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Question

cant load windows 7

Sep 8, 2017 2:14PM PDT

hi , i am trying to load windows 7 on a toshiba l300 laptop , it starts sayinf windows is loading files the to starting windows. but the goes to a black screen . the hdd light stays on and every cpl of minutes the cd drive will click. please if any one can help thanks

Discussion is locked

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Clarification Request
cd drive clicks?
Sep 8, 2017 2:17PM PDT

Do you have a CD or DVD in it? Did you recently reload windows?

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wont load
Sep 8, 2017 2:38PM PDT

thank you , but i dont get that far. bought laptop with no hdd i have put a new one in and am trying to install windows 7 on it. however it starts by saying loading windows files on a black screen with progress bar at bottom , then goes to the starting windows screen but then screen goes blank. hdd light stays on i have left in for a few hours but nothing happens.

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Is this a retail (store bought) W7 disc?
Sep 8, 2017 2:48PM PDT
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oem
Sep 8, 2017 2:56PM PDT

how can i get linux 32bit please to try, as its only 32bit system thanks

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Here
Sep 8, 2017 3:00PM PDT
https://linuxmint.com/edition.php?id=191

This is 17.2, the one I consider most stable. I use 17.3, and there's a new 18.2, but it's got a couple glitches yet, so I don't recommend it for now. No need to install, just boot to the LIVE DVD you create. If you see options for F9 or F12 to choose a boot device, then press that key and choose the CD/DVD drive AFTER you create the LIVE DVD. Otherwise you'd need to set the BIOS to boot to CD/DVD. Most are already set to check the CD/DVD drive first and then choose the HDD if no disc is in the drive.
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Re: 32 bits
Sep 8, 2017 3:01PM PDT
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OEM
Sep 8, 2017 3:03PM PDT

Can't use an OEM disc from one computer to load windows onto another unless it's the same maker and often the same model. Retail versions of windows will load on almost all computers, but the OEM are locked to the computer it's created for.

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That's TRUE.
Sep 8, 2017 3:06PM PDT

I've seen folk try that way too many times.

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Clarification Request
What lead up to this load?
Sep 8, 2017 2:23PM PDT

Sometimes you find the longer story like "My laptop crashed and I'm trying to install...."

Was the cause of the crash found and fixed? It's old enough to have a failed HDD or other part.

Also, did you start with a clean EMPTY HDD? Do not format the HDD. It must be blank, no partitions or W7's installer may indeed hang.

-> Also, do not plug in any USB devices till the OS and drivers are installed.

Post was last edited on September 8, 2017 2:23 PM PDT

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wont load
Sep 8, 2017 2:30PM PDT

thank you , but i dont get that far. bought laptop with no hdd i have put a new one in and am trying to install windows 7 on it. however it starts by saying loading windows files on a black screen with progress bar at bottom , then goes to the starting windows screen but then screen goes blank. hdd light stays on i have left in for a few hours but nothing happens.

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Since this machine came with VIsta
Sep 8, 2017 3:03PM PDT

Did you update its BIOS so you have a clean shot at success?

Did you try a HDD test CD/DVD or DBAN (see google) that drive so you know it's blank?

Did you try using a W10 USB install stick? These are free to make as you google "How to use the Microsoft Media Creation Kit?"

The W7 DVD (is not a CD!) and you find folk burning them and writing as you as the media or drive is no good. That's why I test with my W10 USB stick.

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PS 64 BIT should be fine.
Sep 8, 2017 3:05PM PDT
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depends
Sep 8, 2017 3:13PM PDT

While it might install, if he's only got 2GB or less RAM, he'd be better off with the 32 bit. If he has 4GB RAM, then he'd be OK for 64 bit system.

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My tests over the years
Sep 8, 2017 9:35PM PDT

Show that if you can install a 64 bit version you should as it opens up the memory system and maximizes what you have.

So even on puny old Atom CPUs we install 64 bit OSes.

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My concerns are;
Sep 8, 2017 11:29PM PDT
https://4sysops.com/archives/vista-x64-contra-vista-x86-does-64-bit-offer-better-performance-than-32-bit/

1) It's a Vista era computer

2) Some popular Linux programs don't yet have 64 bit software

3) The LIVE DVD Linux discs have almost no problems installing on older software, the 64 bit ones can, especially for some "drivers" maybe not being available as mods in the 64 bit kernel.

4) 32 bit running same programs as 64 bit versions tend to use less RAM due to the "pointers" in 64 bit systems. If you have less RAM.....

5) Concern that older Vista era computer might have 64 bit processor, but hampered by it's older BIOS, unless there's an adequate BIOS upgrade available.
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Linux 64 bit concerns, Sept 2016
Sep 8, 2017 11:37PM PDT
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Answer
Sounds To Me Like: Bad DVD/CD Drive or Bad OEM Disk
Sep 8, 2017 7:33PM PDT

Either one of those could cause the drive to "click" when the drive isn't reading the disk right.

Although you've stated it's a "CD Drive", I believe Windows 7 OEM discs are all DVD disks. As such, I'm guessing you mean it's a DVD drive. Since it's an old computer, here, we would swap in a known good DVD drive to check things. If the DVD drive is bad, it would also prevent you from installing Linux from a disk as well.

Still, if the disk is an OEM from the same model of computer you're using, it should work as long as the drive is good. If it's not, then it probably won't.

Hope this helps.

Grif