Windows blank install error code 0xC0000005

theorange

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Aug 7, 2013
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Hey guys, I've been trying to do a blank install of Windows 8, but I've run into some problems. I have created a usb drive with the windows installer. When I go into the windows installer, everything goes fine, I can select the empty space to install on, then when I get to installing, as soon is it starts, I get this error message:

Windows installation encountered an unexpected error. Verify that the installation sources are accessible, and restart the installation.
Error Code: 0xC0000005

Since 0xC0000005 is a memory access problem, I ran memcheck86+ for a couple passes, and it didn't spot anything wrong with my memory. I also updated my bios to the latest version, neither solved the problem. I made a windows 7 installer usb as well, thinking I would just install 7 then use the upgrade assistant to move to 8, I got the same error when installing windows 7. I redownloaded both, still didn't work. I even tried installing it on a new hard drive, same problem. Anyone know how to fix this?

The drive I'm intending to install it on has another partition on it for other use, but I think I ruled that out when I tried installing it on a totally blank drive as well.
 
Well this could still be a memory problem. In my experience memtest can take sometime to error out. I had bad RAM that ran memtest fine for 3 hours, I went to bed and when I got up, it had started getting errors about 5 hours in consistently in one range of cells.

The other thing it could be is a problem with the hard drive. It seems like when it attempts to create the partitions or format, it's failing. Try something like GParted and test to see if it can partition it and format it.
 
Well, I guess I'll have to run memtest more thoroughly then.

I don't think its a partition problem, because I tried it on a totally blank drive that I had in my system, and I still got the error.
 
Right, so I ran a Seatools long test on both drives, [strike]they both seem to be fine[/strike]. I'm totally stumped.

Turns out I did end up with some sort of error on the drive I was intending to install it on, I had a long test running for 30 minutes and 10 seconds when I get an error code: E0A4CD50

Also in the test info box, it says "Long test timed out!"

I'm not sure if that's a drive failure or I just messed up the test or something, though.
 
Well, I actually ran it on my 500gb as well, and I got the same error. I also happened to have a 64gb ssd in my system as well, so I tried installing on that. I actually didn't get the error code any more, but then, (while the install is still at 0%) I got "Windows could not prepare the computer to boot into the next phase of installation. To install Windows, restart the installation." I really think it unlikely that I got 2 faulty hard drives and an ssd as well.

I tried installing it on the original 2tb hard drive again, and I actually didn't get the 0xC0000005 error anymore, I got the error above, which is confusing, because I hadn't changed anything about the hard drives at all, and they were now getting the same error as the ssd.

I discussed it here with someone else, but nothing he suggested fixed the problem either.
 
Have you tried installing from a different USB port or download Windows to a different USB drive. Could be the errors you're getting are related to the installation media rather than the destination media. I'd think the only thing common on all your attempts, especially considering two different versions of windows and getting similar errors, is the USB device.