Start up problems on new PC

mardin · 20 May 2011 at 19:19

Hey guys,

When I turned on my new computer for the first time it starts up normally but then it goes to a black screen and shows the following message:

"Windows failed to start. A recent hardware or software change might be the cause." :mad:

EDIT: I have tried a windows repair but it says it cannot identify what the problem is, and then i send the message error to Microsoft and click finish and the computer shuts down.

I have just finished building this Computer, however instead of purchasing a new hard drive, i installed another hard drive from a different computer and it has windows 7 Home premium installed on it. All other components are brand new.

I would really appreciate any help and will happily give more information about my computer if required.

stulid · 20 May 2011 at 19:25

Try a Windows repair

olivier renault · 20 May 2011 at 19:42

mardin said:
Hey guys,

I have just finished building this Computer, however instead of purchasing a new hard drive, i installed another hard drive from a different computer and it has windows 7 Home premium installed on it. All other components are brand new.

I would really appreciate any help and will happily give more information about my computer if required.

That's your problem. Your hardware has been completely overhauled, but win 7 was built using your previous hardware. You need to re-install win 7. You should be able to back all your media files and what not on the new drive, you may need to boot windows in safe mode for that.

Surveyor · 20 May 2011 at 19:43

If you've just used a drive with an existing installation it will have all the wrong drivers and settings for your new PC.

You need to reinstall Windows.

olivier renault · 20 May 2011 at 19:44

ALso, if you used Win 7 OEM, that could be a problem, as Win 7 OEM is tied to the motherboard (IIRC), which would the previous motherboard.

mardin · 20 May 2011 at 19:51

Ok so should I purchase a new hard drive and since i dont have a windows 7 CD, a copy of windows 7 as well?

Thanks for all the responses, great help.

stulid · 20 May 2011 at 19:55

Do you have a legit windows key? if so you can download an ISO and burn it to disk.

mardin · 20 May 2011 at 20:03

@stulid

i dont have a windows key, so looks like ill need to purchase a copy of windows 7.

One last question, after i install the new hard drive and windows 7, will this problem stop?

RJC · 20 May 2011 at 20:10

Hopefully yes with a fresh install and correct drivers.

olivier renault · 20 May 2011 at 20:58

mardin said:
Ok so should I purchase a new hard drive and since i dont have a windows 7 CD, a copy of windows 7 as well?

Thanks for all the responses, great help.

You don't need a new hard drive per-se, since you already have one, but there's a good chance you will need to wipe it out.

Coincidently, you can buy a Win7 OEM and hard drive bundle (500 / 1TB) for around £100.

It is still Win 7 OEM. So that windows install will be tied to your new motherboard once the install is complete and the win 7 validation is run. A retail version will allow you to hop from computer to computer when you upgrade the motherboard again. However, it's more expensive.

If you want to format your hard drive and re-install windows, you will need to set the optical drive to be the primary boot drive, so once you boot up, it will boot from the install DVD.

OEM aren't designed for home users, but computer builders. But there's nothing wrong using a OEM version for a self-build, as long as you stick to the same motherboard, or are willing to get win 7 again if you change the motherboard model. You may be able to wiggle your way by calling the Microsoft team and arguing it's the same computer and re-use that OEM DVD, and re-activate, but it's not a given.