Error code 5? Can't boot Windows 7 Home.

Nate Silvers · 10 Oct 2011 at 13:50

Does anyone know how to fix error code 5? I'm trying to install Windows 7 on my sisters PC. It's a Asrock Ks78xe motherboard if that helps.

Django x2 · 10 Oct 2011 at 13:55

i'm going to make an assumption and assume you're installing from a non MS disc? Burned ISO or similar?

Nate Silvers · 10 Oct 2011 at 14:19

Nope this is a retail disc. Think it's got something to do with the bios being outdated. I can boot other CDs fine :/

Let's see if this method works. http://www.bhall.com/2009/10/workaround-for-cdboot-cannot-boot-from.html

robinbredin · 10 Oct 2011 at 16:10

Have you seen this thread from Windows Seven Forums,

http://www.sevenforums.com/software/2169-code-5-error-boot-windows-7-a.html

Nate Silvers · 10 Oct 2011 at 21:57

Yeah and it didn't work. Going to try booting usb live and installing Windows 7 from there.

Django x2 · 10 Oct 2011 at 22:01

Why not just boot from USB stick?

Nate Silvers · 10 Oct 2011 at 22:49

That incurs a cannot read media error, this is a nightmare.

PC 1
Me 0

Django x2 · 10 Oct 2011 at 23:44

Did you prep the USB stick correctly?

steven_belfast · 11 Oct 2011 at 00:10

Hey try using WinToFlash to install,
Works a treat and fast also.

http://wintoflash.com/home/en/

Nate Silvers · 11 Oct 2011 at 02:52

Yeah usb stick boots fine from my own PC. I'm really at a loss.

Django x2 · 11 Oct 2011 at 09:49

What OS is on your sisters PC at the moment? I'd be inclined to upgrade the BIOS if there is an update available

Nate Silvers · 11 Oct 2011 at 10:56

XP. I was trying to flash yesterday but couldn't find the option on Ultimate Boot CD. Apparently I can load vista recovery disc and then insert Windows 7 to trick it but Vista hangs during load. Someone said updating bios could fix that.

Django x2 · 11 Oct 2011 at 11:26

You shouldn't need ultimate boot CD.

Before I go any further, can we just confirm the mobo model. You have Asrock Ks78xe but is it not K7S8XE?

If the latter, go here:
http://www.asrock.com/MB/download.asp?Model=K7S8XE&o=BIOS

And check you have the latest BIOS. If you need to update, sitck the file on a floppy disk. I wasn't aware this board was so old, lol. If you do have the latest BIOS, it will just be a case of the relevant controller cards can't handle the launch / gui style of Windows 7. I assume you are only trying to install Windows 7 32 bit and not x64 (as that won't work on this board IIRC).

Nate Silvers · 11 Oct 2011 at 11:36

It's K7S8XE+ I can tell by the silver heatsink and IDE orientation. The BIOS is definitely old it's version 1.00 2003. Don't have a floppy drive in the PC I chucked it out because it never got used dammit. Aye 32 bit.

I tired Gujin but that doesn't even work on my PC. It won't list the DVD drive to boot from.

Django x2 · 11 Oct 2011 at 11:38

ok, I would recommend that at a minimum you try and update the BIOS (find a floppy drive you can chuck in quickly as I don't think AsRock have a USB or Windows BIOS update tool).

I had an old board here that would only boot from 512mb USB sticks. I update the BIOS to the latest 2009 version and it worked fine.

Nate Silvers · 11 Oct 2011 at 14:10

Thanks I'll try it but couldn't find a floppy drive, do you know any way to emulate one with a CD? Does Windows XP setup have a CMD like Windows Vista/7?

Would booting from a linux live CD and formatting then installing windows 7 with the disc inside linux work?

Nate Silvers · 13 Oct 2011 at 19:07

Fixed it with this guide.

http://www.unawave.de/windows-7-tipps/code5-error.html?lang=EN

Burn about 10 DVDs as I don't have any rewriteables. Didn't work so had to find my own boot image took ages.

Then I could boot from the damn DVD but not that easy. Couldn't press a key to boot from CD as the keyboard is USB but Windows wouldn't boot with USB legacy on. I had to pull the hdd ide cable out after post so it could auto boot cd without pressing a key. Then I had to quickly plug the hdd back in but it kept shutting off due to dodgy cable. Then I got to Windows setup and it said files missing from CD so had to put the original Windows 7 disc in then it let me choose the hdd to format.

After Windows installed once updates finished it didn't shut down properly so had to pull plug. Kept going into repair mode instead of boot normally (couldn't choose because USB legacy hangs the W7 boot).

I hate computers now.