Windows Vista Installation Error

Question

I'm using an original Windows Vista SP1 (64bit) DVD (a friend has downloaded one copy of the DVDs provided by Microsoft in the Subscribers' Downloads) and a genuine Registration Key (I had bought Vista but I lost the DVD). I have bought a new Acer Notebook (Acer Aspire 3810 Timeline) one month ago, and I'm trying to install Windows Vista on it. I turned on my computer, I inserted the DVD into an external (USB) DVD Drive, and I followed the wizard. That first time, during the partition creation step (final step) I saw a notice "Windows Vista cannot install on an MBR partition in an EFI system" or something like that, and something else about a GPT Partition Table. I ignored it, I deleted the previous partitions and I asked the Windows to install in the free space. After about 5 seconds, while "Copying Files", I get a Blue Screen error. I used a Partition Manager from another computer (I have connected the Hard Disk there) and I realized that there were three partitions instead of one. Windows XP recognizes only a GPT Partition. From then on, every time I try to install Windows Vista, I get a Blue Screen. Is it because of the Installation DVD or is it something Acer has done to the Computer? Can anybody help me? Please, it is of crucial Importance...

Answer 1

Hi xpmaniac ,

Welcome to Microsoft Windows Vista Forums.

As you mentioned that you are able to install Windows vista 32 bit using the 32 DVD.

May be that the 64bit DVD has gone bad or has some scratches on it.

Clean the surface of the 64 DVD with a clean cloth and try the installation again,if that fails please get the 64 bit DVD replaced,might be the way the disk has been burned might be incorrect.

Hope this information is helpful.

Let me know if this worked.

All the best!

Thanks and Regards:

Halima S    - Microsoft Support.

Answer 2

OK. Thank you for responding once again. I will answer your questions one by one:

• My Hard Disk can't be RAID as it is only one. My Notebook's BIOS Recognizes it as IDE0. In the BIOS, there is also a setting called "Hard Disk Controller Type". There are two options: AHCI and IDE. By default, AHCI is enabled, but I have tried them both.
• The total capacity of my hard drive is 320GB. By the little information I have read in Microsoft about GUID Partition Tables yesterday, it would be compulsive to format a drive that way only if it's capacity exceeded 4TB, so I don't think that the size matters.
• I have deleted all the partitions in the hard disk. The only time I managed to install an operating system was with the Windows Vista 32bit OEM DVD, but before that, I have formated three (only the last one was created by me) partitions using the Windows 7 Beta Setup. I have also used Terabyte Inc. COPY-WIPE 1.14 (which could recognize one partition whose size was 320GB) to completely wipe the drive. I waited untill 1% was completed and then I stopped it, because I don't want to "burn" my new notebook's hard disk.
• The DVD was downloaded from the Subscriber's Downloads (the person who downloaded it for me owns a subscription, it is legal) and I am using a Genuine Registration Key (from the Copy of Windows Vista I have bought). But, even if the problem was the key, I have tried to install Windows Vista without any key. The DVD's capacity is about 3,6GB (I don't have it here right now, I'm writing from another PC) and the DVD image has been verified with its SHA1 hash.

I also need to mention these:

• My Notebook completely craches when this error occours. I can't turn it off even when pressing the Power Button for 5 seconds. I have tried it 4 times totally. The first time, I was forced to pull out the battery, but from then on the battery is not connected to the notebook so that I will not harm it. The other three times, I have simply plugged the Notebook out from the AC Adaptor, but I will not try it again (I afraid that I may harm it). So I can't perform any "experimental" installation again...
• The DVD installed correctly in my desktop computer (without any key of course, but I don't think it matters), but in that Computer, I have come across a problem with the Network Card (no problem has ever occoured until then). That is why I can't answer from this computer, in sipte of its having an operating system.

To conclude, could I ask something? Can you check the download and tell me whether the DVD is broken? If yes, how can I bring my Hard Disk into an empty, unformatted state and where could I find another DVD to install Windows Vista from?

Thanks for all your help,

I'm looking forward to read your answer

Answer 3

Hi xpmaniac,

Welcome to Microsoft Windows Vista Forums.

To get a clear picture of what is going wrong on this issue please provide us the following information:

What is the type of hard drive you are using ? Is it SATA or RAID?

What is the total capacity of the hard drive ?

Have you deleted all the partitions on the hard drive?

As you mentioned in the beginning: (a friend has downloaded one copy of the DVDs provided by Microsoft in the Subscriber)  

Do you have a burned copy of the Windows Vista SP1 (64bit) DVD? If yes what is the total size of the burned files on the DVD?

All the best!

 Thanks and Regards:

Halima S    - Microsoft Support.

Answer 4

OK. I have some additional information, if needed:

I installed my Hard Disk into another computer running Windows XP as hd1.

1. After the errors, the hard disk could not be accessed via Windows XP (it could see a big GPT Partition which entirely filled up the hard disk)
2. I used a Windows 7 beta DVD (which could see three partitions) and I deleted all the partitions. I asked Windows 7 to install, but it encounhtered an error (maybe because there was also another hard disk in the desktop computer I installed my hard disk temporarily to, which had Windows XP)
3. After that, I installed my hard disk again into my Acer Notebook, and I tried to install Windows Vista from a Multirama OEM DVD (it was a 32bit version). It worked perfectly.
4. Can this error be becase of the installation DVD? You know, I need a 64bit version of Windows Vista, as most of the programs I use (Antivirus etc.) are for 64bit systems.

Please, help...

I'm desperate as I don't know what to do. Acer told me that they can't help me, and I should ask Microsoft. Please...

Answer 5

Hi xpmaniac,

Welcome to Microsoft Windows Vista Forums.

To better assist you we require few information.

What is the type of hard drive you are using ?Is it SATA or RAID?

You may have to contact Acer support to get the hard disk firmware updated and also if any drivers are required for the hard drive.

Below are some of the useful articles used while installing windows vista

Troubleshooting Stop error messages that may occur when you try to install Windows Vista:

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/935806

 How to install Windows Vista:

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/918884

 How to convert a FAT16 volume or a FAT32 volume to an NTFS file system in Windows XP:

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/307881

Hope this information is helpful.

Let me know if this worked.

 Thanks and Regards:

Halima S    - Microsoft Support.

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