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Question

Help?Windows 8 install froze, restarted comp. and now stuck!

Aug 15, 2013 12:35AM PDT

Hey guys,
I think I may have a very serious issue on my hands! Earlier this week, I attempted to install Windows 8 on my computer. Everything checked out and the "compatibility" tool said I met all of the requirements. I start the install and everything was going well until it froze on the "getting ready" screen. The computer restarted and now I can't even access my old OS. It starts up and goes right into the install and then will stop and say "Comp. shut down unexpectedly, computer needs to restart to finish install." and this happens over and over again. I tried to copy an ISO on to a USB and boot from there to try to start the install over, but that didn't work. For some reason, it will not boot from the USB drive and I made sure I set up the BIOS for it to boot from the drive, but the screen just sits there with a cursor blinking. I don't have a restore CD since I built this computer myself. Can anyone give me some advice?

Discussion is locked

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Answer
Odd to read this.
Aug 15, 2013 12:39AM PDT

Since you built it your never find a restore CD for many reasons. First the OS install is from the usual Windows CD/DVD (depends on version because XP fit on CD and later versions are on DVD.)

So when you change an OS you know your old OS and files are most likely going away.

Since you knew that you would repeat your OS install like you did when you built the PC then restore your apps and files because you knew they were going away.
Bob

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Thanks!
Aug 15, 2013 1:01AM PDT

Hey Bob,
Thank you for the quick reply! I don't have a copy of the original OS so I'm in trouble. Do you think burning an ISO file to a cd or DVD would be better than trying to boot from a usb??

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I can't tell. Why?
Aug 15, 2013 1:09AM PDT

I have to defer to Microsoft's instructions on use of that ISO. Some were ready for use from USB and others were used in other ways. Without a link to the instructions anything I wrote would be a bad guess.

But -> CREATING A DVD FROM THE ISO <- is a good idea. Why did I SHOUT? Many folk copy the .ISO file to a DVD then can't boot that. That's true. This is why we use ImgBurn or a supplied MSFT tool to create the DVD from the .ISO.
Bob

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hmm...
Aug 15, 2013 1:13AM PDT

I actually downloaded imgburn yesterday and it put so much spyware on my computer i had to uninstall it! I did download PowerISO and that seems to be better. I tried to create a bootable ISO file from a RAR file and it seemed to work fine as far as that went, but nothing after that! Maybe you're right, it may not have been made for use on a USB. Maybe I will try the DVD and see how that goes. Did I do the right thing when I converted the RAR file to an ISO? I wasn't sure if i was supposed to extract anything once it was added to the USB but it didnt appear that I was able to? Sorry for so many questions, I'm just confused!

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Where did you get ImgBurn from?
Aug 15, 2013 1:18AM PDT

There's a download site that is using a download system that is not a good thing.

I got mine from http://www.imgburn.com/ and nothing else installed.

-> What is this about a RAR file? The .ISO I got from Microsoft was a ready to use ISO. Now I'm confused.
Bob

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sorry!
Aug 15, 2013 1:25AM PDT

Sorry to confuse you, basically what happened was I was given a copy of Windows 8 and it was downloaded onto the computer already. Since I cant access it, I had to try and find another copy to download so that I could quickly fix it. When I download the copy of Windows 8, it comes as a RAR file and then the rest you have to do on your own to make it an ISO file. So lost!

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At this point I think it's a bum download.
Aug 15, 2013 1:35AM PDT
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I was hoping that would'nt be the case!
Aug 15, 2013 1:38AM PDT

I think you're right...I needed to upgrade because I was using vista and it was a little buggy, so I said why not! I got a copy from a friend and this is how it all happened! Thank you so much for all of your help!

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Re: rar
Aug 15, 2013 1:35AM PDT

Microsoft doesn't provide rar-files as far as I know. Only hackers do.

Can you tell more about the copy your were given and you now only have on your hard disk. Although, obviously, if it didn't even finish the installation, it seems it would be useless anyway.

Your choice now:
1. Buy a legitimate copy of Windows 8 and hope that your PC can run it.
2. Reinstall Windows 7 in the same way as you did when you built the PC yourself. If you still have the license code of the original DVD that you apparently lost (that's not very smart to lose it), you can use a DVD from a friend. The wprst thing that can happen is that you have to buy a new license (+ DVD), which is a annoying consequence of losing it.
3. Forget about Windows and start using Linux.

Kees


Kees

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Well...
Aug 15, 2013 1:41AM PDT

Hi Kees,
Basically what happened was I got a copy from a friend and the install went bad. That copy was already on my PC, which now I can't access. So, I tried to quickly download whatever I could to fix this and it was a torrent. So, they usually come as RAR riles. I built this computer with a friend, and he had a whole bunch of software so when we installed windows, he had everything. I was never given a backup DVD or the license code. I know I could spend my money on something more useful, like a bill lol! so I tried to avoid the option of having to purchase a real copy. I wouldn't be opposed to linux, but I'm sure that's not free either Sad

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FOR NOW, THIS THREAD IS OPEN.
Aug 15, 2013 1:44AM PDT

As you can imagine any Torrent download of Windows 8 is highly suspect and we can't offer any help with those versions.

-> As to your Linux isn't free question. Ubuntu is one of the most downloaded and is free to install and use.

What made you think you paid for Linux?
Bob

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Wow...
Aug 15, 2013 1:56AM PDT

I feel like I knew that Linux was once free, but for some reason I was under the impression that it was not free anymore. Welp, that should solve that problem! To linux I go, at least until I can get a hold of a legit copy of Windows. I hope Linux will be easier than trying to copy an ISO to a usb device!

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Answer
Windows 8 install froze, restarted comp. and now stuck!
Aug 16, 2013 6:41AM PDT

Its one of the known issues of Windows 8 installation, your documents should
be safe if you have not selected the option to remove everything, this issue
is mostly due to Firewall and Security. As now you are not getting the
option to start your previous Operating System hence you can not change much
of the setting to get this issue resolved. The only option remains is to
perform a clean installation of Windows 8 in a new partition to save your
documents, as with the current scenario upgrade to Windows 8 will not be
possible.

01. As per your make of the computer start tapping the "One Time Boot Menu"
02. From the list of "One Time Boot Menu" select the ODD Drive or the USB
Flash Drive (it should have Windows 8 installation files)
03. Create a new partition while installing
04. Install Windows 8 in the new partition

Please let us know the status, if the issue is not resolved then post back
with the Operating System that you had earlier and the Model Number of the
computer

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Be aware we can't discuss this version.It was from a torrent
Aug 16, 2013 8:42AM PDT

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