Windows 7 Installation Problems - New PC Build

[Stizto]

I'm on my first custom PC build... just installed all of the components and now I'm hung up on (of all things) the OS installation. I'm using Windows 7 64 bit OEM. The system gets past the "Windows loading" screen and subsequently begins to load another Windows screen (where the flying colored orbs are supposed to connect and make the Microsoft flag. The install freezes or "hangs" at this part every time with 3 colored orbs never fully connecting. I've waited for hours multiple times thinking maybe it just needed time, to no avail.

Just in case, here's my setup:

CPU: Intel i7 2600k
Motherboard: MSI Z68A-GD65-G3
Video Card: Sapphire Radeon 6870
SSD: Crucial M4 64GB SATA III 2.5" SSD
Secondary HD: Hitachi Desktstar 2TB, 7,200RPM, 64MB
RAM/Memory: Patriot Division 2 Viper Extreme 8GB 1600MHz
Cooling: Cooler Master Hyper 212
Power Supply: Thermaltake TPX-775M Toughpower XT 775 Watts, 80PLUS Bronze

I've tried a different RAM stick (4GB G Skill RipJaws) - still same error - so I'm fairly certain it's not the RAM. The MSI BIOS is picking up my Asus CD/DVD drive, as well as the SSD and Hitachi HD, so I'm not sure if they're the issue either...

Any thoughts or suggestions as to what might be going wrong?

 

[lothdk]

You do not mention the model of the Ripjaws ram, and in case it is not 1.5V, if you have not already done so, enter the settings in BIOS to match the rated latency and voltage for your memory modules.

 

[geofelt]

Download and run memtest86+ to check the ram. Be certain to get the latest version which supports sandy bridge cpu's.
You should complete a couple of passes with NO errors.

Some time back, I had a similar situation where Windows did well at first, until it found a bad ram address that was previously unused.
Replacing the bad stick fixed the problem.

 

[13thmonkey]

are you using the M4 in ide mode or AHCI mode? if the latter you'll need to install drivers, it might seem like it is letting you carry on, but i've had lots of similar problems when I 'forgot/couldn't be bothered'

 

[Stizto]

I'll take a look tonight at memory modules latency/voltage and make sure they're correct for the current RAM.

Geo - as I don't currently have an OS set up, will I be able to boot from a USB to run the memtest86+ diagnostic to check the RAM?

Thank you both for your quick responses!

 

[geofelt]

I'll take a look tonight at memory modules latency/voltage and make sure they're correct for the current RAM.

Geo - as I don't currently have an OS set up, will I be able to boot from a USB to run the memtest86+ diagnostic to check the RAM?

Thank you both for your quick responses!

Memtest86+ does not need a OS. You boot from a cd, floppy, or usb.

 

[Stizto]

All, I appreicate your quick responses last week. It appears the freeze/hang issue is with the Crucial m4 unit itself, as I've found the same problem in multiple Crucial forums. The Link Power Management (LPM) with Intel's Rapid Storage Technology has been known to cause trouble with the m4 upon cold boot. I've included the link below for others who may have run into this issue. The link provides a registry fix to disable LPM on the m4, which supposedly fixes the boot freezes.

http://forum.crucial.com/t5/Solid-State-Drives-SSD/Solution-C300-Disk-Freeze-ups-in-Windows-7-solved-for-me/td-p/38766

Also, the latest Crucial m4 firmware .iso's:
http://www.crucial.com/support/firmware.aspx

Thanks again for everyone's input.

 

[Stizto]

Also forgot to mention, during a store diagnostic a tech repairman found that the GPU was inserted into the second PCI x16 slot, not the first, which could have caused some of the freeze/hanging trouble. The PSU was found to have no problems, and the RAM made two passes on memtest86+ with no errors (thanks geofelt).

I've since been able to install Windows 7 correctly, but still often run into the freezing issue upon restart. The LPM registry fix and the m4 firmware update didn't appear to help much, so I think I'll make a clean break with the m4 unit and return it for an Intel SSD or OCZ Agility 3.

 

[Stizto]

Best answer selected by Stizto.

 

[nikorr]

This topic has been closed by Nikorr.