A simple Linux install turned *very* ugly... I just want Windows back

[Aspected]

AMD 4800+ dual core 2.1 GHz

Two 9500 GT's in SLI

Two 250 GB WD HDD's in SATA

ASUS A8n-SLI SE

2GB Crucial DDR2 RAM

I went to install Ubuntu on a partition on the second drive. Being as it was my first time toying with Linux I didn't completely understand the lingo so I backed out of the installation and decided to wait until I could get someone here that knew more about it to help.



I got numerous "BOOT DISK FAILURE INSERT SYSTEM DISK AND PRESS ENTER" messages, even with both the Linux Distro and my Windows disc in the drive. I looked up how to fix that and got passed it.



I had planned to do a clean install of Windows 7 x64 anyway, so I decided to go ahead and do that. After formatting both drives and successfully installing windows, windows booted into a black screen after the logo. I had forgot to unplug the USB devices and more importantly the HDMI cable going to my TV. After I did that and restarted, the real trouble started. Several errors prevent windows from finishing it's install and getting to the desktop. "Windows failed to start. A recent hardware or software change might be the cause.:"



The corrupt files in question include (yes, there are several...): system32\winload.exe, system32\ntoskrnl.exe, drivers\ql2300.sys - well, you get the idea. I seem to get a new one with each attempt.



I tried doing startup repair, but it says it cannot be repaired. A clean install causes the same problems. I even had a startup loop at one point.

I removed the second video card, and now I get a BSoD after the Windows logo.

storport.sys

PAGE_FAULT_IN_NONPAGED_AREA

...

Technical information:

*** STOP: 0x0000050 (0xFFFFFFFFFFFFFFF83, 0x0000000000000001, 0xFFFFF88001344793, (x00000000000000000)

*** storport.sys - Address FFFFF88001344793 base at FFFFF8800133E000, DateStamp 4a5bcace

 

[silver565]

Take the "second" disk out. That will be a good start.

Reset the bios to defaults, repartition the disks so EVERYTHING is blown away, and format, reinstall again.

Install windows with the basic gear, then slowly add everything back in(your extra GC for example)

 

[silver565]

Linux shouldn't have left anything damaging to your hardware. I have heard of cases where it hasn't "unmounted" ntfs volumes properly when abruptly aborted, which could be it. However if you delete all partitions and start again there will be no trace of the touches from Linux.

 

[Supermuncher85]

Sounds more like a damaged windows install? Are you installing from a retail disk or did you download it? If you downloaded it, check the MD5 hash if it's correct. I had some horrors myself a few days ago with an incomplete download where the hash was completely off. Re-download solved the problem for me.

 

[silver565]

Install from a usb stick? That might rule out burning errors?

 

[Dark Lord of Tech]

Clean install is needed.

 

[Aspected]

Thanks for the quick replies, Silver and Supermunche. I removed the second disk (as it was blank). After the POST, it sat with a flashing underscore under the PCI device listing. I plugged the blank HD up and unplugged the one with an install on it, after loading Setup files from the Windows disc, I get the same "Windows failed to start" error (system32\winload.exe).

I am using a burned DVD and have had no issues before and am in the process of downloading another image as the one I had was on these HD's

 

[Dark Lord of Tech]

Burn the iso with imgburn.

 

[Aspected]

I can't even get to the point where I can install. When I did do a clean install, the same errors popped up. I have used this same disc/image for about a year with no issues. Could it be the disc itself is faulty?

 

[Dark Lord of Tech]

Could be possible.

 

[silver565]

It could be, that is why I mentioned the usb install. You can download a program that does it all for you too.

"Windows 7 usb download tool" I think it's called.

 

[Dark Lord of Tech]

http://wintoflash.com/home/en/

Windows USB install ^

 

[Aspected]

Okay, I'll finish my download of this new image, try the USB method and report back what happens. Thanks a lot for the help guys!

 

[Supermuncher85]

I would only use the offical digitalriver tool from the microsoft store http://images2.store.microsoft.com/prod/clustera/framework/w7udt/1.0/en-us/Windows7-USB-DVD-tool. (exe) from their website at http://www.microsoftstore.com/store/msstore/html/pbPage.Help_Win7_usbdvd_dwnTool


edited the .exe out so I don't get called out for trojan or anything 😛

 

[Aspected]

That whole sleep thing got in the way of me getting back sooner.

I used Wintoflash to put Windows 7 on a USB drive, two of them actually. Tried them both in multiple USB ports, with both HD's then one HD at a time and had the same error pop up after windows loads files

Failed to start because of ntkrnlpa.exe is missing or corrupt - 0xc0000098

Should I bother trying to burn it on a DVD? Where do I head from here? 🙁

 

[Aspected]

Swapping out video cards causes the same errors. Swapping out the RAM causes the same errors. Using one Windows image over the other causes a different set of errors. One causes a slew of them while one causes just the one in the post above, both after loading files before the Windows logo. I've tried using the Linux disc to format but it just restarts as soon as it boots from the disc. It won't even boot from an XP disc, it just sits at the POST.

Running out of ideas here. I'd really hate to have to take it to a shop when I've never once in my life had to do that. Forums have always been able to fix every one of my problems!