Windows 7 wont install

[Chuck707]

Hi there guys, I've been a reader on these forums for a while but this is my first post

I've recently built my new pc and the construction went well and everything was straightforward. When I've come to install windows I've hit a problem, it just wont install. Ill detail the problem after the specs:

Intel i5 2500k
ASRock Z68 Pro3 Gen3
Gigabyte GTX560Ti OC
Western Digital 1TB Caviar Blue SATA III
OCZ ZS 550w
8GB Crucial Ballistix 1600Mhz (2x4GB)

The windows version is Win7 Home Premium 64-bit

When I'm installing Windows 7 the install works perfectly up to the restart after which the "completing installation" process becomes active. This works for about 1 minute but then the pc freezes, the mouse and keyboard goes dead and the installation stops. I've tried using only 1 stick of RAM and I've also tried removing the keyboard and mouse mid way through the installation, neither of which have worked.

The installation works if I put the hard drive and Windows disk into my old computer but this is causing me other problems down the line when Windows actually works.

Could it be something simple like a dodgy SATA cable on my optical drive or has anyone experienced this problem before? Any help/suggestions would be great. Thanks very much

 

[Emerald]

since you are using a SSD drive, did you set your BIOS to AHCI?

 

[Chuck707]

I'm not using an SSD, sorry if I implied I was.

 

[eggbrook]

have you tried using a flash drive to install windows? Also have you tried a different working dvd drive in the new pc?

 

[Chuck707]

Ill try a different DVD drive and a new set of cables I'll do that sometime tonight and get back to you.

 

[geekapproved]

Did you format the hd before attempting to install windows on your new system?

 

[Chuck707]

I've got it working with a combination of:

New SATA cables from optical drive
Different SATA ports on the motherboard
Changed the RAM Slots to 2 and 4
Removed all non essential hardware that was plugged in
Disabled the GPU in Device Manager

Thanks for the help and suggestions!!

 

[pjmelect]

Even though you have got it working now, the original problem could have been due to the memory. I suggest that you download and run memtest86 for at least three passes to check that your memory configuration will not give you problems later.