Installation failure, Win7 OEM over Win7 RC

[Bob338]

I'm about to tear my hair out. My daughter's computer has been running Win7 RC with no problems. I've purchased Win7 Home Premium, OEM and I'm trying to format and do a clean install from the OEM disk. Both are 32 bit.

HD is 320 GB WD Blue partitioned with a second 60 GB partition for storage with the OS on the remaining. I disabled the firewall and AV, disconnected all peripherals leaving only the mouse and keyboard connected, and proceeded to try to format and do a clean install. The installaction starts through the loading of the new files, the MS and Windows 7 screen comes on then goes to the other startup screen that's blue with the little bird and then STOPS. No action. Nada.

I've checked the MS site and they recommended reducing memory during the install as the modules they say can be defective and cause this. I have two sticks of 2GB Corsair. I've removed one, tried each separately in each slot and it's the same song. When I started the install, just one time the installation started past that Windows 7 light blue screen to the instructions and then stopped. I've waited at least 10 minutes each time for something to happen and it's dead. I've never gotten to those initial instructions again after what was probably the second install attempt.

I also scanned the system with Avast, found one virus which was quarantined and removed and found 3 files of malware with Malwarebytes, which I also removed.

I also went to configsys and stopped all the extraneous startup programs. Nothing helped.

Any suggestions?

[shadowpr]

Try doing a zero fill of the drive first. Back up all files before this though, as it will delete everything and make the drive return to a "new" like state as when it was first made.

Another option is to use a live cd of a linux distro and usee that to format the windows partion and then try an install.

[Bob338]

Thanks. I had hoped to stay away from doing it your way as I'm at daughter's home several hundred miles away from my "goodies" to facilitate the cleaning and reinstall. I also became concerned after some research revealed a continuing problem with bad or "burned" Windows 7 disks where multiple fixes were suggested, most of this off of Tom's Hardware.

I've got it resolved now. What I did was copy the installation disk to a partition on her hard drive. It can be done on a flash drive also. I changed a couple of registry entries to make the new OEM system of Home Premium, compatible with the RC Ultimate. I ran "setup" from the downloaded disk on the separate partition and the installation proceeded without incident. It apparently wiped the boot partition completely and is now running like a champ. You CAN do an upgrade install with those few minor changes if you're willing to go into the registry. My first attempt at a registry change but it's done, all the other programs have been reinstalled and everyone's happy! Thanks.