Windows 7 endless reboot answer evades Microsoft (ComputerWorld)

[Drew Wilson]

Computerworld - Users remained stymied today by endless reboots after trying to upgrade their PCs to Windows 7, according to messages posted on Microsoft's support forum.

An answer has yet to be found for all users, who began reporting the problem last Friday after watching the upgrade stall two-thirds of the way through the process. Most users said that their PCs had displayed an error that claimed the upgrade had been unsuccessful and that Vista would be restored. Instead, their PCs again booted to the Windows 7 setup process, failed, then restarted the vicious cycle.

Several Microsoft engineers, including the company's senior group manager for Windows supportability, have offered advice, but on Monday users continued to publish complaints on a growing forum thread.

"I think I've gotten to the point where trying to install Windows 7 is simply not worth it," said "Chimaera717" around 1 p.m. ET today. Chimaera717 was one of the first users to gripe about reboot hell. "I'm more content with actually having a working computer. Anyone know if we can get our money back?"

More...

I guess we can't blame some third party software packing company for this one.

I miss XP. :frown:

[mountain_rage]

Nope this one is purely a Microsoft snafu. Hope the OS is as stable as they are making it out to be, because so far installing it is the biggest pain in the ass.

[Signa]

I find it interesting with all the beta testing out there, that this didn't happen before. Win7 still has my vote of confidence, but shit like this is pretty inexcusable.

[DigitalJunkie]

All Windows OS are not well known for smooth upgrade! But one of these days, I'll try to install it on my old laptop with clean install. I'd still like to play with it, if possible!

[drtoker]

Clean install took all of 20 minutes for me. Wouldn't attempt an upgrade if you paid me (and they do!)

[El Comandante]

Clean install took all of 20 minutes for me. Wouldn't attempt an upgrade if you paid me (and they do!)

Yep.. I just got W7 OEM today. Clean install all the way.

[Mels_Smileys45]

I hope to install the OS on my test PC this weekend. I love playing with a new toy. As boring as the PC world has become this is about the ONLY thing that stirs me up. I happen to LOVE Bill Gates and MS makes me cream my jeans with they release a new OS ( Except for VISTA! I NEVER liked that POS and thought ME was tons better than that turd! ).

[moneoa]

Been debating weather to install it on my old toshiba sattellite 2450. Anyone have any thoughts on this?

It has a Pentium 4 2.8 gig processor and 512 megs of ram and a 32 meg video card (yes gross).
I have heard it actually runs nicely with 512 megs of ram though i am sure I could not run Aero..who needs glassy windows anyways

[Signa]

I hope to install the OS on my test PC this weekend. I love playing with a new toy. As boring as the PC world has become this is about the ONLY thing that stirs me up. I happen to LOVE Bill Gates and MS makes me cream my jeans with they release a new OS ( Except for VISTA! I NEVER liked that POS and thought ME was tons better than that turd! ).

As much as I feel like agreeing with you, I think that is really an overstatement. ME had a fraction of the development time, and about 1/8th the hype leading up to it. Project Longhorn had 6 years of information leaked on how it was going to beat XP's ass, and save the world. Then it shipped prematurely, and we got Vista. ME, I felt was just released as a "me too" OS, because 2000 came out for the businesses, and Microsoft just wanted to hand the home users something tangible as well.

I've heard all the bad stuff about Vista, but it's never been as bad as my experience with ME. My experience with ME included, but not limited to: Crashes on shutdown, and the inability to complete Max Payne, because the game would crash 100% when walking into a room that you couldn't skip.

[Mels_Smileys45]

I had ME on a computer that I used for about 3 years and I actually liked it. I did get a blue screen from time to time but no more than 98. I actually used ME even though XP was out. Not until XP was out for about 2 years or so did I decide to switch. Now I was much more happy with XP but the point is I was happy enough with ME that I did not feel I had to switch. When I did switch and the blue screens stopped did I realize how good XP was. I do not think I have ever had a blue screen using XP. Of course I have had it slow down to a crawl but it has always fixed itself and I ran an install, 1 install, of XP on a PC for around 5 years with no or I should say little problems.

I may stick with XP once I try 7 because to me XP is an almost perfect product for the PC. I know I shall receive static from people for saying that but I think XP is wonderful. XP design is nothing short of genius.

HEY! I think i beat Max Payne using ME. Not sure though. I did end up buying a new video card because when I entered the last level and the entire building was on fire the game slowed down to about 10 FPS and I kept dieing. I remember installing my graphics card, the first I ever installed, and being blown away by the graphics. That game rocked! Shit! I think I am going to re-install it and play it again! Do you remember the dream sequences and the baby crying? That was creepy!!!!!

