Windows 7 installation 1

[LohneB]

While 'Expanding Windows files', process progress until reaching (21%) at which point no further progress is noted - even after waiting over an hour. What is happening? And what needs to be done next? (Being installed on a HP laptop with Vista.) Must I start over? Or is there something that can be done to progress from this point?

Thanks!
Bill

Bill
ab-web-design

 

[linney]

What media are you using, is it possible that any DVD/CD is dirty or damaged, or that DVD/CD drive is faulty?

How to replace Microsoft software or hardware, order service packs, and replace product manuals

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;326246&FR=1&PA=1&SD=HSCH

The hard drive manufacturer will have free diagnostic software that is bootable, or that may even run from within Windows, that will thoroughly check the condition of your hard drive.

Have you tried setting the Bios to any Safe Defaults?

If Setup has progressed far enough you may find information in any of these setup logs.

C:\Windows\setupact.log
C:\Windows\Logs\DPX\setupact.log
C:\Windows\Panther\setupact.log
C:\Windows\Panther\UnattendGC\setupact.log
C:\Windows\inf\setupapi.app.log
C:\Windows\inf\setupapi.dev.log
C:\Windows\inf\setupapi.offline.log
C:\Windows\setuperr.log
C:\Windows\Logs\DPX\setuperr.log
C:\Windows\Panther\setuperr.log
C:\Windows\Panther\UnattendGC\setuperr.log

You might need something like BartPE to access them (if they exist in the first place).

You might be able to make use of BartPE (a mini XP self contained on a bootable CD and run from CD).

http://www.nu2.nu/pebuilder/

You can get special Adapters which will connect the Laptop's hard drive to another machine.

WIndows xp on laptop stuck in startup loop
thread779-1492440: WIndows xp on laptop stuck in startup loop

 

[LohneB]

Thanks linney,

The DVD in use in this case was from Microsoft - from the family pack. We decided not to shut everything down just to see what would happen while we searched for possible solutions. After a period of a couple of hours sitting at 21%, the installation continued. The whole process took many hours - perhaps in part due to the large number of files (over 900,000) to be copied. For once, patience paid off!

We have a couple more to update, so your advice will be handy. Again, thanks!

Bill

Bill
ab-web-design

 

[linney]

Have you contacted the Guinness Book of Records, I have never heard of, or experienced, such a painful birth?

 

[LohneB]

Neither have I! Took a veryyyyyy long time to upgrade! I've done quite a few, and had problems you mentioned originally, but never one like this one. All seems to be working fine at this point.

Bill
ab-web-design

 

[rclarke250]

I have never heard of one taking that long either, but I remember during the beta program that those upgrading from vista sometimes experienced this long upgrade time, just not that long.

 

[dilettante]

Sounds like a drive with lots of bad sectors or something.

 

[LohneB]

Certainly longer than I have ever experienced! Disc check prior to installation showed no problems - I think the time taken was needed because of the large number of files to be copied - close to a million. Certainly running well now. Just as a point of interest, we did an old XP machine today, and it went perfectly. The third machine was also a slightly older HP laptop, and that too went without a hitch.

Bill
ab-web-design

 

[Turkbear]

Hi,
I am very surprised at that number of files needing to be copied..My W7 ( Home Premium 64 bit) only has 71,000 files in the entire Windows folder structure and no more than 15,000 others including programs I have installed.
How was that number determined?





To Paraphrase:"The Help you get is proportional to the Help you give.."

 

[LohneB]

It was actually about a million (997,643) files that had to be expanded - not sure that's the same as copied. I watched it run - for awhile anyway.

Bill
ab-web-design

 

[linney]

How large is the Windows folder on your drive?

Mine is 13.5 GB (14,512,691,826 bytes)

The whole used space on C: drive (for me) comes in at about 18.2GB, with only really Office installed and a few other programs, most of my user files are on another drive.

 

[Hawthorne]

Wow I have installed Windows 7 on 4 different computers and it never took more then a half hour.

My Windows folder is 18.2 Gigs, and has 77,386 Files, 16,076 Folders.

 

[LohneB]

The laptop with the installation issues contains all of Microsoft's application development software, and that is probably why there were so many files.

Bill
ab-web-design