Tried to install Windows 8 RP, Computer Won't Boot

abear90

New Member
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Hey all,

This is actually an issue my good friend is having. I'm not too tech savvy; I understand the basics of OS installations but if anything goes wrong (as it did in my friend's case), I don't know how to help.

Here is the issue:

My friend had successfully installed Windows 7 and Windows 8 Consumer Preview onto two separate partitions on a single hard drive. A couple of days ago he attempted to update his Windows 8 CP partition to Windows 8 RP.

To do this, he booted Windows 7, used the built in disk management software, and formatted the Windows 8 partition. The disk management tool somehow turned his Windows 8 partition into "Free Space" instead of unallocated space. He claims that his computer booted normally a few times after he performed this operation.

However, a few days later, he booted his computer using a Windows 8 RP DVD in the hopes of installing W8 to one of his partitions. Once he made it into the actual installer, he found out that the installer would not let him install Windows 8 onto the partition he had formatted, because it is "free space." The installer would not let him format it, or mess with that partition in any way.

Not being able to install Windows 8, he rebooted his computer, and found that now his computer won't boot to Windows at all.

Anybody know what could have caused this, and how to fix it? He wants to keep his W7 partition, and end up with W8 RP in the partition allocated currently as "free space."

Thanks in advance,

Alex
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 7/Windows 8
Hello abear90 your friend can first save his Windows 7 installation by performing a Startup Repair (up to 3 times) using a previously created Windows 7 startup repair disk or the Windows 7 DVD itself, after Windows 7 is successfully booting he can go in to disk management to change the 2nd partition from free space to unallocated space.

Also have him look at the tutorial below to successfully dual boot Windows 7 and 8.

Dual Boot Installation - Windows 8 and Windows 7 or Vista

 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 10 Pro x 2
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    My own abomination, I call it the Money Pit
    CPU
    Intel i7 2600K @ 3.40 GHz
    Motherboard
    ASUS Sabertooth P67
    Memory
    Corsair Vengeance 16GB DDR3 1600MHz CL8 Dual Channel Kit
    Graphics Card(s)
    EVGA GeForce RTX 3080 XC3 ULTRA GAMING 10GB GDDR6X
    Sound Card
    Onboard Realtek or Nvidia High Definition Audio (HDMI)
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Samsung JS7000 50" SUHD TV or Samsung 27" FHD 60Hz 8ms GTG VA LED Smart Monitor
    Screen Resolution
    1920 x 1080
    Hard Drives
    1 x Samsung 870 EVO 250 GB SSD (Windows 10 Pro), 1 x Samsung 850 EVO 250 GB SSD (Windows 10 Pro)
    PSU
    Corsair AX860 - 860W Modular Power Supply
    Case
    Phanteks Enthoo Luxe Full Tower Case - Black
    Cooling
    CORSAIR Hydro Series H150i PRO RGB 360mm Liquid CPU Cooler
    Keyboard
    Logitech K830 Illuminated Living-Room Keyboard
    Mouse
    Logitech MX Anywhere 2S Wireless Mouse
    Internet Speed
    10/100/1000 Mbps capable
    Browser
    (Primary) Latest Firefox version & Microsoft Edge
    Antivirus
    ESET Internet Security
    Other Info
    LG Super Multi Blue Internal Blu-ray Disk Rewriter - BH10LS30
    6x2 HDMI Switcher (6 inputs, 2 outputs) so I can send the output of my Cable Box, Roku, or any my 4 computers to either my TV or Monitor separately or simultaneously.
Thanks for the tips. I appreciate it. I have one more quick question.

He bought his laptop with Windows 7 already installed.

Assuming he no longer has the DVDs that came with his laptop, is there any way to run a startup repair without a DVD?

Also, why is there a 3 time repair limit?
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 7/Windows 8
Free space is inside an extended partition.

Not clear to me why win8 was reluctant to allow any partitioning operations.

Also, why is there a 3 time repair limit?

It is not a limit - you can run it as many times as you like.

However, it won't fix everything in one run - that is why you might need to run it 3 times.

Assuming he no longer has the DVDs that came with his laptop, is there any way to run a startup repair without a DVD?

He seems to have an oem machine - there should be a key press F10 or something - depends on the manufacturer- which will boot their repair environment.

