cant reinstall windows ?!

panyan · 15 May 2011 at 15:30

right then, today i updated my machine with a new psu and graphics card

PSU: 350W generic -> 550W Antec Modular

GFX: 9500GT -> HD 4870

i plugged everything back in as it was before and then when i put in the windows disc to install, it went:

1) windows loading files black white bar

2) the green loading bar as it starts the installer

3) windows 7 back ground

4) cursor came up

5) and then nothing... no box to start the process, just a cursor and a background...

usually it will come up with a box that says "install now" or something and then you proceed to reinstall windows...

I redownloaded the iso from microsoft and reburnt it -> same problem

this lead me to think that it isnt a disc problem, but a display issue...

what do you guys suggest?

Surveyor · 15 May 2011 at 15:34

Can it be a display issue as you can still see something on screen?

panyan · 15 May 2011 at 15:37

Surveyor said:
Can it be a display issue as you can still see something on screen?

i have no idea what the problem is, my best guess was the driver, but what do you think it is mate?

Surveyor · 15 May 2011 at 15:42

Windows will just use a standard VGA driver as it won't know what graphics card you have until you install a specific driver.

Try with just one stick of RAM installed.

Does the motherboard have onboard graphics you could try?

Have you connected the power cables to the 5850?

You could try installing using the old 9500GT and then swap over afterwards. That would rule out a graphics problem.

Have you connected the drive you want to install Windows onto properly? SATA and power cable?

Mr Gimp · 15 May 2011 at 15:44

How long did you wait? I've had this happen on brand new builds from time to time and it kicks in eventually

Surveyor · 15 May 2011 at 15:47

On a side note why are you reinstalling Windows if all you've done is change the PSU and graphics card?

PSU makes no difference.

Graphics card - uninstall old drivers, take out old card, put in new card, install new drivers.

Hagar · 15 May 2011 at 15:48

Connect one hard disk or SSD only

J-FRO · 15 May 2011 at 15:50

Surveyor said:
On a side note why are you reinstalling Windows if all you've done is change the PSU and graphics card?

PSU maked no difference.

Graphics card - uninstall old drivers, take out old card, put in new card, install new drivers.

+1

FRO=BAFFLED.

panyan · 15 May 2011 at 15:51

Surveyor said:
Does the motherboard have onboard graphics you could try? No onboard graphics

Have you connected the power cables to the 5850? yep, both pcie cables to the 4870

You could try installing using the old 9500GT and then swap over afterwards. That would rule out a graphics problem. but i want a nice clean install with no excess drivers, thats why i want to reinstall

Have you connected the drive you want to install Windows onto properly? SATA and power cable? yep the cables are connected right becuase i burnt a disc and verified it as well

nkata said:
Connect one hard disk or SSD only only one 250gb hdd connected

Surveyor said:
On a side note why are you reinstalling Windows if all you've done is change the PSU and graphics card?

PSU makes no difference.

Graphics card - uninstall old drivers, take out old card, put in new card, install new drivers.

i have loads of rubbish on windows and thought it would be a good time to reinstall

Surveyor · 15 May 2011 at 15:53

but i want a nice clean install with no excess drivers, thats why i want to reinstall

Just uninstall the Nvidia drivers and delete the Nvidia folder from the C drive and you won't have any excess drivers.

Easy peasy, no messing about.

Surveyor · 15 May 2011 at 15:57

Have you tried the 4870 with your existing Windows installation to make sure it works properly?

panyan · 15 May 2011 at 15:59

Surveyor said:
Just uninstall the Nvidia drivers and delete the Nvidia folder from the C drive and you won't have any excess drivers.

Easy peasy, no messing about.

i went to device manager, but there isnt any nvidea to stuff to uninstall

Surveyor said:
Have you tried the 4870 with your existing Windows installation to make sure it works properly?

that is what i am using right now and there doesnt seem to be any issues so far *knocks on wood!*

Surveyor · 15 May 2011 at 16:02

As you've taken the Nvidia card out, and put the ATI card in, of course the Nvidia card won't show up in the device manager - it doesn't exist as far as your PC is concerned.

panyan · 15 May 2011 at 16:04

Surveyor said:
As you've taken the Nvidia card out, and put the ATI card in, of course the Nvidia card won't show up in the device manager - it doesn't exist as far as your PC is concerned.

right - so where would the old drivers be to uninstall? :confused:

klidge · 15 May 2011 at 16:04

Which Win 7 is it, and is it a full disc or an upgrade?

Win 7 has a habit of stalling like yours has and different versions can need slightly different nudges to get it going.

panyan · 15 May 2011 at 16:05

klidge said:
Which Win 7 is it, and is it a full disc or an upgrade?

Win 7 has a habit of stalling like yours has and different versions can need slightly different nudges to get it going.

full disc, ultimate

Surveyor · 15 May 2011 at 16:07

panyan said:
right - so where would the old drivers be to uninstall?

Try "uninstall a program" in the Control Panel and see if it lists the Nvidia drivers.

panyan · 15 May 2011 at 16:10

Surveyor said:
Try "uninstall a program" in the Control Panel and see if it lists the Nvidia drivers.

haha! i should have thought

it is a sunday - forgive my slowness

i found "nvidia drivers" "nvidia physx" etc - uninstalling now

Surveyor · 15 May 2011 at 16:13

You probably want to keep physx.

Certain games will need it to be installed even if you aren't using an Nvidia card. The physx being done by the CPU.

klidge · 15 May 2011 at 17:24

How long did you leave it sitting at the background screen? It can take a long (30 mins+) time to get past this point on some systems.

If you've got any USB devices try unplugging them before you start the install, same with any bluetooth devices.

The install is very easy to get through (from the end user point of view) but it can be really flakey on some systems