Vista install problem

[inkeyes]

Hi,
Iv just bought a new PC, I put the vista CD in the drive and power up the
computer.
A screen appears saying "windows is loading files" and a bar that slowly
fills up.
Once the bar is full (suggesting all the files have been loaded), a new bar
appears with microsoft corporation written underneath it.
From looking at online install guides it appears that there should be a
moving green block within this new bar however, it is completely empty and
nothing happens. I have tried to install several times and left it for 40
mins or so each time, but i keep getting the same problem - i get to that
stage and it seems the install freezes.

Any ideas?
Any help is greatly appreciated, i really have no idea what the problem is

 

[Mick Murphy]

You are correct; there should be movement in the bar.

Did you go into BIOS, or your Boot Order, and set your DVD Drive to be 1st
in the Boot Order?
BIOS is usuallly F2 or DEL, and Boot Order F12, right at Power On/ Start Up

Once you have done that, reboot with the DVD in the Drive, and it should
load OK.

 

[Colin Barnhorst]

Since the dvd (I know you meant to say dvd rather than cd) is booting the
system it appears your boot order is OK in the BIOS.

Disconnect all but essential devices, especially flash drives and external
usb hard drives.

You need to give the hardware specs for your computer and what edition of
Vista you are using and whether it is x86 or x64.

Is the dvd one that came with the computer and is it a recovery dvd? If you
bought Vista at retail you are entitled to free support for installation
from MS. If Vista came preinstalled on the computer you need to contact the
mfg for support.

 

[inkeyes]

The DVD drive is 1st in the boot order.

The copy of vista is home premium 32bit and its a new retail copy.

PC specs:

asus P5E3 motherboard
Intel Wolfdale core 2 duo 3.16ghz
OCZ 4 x 1gb sticks (DDR3 1333mghz platinum edition)
BFG 9800GX2 gfx card
cooler master 850W psu
creative x-fi sound card
Seagate 500gb hard drive

if you need any more info give me a shout.

I have done a RAM test using memtest86 and it came back 100% pass no errors.

I can get into bios and it all seems fine. Really have no idea why the
install process freezes.

Really appreciate the help.

 

[Colin Barnhorst]

Then you are entitled to use the phone number listed in the media kit for
your region for free installation support from MS. They promise to get you
up and running for free.

 

[inkeyes]

I have an OEM copy of vista since i built this PC, does this mean i cannot
get MS support?

 

[Colin Barnhorst]

Well now, you just said you had "a new retail copy" and, silly me, I
believed you.

No, you don't get free support from MS. You shouldn't have used an OEM copy
in the first place. The license that comes with those only permit
installation on a computer for sale to a customer. You can't be your own
customer (unless you are schizophrenic, but then they send you to one of
those places where they let you hide your own Easter eggs). Further, the
license requires the purchaser to provide support for the customer. It
looks like you are your own support.

One thing which I spotted in your specs is the four sticks of DDR3 1333 ram.
That may be the problem. In fact, I think it is.

Just because the mobo mfg states that the product supports 1333 ram and that
it supports four dimms it does NOT follow that the mobo will support four
dimms at 1333. I know for a fact that a couple of boards I have seen that
support both DDR2 and DDR3 will only support two sticks of DDR3 even though
four sticks of DDR2 works. Other boards will support two sticks of the
highest supported dram speed but the dram speed has to be decreased for four
sticks.

Try with only two sticks and if needed drop the dram speed to 1066.

In the meantime, even though getting on the ASUS site is painful (the only
thing I know of that is slower is constipation), you need to investigate.

 

[andy]

Hi,
Iv just bought a new PC, I put the vista CD in the drive and power up the
computer.
A screen appears saying "windows is loading files" and a bar that slowly
fills up.
Once the bar is full (suggesting all the files have been loaded), a new bar
appears with microsoft corporation written underneath it.
From looking at online install guides it appears that there should be a
moving green block within this new bar however, it is completely empty and
nothing happens. I have tried to install several times and left it for 40
mins or so each time, but i keep getting the same problem - i get to that
stage and it seems the install freezes.

Any ideas?
Any help is greatly appreciated, i really have no idea what the problem is

When it freezes, can you open a command prompt window (shift-F10)?
cd \windows
dir /od
Look in the .log files (type xxx.log).