# At my wits end trying to do a clean install of Windows 7 **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [November 10, 2010, 5:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/at-my-wits-end-trying-to-do-a-clean-install-of-windows-7/560145 "2010-11-10T05:19:28Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 18\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![dnooman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/839c29/32.png) [@dnooman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dnooman)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2010, 5:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/at-my-wits-end-trying-to-do-a-clean-install-of-windows-7/560145/1 "2010-11-10T05:19:28Z")
This is a system I built less than a year ago which was running Win 7 until I tried a system restore and everything went to hell. So far I have formatted the drive (several times) as I have all my data backed up on a separate drive, optimized the BIOS, run memory checks through the OEM Win 7 disk, and countless variations of safe mode, BIOS setting checks, and drive deleting/formatting. What happens is, the install runs normally all the way up to the point where it does the last restart before it should load the “system setup is preparing your system for the first use” or something similar. I tried popping the CMOS battery out, and eventually got an error saying the copy of Windows is not genuine (not true). I can get the “system setup is preparing your system for the first use” to show, but only in Safe Mode with Networking, and even then an error pops up that says that setup can’t be completed in safe mode. So far the only things I’ve been able to get to ultimately are a) a blank screen that eventually times out and shuts down the system, b) a “this copy of Windows is not genuine” error in the lower right hand corner, no start menu, no command prompt, nothing. If I reboot into safe mode, I can get the “system setup is preparing your system for the first use” pop up, but then it needs a restart, which ends up in scenario A again. I tried to flash the BIOS (again this system is all less than a year old) but both USB flash drive and USB portable drive would not recognize in BIOS. Could my HDD be bad? It’s a WD Caviar Blue 300G. I’m all out of ideas, and practically ready to cry. ---
**Author:** ![Palooka](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/palooka/32/2902_2.png) [@Palooka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Palooka)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2010, 5:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/at-my-wits-end-trying-to-do-a-clean-install-of-windows-7/560145/2 "2010-11-10T05:39:31Z")
Are you sure your install DVD image is good? ---
**Author:** ![dnooman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/839c29/32.png) [@dnooman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dnooman)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2010, 5:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/at-my-wits-end-trying-to-do-a-clean-install-of-windows-7/560145/3 "2010-11-10T05:59:20Z")
> [@Palooka](#): > > Are you sure your install DVD image is good? I’m using an actual Windows 7 OEM install disc, legit, with sticker and everything. Cost me waay too much IMO, but it’s legit. ---
**Author:** ![Markxxx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/5daacb/32.png) [@Markxxx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Markxxx)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2010, 6:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/at-my-wits-end-trying-to-do-a-clean-install-of-windows-7/560145/4 "2010-11-10T06:17:57Z")
What prompted you to flash the BIOS? If this has gotten messed up you could turn your computer into a doorstop. ---
**Author:** ![Imasquare](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Imasquare](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Imasquare)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2010, 6:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/at-my-wits-end-trying-to-do-a-clean-install-of-windows-7/560145/5 "2010-11-10T06:52:26Z")
Check the system date is set correctly. It probably doesn’t make any difference, but I know that an incorrect date can make windows update behave in a bizarre manner, so maybe it has a similar effect when installing. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2010, 6:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/at-my-wits-end-trying-to-do-a-clean-install-of-windows-7/560145/6 "2010-11-10T06:59:34Z")
You may have an issue with your hard drive or cd drive. The install may be finding bad data and flagging that as “bad windows disk”. I’d try installing something else temporarily. That would test whether you have bad hardware. A linux install doesn’t take long. Download red hat or some other free linux. See if it installs and boots/runs. If it does then at least you’ve eliminated bad hardware as a problem. Delete the linux partition and you can focus on windows again. 30 day Red Hat > **[Red Hat Enterprise Linux operating system](https://www.redhat.com/en/technologies/linux-platforms/enterprise-linux)** > > Red Hat Enterprise Linux is a stable, proven foundation that’s versatile enough for rolling out new applications, virtualizing environments, and creating a more secure hybrid cloud. ---
**Author:** ![xash](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/c6cbf5/32.png) [@xash](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/xash)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2010, 7:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/at-my-wits-end-trying-to-do-a-clean-install-of-windows-7/560145/7 "2010-11-10T07:00:56Z")
Random thing to try: Switch out your RAM sticks. If you have two, try with one, then the other. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2010, 7:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/at-my-wits-end-trying-to-do-a-clean-install-of-windows-7/560145/8 "2010-11-10T07:22:35Z")
Also, I should add that you can install linux from a cd that you burn. If that fails. Try Install from a external hard drive. That will help determine if it’s the cd drive. ---
