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I have this weird problem I never seen before. I'm trying to install windows 7 on my laptop Acer Aspire 6920 (I have two of them). One of them is in working condition (Windows 7 installed), the other one had Windows XP installed, then one day it keep crashing at the end of Windows XP logo with the blue bar running at the bottom (just right before the login screen would come up), what I mean by crash is the computer just loose the power (like holding down the power button) then 2 seconds later it would power on and the whole process repeated. No blue screen, no error message. I try booting into safe mode which works fine. So I though I'll reformat it with Windows 7, but the installer crash right after Starting Windows animation (just before the GUI of Installing Windows came up). I try with windows Vista, and it crash at the end of the green bar running, (right before the installer GUI comes up). I also try with windows XP, the files get copied, restart once, then you're into GUI part, when it say, about 34 minutes remain (installing devices) the installer hang, and I know this because it has been 34 mins for a hours and the HDD light is solid lit, however, no sound the the actual HDD activities can be heard. The CD drive are also not spinning. I even try with Ubuntu 12.10, nothing shows up, doesn't even boot. Try with Ubuntu 10.10, the purple background shows up then hangs. Try with Ubuntu 10.04, the purple background shows up then hangs. I even try the original recovery DVD from the manufacture (Vista), but it's crash right after loading file (the same loading file screen when you install windows 7).

I also try Windows 7 PE, which crash at exactly the same point as Windows 7 installer.

I try stresslinux live cd as an attempt to findout if the hardware is causing the problem, it crash before I get to use it.

I try changing HDD to a different one then repeat the above attempt, the result were the same

I also run memtest for 12 passes, found no error.

I also swap out the HDD from one machine to the other machine and vice versa. Result is the HDD from the defective machine (WinXP) boots up fine in the other machine, but the HDD from the working machine(Win 7) hangs(not crash) in the defective machine.

The BIOS has setting for HDD to be in IDE mode or AHCI, I've tried both options, same result

There is one difference between the two machine, the working machine had an BIOS update (flash BIOS) sometime ago. (but even before the BIOS upgrade I am able to install windows 7 on the working machine).

I'm planning to update the BIOS in the defective machine but I don't know how can I accomplish that as I would need to be in Windows for the updater to works. I don't know if updating the BIOS will help but I'm really running out of idea.

Anyone have any idea of what could be the problems and method to fix this?

I'm suspecting that it could be a hardware problem, but how can I check that.

Thanks

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  • You need a bootable CD or DVD with hardware diagnostics on it. You may be able to download something and burn it to disc yourself. Check the computer manufacturer's website if the computer didn't come with such a thing.
    – martineau
    Nov 17, 2012 at 10:56
  • Even though you did not find any errors while testing your ram, you might want to try just using one of two modules (assuming that you are using dual ram kits). For example: open your laptop, take module A out and try install any OS. If this does not work, open your laptop, put module A back in and take out module B. Now try installing any OS again. Hopes this work!
    – Vincent
    Nov 17, 2012 at 15:14
  • @M0sthated. I've tried that. None of them works
    – chmod
    Nov 18, 2012 at 7:29
  • @martineau do you have any recommended title ?
    – chmod
    Nov 18, 2012 at 7:31
  • No, it's highly hardware specific, which is why I suggested the manufacturer's website. Sometimes you can find generic stuff at, say Intel, for the individual board-level components. It's more likely though that the motherboard or computer maker has some sort of QA testing software for precisely this purpose. At some point it's got to become worth your while to take it in to a computer shop and let them deal with it.
    – martineau
    Nov 18, 2012 at 11:48

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