Windows 8.1 will not install.

JSG99

New Member
Messages
4
Hi,

Finally decided to sign up after spending the last 8 days following "how to's" on this forum.
Whatever I try, I can't get Windows to install onto the desktop PC. This computer was running perfectly fine up to the 10th June 2016. It was running Windows 8.1, the exact same Windows 8.1 I'm trying to install again now, same license key, same retail CD.

I had decided to set up dual boot as I had a spare SSD. 1 SSD for work, the other SSD for general home and games. Initially, I tried to set up UEFI Windows install. I followed the "how to" : http://www.eightforums.com/tutorial...e-firmware-interface-install-windows-8-a.html

It would not complete installation process, usually getting stuck at "installing features" or "installing updates". Everything just freezes, no mouse movement, no keyboard input, no progression of the installation, no reboot during the installation process.

I double and triple checked the SSD format Convert MBR Disk to GPT Disk - Windows 7 Help Forums
And manual set it to GPT several times to make sure.

I then tried creating a bootable USB with Rufus and a Windows 8.1 iso. http://www.eightforums.com/tutorials/15458-uefi-bootable-usb-flash-drive-create-windows.html
Same problem occurred with freezing during install. Even if left to run for 3hrs, it stays frozen.

Eventually, somehow I got it to complete install and it completed the set up and I got a desktop. But Windows would randomly freeze and would require a hard reset. It even showed it had installed under UEFI.
http://www.eightforums.com/tutorials/29504-bios-mode-see-if-windows-boot-uefi-legacy-mode.html
I even managed to install the 2nd multiboot OS at one stage. I had done the windows updates, installed drivers and so on, yet Windows continued to randomly freeze requiring a hard reset.

I kept trying for 5 days, just going in circles. Read this forum and have literally tried everything to do with UEFI installations that I could find, tried everything to do with clean install. Plus searched the net and tried others.

Finally gave up and decided to just reinstall legacy.
Made sure to convert SSD to MBR, did a fresh install and run into the exact same problem. I checked I had disabled secure boot, I had "other OS" chosen. I've tried it with and without these settings and all combination of them.
http://www.eightforums.com/tutorials/17058-secure-boot-enable-disable-uefi.html
http://www.eightforums.com/tutorials/20208-secure-boot-confirm-enabled-disabled-windows-8-a.html

Same thing, the installation freezes at "installing features" or "installing updates". I have tried it with the machine not connected to the internet, with it connected to the internet, I've tried it with 3 different retail versions of Windows 8.1 that I have, I've tried it with a downloaded Windows 8.1 iso and bootable usb, have tried the Windows usb maker tool, have tried UEFI and legacy, all with the same results.

Ive run checks on the hard drives and the RAM, no problem found. I've tried a different SSD, same problem, I've tried a brand new had to tear open the sealed packet HDD, same thing, Windows freezes during installation.

Occasionally, it will complete the installation and I can get to a desktop but then it just ends up freezing and requires a hard reset.

I've tried updating the BIOS, resetting the CMOS. Nothing makes a difference.

So far, I've tried 2 x SSD's, 1 x HDD, 3 x separate Win 8.1 installation CD's (2 x retail, 1 x OEM), Windows 8.1 iso, all tried in UEFI and legacy.
I've checked to make sure there is no Win license saved in BIOS.


It will boot a linux recovery system and seems to work fine.


I'm at my breaking point right now. It shouldn't be this hard to get Windows installed. What am I missing?
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Win 8.1
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    CPU
    FX-9590
    Motherboard
    ASUS Chrosshair V Formula Z
    Memory
    32gb CorsairVengence
    Graphics Card(s)
    ASUS R9 290X
    Browser
    Firefox
    Antivirus
    Kersparsky Total
Disconnect all but the SSD you are going to install to.
Use Rufus and create a flash drive for UEFI and MBR.
Setup your BIOS for whichever one you want.
Boot the flash drive.
Delete all partitions on the flash drive so it is completely unallocated.
Click next and let the installer create the partitions it wants.
See if that helps.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 10 Pro X64
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Lenovo IdeaCenter K450
    CPU
    Intel Quad Core i7-4770 @ 3.4Ghz
    Motherboard
    Lenovo
    Memory
    16.0GB PC3-12800 DDR3 SDRAM 1600 MHz
    Graphics Card(s)
    Intel Integrated HD Graphics
    Sound Card
    Realtek HD Audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    HP h2207
    Screen Resolution
    1680x1050@59Hz
    Hard Drives
    250GB Samsung EVO SATA-3 SSD;
    2TB Seagate ST2000DM001 SATA-2;
    1.5TB Seagate ST3150041AS SATA
    PSU
    500W
    Keyboard
    Wired USB
    Mouse
    Wired USB
    Internet Speed
    3GB Up, 30GB Down
    Browser
    SeaMonkey
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender; MBAM Pro
    Other Info
    UEFI/GPT
    PLDS DVD-RW DH16AERSH
Hi, thanks for the reply.
I only ever try to do Windows installations with the single hard drive connected. And follow the Windows setup installation step by step. I make sure to delete any partitions that show up when this process first starts, Then I let the installer create the partitions that it wants. It creates them (4 if using UEFI GPT, 2 if using Legacy MBR). It then starts the installation process and freezes solid on either the 2nd last or last step. Never actually completing the installation correctly or fully.

That is what is so weird about this time. No matter how I try it (and I've tried at least 50 times over 11 days) it just wont finish the installation correctly.