**Author:** ![dnooman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/839c29/32.png) [@dnooman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dnooman)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2010, 7:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/at-my-wits-end-trying-to-do-a-clean-install-of-windows-7/560145/9 "2010-11-10T07:28:44Z")
> [@Markxxx](#): > > What prompted you to flash the BIOS? > > If this has gotten messed up you could turn your computer into a doorstop. The BIOS flash never happened. I’m thinking that drivers are part of the issue, due to the fact that a normal reboot gives me a blank screen, but a safe mode reboot gives me the "setup " screen that needs me to reboot. ---
**Author:** ![Quartz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quartz/32/267_2.png) [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2010, 8:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/at-my-wits-end-trying-to-do-a-clean-install-of-windows-7/560145/10 "2010-11-10T08:27:24Z")
You’ve not overclocked the CPU or anything have you? Also, in the BIOS, specifically check the SATA compatibility mode. In Safe Mode, can you get to the Event Viewer and see if there’s anything useful in there? Or a command prompt and look at the setup log? ---
**Author:** ![dnooman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/839c29/32.png) [@dnooman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dnooman)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2010, 8:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/at-my-wits-end-trying-to-do-a-clean-install-of-windows-7/560145/11 "2010-11-10T08:48:20Z")
> [@Quartz](#): > > You’ve not overclocked the CPU or anything have you? > > Also, in the BIOS, specifically check the SATA compatibility mode. > > In Safe Mode, can you get to the Event Viewer and see if there’s anything useful in there? Or a command prompt and look at the setup log? At one point I did have it overclocked a bit, but any and all settings have been cleared out. In safe mode I have access to literally NOTHING. No command prompt, no icons, no start menu, nothing. ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2010, 9:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/at-my-wits-end-trying-to-do-a-clean-install-of-windows-7/560145/12 "2010-11-10T09:26:07Z")
Is this consistent with the crippling normally done with an unactivated copy of Windows? I know that XP would at least let you into Safe Mode with Command Prompt only, but I know nothing about what Windows 7 does. ---
**Author:** ![Quartz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quartz/32/267_2.png) [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2010, 11:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/at-my-wits-end-trying-to-do-a-clean-install-of-windows-7/560145/13 "2010-11-10T11:03:30Z")
The fact that you can get in in Safe Mode indicates that there is a problem with one of the drivers, likely the HDD driver. Try setting the SATA mode to Compatible or IDE in the BIOS. Another possibility is that there is some device reordering going on. Try disconnecting any IDE devices, like your DVD drive. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2010, 1:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/at-my-wits-end-trying-to-do-a-clean-install-of-windows-7/560145/14 "2010-11-10T13:28:27Z")
Here is a detailed list of the Win 7 install logs. One of them should indicate what’s going wrong. > **[Windows setup log file locations - Windows Client](https://learn.microsoft.com/en-US/troubleshoot/windows-client/deployment/windows-setup-log-file-locations)** > > Describes the setup log file locations for each setup phase of Windows Vista, Windows 7, Windows Server 2008 R2, Windows 8.1, and Windows 10 Version 1607. ---
**Author:** ![dnooman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/839c29/32.png) [@dnooman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dnooman)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2010, 9:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/at-my-wits-end-trying-to-do-a-clean-install-of-windows-7/560145/15 "2010-11-10T21:31:04Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > Here is a detailed list of the Win 7 install logs. One of them should indicate what’s going wrong. > [http://support.microsoft.com/kb/927521](http://support.microsoft.com/kb/927521) Those would be really helpful I’m sure, but I can’t even get a command prompt. I can’t interface with anything other than the BIOS and the menu that lets you select the type of safe mode. ---
**Author:** ![dnooman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/839c29/32.png) [@dnooman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dnooman)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2010, 9:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/at-my-wits-end-trying-to-do-a-clean-install-of-windows-7/560145/16 "2010-11-10T21:33:55Z")
> [@Quartz](#): > > The fact that you can get in in Safe Mode indicates that there is a problem with one of the drivers, likely the HDD driver. Try setting the SATA mode to Compatible or IDE in the BIOS. Another possibility is that there is some device reordering going on. Try disconnecting any IDE devices, like your DVD drive. SATA mode is set to IDE by default in my BIOS. My DVD drive is SATA too. I’m leaning toward a driver issue too, but I can’t see where the drivers I need would be, other than the Windows disk and MOBO disk, both of which I’ve tried. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2010, 9:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/at-my-wits-end-trying-to-do-a-clean-install-of-windows-7/560145/17 "2010-11-10T21:40:34Z")
Do you have another computer where the hard drive could be plugged in? If so, then you could read the install logs. Also, looking at the drive might indicate if there were problems writing to it. ---
**Author:** ![dnooman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/839c29/32.png) [@dnooman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dnooman)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2010, 9:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/at-my-wits-end-trying-to-do-a-clean-install-of-windows-7/560145/18 "2010-11-10T21:55:25Z")
Well, I fixed it. I feel really stupid now. :smack: I was so focused on a device or driver conflict internally, that I literally did not think outside of the box. I went to check that the network cable was plugged in, and noticed that the HDMI cable was still hooked up. I unplugged that, and setup came right up.