I worked for the most part, however there is still a 100MB System Reservation or something that I can't format. Also, I'm not sure how to get rid of the partitioning.

Gringuito

21 posts

Geek

#435450 4-Feb-2011 18:45

All sorted, just wiped hard drive clean of partitions, when I get a new copy of windows should be sweet.

hellonearthisman

1819 posts

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#435488 4-Feb-2011 19:45

Gringuito: Well, I could find no message asking for input to load from CD Drive, it kept reverting to booting the operating system no matter what. Also, pressing F8 while in BIOS would lead me to Q-flash, not sure what that is, but I'm fairly sure it not what I'm looking for.

Would it be possible to put the hard drive from my current computer into the new one without Windows having driver issues? Could I then format the HDD?

Also, I've read that you can format ?the HDD using a MS-DOS boot disk, however the only ones I've found are only for floppy drives, something I don't own...

If you coupler is display it's brand logo on boot you can press either Tab or Esc to show the system boot up text. That may be hiding the 'Press any key to Boot from CD' message.
You can also change that Logo display in your bios settings.

It should not be giving you such problems so soon. I have the Windows 7 Professional student edition and its licence says I can install it onto two computers.

Obtaining Product Keys:
Product keys will be provided on the purchase confirmation page and sent to the user's eligible educational institution email address entered into The Offer web site during the purchase process. Product keys will be available for 2 installs for a desktop and mobile device.

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Mprezd

119 posts

Master Geek

#435783 6-Feb-2011 01:00

hellonearthisman:
Gringuito: Well, I could find no message asking for input to load from CD Drive, it kept reverting to booting the operating system no matter what. Also, pressing F8 while in BIOS would lead me to Q-flash, not sure what that is, but I'm fairly sure it not what I'm looking for.

Would it be possible to put the hard drive from my current computer into the new one without Windows having driver issues? Could I then format the HDD?

Also, I've read that you can format ?the HDD using a MS-DOS boot disk, however the only ones I've found are only for floppy drives, something I don't own...

If you coupler is display it's brand logo on boot you can press either Tab or Esc to show the system boot up text. That may be hiding the 'Press any key to Boot from CD' message.
You can also change that Logo display in your bios settings.

It should not be giving you such problems so soon. I have the Windows 7 Professional student edition and its licence says I can install it onto two computers.

Obtaining Product Keys:
Product keys will be provided on the purchase confirmation page and sent to the user's eligible educational institution email address entered into The Offer web site during the purchase process. Product keys will be available for 2 installs for a desktop and mobile device.

the boot from cd message shouldn't be coming up that soon. OP, when you go into the bios on the first screen does it actually show the cd rom as an installed device? Have tou tried that disc in another computer just to make sure it will actually boot to windows (assuming it is a copy)?

strange that it obviously let you boot from cd rom before, but not now. What is the new computer you just bought? Give us all the hardware/specs

Also, the student editions normally do allow 2 installs. The normal retail versions only allow 1

Gringuito

21 posts

Geek

#435799 6-Feb-2011 08:53

Well, Its not a retail version of Windows 7, Its licensed to a university in Chile and the CD is not the original. Don't ask, it worked perfectly for this PC.

Specs are:

Processor: AMD X4 3.4GHz
Graphics Card: ATI HD 6850
Hard Drive: 1TB with 64MB cache
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-880GM-UD2H

I've completely formatted the hard drive and am just waiting to get a new copy of Windows, hopefully the new installation will work.

Also, when I tried to boot from CD, It runs through the normal process without even attempting to boot from CD. I'm not a computer expert, but when I tried to boot in safe mode, the code lines stopped on one file for a few seconds, then Windows crashed. I gather from this that a vital file has been corrupted or something like that.

Thanks for all the help by the way

sbiddle

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#435802 6-Feb-2011 09:08

If the DVD isn't being detected it's one of two things - either the BIOS isn't correctly set to boot from the DVD ROM, or the DVD ROM won't read from the DVD disc type (DVD-R / DVD+R) as it doesn't support it.

b0untypure1

1426 posts

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#435811 6-Feb-2011 09:37

best thing is to make sure the HDD is completely clean, only some rare occasions can you rip out a hdd and get it going straight away in a new pc. then reinstall windows