I even resorted to Shift + f10 / DISKPART process and manually checked the hard drive format, made double sure by manually formatting it during other installation attempts.

I've tried deleting and formatting manually through Disk Management, have tried to hunt down every possibility and test it to see if it makes a difference. Nothing I can find fixes it.

I'm starting to think today its a motherboard or CPU issue. I've tried multiple hard drives, multiple types of Windows installation media, tested the RAM and hard drives, swapped out cables. It really is the only thing I haven't changed out to check. I don't think I have overlooked some simple thing that is causing it and I've swapped out most other components to check them. Late yesterday, I noticed it freeze up lat yesterday when I had the BIOS open, this was a first. Tried updating BIOS as a last resort and it did but still freezing when trying to install Windows. So now I'm guessing its something to do with the MB.

Any one else have other ideas I might have missed?
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Win 8.1
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    CPU
    FX-9590
    Motherboard
    ASUS Chrosshair V Formula Z
    Memory
    32gb CorsairVengence
    Graphics Card(s)
    ASUS R9 290X
    Browser
    Firefox
    Antivirus
    Kersparsky Total

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 10 Education 64 Bit
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Asus
    CPU
    AMD Phenom II X4 980 Black Edition Deneb 3.7GHz
    Motherboard
    ASUS M4N68T-M V2 µATX Motherboard
    Memory
    8GB 4GBx2 Kingston PC10600 DDR3 1333 Memory
    Graphics Card(s)
    NVIDIA Geforce GT640 2 Gig DDR3 PCIe
    Sound Card
    VIA VT1708s High Definition Audio 8-channel Onboard
    Monitor(s) Displays
    22" LG E2242 1080p and 2 19" I-INC AG191D
    Screen Resolution
    1280x1024 - 1920x1080 - 1280x1024
    Hard Drives
    Crucial MX100 256 GB SSD and 500 GB WD Blue SATA
    PSU
    Thermaltake TR 620
    Case
    Power Up Black ATX Mid-Tower Case
    Cooling
    Stock heatsink fan
    Keyboard
    Logitech Wireless K350 Wave
    Mouse
    Logitech M570 Trackball and T650 TouchPad
    Internet Speed
    80 Mbps Down 30 Mbps Up
    Browser
    Internet Explorer 11
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender
    Other Info
    HP DVD1040e Lightscribe - External USB2
Thanks.

I have tried 5 separate USB's, all different brands, tried USB2 and USB3 USBs and USB2 and USB3 ports. Tried UEFI and legacy, tried with the Windows USB maker and with Rufus.

It always results in freezing during the installation process and requires a hard reset to get the computer going again.


I'm pretty sure its the motherboard (a guess at this stage, I'm no expert). I've taken it back to get tested and will update this thread with whatever is the outcome in case someone else goes through something similar in the future and it might help them.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Win 8.1
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    CPU
    FX-9590
    Motherboard
    ASUS Chrosshair V Formula Z
    Memory
    32gb CorsairVengence
    Graphics Card(s)
    ASUS R9 290X
    Browser
    Firefox
    Antivirus
    Kersparsky Total
Ok, just wanted to make sure. It could be a hardware issue. The symptoms fit.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 10 Education 64 Bit
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Asus
    CPU
    AMD Phenom II X4 980 Black Edition Deneb 3.7GHz
    Motherboard
    ASUS M4N68T-M V2 µATX Motherboard
    Memory
    8GB 4GBx2 Kingston PC10600 DDR3 1333 Memory
    Graphics Card(s)
    NVIDIA Geforce GT640 2 Gig DDR3 PCIe
    Sound Card
    VIA VT1708s High Definition Audio 8-channel Onboard
    Monitor(s) Displays
    22" LG E2242 1080p and 2 19" I-INC AG191D
    Screen Resolution
    1280x1024 - 1920x1080 - 1280x1024
    Hard Drives
    Crucial MX100 256 GB SSD and 500 GB WD Blue SATA
    PSU
    Thermaltake TR 620
    Case
    Power Up Black ATX Mid-Tower Case
    Cooling
    Stock heatsink fan
    Keyboard
    Logitech Wireless K350 Wave
    Mouse
    Logitech M570 Trackball and T650 TouchPad
    Internet Speed
    80 Mbps Down 30 Mbps Up
    Browser
    Internet Explorer 11
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender
    Other Info
    HP DVD1040e Lightscribe - External USB2
I see you have 32GB ram, how about removing half then try the install. I've seen cases where this has helped.

If using a wireless mouse/keyboard, try USB.
Make sure noting external is connected other than mouse and keyboard.
Disconnect from the internet until the install completes.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 10 Pro X64
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Lenovo IdeaCenter K450
    CPU
    Intel Quad Core i7-4770 @ 3.4Ghz
    Motherboard
    Lenovo
    Memory
    16.0GB PC3-12800 DDR3 SDRAM 1600 MHz
    Graphics Card(s)
    Intel Integrated HD Graphics
    Sound Card
    Realtek HD Audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    HP h2207
    Screen Resolution
    1680x1050@59Hz
    Hard Drives
    250GB Samsung EVO SATA-3 SSD;
    2TB Seagate ST2000DM001 SATA-2;
    1.5TB Seagate ST3150041AS SATA
    PSU
    500W
    Keyboard
    Wired USB
    Mouse
    Wired USB
    Internet Speed
    3GB Up, 30GB Down
    Browser
    SeaMonkey
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender; MBAM Pro
    Other Info
    UEFI/GPT
    PLDS DVD-RW DH16AERSH
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