Anywho, I think the IG problem with ME is it could not work well with all PC configs so many different problems happened across the board. XP works well on almost any config out there.

Vista has many wonderful things about it. No doubt but I am of the school of thought that MS created a bloated POS OS on purpose to drive PC and RAM sales which were almost dead when Vista was released. The PC market was in serious trouble and some companies died or were consolidated. The only reason people needed to buy a new PC were is their PC broke or they had to have Vista. If you think about it why would MS release an OS that businesses were unable to switch to there by causing MS to lose out on a huge market but as a side effect making many geeky consumers run out and get 8Gigs of RAM or a new PC just to run Vista. MS is not so stupid as to shut themselves out of the office market. They knew XP could stay vital in the office sector but they needed to do something to help the PC market out. These are just my opinions and I could go on and on pointing out different aspects of this debate but I am already in danger of being bloated and long winded myself here.

One more thing before I go. I have said this in a few threads but other than video gaming and perhaps higher def HD movies why should most normal casual PC users want a more powerful computer than one than they bought say...two or three years ago? Most people use their PC's for Facebook, Ebay, Youtube, Email and the like so why spend lots of money on the latest PC when they can go to a used PC store and score a nice PC for 1/3 the price? I have been thinking of getting a Laptop and I have been looking in the used computer stores because I only need one for sitting on the couch surfing Ebay so there is no way I am going to buy a brand new expensive laptop or that. Maybe the PC makers should themselves rethink their business model and start making smaller, inexpensive and less powerful PC for a "BUDGET" market. Seems logical to me but no one ever listens to me even though all my ideas a MONEY! Pure pearls of wisdom. If I was a CEO I would male that company so much cash that the U.S. would come to us for loans instead of China.

Okay, now I really have to go! If anyone read all that you are a real sporto! If you didn't agree with every word and opinion of that post then you are a real turd! J/K but yeah, I am a real Alfred Einstein!

:bling1:

[mountain_rage]

Maybe the PC makers should themselves rethink their business model and start making smaller, inexpensive and less powerful PC for a "BUDGET" market. Seems logical to me but no one ever listens to me even though all my ideas a MONEY! Pure pearls of wisdom. If I was a CEO I would male that company so much cash that the U.S. would come to us for loans instead of China.

Maybe I can clarify this in the way I understand it. You can't really take old tech and automatically have it be cheaper than new technology. Other than the initial development cost, there is no difference between an old PC and a new one in terms of manufacturing cost. In fact, with continued miniaturization of components, new technology is actually cheaper to manufacture than some of the old parts. It would be suicide for AMD or INTEL not to invest in new technology, so the only logical way for them to price their components is as its been done. Now they have realized the need for cheap computers, and from that has come the Atom and Via processors found in Netbooks. So you were right, it is a huge market that needed to be tapped into, and now hey have.
Just wondering if this is what you are looking for in terms of a cheap computer.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16883103228
it even comes loaded with XP, which tells me there is probably a lower model running Linux at $20 cheaper.

There are also some ARM based computers out there, mostly created by hobbyist or to be used as Thin clients. Its essentially an Ipod touch running Linux with a monitor keyboard and mouse, although interestingly enough, they are more expensive then the Atom based counterparts. .

[Mels_Smileys45]

Uhhh, look at PS2. Its still the best selling video gaming system today. Its helped Sony stay up in the video game market.

As for PC makers. They still make tons of old PC components but you would have to build a dated system yourself or go to a small computer store and buy one for $100-200 bucks. The guy that runs a computer tech store near me has tons of Very nice PC's for super cheap and he sells lots of them too. EDIT: You are looking at the cost for paying workers I think and that is not the factor to consider. Knew PC's contain very pricey CPU's. This is because intel/AMD charge a heavy price for the latest processors. Older processors are super cheap. One can buy a 2GHz CPU for under $10. Yep, $10. Now $10 Vs. $700+++ for the lastest Intel then the advantage of packaging a basic PC for everyone becomes clear! I see making the product a NAME brand that when people hear it they know exactly what you are talking about. Throw out everything you know about how PC's are sold and packaged now, maybe even throw out Windows while we are at it. Make it designed mainly as a TV, living room device that even old people will have no trouble hooking up to get started. The browser needs to be the main display, not like how PC's are packaged but when people hit the power the browser comes up and everything else is not accessible unless maintenance in required. I need more time on how to explain my vision because this is coming off the top of my head and the more I think about it the more the thing is clicking together. It would not be like the PC's we are using today but a browser box only...

