Laptop hangs on setup...help :(

[Jaybee82]

Hi,

 

Short while ago my laptop stopped booting up (would flash bsod for a split second before restarting after the startup logo).

 

So I figure I'd do a fresh install however after I select my keyboard settings, Windows Setup shows and just hangs.

 

I can't get into safe mode, but I noticed that it crashed when loading a file with the extension of avg.

 

Any ideas?

[Plastic Nev]

Hi and welcome to Extreme Tech Support - Free PC Help Jaybee.

 

Do you mean the fresh install is hanging and not finishing? as the mention of the AVG file shouldn't come into it until later, unless it is bundled with the original installation software.

 

Can you let us know the make and model of the laptop please so we can look up how the reinstall should run.

 

Nev.

[Jaybee82]

Hi,

 

The install never really starts, I press to boot up from disk, get to the first Windows Setup screen and then it hangs.

 

The reference to the avg file was when I was trying to boot up in safe mode, it starts showing a number of file paths whilst doing so and then freezes when it gets to avg.

 

The CD has been used for an installation previously also, I've had this issue previously but a friend fixed it.

 

Acer Aspire laptop

Intel pentium processor 2.2

ATI Radeon graphics

4GB memory

 

Thanks for the help!

[Plastic Nev]

Hi again, which CD is it you are using, and what if anything is written on it? Is it a rescue disk created when the laptop was new or a disk that came with the laptop, or one you have got since then?

 

When you say you pressed to boot from the disk, is this from a boot order screen, and if so does it show the hard drive as a boot option?

 

Just need that info to know where to look next thanks.

 

Nev.

[Jaybee82]

Hi,

 

This is a Windows 7 install CD. I have select the CD as the primary boot drive to even get into setup or it does not give me the prompt to 'press any key to boot from CD'.

 

Have tried restoring to last known configuration also but still the same problem.

 

Windows will hang constantly either if I attempt the repair option (without the CD) or at the setup of the new install.

 

Not sure what's wrong :(

[Plastic Nev]

Hi, this is sounding a lot like the hard drive has died. We need to look in the BIOS to see if the BIOS is actually seeing there is a hard drive in the system.

To get to the BIOS pages, press either the Del key or F2 as soon as you press the power on or start button.

 

You may need to navigate round the BIOS to find if the hard drive is being seen by it, if no sign of the hard drive in there then I am afraid it is dead.

 

For help in finding your way round the BIOS pages, have a look at this useful article.

 

http://www.maximumpc.com/article/features/ultimate_bios_guide_every_bios_setting_revealed

 

Nev.

[Jaybee82]

[ATTACH=CONFIG]983.vB5-legacyid=1885[/ATTACH]

 

I have to say I've looked through the BIOS guide and the options for me to view doesn't seem anywhere near as extensive as to what's in that guide. I've attached an image, am I where I should be?

 

It shows the hard drive in the boot sequence where I can change priority.

[seedy21]

Hello Jaybee82,

 

Looks like the Hard Drive is been detected as it is the Item in IDE0 Model Name

 

Try this

 

Restart the machine and Tap F12, Hopefully a menu will pop up and selete the CD Drive and try from there

[Jaybee82]

Hi, have tried that also but still does the same thing :/

[seedy21]

Hi,

 

 

Is they any chance you can take a picture of where the machine crashes when it tries to load up in safemode??

[Jaybee82]

[ATTACH=CONFIG]984.vB5-legacyid=1886[/ATTACH]

 

This is as far as it goes before stopping.

 

Thanks.

[RandyL]

Plastic Nev asked the following but you never really answered his question. All we know is that it is some sort of install disk but we don't know what type or if you have used it previosly on this computer.

which CD is it you are using, and what if anything is written on it? Is it a rescue disk created when the laptop was new or a disk that came with the laptop, or one you have got since then?

 

avgidshx.sys says it loaded so it's probably the next file where it hangs.

 

If this is an Acer recovery disk that you used on this computer before then we know the following.

 

1. Your computer is a Acer Aspire 5738DZG Serial number LXPRK0205800911C932000 which supports XP, Vista and Windows 7.

Which version of Windows did it originally have?

 

2. Your says IDE not SATA. IDE is older.

Which version of Windows did it originally have?

 

3. The drive showing in the BIOS says Toshiba so it is probally a Fujitsu Branded Toshiba hard drive.

 

4. This has happened before.

When and how many times?

 

5. Startup repair fails.

 

6. Safemode won't load.

 

7. Setup starts but then hangs.

 

I would be inclined to run a drive test before trying anything else.

 

Also have a look at the Acer recovery options for your model. There are two ways to recover.

 

Restoring the operating system using the system recovery program or Recovery using CDs or DVDs

 

 

 

[Jaybee82]

Hi, sorry for the vague responses!

 

I'm having to use my phone to reply and not too hot with this thing!

 

The system came installed with Windows 7, the Windows 7 install CD I have is brand new brought in addition to a new hard drive back about six months ago. The old hard drive had failed. This had only happened once before but is pretty much an exact repeat, I had to give the unit to my friend to fix (he's not on the scene anymore to sort this time!).

 

I'm pretty sure the hard drive I brought was SATA but can't remember for sure, I may have to open and check.

 

I'm going to take a look through your suggestions and report back.

 

Really appreciate the help.

[Jaybee82]

Ok tried the service recovery but am given the prompt HDD recovery failed, think maybe what was stored on the laptop for recovery may have been wiped. I don't think I have any other discs or backup either.

[Plastic Nev]

Hi, I was going to ask if you had tried the hard drive check RandyL gave a link to. However having now looked at that page, unfortunately you need the drive and system to be working to run that test.

 

I assume you don't have another computer as you say you are writing here on a mobile, but is there a friend who's computer can be used or borrowed?

 

If so and you are willing to physically remove the hard drive from your own computer and then connect to your friends computer, (Ask if not sure how) We can then do some checks on the drive to see if it is OK or not.

 

Nev.