Windows doesnt want to install :(

ivorito · 28 Sep 2012 at 14:36

Okay, so I recently built a new computer and then installed windows 7 on it. I then realised it was 32 bit windows so I tried to uninstall it and use the 64 bit version instead. Not finding a way to uninstall, I cleared the ssd whilst on the installer for the 64 bit windows. But now it says "windows cannot be installed to this disk the selected disk has an mbr partition table". So i restarted and went into startup repair. It is currently "attempting repairs" and it has been stuck on it for quite a while. I dont know what to do

Its a 128gb boot ssd but I have a hdd that could be used instead. However I do want to end up with windows on the ssd.

What should I do?
Thanks

Raumarik · 28 Sep 2012 at 15:06

when you say cleared do you mean formatted the disk?

Did you remove the partition and recreate it? I'm assuming you've backed up all your data elsewhere for now and not on the HDD you're changing.

ivorito · 29 Sep 2012 at 00:22

Halfmad said:
when you say cleared do you mean formatted the disk?

Did you remove the partition and recreate it? I'm assuming you've backed up all your data elsewhere for now and not on the HDD you're changing.

Don't worry about it now, I installed it on the hard drive and soon to be in the process of transfering it to the ssd. Hopefully that will be alright.
Thanks for the help.

Speed · 29 Sep 2012 at 01:03

You might still run into issues. My suggestion would be to use the HDD installation and plug the SSD in as a secondary drive and then clean it. That or use another computer if you have one for the SSD to be a secondary.

Click Start and Type CMD in the search box
Right click on CMD and select "Run as administrator"
Select Yes to the Popup
Type diskpart then Press Enter
Type list disk then Press Enter
Find the SSD in the list (do it by size) and note its number
Type Select Disk X (X being the number you noted above) then Press Enter
Type Clean then press Enter
Once complete type Exit and Press Enter

Once done you can shutdown, remove the HDD and install the SSD, then install Windows on that.

ivorito · 29 Sep 2012 at 10:38

Speed said:
You might still run into issues. My suggestion would be to use the HDD installation and plug the SSD in as a secondary drive and then clean it. That or use another computer if you have one for the SSD to be a secondary.

Click Start and Type CMD in the search box
Right click on CMD and select "Run as administrator"
Select Yes to the Popup
Type diskpart then Press Enter
Type list disk then Press Enter
Find the SSD in the list (do it by size) and note its number
Type Select Disk X (X being the number you noted above) then Press Enter
Type Clean then press Enter
Once complete type Exit and Press Enter

Once done you can shutdown, remove the HDD and install the SSD, then install Windows on that.

Thanks I am trying that now, I have done all of the CMD stuff and now I have unplugged hdd and trying to install windows on the SSD. Its appears to be working

Windows is currently installing. One problem though, I had to restart just before the installation a minute ago due to a BSOD error. It said "Page fault in nonpaged area". Is this anything to worry about?

ivorito · 29 Sep 2012 at 10:47

Also, would you suggest clearing the other hard drive the same way. It has nothing important on, only the other os

bledd · 29 Sep 2012 at 11:51

I would use something like Parted Magic live cd and wipe the SSD.

Windows sometimes doesn't show all partitions when you're in the setup

ivorito · 29 Sep 2012 at 11:56

bledd. said:
I would use something like Parted Magic live cd and wipe the SSD.

Windows sometimes doesn't show all partitions when you're in the setup

It has now been installed and seems to be running Okay. Do you suggest I do anything else? Also I'm trying to use windows autoupdate and its been "installing update 1 of 3" for probably an hour now... Is there something wrong or do updates sometimes take quite a while? Thanks

lurkio · 29 Sep 2012 at 12:26

ivorito said:
It has now been installed and seems to be running Okay. Do you suggest I do anything else? Also I'm trying to use windows autoupdate and its been "installing update 1 of 3" for probably an hour now... Is there something wrong or do updates sometimes take quite a while? Thanks

if it is sp1 , it will take a while to do

bledd · 29 Sep 2012 at 12:54

Just leave it go through

Turning a pc off during Windows update can wreck your install

ivorito · 30 Sep 2012 at 01:30

Now the updates dont even want to download in the windows control panel

Also I occasionally got this error whilst restarting a few times "windows failed to start.A recent hardware or software change might be the cause"
I'm worried about the health of this computer.
Any help would be greatly appreciated!

BigBoy · 30 Sep 2012 at 09:05

Sounds like you have RAM or Power Problems! Have you connected the 4/8pin motherboard cable?

ivorito · 30 Sep 2012 at 09:37

BigBoy said:
Sounds like you have RAM or Power Problems! Have you connected the 4/8pin motherboard cable?

Yeah the power cables are all connected. However I just found that one stick of ram wasnt pushed all the way down

Thanks. When I install hardware or change the components at all, the computer does not want to boot the first few times. It doesnt post (no beeps). Is this normal or is there something quite wrong? Thanks

ivorito · 30 Sep 2012 at 18:27

It is now stuck on another windows update. It has been installing the same one for over 6 hours now

What should I do?

Speed · 30 Sep 2012 at 18:29

Restart and hope for the best. I'd get UBCD on a USB stick or CD/DVD. Run a memtest86+ run to make sure the memory is fine.

What is your motherboard? I've had boards like that before, usually cured by a BIOS clear or flash. Turn off the system, remove the BIOS battery for 5 minutes, put it back in, turn it on, go into BIOS, load optimized defaults and see if that helps.

ivorito · 30 Sep 2012 at 18:38

Speed said:
Restart and hope for the best. I'd get UBCD on a USB stick or CD/DVD. Run a memtest86+ run to make sure the memory is fine.

What is your motherboard? I've had boards like that before, usually cured by a BIOS clear or flash. Turn off the system, remove the BIOS battery for 5 minutes, put it back in, turn it on, go into BIOS, load optimized defaults and see if that helps.

It is a fairly basic build, the motherboard is http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=MB-386-GI&groupid=701&catid=5&subcat=1965 and i have an i3-3220

ivorito · 30 Sep 2012 at 18:44

So what do you suggest I do first? Do another clean install after wiping it with ubcd?

Speed · 30 Sep 2012 at 18:53

Did you do a clean install with the SSD after you cleaned it? You shouldn't need to do it again, just check the memory with memtest86+ via UBCD (has a lot of other useful tools and saves wasting a CD/DVD for just one). 2 Passes is enough to rule out the memory as the problem.

Earth[Tera].bin · 30 Sep 2012 at 18:53

You could always just use the command prompt on the windows install disc to run diskpart and format the drive there.

DISKPART
LIST DISKS
SELECT DISK ( choose the correct one )
CLEAN

This should wipe the drive ready for a fresh install.

Speed · 30 Sep 2012 at 18:54

Earth[Tera].bin;22872697 said:
You could always just use the command prompt on the windows install disc to run diskpart and format the drive there.

DISKPART
LIST DISKS
SELECT DISK ( choose the correct one )
CLEAN

This should wipe the drive ready for a fresh install.

As far as I'm aware he did that as per Post #4.