Windows 7 install hangs up

I am trying to install Windows 7 (retail copy)on a Pavilion a6500f desktop. It hangs up while installing the os and I think the video driver is corrupt. I wiped the hd and ran tests on it as well as the 2gb ram...all seems good. I would like to update the bios and am wondering if I can download the bios from HP to my laptop on a usb flash drive and update it somehow to the desktop. I am not sure how to do this. Any help will be appreciated.

 

Bios would be the last thing that I would worry about. Maybe a bad DVD/CD with Win on it would be my first guess. What was on it before and was it running OK?

 

Thanks for the reply...This system belongs to a cousin and it was not booting when I received it. It had Vista business on it before. He supplied me with the new os dvd and I even tried a copy I had. Both stopped but at different areas.

 

Bad HD would be my first guess.

 

What is the make and model number of the hard drive and roughly how old is it?

Which diagnostics tests did you use on the hard drive and RAM?

 

Is this the machine? http://h20566.www2.hp.com/portal/si...x.portlet.endCacheTok=com.vignette.cachetoken

 

Hi geno368, Take out one stick of your RAM and try with 1GB and see if that helps. Neil.

 

Thanks for the replies...I ran memtest 86 for 3 hours with no problems (BTW I did remove 1 stick) I ran Seagate seatools long test on the Hitachi HDP72 hard drive. I really don't know how old it is but the bios date is 2008....lj50, the pic looks right

 

Do you get an error message when the Windows installation routine 'hangs up'?

 

No error message...the system just locks up...no mouse, no keyboard, no hd activity. Sometimes I get a little fuzzy video. It usually gets to the last step and locks during configuring.
More info...I booted an AVG boot disc and it started a definition update before running a scan. It also hung up at 80% and I got vertical red lines on the screen as well as the progress data. Is it possible that the graphics driver is corrupt?
When I try to do a regular hd boot I get "boot mgr is missing "

 

A standard old VGA video driver would be used during an installation of Windows and on the AVG boot disc.

Vertical red lines could possibly be caused bad video connection or monitor, a flaky video card, failing power supply or motherboard.

How can Windows display the "boot mgr is missing" error if Windows is not installed?

 

Windows 7 on Pavilion a6500f--Clean Install Freezes

 

spyware dr, That is a good question I cannot answer because when I started the clean install I deleted the existing partitions and created new.

Whiskyman, I read your link and I am going to try that.

Thanks to both of you!

 

I did try the install of a pci-e card and changed to it in bios but it still hung up on "completing the installation ". BUT, I tried a different approach for testing. I booted a Ubuntu cd and did the trial run....it locked up as well. That seems to point to a hardware issue...Do you agree? I did run Windows memory diagnostics for a long time and when I returned back to it the screen just had video splashes on it.

 

Yep, does sound like it may be a hardware problem. Have any of the parts been subjected to damage from things like Electrostatic Discharge, Lightning, Surges, Shorts, Liquids, or Corrosion, maybe Bad/Leaking Capacitors, etc.?

Have you tried resetting the BIOS to factory defaults?

 

Since it is not my system and he doesn't remember anything I don't know about lightning. The system is clean and I don't see any bulging caps. I did restore bios to defaults with same results, however it hung at 60%installing files.
I am going to replace the memory again and see if I have another sata hd and try that.

 

Have you tried a "BAREBONES" install? I may have missed this if you have, but this has been helpful to others in the past.
You haven't had a message asking for SATA drivers at any stage?
Your system has integrated graphics (specs) so don't put a card in. What condition is the PSU in?
Are you using PS2 keyboard and mouse? Neil.

 

Thanks for the reply...please explain "barebones "
I have not had message about sata drivers
The psu is checking good with my psu tester but that doesn't give a stress test...I will try swapping that out.
I am using usb keyboard and mouse

 

1. Remove EVERYTHING from the case.
   
   
2. Place the motherboard on a non-conductive surface, such as cardboard (motherboard box) or plywood. Do *-NOT-* place the motherboard on the anti-static bag! It can actually conduct electricity.
   
   
3. Install the CPU, thermal grease and heat sink. (Intel Guide / AMD Guide)
   
   
4. Install 1 RAM module (stick).
   
   
5. If applicable, install the video card and attach the power supply connection(s) to the card if your card needs it.
   
   
6. Connect the monitor to the video output.
   
   
7. Connect the power supply to the motherboard with both the 24-pin main ATX power connector and the separate 4- or 8-pin power connector.
   
   
8. Connect a power lead from the power supply to the power connector on the CPU fan.
   
   
9. Connect power to the power supply.
   
   
10. Do NOT connect ANYTHING else.
    
    
11. Use a small screwdriver to momentarily short the power switch connector on the motherboard. Consult your motherboard manual to find which two pins connect to your case's power switch. When you momentarily touch both pins with a screwdriver, it will complete the circuit and boot the system.

With any luck the system should power up and you should get a display. If so, assemble these same parts into the case and try booting once again. If the system now fails to boot, you have a short in the case and need to recheck your motherboard standoffs.

If the system did not boot up, more often than not, you have a faulty component. Start swapping parts until you determine which one is defective. Best bet would be to start with the power supply.

 

I still have not resolved this issue. I swapped out the p/s with same results.