Windows 7 installation issues with an HP Z800 Workstation
Hello,
We have an HP Z800 workstation (xeon proc, 16 GB RAM, Nvidia quadro 4000) that is out of warranty. The hard drive failed, so I replaced the drive with a spare, only to find that we don't have the original HP restore media.
I attempted to install a clean OS using a Windows 7 Pro x64 DVD and key. I can boot the media, repartition and format the drive, and begin the windows installation. However, after the initial loading of windows (before the first reboot), the installation fails out with a fairly 'generic' message:
Windows Setup could not configure Windows to run on this computer's hardware.
I first thought that maybe Windows setup was struggling with the Nvidia Quadro GPU, but removing it and installing a smaller, older display adapter (there is no onboard display adapter on this box) resulted in the same error.
Does anyone have any thoughts as to what might be happening, and whether I can get around it? I'm trying to work with HP to get a copy of their restore media, but they are reluctant to work with me as we don't have a maintenance plan on the box.
Thanks!
Scott
We have an HP Z800 workstation (xeon proc, 16 GB RAM, Nvidia quadro 4000) that is out of warranty. The hard drive failed, so I replaced the drive with a spare, only to find that we don't have the original HP restore media.
I attempted to install a clean OS using a Windows 7 Pro x64 DVD and key. I can boot the media, repartition and format the drive, and begin the windows installation. However, after the initial loading of windows (before the first reboot), the installation fails out with a fairly 'generic' message:
Windows Setup could not configure Windows to run on this computer's hardware.
I first thought that maybe Windows setup was struggling with the Nvidia Quadro GPU, but removing it and installing a smaller, older display adapter (there is no onboard display adapter on this box) resulted in the same error.
Does anyone have any thoughts as to what might be happening, and whether I can get around it? I'm trying to work with HP to get a copy of their restore media, but they are reluctant to work with me as we don't have a maintenance plan on the box.
Thanks!
Scott
ASKER
Thanks DTH. I found that website, but wasn't sure if it was legit. Do you have any experience with them?
SOLUTION
membership
This solution is only available to members.
To access this solution, you must be a member of Experts Exchange.
ASKER CERTIFIED SOLUTION
membership
This solution is only available to members.
To access this solution, you must be a member of Experts Exchange.
Masq
There is nothing illegal about selling or buying a CD or DVD that allows a licensed (there is a license sticker on the PC) PC or Laptop containing part or the entire operating system as long as they don't supply the actual license key.
Basically they are supplying exactly what you would get if you make your recovery disks on your own. All you are really doing is paying someone else to make them for you.
There is nothing illegal about selling or buying a CD or DVD that allows a licensed (there is a license sticker on the PC) PC or Laptop containing part or the entire operating system as long as they don't supply the actual license key.
Basically they are supplying exactly what you would get if you make your recovery disks on your own. All you are really doing is paying someone else to make them for you.
ASKER
Thanks to all who responded. The problem ended up being one of two things... but my suspicion is that there was something flaky with my install media.
I took part of MASQ's advice first, and even though I wasn't using the LSI RAID contoller during the install, I disabled it in the BIOS... just in case it was causing any confusion (the installer was NOT calling our for additional storage media drivers though).
I also took noxcho's advice and re-downloaded my installation media. Even though that same DVD worked on other machines, and there weren't any visible scratches, I burned a new DVD from a fresh download.
After doing these two things, the installation succeeded. I'm not going to go back and change the bios settings to try to determine which one was the actual fix, as the end user is a bit too frustrated at this point to draw out the problem further for more PD.
Thanks to you all (you too, DTH). I appreciate the advice!
I took part of MASQ's advice first, and even though I wasn't using the LSI RAID contoller during the install, I disabled it in the BIOS... just in case it was causing any confusion (the installer was NOT calling our for additional storage media drivers though).
I also took noxcho's advice and re-downloaded my installation media. Even though that same DVD worked on other machines, and there weren't any visible scratches, I burned a new DVD from a fresh download.
After doing these two things, the installation succeeded. I'm not going to go back and change the bios settings to try to determine which one was the actual fix, as the end user is a bit too frustrated at this point to draw out the problem further for more PD.
Thanks to you all (you too, DTH). I appreciate the advice!
ASKER
I believe that the ultimate cause of the issue was media-related, but it may have been the BIOS setting. I'm going to split the points, and thank you both!
Just pay the $19.95 and choose the OS version that the KEY Code says was on there before