Windows wont install

pbaker · 12 Apr 2008 at 19:12

i just built a new pc and have tried to install windows and Linux both start the install process then the cd drive stops spinning and the system just sits there and screen just sits with the wallpaper and no icons.

Any one no what this might be

dazz25 · 12 Apr 2008 at 20:59

We need a bit more info. Where in the install progress does it get up to? How long have you left it for?

pbaker · 12 Apr 2008 at 21:03

thats the thing it says its copying files with a bar running along the bottom (this is the dos type one on the bottom of the screen then you get the little green lines at the bottom and then you get the vista type wallpaper background ready to start the setup but thats all that appears you get no boxes or messages.

but after about 2 or 3 mins the cd stops spinning and the PC just sits there.

Werewolf · 12 Apr 2008 at 21:24

Are you using a drive that already has a windows install on it?

I had a similar problem on Wednesday with my brother's new system, it turned out the Vista (full version) installer was detecting a previous install of Windows on one of the secondary hard drives (I'd put his old drive in, as well as his new drive).
Disconnected the drive that he'd previously used as his boot drive in his old machine, and windows happily installed to the new one.

pbaker · 12 Apr 2008 at 21:30

i could try that but to be honest i dont think it will solve it.

fobose · 12 Apr 2008 at 21:30

I think you just need to be patient. For my machine (and my friends), it takes about 5-10mins for the DVD drive to spin up again and start installing. For some reason it seems that Vista just wont install quick even though its meant to be faster than XP!

I installed a fresh copy of vista business on thursday and I waited about 5mins for the bit where I enter my serial key, then another 5mins or so till I selected the language (or maybe it was the other way around).

Ah just re-read your posts, seems you have got past the "slow" vista install start - sorry.

pbaker · 13 Apr 2008 at 11:08

i changed a setting to standard performance and the linux live CD loaded ok with that which it wasnt doing before i will try windows again and leave it 5 mins or so.

pbaker · 13 Apr 2008 at 11:19

Your right

sorry i was being inpatient, since my last post the install screens have appeared i know you said it was slow but i know what you mean now.

Thanks for your help and hopefully i can have it all up and running by later on.

Out of interest did you install the 32bit or 64bit version

fobose · 13 Apr 2008 at 12:42

64 bit version on mine and two of my friends with different hardware (faster and slower machines) who also had to wait a while

pbaker · 13 Apr 2008 at 13:14

it seems as it was goign to extract the files on the setup then got to around 80% and the screen went blank and it was still reading the disk it was like that for about 30 mins or more but hasnt done anything since. i dont know if it got stuck or what was going on.

fobose · 13 Apr 2008 at 13:16

Mine never done that. When you press caps/num lock do the LEDs light up on your keyboard? If your running overclocked I would set it to default settings.

pbaker · 13 Apr 2008 at 13:35

they did but then they stopped i think its a faulty stick of ram or one not in properly as i have booted of a unbunto live CD and its only reporting 3 gb of ram instead of 4

ChrisD. · 13 Apr 2008 at 13:39

Download and run memtest86 from a CD. Are you installing 32 bit or 64 bit Vista? If 32 then it will only show 3.12 GB from memory.

pbaker · 13 Apr 2008 at 14:11

hi the bios shows up 4gb of ram. i have the 64bit vista. mem test did say it has found some fault with the ram but how do i find out which stick it is. i suppose the only thing is to try it 1 stick at a time.

ChrisD. · 13 Apr 2008 at 14:29

Yep, one stick at a time mate. If you're running 4x1GB sticks then they should come in pairs, remove the faulty pair (even if one is working) and RMA it (the numbers on the sticks should match up).

pbaker · 13 Apr 2008 at 14:48

hi

i think i have found the faulty pair as the pair is in there so im now running mem test of 2 gb and its not come up with an error so i will RMA it and get a replacement.

thanks about the numbers matching up i will check that

ChrisD. · 13 Apr 2008 at 19:08

No worries mate. Glad you found the issue.

pbaker · 13 Apr 2008 at 19:47

i havent let the tests complete but let them run so far through and neither have detected errors

so i put the first 2 gig in then swapped them out. is there a quicker way of running these tests as its only on pass number 9 and appearntly has to go to number 30.

so i think if both seem clear could it be a ram slot fault on the motherboard.

fobose · 13 Apr 2008 at 19:57

You might just need to give the memory some more volts to be stable perhaps with 4 sticks.

pbaker · 13 Apr 2008 at 20:36

where or how do i do that as i have never done it before