Solved Header checksum of file doesnt match computed checksum

Hi All,

I have been trying to install Windows 8 64 bit retail version on my PC for the last 6 hours without success . After the 1st part of the install where you choose the disk and partition to install to, then it copies files etc, the PC does a reboot, which is normal for this part of the install. However, I let the boot sequence continue without selecting dvd of course, then it tries to boot from the hard drive but I get an error.

The header checksum for this file doesnt match the computed checksum.
File: \Windows\system32\winload.efi
Error Code: 0xc0000221

View attachment 64366

My system was previously running Windows 7 Ultimate 64-bit for years without any problems. This is not an upgrade, I am starting from a clean slate with a fresh wiped drive with no partitions.

System specs:

AMD FX-8150
Gigabyte GA-990FXA-D3
8GB DDR3 1333Mhz
XFX Radeon R9 270X
Samsung 840 120GB SSD (Trying to install fresh win8 to this)
Samsung 840 120GB SSD (Unplugged during this install for ease)
WD Black 1TB HDD (Unplugged during this install for ease)

I have tried both SSD's and also another Samsung 500GB HDD all with the same result.

I have tried the following:
- Win8 Install DVD - Automatic repair - fail
- Startup repair - fail
- Bootrec fixboot and fixmbr and BCDBoot commands successfully
- SFC /scannow gets to 100% but reports that its unable to do anything or something like that
- bootrec scanos shows 0 installations of windows (likely due to it not finishing one yet lol)
- diskpart list volumes shows the 4 partitions that the win 8 install creates, 100mb ntfs recovery i think, 100mb fat32, another one, then the large c: ntfs partition.

Im thinking that its more related to the motherboard and BIOS configurations but i cant be sure.

I have tried IDE and AHCI without success.

An interesting fact is that I cannot get the Win8 DVD to boot properly with the BIOS setting for the CD/DVD drive set to Auto or NON-EFI. I have to set it as EFI to be able to make it to the language and country selection page at the start of the install.
If its not selected, the dvd will start with the blue windows logo, then white loading circles appear beneath it, then it goes to a black/blank screen forever. Until I power off or reboot.

I have checked the gigabyte site and it says the GA-990FXA-D3 is Win8 and Win10 compatible.

I dont know what else to do. Any ideas?
Thanks.

Ram was causing the problem

I replaced the Corsair 4x4GB (16GB) DDR3 1333mhz with a set of 2x4gb (8gb) DDR3 1333mhz Elixir ram from my other machine.
The 64-bit DVD booted all the way to the installer this time with bios in AHCI mode and CD/DVD set to Auto/Non-EFI (1st time it has ever worked). The installation went on without a hitch and rebooted fine without a checksum error and I am now using the install to post this message without problems.

The RAM was the problem all along, although worked fine on Win 7 for a couple of years. Just must not like this new system setup.

Thanks to Mike Barnes from tomshardware for the suggestion.