Cant install any OS

jimli30

Honorable
Sep 14, 2013
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Hi there

I have been trying to put windows 8.1 on a friends pc but it refuses to work.

I have managed to get past the installing period but then says it needs repairing, tried multiple times with multiple OS's, formatting every time for a clean install but I get the same messages or blue screen (last time) on win7

Something weird also happened which i still cant get my head around..

I tried with a different HHD (formatted) and forgot to put the windows disk in but somehow it started win8.1/10 repair mode.... How is that possible??

Please help!

I haven't updated the bios recently either
 
I have managed to get past the installing period but then says it needs repairing, tried multiple times with multiple OS's, formatting every time for a clean install but I get the same messages or blue screen (last time) on win7

I would suspect either a bad HDD or a bad RAM stick.

I tried with a different HHD (formatted) and forgot to put the windows disk in but somehow it started win8.1/10 repair mode.... How is that possible??

That drive had a previous OS install on it, and does not like the new hardware.
 


I'll check the RAM now. The HHD was formatted, no OS on it and it was empty before I formatted

 
How was that second HDD 'formatted'? Did it ever have an OS on it?
Likely you did not wipe the original boot partition, and it was trying and failing.

Because without anything on it, and no Win 8.1 DVD in the system to boot from....that drive and system cannot start up repair mode.
 
I concur. Sounds like the system is unstable as it installs. My guess would be RAM first, then HDD. Memtest.org can help you test RAM. For the HDD, try something from the manufacturer's website. If you tell us what HDD you have we can help you narrow it down. Also what USAF Ret. is saying is that you may have a pre-existing MBR. Be sure that you delete all the old partitions from the drive before you install.
 


I get what you're saying, I understand it ain't meant to happen... hence why i said it was weird

I am attempting a new install with different RAM but I know it won't work because I have tried using my system with his HHD connected

The second HHD was a spare from an old laptop I had, I only tried it to eliminate the HHD

The HHD was formatted just using windows but it was wiped using CCleaner a while ago
no partitions exist on the HHD