If you can't that to work:

You need to get somebody who knows what they are doing to actually get their hands on the machine.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    7/8/ubuntu/Linux Deepin
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
If he no longer has the DVD's, he can download the official Windows 7 with SP1 ISO here for the version he has, and create a bootable USB or DVD here and use that to do the repair install.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    W7
Sorry I meant that startup repair may have to be run up to 3 times to get Windows 7 to boot

If you read the section of Brinks startup repair tutorial under notes it mention that some OEM's may provide a startup repair tool or system restore option using advanced recovery menu from BIOS screen (example "esc" or "F12" key for some brands). But you need to provide as much information as possible under "My system Specs" such as make and model of computer - etc so anyone helping to solve your issue can accurately advise further action based on the OEM manufacturer.

Also have you tried pressing the F8 key just after Bios post to see if there are any Advanced boot options available which may include the start up repair option or system restore to restore the system to before when Win 8 was installed and Win 7 was booting.

Another idea is if your friend can create a startup repair disk on another working computer that is the same edition and the same architecture as the Windows 7 computer you are trying to fix - ie: 64 bit or 32 bit Windows 7 or someone else has a windows 7 DVD in the household of the same edition and architecture.

It may also be a good idea since you are trying to repair Windows 7 first is to also start a new thread at Windows Seven Forum, the sister forum to this one as there are currently more members and help available, however you will have to register there also if not already a member.

Also since your friend has no recovery disks DO NOT attempt to format the whole drive or the Windows Seven partition will be lost and they will have to order recovery disks from the OEM for a fee.
 
Last edited:

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 10 Pro x 2
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    My own abomination, I call it the Money Pit
    CPU
    Intel i7 2600K @ 3.40 GHz
    Motherboard
    ASUS Sabertooth P67
    Memory
    Corsair Vengeance 16GB DDR3 1600MHz CL8 Dual Channel Kit
    Graphics Card(s)
    EVGA GeForce RTX 3080 XC3 ULTRA GAMING 10GB GDDR6X
    Sound Card
    Onboard Realtek or Nvidia High Definition Audio (HDMI)
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Samsung JS7000 50" SUHD TV or Samsung 27" FHD 60Hz 8ms GTG VA LED Smart Monitor
    Screen Resolution
    1920 x 1080
    Hard Drives
    1 x Samsung 870 EVO 250 GB SSD (Windows 10 Pro), 1 x Samsung 850 EVO 250 GB SSD (Windows 10 Pro)
    PSU
    Corsair AX860 - 860W Modular Power Supply
    Case
    Phanteks Enthoo Luxe Full Tower Case - Black
    Cooling
    CORSAIR Hydro Series H150i PRO RGB 360mm Liquid CPU Cooler
    Keyboard
    Logitech K830 Illuminated Living-Room Keyboard
    Mouse
    Logitech MX Anywhere 2S Wireless Mouse
    Internet Speed
    10/100/1000 Mbps capable
    Browser
    (Primary) Latest Firefox version & Microsoft Edge
    Antivirus
    ESET Internet Security
    Other Info
    LG Super Multi Blue Internal Blu-ray Disk Rewriter - BH10LS30
    6x2 HDMI Switcher (6 inputs, 2 outputs) so I can send the output of my Cable Box, Roku, or any my 4 computers to either my TV or Monitor separately or simultaneously.
He bought his laptop with Windows 7 already installed.

Assuming he no longer has the DVDs that came with his laptop, is there any way to run a startup repair without a DVD?

If he did not create the recovery disk better ask the supplier, the support from manufacturer default setting. In some brands it is installed in the laptop some case without making the recovery disk. Asus brand has their manufacturer default setting and their key to manufacturer default setting is F9.
 
Last edited:

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    8 Release Preview, 7 Home Premium
    System Manufacturer/Model
    ASUS K53SJ Notebook
    CPU
    CPU @ 2.10GHz
    Motherboard
    Intel(R) Core(TM) i3-2310M Processor
    Memory
    DDR3 1333 MHz SDRAM, 2 x SO-DIMM socket for expansion up to 8 G SDRAM
    Graphics Card(s)
    NVIDIA® GeForce® GT 520M with 1GB DDR3 VRAM
    Monitor(s) Displays
    15.6" 16:9 HD (1366x768) LED Backlight
    Hard Drives
    500GB 5400rpm/7200rpm
    Case
    Aluminum Blue
    Keyboard
    Built in
    Mouse
    HP 2.4 GHz Wireless Optical Mobile Mouse
    Other Info
    Qualcomm Atheros AR9002WB-1NG Wireless Network Adapter
    Realtek PCIe GBE Family Controller
    Microsoft Wi-Fi Direct Virtual Adapter
    Bluetooth Device (Personal Area Network)
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