Vista boot woes

[Reloadron]

Originally Posted by yellowhello

Thanks Ron. We are in the process of installing Windows (after doing a full format). Windows is "Expanding Files" but it seems to be stuck at 0% (it's been running for an hour).

Is this normal?

No that is not normal. A typical install is generally under 30 min. Then too I would guess you have that figured out by now.

Yellow, this machine has some problems somewhere. Could be RAM or any number of things. Point is it worked on your first install, then it worked for awhile. Then the problems and now following a full format you hit a stop on an install.

I would check all the BIOS settings. I would download and run MEM Test just to make sure the memory is behaving.

Ron

[Elysium]

Well, after the Vista failure, we are gonna try XP. I have an extra XP install lying around, so after I wipe and reformat yet again we're gonna try XP, see if it plays a little better with the RAM.

[Reloadron]

Originally Posted by yellowhello

Well, after the Vista failure, we are gonna try XP. I have an extra XP install lying around, so after I wipe and reformat yet again we're gonna try XP, see if it plays a little better with the RAM.

Let everyone know how it goes.

Ron

[Tech Geek Deluxe]

You have a hardware issue. Best Guesses ... troubleshoot Ram then Bios then CD.

If you have a stick of Ram to try and see if the install starts ... then you have found your prob.

Memtest it b4 or after troubleshooting it.

[Stormcrow]

All this seems to point to a HDD issue. Normally memory errors prevent the system from POSTing, or will crash after some time into Windows and when the system is loaded. You said it gets past the BIOS fine, but then falters when it boots up the HDD to load Windows. Also apparently your own system can read the drive, but like you said it was slow going. Then it can boot from the optical drives fine, but can't expand the files from the disc onto the drive. I may be wrong, but logic says to check the HDD first if XP fails to load and run a diagnostics check using the vendors software utilities. Even then those aren't always reliable, I had a WD SATA that up and took a dirt nap 3 months into use and nothing was reported in the red.

[Elysium]

OK, tried XP and it doesn't work either. I took it back to my place to do another wipe/reformat, see if that does anything to help, but I think the HDD just took a shit. It's strange that my computer could read the drive to get files of it, but I can't install XP or Vista.

One thing is for sure, my friends' Mom is gonna be pretty pissed to find out that she needs to buy a new HDD, and frankly I don't think they can afford one right now... I really hope that a rewipe/reformat will do the trick.

[RA1D]

if you just put it together this summer, it should still be under warranty so no need to buy another drive. they just have to wait for the RMA process though

[Stormcrow]

It's not as strange as it sounds, the slow copy/write speed and unable to boot/install the OS were big clues. Usually you can get them to access and copy a few files before they keel over like you did.

Whats the brand of HDD? All of them usually come with atleast a year and usually around a 3 year warranty. If it's a Western Digital, I know you can get an Advance RMA and they send you the packaging and shipping labels with the new one.

[Reloadron]

Originally Posted by yellowhello

OK, tried XP and it doesn't work either. I took it back to my place to do another wipe/reformat, see if that does anything to help, but I think the HDD just took a shit. It's strange that my computer could read the drive to get files of it, but I can't install XP or Vista.

One thing is for sure, my friends' Mom is gonna be pretty pissed to find out that she needs to buy a new HDD, and frankly I don't think they can afford one right now... I really hope that a rewipe/reformat will do the trick.

First as mentioned, this is a relatively new machine. The HDD should be covered for an RMA. Next, just for the hell of it have you run MemTest? Even though much of this does point to HDD I would still run MemTest since it is basically easily done and would eliminate the RAM. This thing likely has a hardware problem somewhere. Start simple (and cheap). Depending on the drive you should be able to download and run a manufacturers diagnostic (bootable CD). That may help too.

Ron

[Elysium]

I may have to RMA it... but first maybe it's a good idea to run a program called "SpinRite"? Anyone have any experience with that program?

I think the problem might have been this: After the Vista installation failed, I didn't rewipe the HDD, I just popped the XP disk in. They were the Vista files on the HDD that never got expanded still in the HDD when I went ahead with the XP installation, do you think that could have messed it up?

I just rewiped it using Active@ Killdisk overnight, I'll bring the HDD back down to my friends' house today and try XP again. If that fails, maybe I'll run MemTest just for the hell of it, and maybe this program "SpinRite" and if that doesn't work, a RMA is probably in order.