[tspar85]

I'm trying to install Vista 32bit Ultimate on my computer that has a brand new HD. I had it slaved and formatted by a friend because everytime I would boot from disc it would start to load windows, get to that green bar, and then freeze there after a few seconds. I had thought maybe it was a HD problem so we had it formatted, that did nothing. Does anyone know what needs to be done?

[Elvandil]

What file system format did you use? Did you partition it, and if so, how?

Do you have the jumpers set correctly and the BIOS set to autodetect the new drive?

[tspar85]

I had a friend format it so I'm not sure, I'm pretty sure it would just be a default windows one. To be completely honest I'm not really all that knowledgable on this subject. What I do know is the Bios is set correctly and so are the jumpers.

I should mention, I had installed vista on this harddrive before I had to format it, but I changed motherboards because it died right after I put the new HD in. So I just replaced the MoBo and such and connected the HD to it but it wouldn't boot from the drive so that's the reason we reformatted it and tried to install Vista.

EDIT: I didn't partition it. I'm not even sure if it's the HD's problem tho, because I unhooked the HD from the power and SATA port and it did the identical thing with the green bar.

[Elvandil]

It doesn't sound like an exclusive drive problem, then. There is no "default" Windows file system, but it had to be either FAT32 or NTFS, probably.

How about memory?

You can test both the drive and the memory with Drive and Memory Test.

Here's some more:

Microsoft Memory Test (floppy or CD ISO image)
Memtest86

Free Hard Drive Testing Applications:
HD Tune
HDAT2 (Diagnostics and bad sector recovery)
MHDD Low-level Diagnostics
Bootable Hitachi Drive Fitness Test Floppy or CD Image (works on most drives)

Hard Drive Manufacturers' Diagnostic Utilities Links:
TachTech
BleepingComputer

[tspar85]

Alright, I'll try to find out what format he used. Would I just burn these programs to a CD and have it boot from it or something?

[Elvandil]

The format isn't crucial. It won't be a problem. We just may have to change it.

Those downloads let you choose either a bootable floppy or CD. I put a note inside with some directions.

For the memory test, you don't need any hard drive attached, so that will tell us if it will boot without that drive.

If those won't boot, either, then try memtest.

If you have a floppy drive, download this zip file:

Memtest Download

Unzip it. Put a floppy in your drive. Click on Install in the unzipped folder. It will ask what drive. Usually, A:

When done, put the floppy in your machine and start it. The memory test will start automatically. Let it run through all the tests (or all night).

[tspar85]

Alright, but what am I looking for after I run these programs? I did the first memory test one and this is all that came up and i wasn't sure if it was done:

Boot From CD :
Boot From CD :
1. FD 1.44MB System Type -(06)

[Elvandil]

It should boot all the way and show an actual test. Did you try the floppy?

How did you make that CD?

[tspar85]

The computer I'm on now downloading the files on doesn't have a floppy, it's a small laptop and no one around here has one.

[Elvandil]

OK. The CD should work, but I don't know why it won't boot. Did you burn it with the program that was downloaded, and did you check the "finalize" box? Or did you burn it some other way?

Has this machine ever booted since the board was changed?

[tspar85]

I clicked the finalize box and burned it with the program.

The machine turns on and I can access the Bios, but if by boot you mean run the operation system or access the HD I would assume the answer is no, at least in the former for certain.

[Elvandil]

Then I suppose it could be any number of things that went wrong during the hardware change.

But let's at least try the memory tests. You can get an iso image of the memtest CD here. Burn it the same way as the other one and try to boot it. A RW CD should work. See if you can get that to boot and run the tests. It would be nice to know if the machine will boot at all.

Check all the connections. Make sure memory is seated. Try removing one stick at a time and trying to boot to see if one stick is bad. Be sure all the PCI devices are firmly in their slots. Etc.

Are the board jumpers set correctly for your CPU speed? Does everything look OK in BIOS? Memory detected as correct in amount? Set it to default settings if there is that option.

[tspar85]

Well, I only have CD-Rs if those will work, and when I download these other files I just get ISO files and when I run them it brings up that window that asks for me to choose a program from the list to run it, am I missing something to install these on the disks? I dont just click and drag and burn, i think I know that much.

[Elvandil]

Run the small ISO burner program that was in your first download. Point it to that iso file and check the Finalize box like before. It will burn the iso to the CD-R. Then the CD should boot and run the tests.

[tspar85]

alright I'll give them a shot.