Major Issue

[greshoff]

I dont know if this issue is related to the issues I was having earlier. I got another BSOD so I thought I'd restore an image from an earlier date using Acronis True Image 2011. I booted from the CD and restored the image however when I tried to boot into windows the cursor was flashing at 'boot from CD' and windows would not start. All my files and windows installation from the restored image are there when the drive is connected to another computer so it looks like the drive is OK but I replaced the hard drive, formatted in another computer. I then tried to install windows from the Windows DVD and got the following error ' Set up was unable to create a new system partition or locate an existing system partition' I tried formatting from the windows DVD but same message.

I have tried replacing the PSU and removing some of the Memory modules & different combinations of the memory modules. Issue persists.
Could this be a motherboard issue and if so is there any way to test the motherboard without windows? As far as I can see there is not gigabyte diagnostic utility for my motherboard

Any ideas on where I go from here

Any ideas on where I go from here

Computer is as follows:
CPU
Intel Core 2 Quad Q9550S @ 2.83GHz 33 °C
Yorkfield 45nm Technology
RAM
8.00 GB Dual-Channel DDR2 @ 400MHz (5-5-5-18)
Motherboard
Gigabyte Technology Co., Ltd. P35-DS3R (Socket 775) 34 °C
Graphics
SyncMaster (1600x1200@60Hz)
512MB GeForce 8600 GT (ASUStek Computer Inc) 51 °C
Hard Drives
932GB Western Digital WDC WD10EARS-22Y5B1 ATA Device (SATA) 32 °C
1397GB Western Digital WDC WD15EARS-00MVWB0 ATA Device (SATA) 30 °C
Optical Drives
Optiarc DVD RW AD-7261S ATA Device
PLEXTOR DVDR PX-L890SA ATA Device

[Phage]

Don't use the image. Clean disc and clean install. Format a HDD and re-install from DVD ?

[greshoff]

Don't use the image. Clean disc and clean install. Format a HDD and re-install from DVD ?

As mentioned in original post already tried this.

[kalniel]

Looks like the sort of problem you get if the partition isn't bootable - make sure the partition is a primary one and marked as active when you format/manage it.

The other thing to check is whether your SATA mode is correct in BIOS - I'd recommend IDE mode as that's less reliant on drivers if you've having problems.

[Biscuit]

You could try a free linux distro such as ubuntu?

Sometimes i find that resetting the CMOS and starting on it from scratch is sometimes a good idea. Take some notes or photos of your current settings then reset to defaults and work from there.

The other thing to check is whether your SATA mode is correct in BIOS - I'd recommend IDE mode as that's less reliant on drivers if you've having problems.

Given the age of the mother board i would be surprised if W7 had driver issues with it. AHCI shouldn't cause any issues here.

[kalniel]

Given the age of the mother board i would be surprised if W7 had driver issues with it. AHCI shouldn't cause any issues here.

I built a gigabyte mobo based computer of roughly the same age and it had problems with ACHI mode - switching to another port solved the problem, it was because of a third party controller.

[greshoff]

I built a gigabyte mobo based computer of roughly the same age and it had problems with ACHI mode - switching to another port solved the problem, it was because of a third party controller.

I am not using ACHI mode but IDE mode

[kalniel]

I am not using ACHI mode but IDE mode

Good. Is your partition an active primary partition?

[greshoff]

Good. Is your partition an active primary partition?

Yes, partition is set as primary & Active

[big_hairy_rob]

The problem is unlikely to be with the memory/psu or any other part of the system other than the Hard drive controller, or the Hard drive itself with the latter being the most likely.

We use Gigabyte motherboards exclusively in our workplace including that one you mention. I have never heard of the particular issue you are having, so i would presume that the problem is caused using the imaging software.

Can i ask what OS you are using.

Can you see the hard drives in BIOS? The fact that the system is hanging prior to boot shows that the hard drive may not be detected by the motherboard. Does the boot setup have "boot from Harddrive" as an option? Is it enabled?

Another possibility is that SATA mode has had RAID or ACHI enabled. In this mode you may also not be able to boot.

[greshoff]

The problem is unlikely to be with the memory/psu or any other part of the system other than the Hard drive controller, or the Hard drive itself with the latter being the most likely.

We use Gigabyte motherboards exclusively in our workplace including that one you mention. I have never heard of the particular issue you are having, so i would presume that the problem is caused using the imaging software.

Can i ask what OS you are using.

Can you see the hard drives in BIOS? The fact that the system is hanging prior to boot shows that the hard drive may not be detected by the motherboard. Does the boot setup have "boot from Harddrive" as an option? Is it enabled?

Another possibility is that SATA mode has had RAID or ACHI enabled. In this mode you may also not be able to boot.

Using Windows7. Hard drive is seen in BIOS. SATA mode is set to ide.

[ladcrooks]

date using Acronis True Image 2011. - used many times, but when i went to use it for win 7, not always 100%!

stopped using it all together and now I just use win 7 image. Not let me down once!

[Tinkerer]

If you're not sorted yet, one thing that comes to mind is trying a different setting for the disk addressing??? LBA or Large etc.in BIOS. The two PCs may be set differently.

[mikemikemi]

I think I had this issue before, I followed the instructions in post 2 here:
http://windows7forums.com/windows-7-...ion-error.html

This sorted it for me.

[Tinkerer]

It is access mode in bios which deals with the issue I mentioned above. Also worth eliminating is to do a repair of MBR (master boot record). I assume Win 7 install disk lets you go to recovery console to achieve this like XP. Data will still be accessible when the disk is connected as a second disk on another PC even if MBR is corrupted.

If you are already sorted please post solution so we can all learn.

[greshoff]

Issue not sorted, tried fixing MBR using Win 7 disc without success. I have decided to build a new computer and will sort out the current one at a later date.