For some reason I want to upgrade the OS on my PC from XP to Vista/Windows 7. Possibly because I want to take advantage of DirectX 10 or something, I’m not sure. Anyway, I’ve been having some very bizarre issues with installing those operating systems.
Here’s some information:
- Runs XP SP3 with no issues.
- Reinstalls XP SP3 from retail DVD with no issues
- Runs Ubuntu Live disk with no issues
- Installs Ubuntu if I disable ACPI in BIOS with no issues
- Vista x86 (retail disk) and x64 (MSDN download) install, but hang at the loading screen when I reboot. Booting into safe mode first sometimes resolves this issue until the next reboot
- Windows 7 x86 and x64 (many different ISO burns from multiple download sources burnt on different computers) freeze at 1% expanding files
- BIOS update from CD, USB and Floppy stays at “Please wait!”
What I’ve done:
- Swapped SATA cables and used multiple HDDs
- Run chkdsk and written zeros to multiple HDDs
- Run a memtest – no errors
- Replaced optical disk drive (SATA)
Random information:
- Partition Magic is reporting my main C: drive (150GB raptor) as “bad”, yet it passes extensive tests in the Western Digital drive utility
- Vista runs perfectly in Virtual PC 2007
Rough system specs:
- MSI Platinum 7246 V2.1
- Core 2 duo 2.66
- 2GB DDR6400
- GeForce 8800GTX
- 150GB Raptor
- Sound Blaster Audigy Platinum fatality blah blah
- Akasa 650W PSU
I’m trying to avoid buying new components until the last minute, because I don’t want to spend a heap of money, only to realise something silly is causing the issue. Unfortunately I’m running out of options. I don’t know why I’m persisting with it. I like XP. I think it’s just because I know there’s a problem, and I want to resolve it. Any thoughts?