Windows 7 clean install hangs at starting windows screen

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JammMusic

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Dec 28, 2012
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I recently got a new asus laptop and some of my programs aren't compatible with windows 8. So i'm trying to downgrade to windows 7 because i never liked w8 in the first place. So when i boot from CD (64-bit windows 7 ultimate) it will install without any problems, but when it gets to the 'starting windows' screen the animation freezes and it just stays there.. I've been looking on various forums and it seems like quite a lot of people are having this problem. A majority of the cases seem to be solved by disabling drivers or updating them. But i'm not sure how to do that from the bios. Help is appreciated!
 
Solution
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JammMusic I found the solution. Go to the BIOS, then go to the BOOT tab, then MAKE SURE that Secure Boot is DISABLED, then go to CSM and ENABLE it. Save the changes and boot to the disc, if you are doing an install from Windows, now it should work :) Let me know if it helped you.
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JammMusic I found the solution. Go to the BIOS, then go to the BOOT tab, then MAKE SURE that Secure Boot is DISABLED, then go to CSM and ENABLE it. Save the changes and boot to the disc, if you are doing an install from Windows, now it should work :) Let me know if it helped you.
 
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Solution


I think it's gonna work it didn't freeze. Now it's intalling 😀 !
 
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i'm glad it works man. If for some reason the screen is black after the installation, take the disc out and reboot it, it should advance further.
 
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I had the same problem - screen would freeze saying "Starting Windows". Everything else was black. No action on the HD and the DVD drive had no action either. I tried this several times. (This is an old Asus P5WDG2 board and an Intel 6600 dual core). I removed 2 of the 4 memory sticks - brought it down to 4 gig and it loaded fine. Obviously it did not like 8 gig of Corsair memory. I plan to reinsert the 2 sticks after I am sure all is working. This memory worked fine with XP.
 
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I also just got this exact same laptop, and I'm trying to do a clean install of Windows 7 on it, but this boot option and BIOS is giving me hell.
I have read ginamarat's solution, but I'm at a loss here, I don't seem to have a secure boot option even available to disable or enable in my bios!
fc4mde.jpg


If that Windows Boot Manager path is the secure boot then I have tried disabling that and enabling Launch CSM and then saving and exiting, but it just brings me straight back to the BIOS after the laptop restarts, but this time with Launch CSM and the Boot Option disabled.

Please help! If I can't get this laptop to windows 7 with a fresh install, it's going right back to the store.

Edit:
After watching a few videos, I have found the Secure Boot option in the Securities tab, I'm currently loading up the Windows 7 disk I have, wish me luck! :)

Edit 2:
I got to the part where the installation asks me to select a drive to install to, and my whole hard drive was partitioned into about 6 partitions. There was one called System and another called Data with the biggest partitions. On the bottom, it said I could not install to the System or Data partition because it was a GPT partition; so I formatted the System partition hoping that it would do the trick, but it didn't. I'm currently trying to find a fix, ill keep this updated.

Edit 3: SUCCESS!!
All thanks to this:
http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/windows_7-windows_install/windows-cannot-be-installed-on-this-disk-the/8fa72a3e-10c5-47da-a040-1e0db62af309

First I tried TrekDozer's method with GParted. I deleted both the System and Data partitions and then created a new partition with the space they left behind, and then I booted again trying to install windows, but no avail. The installer still said that it was still a GPT partition; my heart sank. I scrolled down to see if there was another solution; so I started doing what Seven of Ten posted. Method 1 failed, the partition was still GPT; so I tried Method 2 and it worked like a charm, the partition was cleared and was no long GPT.

Now I'm currently installing Windows 7. I'm on the Install Windows screen - Expanding Windows files, but it's at 0% and it's been -Correction 1% now; so everything should install correctly. The 5600RPM drive must be the reason why it's expanding so slow from CD-ROM->Hard Drive.

Edit 4:

Windows 7 has successfully been installed, and everything is running fine!
Cool story bro, but I won't tell it again.
 
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Dirtynoona: Go to the security tab tap the down arrow key until you see Secure Boot. DISABLE it. Then go to the Boot TAB and ENABLE CSM. Then it would boot :)
 
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This last little tid bit is what did it for me. (Then go to the Boot TAB and ENABLE CSM.)
 
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This last little tid bit is what did it for me. (Then go to the Boot TAB and ENABLE CSM.)
 
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Found this thread rolling back Windows 8 to Windows 7 for an HP with the UEFI settings. You all were big help.

Wanted to add my little twist working with the HP version of UEFI.

You'll have to go under the "Security" tab and select "Secure Boot Configuration"
Enable "Legacy Support"
Disable "Secure Boot"
I selected "Clear Security Keys", but I don't know if that's necessary.

Adjust boot order as necessary.
 
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Thank you man!
A long time passed since you wrote this post but you still saved me.

Just sign up to thank you
 
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Guys thank you so much, I had the same problem. After struggling for 2 days, I finally managed!!!
The bottom line here though is that is UEFI needs to be disabled in 2 sections: "JammMusic I found the solution. Go to the BIOS, then go to the BOOT tab, then MAKE SURE that Secure Boot is DISABLED, then go to CSM and ENABLE it. Save the changes and boot to the disc, if you are doing an install from Windows, now it should work :) Let me know if it helped you. "
 
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