Can't install from install disc

Aargh

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Jul 19, 2013
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I've just finished building a new PC (for the first time) and I'm trying to install Windows 7. However when I try to boot from the install disc I keep running into the same problem.

The disc is recognised fine, but when it gets to the "Windows is loading files..." bit it loads a little bit and then just stops. The loading bar at the bottom stays at like 1% filled, but the entire system just stops. The disk stops spinning etc, and nothing happens.

I've tried it several times, even using a different disc, but the same thing happens every time.

Does anyone have any idea what the problem might be?
 
Solution
It sounds like your storage drive unable to write all info on it properly during install, so try another hdd or sdd.

If not, some mobos have weird issues during install related to sata ports, say sata 3.0 vs sata 6.0 intel vs sata 6.0 marvell. Try to connect the optical drive to a different sata controller port, and see if that gets you a different result. If nothing, change the IDE mode in the bios (disable ports, set to IDE, AHCI, etc), and see if it gets you different results.

Finally, try the install disc using another optical drive, as optical drive could be problematic (which may or may not explain why install usb may not work, if the usb was created using it initially. I noticed that install usbs are a bit finicky...

thicks083

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Jul 21, 2013
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What are the specs of the machine? It sounds like you do not have enough System Memory to boot off of the disk and initialize the installer.
Also, do you have it set in your BIOS to make the Disk Drive your booting from the primary drive, and boot sequence number 1? Sometimes that helps.
 

goonbar79

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Dec 31, 2008
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It sounds like your storage drive unable to write all info on it properly during install, so try another hdd or sdd.

If not, some mobos have weird issues during install related to sata ports, say sata 3.0 vs sata 6.0 intel vs sata 6.0 marvell. Try to connect the optical drive to a different sata controller port, and see if that gets you a different result. If nothing, change the IDE mode in the bios (disable ports, set to IDE, AHCI, etc), and see if it gets you different results.

Finally, try the install disc using another optical drive, as optical drive could be problematic (which may or may not explain why install usb may not work, if the usb was created using it initially. I noticed that install usbs are a bit finicky compared to the good old optical drive option.) Another thing to try is external odd drive (if anyone has one), that could give you a different result. Make sure to strip everything down to bare minimum when doing so to eliminate other unexpected component failure causing this.
 
Solution

Aargh

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Jul 19, 2013
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I've tried the install disk on another system (the one I'm using to post this) and it worked fine.

Both drives (SSD and HDD) also seem fine.

I'll try messing with the SATA connectors and see if that fixes anything.
 

Aargh

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Jul 19, 2013
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I couldn't find anything wrong so I just jimmied the cables a bit to make sure everything was secure and tried again using a different USB stick this time. It looks like that did the trick since it's already past the point where it would stop again and again before. It's not done yet soI'm keeping my fingers crossed for now, but things are looking good.

Maybe the problem was just a not-properly-connected SATA cable after all.


[EDIT]: All right, everything went perfectly! Thanks for all the advice, guys!