Win7 install on a Vista machine

[racroesus]

Hi
I have been trying to install Win7 on my Pcspecialist desktop which was provided to me with vista on it in 2008.
I wanted to set up a larger hard drive and plugged in a 1TB Hitachi. I started to install Win 7 and deleted the drives through the install interface. The install ran and I was asked for the Key code. I typed this in and the system then did a restart but all that happened was the HDD access light flashing and no picture on the monitor. After an hour I turned everything off and tried again.
Eventually I hooked up the original HDD but I no longer even get to the stage of being asked for a key before the system goes into its HDD access loop.
I am bewildered.
Any suggestions?
Regards
RA Croesus

 

[Gorman]

Remove all drives but the one you want win7 on, i am going to presume its too late to just do an upgrade providing the upgrade path was valid.

When you have just the one drive in boot from the cd wipe the drive during setup and see how it goes.

Preferably do this with guidance from out helpdesk guys on 0844 499 4000.

Also have to ask, genuine retail 7? what version and what version of vista?

 

[racroesus]

Hi Gorman
Thanks for the reply.
The Win 7 is 64 bit Home Premium from DABS, not an upgrade package.
The system was 64 bit Vista Home Premium.
I have done as you suggested but the system starts into the HDD access loop. I unhooked the two HDDs so that the system would start from the DVD then when the installer got to asking where to install Win 7 I hooked up a disc and used the installer screen to format and delete the partition. I then turned the system off and restarted it when it did start from the DVD but although it said that it had completed installation I never got asked for the product key again because the system would restart and go into its HDD access loop again.
Regards
RA Croesus

 

[Gorman]

right i see, the hdd you want to install to must be present from the start.

So hook it up and then on first boot hit f8 on the motherboard screen, this will give you the boot menu and allow you to boot from the optical drive while the hard drive is attached.

Try the install again, after the first reboot during the install you can let it boot from the hard drive, you should only have to boot to the cd once.