new CPU/Mobo/RAM, but Win7 won't boot from old HDD?? 1

[geilerts]

Upgraded old custom-built system to new Athlon X4 630 and Biostar Mobo AMD3, with new DDR2 1066 ram (4MB). Kept PATA WD 160 HD with existing Win7 32 bit boot. Old power supply is 20-pin, for new 24-pin connector, but GPU is on-board (not PCI) for now. Starts fine, POSTs OK, but Win7 starts and then stops 5 secs in, w an unspecified error. System Repair option finds all sub-systems OK, but sometimes says some part of BIOS config is wrong. From command prompt and in BIOS HDD is present. Had to manually set the RAM 1066 timing. Don't see anything else mis-configured. What next to check?

 

[flyboytim]

The Windows installation you have is configured for the original hardware it was set up on: motherboard, processor graphics, devices etc. You almost certainly will have to reinstall Windows 7 to recognise the new motherboard, processor, graphics etc., and to enumerate all the devices present in the registry, so that the system will work properly.

 

[geilerts]

Thanks flyboytim for confirming what I hoped wasn't the case. I downloaded Win7 and don't have an original Home Premium diskette (only my repair disk which doesn't seem to be enough; or a work copy of Win7 Ultimate). Am going to have to find someone else's original and hope it allows me to install and validate w/ my own Win7 Reg Code. Think that works? Again, thanks for your input, much appreciated.

 

[kjv1611]

Generally speaking, the easiest thing to do is a complete reinstall of Windows.

However, you can try some other things just to see, if you would rather try to not reinstall:
1. Try changing the BIOS to whatever you have for "no fail" options... should be a "default" type setup option under your BIOS settings.

2. Try starting Windows in Safe Mode.
3. If you can get in under Safe Mode, go under the device manager, and uninstall everything that you can, then reboot, see if Windows correctly installs the correct drivers for everything then. If it gets enough done to have a working system, then you're a good part towards completion... after this point, you'd want to make sure you've got the latest drivers for everything installed (or at least good working drivers)... also would be a good idea to run Windows Update afterwards to see what it shows... don't necessarily install ALL the hardware updates there, but you might want to install some... just have to research each one to be sure..

 

[flyboytim]

Windows 7, like Vista is a "one size fits all" installation disk, with the various grades of installation selected at install time. Your Home Premium product key should be recognised to enable a licensed Home Premium installation. There are different disks for 32-bit and 64-bit installations, although I have heard that the product keys are identical for either.

The fun starts when activating the product, it seems. Good Luck.