slay3rx

The title says it all really, i booted from the dvd and did an install, it installs and then says its running windows for the first time then goes back to the install screen and says its finalising installation however it then just stays there loading but the cd and hdd aren't doing anything at all.

Any suggestions ?

If you need to know let me know whats relevant to hopefully fix the issue, I have tested this with 2 HDD's now to rule out an issue with the HDD.

dai

are you giving it time to finish
some installs i have done it has sat there for over an hour,others it sails straight through

slay3rx

I've left it for 3 hours the second time just to be sure.

I've noticed my HDD isnt showing in the start up as 0 master HDD that woudn't effect it would it ?

dai

it depends on if they are ide or sata drives as to what they are shown as on the post screen
clear the drive with dban or killdisk and try the install again with only 1 stick of ram in for doing the install

slay3rx

How would I do the above?

Sorry im not that techical but do appreciate the help.

dai

killdisk here
http://www.killdisk.com/downloadfree.htm
if you don't have a floppy d/load the iso version bottom right and burn it as an iso to cd
then boot from the cd and run it
iso burner here
http://www.imgburn.com/index.php?act=download
then remove all the ram but the stick closest to the cpu,handling it by the edges of the card only and place on a piece of cardboard so you don't zap it with static
then run the install

slay3rx

Thanks just downloading them both now.

I'll report back, the suggestion to remove a stick of ram may i ask why?

Thanks again.

dai

we have found in the past that it sometimes overcomes install problems no guarantees
cross your fingers

slay3rx

Are you sure the free version deletes things I can't seem when i boot it to see the option to delete all contents on the HDD?

slay3rx

Ignore the last post I have the program running now.

dai

don't worry there will be nothing short of a fbi expert that could get anything from it afterwards

slay3rx

I've now started the install as you suggested I dont know what im going to do if it doesnt work.

slay3rx

Well the install was unsucessful, I've also as a fallback tried to install XP but that also brings up an error message.

Any idea where I go from here?

alwrmc

Consider providing some information concerning the machine you are trying to install Vista on. What devices it has etc. I'll assume that the machine was working fine with Windows XP and that you are attempting to do a clean install of Vista using a legitimate copy. It would be best to reformat and do a clean install. Sorry if that comes across as suspicious, just trying to cover the basics. Leave the memory intact but disconnect any external devices....printers, scanners, external HDs, external USB hubs etc. I also find that modems and sound cards seem to be the cause of a lot of installation problems with machines I have worked on or built. I usually remove any addon modem or sound card when I do a reformat/clean install. If the machine is going to be used on broadband connections only, then I leave the modem out altogether. If the modem and/or soundcard is "built-in" then of course they cannot be removed. The add on modem, sound card can be installed when the OS installation and updates are completed along with the remaining external devices.

slay3rx

It orignally had Vista installed but due an issue where i used disc clean up and it deleted files it shouldn't of i had to try system recovery which lead to the os not booting at all.

Its then i tried the format and re-install of vista and ran into the issues.

The error message i got with regards installing xp seems to relate to memory issues so im going to test the memory in another pc to see if they are faulty.