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alanvcoleFlag for United States of America

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Windows Vista doesn't complete install

    Customer came in with an Acer Aspire laptop 5517 with Windows Vista Premium installed.  Had gotten hit with Whitesmoke virus/spyware.  We did a system restore and then ran Malwarebytes in safe mode to remove spyware.  Ran AVG rescue CD and came up with 7 trojans.  Upon reboot, got the "Black screen of Death" with the mouse cursor showing but nothing else.  After trying many things, finally gave up and decided to wipe the hard drive.
     Customer did not have any CD's, so we used a Windows Viste Anytime upgrade CD.  The CD would NOT take the customer's product key, but would accept another Vista key.  It installs to about 60-70 % of the way (according to the installation "bar") and then stops. I let it sit overnight and it stays there.  Upon reboot, it says windows installation was shut down unexpectedly and then it goes to the black screen with cursor.  Booting into safe mode brings up a  message that Vista installation cannot continue in safe mode.  Rebooting to the CD and redoing the install brings me back to asking for the product key and then it gives a warning that there may be old windows installation (it shows approx 6 Gb being used)
     I believe I will get back to the same stall point (I've done it so many times I don't remember).  I will add on later after the EE Database upgrade.
     I have replaced the hard drive and memory - same results.  I have ran spinrite level five, memtest 18 cycles and pccheck on the motherboard, cpu 1800 cycles - all with no problem.
     THe only other thing is that about every 10 times rebooting, the glidepath stops working
     Well, gotta post this - will add when I can
Avatar of j33p3r
j33p3r

Am I reading this correct that your trying to install the os from an upgrade dvd?
Or are you trying to fix the old OS?
Have you tried creating a rescue disk on another Vista machine and running the rescue options from the menus on that disc once booted?
Ive had some doozies when it comes to vista recoveries and this was how I usually over come it.
Avatar of John Griffith
The Windows Anytime Upgrade DVD is tantamount to a full retail version ISO - in Vista.

You need to obtain the OEM recovery DVD(s) from the system manufacturer.

Acer Recovery Media Order - https://secure.tx.acer.com/RCDB/Main.aspx?brand=acer

Regards. . .

jcgriff2 MVP
I've also had issues with a 32 bit verses 64bit version. make sure you're installing the correct version otherwise the codes won't work.
check if it runs from a live knoppix cd - this will show if the hardware is ok or not : ftp://ftp.kernel.org/pub/dist/knoppix/KNOPPIX_V6.4.4CD-2011-01-30-EN.iso 
you can also test the internet, and disk functions then
Avatar of alanvcole

ASKER

OK - I replaced Memory and Hard Drive and started to install XP.  It came up with a BSOD on install.

A Stop 7b with parameters (0xf7a24524, 0xc0000034,0x00000000, 0x00000000). Any thoughts?
Solved!  I Think - Doing research on the XP error - found out it could be related to BIOS setting of Raid not being IDE mode.  Changed setting and it is now going into Vista.!  Will keep this open until I am sure that was correct solution
ASKER CERTIFIED SOLUTION
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nobus
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