Problems re-installing Windows 7

[Phalanx30]

I have a desktop where I can't physically access the primary hard drive (ssd). It failed, far as I know the rest of the hardware is still functional.

I am trying to re-install the OEM copy of windows 7 onto a new drive, but the installation disk hangs at the "Starting windows screen"

Bios is American Megatrends, the dvd drive (usb) and the new hard drive are recognized. I've set the boot order correctly. I'm stumped.

Thanks in advance for any help.

Additional info: the computer is a sealed oil-filled system. I cannot disconnect the drive. Given that, should I junk the entire system?

 

[Tincan79]

Common advice is be sure all other drives are disconnected. But if the OS loaded and decompressed and then windows failed to load... well the partition should have the boot file. If it is boot file failure the disc's repair feature fixed that for me before.

 

[Phalanx30]

That's the problem, I cannot disconnect the dead drive, I want to bypass it. Can I?

 

[Paul NZ]

It could be hanging because its faulty / it cant read that hdd. So remove it. Whats the point in connecting it if its dead

 

[Tincan79]

Here is some steps on bypassing... This is an interesting tool you should explore with before executing commands.
Use the Diskpart.exe (also can be used from any command prompt).
1. Insert the DVD, select OK, select install 7.
2. On the disk selection screen, press SHIFT+F10. A Command Prompt window opens.
3. Type: diskpart, and then press ENTER to open the diskpart tool.
4. Type: list disk, and then press ENTER. A list of available hard disks is displayed.
5. Type: sel disk number, and then press ENTER. number is the number of the hard disk that you want to clean. The hard disk is now selected.
6. Type: det disk, and then press ENTER. A list of partitions on the hard disk is displayed. Use this information to verify that the correct disk is selected.
a. Type: clean all, and then press ENTER to clean the disk. All the partitions and all the data on the disk are permanently removed.
b. Type: partition primary (you may place size)
c. Type: format fs=ntfs quick
d. Type: assign
e. Type: active
X1. Type exit, and then press ENTER to close the diskpart tool.
X2. Close the Command Prompt window.
a. Click the Refresh button to update the disk selection screen. This step lists the disk.
b. Run Windows Setup to perform a clean installation of Windows.
c. After install remove DVD

 

[tallywho]

hmm depending on your bios, if its a newer one or after market board, you can disable sata ports. but if the the drive has failed it will defiantly cause a hangup on the install because its trying to communicate with a dead drive. Even if you put it as the last boot option it will still have to cycle through it. you might be able to remove it from boot order or like i said before disable that particular sata port. what motherboard is it if i may ask? and why can't you physically get to the drive to unplug the sata port and or remove the drive?

 

[unksol]

You can access the drive. Read the manual and remove it.

 

[Phalanx30]

I can't get the Windows 7 DVD to do anything other than "loading windows files" and than it freezes at the "Starting windows" screen. So system repair and recovery options are out as well

 

[USAFRet]

That's the problem, I cannot disconnect the dead drive, I want to bypass it. Can I?

Why not? Just disconnect the SATA data cable.
Boot from your install media, and proceed.

 

[Phalanx30]

It's a sealed oil-filled system, frankly it's too much of a hassle to take it all apart to get at the drive. It's like trying to disassemble a laptop only worse.

 

[tallywho]

lol, been there. Long rubber gloves and can you pop the top off of the oil filled system and stick your hand down to pull the power cable? if not check and see if you can remove that drive from boot order, or disable that particular sata port that its plugged into in the bios. best of luck, pain-in-the-ars

 

[USAFRet]

It's a sealed oil-filled system, frankly it's too much of a hassle to take it all apart to get at the drive. It's like trying to disassemble a laptop only worse.

Too much of a hassle to fix it...
Well, that sucks.

 

[Phalanx30]

The funny part is that the oil has done wonderful job keeping everything else cool and working. It is a pain.

 

[USAFRet]

The funny part is that the oil has done wonderful job keeping everything else cool and working. It is a pain.

Right up until something breaks.

 

[Phalanx30]

And it's the thing that didn't really need the oil in the first place. It would have been so much easier if all the hard drives were easy to access. The system has two drive bays for hot-swappable internal drives.

 

[USAFRet]

And it's the thing that didn't really need the oil in the first place. It would have been so much easier if all the hard drives were easy to access. The system has two drive bays for hot-swappable internal drives.

Is this a custom oil build, or something you purchased?

 

[Phalanx30]

System I purchased, the company has transitioned out of desktops and into servers with their cooling system, so support is minimal. I'm gettong to the point where I just want to junk it and start over with a new computer.

 

[USAFRet]

How sure are you that the current SSD has actually failed? What is telling you this?

 

[Phalanx30]

Windows stopped working suddenly, going into startup repair had windows trying to access the other hard drive for commands (system restore, etc.) that other drive had no windows partition, it was just a data drive. I was able to access it from another computer and pull the data off no problem.