Hi everyone. I have an HP computer that came with a Windows Vista formatted hardrive. I upgraded that hardrive to Windows 7 (Ultimate x86) with no hassle and within a reasonably short time. Upgraded as in upgraded. Not a clean install. I heard how clean installs were better but I had some stuff I couldn't just delete and I had no way to back that stuff up.
I had a 2006 Dell XPS computer, slim model, dont remember the model number though, that had a hardrive that looked exactly like the one that came in my HP, so I switched out the hardrive and it worked. The hardrive from my Dell was formatted with Windows XP and ran like a charm as if it were in my old Dell.
I wasn't liking Windows XP anymore though. I got suited to Windows 7 so I tried doing an upgrade but it told me I couldn't upgrade XP to Windows 7 directly and had to do a clean install. I backed up my data; No big deal.
I put the disc in the drive, shut down my computer and booted up with the Windows 7 installation disc. I selected custom install and just clicked on the hardrive partition. Got past the first step within a few seconds but here comes the problem. The second step, "Expanding Windows Files" never went past 0%. I assume the computer froze but I was still able to move the mouse and the drive was still reading the disc, apparently anyway.
I searched on Google for a solution. Found many. Disabling options in the bios, removing a stick of RAM, unplugging all un-needed devices, eject the disc and put it back in mid installation, clicking the X button and pressing cancel on the pop-up dialogue, format the partitions, delete all partitions... Tried all of these so called "solutions" and nothing worked.
I could no longer boot Windows XP because the installations failed so many times. I installed Windows XP again. I just tried upgrading to Windows 7 AGAIN today and am having the same problems. The installation seems to be stuck on "Expanding Windows Files" at 0%.
I can still move the mouse and the disc driver is still apparently reading the disc and it's been at 0% for the past four hours now since this post. I read that if you give it time it will work but I upgraded my laptop (clean install on my laptop, x86) and my original HP hardrive in less than 30 minutes and both upgrades were smooth as butter; It can't be the installation disc.
Before anyone asks the obvious "is your hardrive compatible", the answer is yes. I installed the Windows 7 advisor and it said it was compatible but I had to do a clean install. I don't know the specs of my computer now since I cant pull up any of the details and don't know any from the top of my head. All I can tell you is that it is a Seagate hardrive from 2006 and is connected through the only SATA port on my computer. I am attempting an x64 Windows 7 Ultimate clean install.
In a little bit I am going to cancel this installation and try a clean install under x84. If that doesn't work then I have no idea what to do next. Please post any suggestions you may have.
Sorry for double posting, but I'm convinced that it may be my installation disc. I let the installation go for another hour and got an error:
"Windows cannot instal required files. Make sure all files required for installation are avalible, and restart the installation. Error code: 0x8007045D."
Am now researching on how to install via flash drive.