One PC maker is selling a micro PC through Walmart stores that is very small, looks about as big as a Wii, that is cheap but not extremely powerful. Not sure who makes it but I saw it awhile back when I was strolling through the electronics. This is EXACTLY what the market needs. If an little upstart comp-any would start making little micro PC towers that offered basic power for people who just need a simply work machine to use for Ebaying and shopping, which is what many Walmart people would use it for then that little company would become a force to be concerned about. In fact, I should put together a business plan and do a presentation for Walmart. I think I could sell them on the idea. You ever seen how Walmart lets people do presentations to sell their products? Pretty neat. They let anyone with a product to sell do a presentation. Of course I would change the online shopping bit to include Walmarts online store which they should expand. Maybe even include some type of Walmart pointer on the PC browsers. lol

Again we differ in opinions. I consider myself a sound economic adviser on things like this as I have a knack at predicting business trends. Ive always been good at it and I feel if given the chance I could make money with my business ideas.

[mountain_rage]

Uhhh, look at PS2. Its still the best selling video gaming system today. Its helped Sony stay up in the video game market.

As for PC makers. They still make tons of old PC components but you would have to build a dated system yourself or go to a small computer store and buy one for $100-200 bucks. The guy that runs a computer tech store near me has tons of Very nice PC's for super cheap and he sells lots of them too. EDIT: You are looking at the cost for paying workers I think and that is not the factor to consider. Knew PC's contain very pricey CPU's. This is because intel/AMD charge a heavy price for the latest processors. Older processors are super cheap. One can buy a 2GHz CPU for under $10. Yep, $10. Now $10 Vs. $700+++ for the lastest Intel then the advantage of packaging a basic PC for everyone becomes clear! I see making the product a NAME brand that when people hear it they know exactly what you are talking about. Throw out everything you know about how PC's are sold and packaged now, maybe even throw out Windows while we are at it. Make it designed mainly as a TV, living room device that even old people will have no trouble hooking up to get started. The browser needs to be the main display, not like how PC's are packaged but when people hit the power the browser comes up and everything else is not accessible unless maintenance in required. I need more time on how to explain my vision because this is coming off the top of my head and the more I think about it the more the thing is clicking together. It would not be like the PC's we are using today but a browser box only...

One PC maker is selling a micro PC through Walmart stores that is very small, looks about as big as a Wii, that is cheap but not extremely powerful. Not sure who makes it but I saw it awhile back when I was strolling through the electronics. This is EXACTLY what the market needs. If an little upstart comp-any would start making little micro PC towers that offered basic power for people who just need a simply work machine to use for Ebaying and shopping, which is what many Walmart people would use it for then that little company would become a force to be concerned about. In fact, I should put together a business plan and do a presentation for Walmart. I think I could sell them on the idea. You ever seen how Walmart lets people do presentations to sell their products? Pretty neat. They let anyone with a product to sell do a presentation. Of course I would change the online shopping bit to include Walmarts online store which they should expand. Maybe even include some type of Walmart pointer on the PC browsers. lol

Again we differ in opinions. I consider myself a sound economic adviser on things like this as I have a knack at predicting business trends. Ive always been good at it and I feel if given the chance I could make money with my business ideas.

I wasn't discounting your opinion, I was just giving input based on what I've been told about the manufacturing process. As well as what I picked up over the years reading up on processor technology. The old parts you talk about are discontinued runs, they often don't produce the processor anymore, its just remaining warehouse or store stock. You can definitely make cheap computers with them, and many online stores do, they run at around $100 to $200. Was also just pointing out that the Atom processor has created a discount desktop system much like the one you mention. They are called Nettops. Here check out the wikipedia entry

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nettop

Oh and here, this is the cheapest computer I've ever come across
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applicati...854&CatId=2628

[w31n3r]

...and the inability to complete Max Payne, because the game would crash 100% when walking into a room that you couldn't skip.

lmao, i had the exact same issue on ME playing max payne 2. i got stuck in a room from where he had to jump on to a ledge...but that was on a really crappy computer that had the onboard savage S3 graphics (shittiest graphics sub system on the planet), and when i bought a hercules card (forgot which) it was ok. damn that was a good game.

EDIT: btw, speaking of nettops, if you're going for an atom based one, make sure you DON'T go for one with an intel mobo...they're shite. gigabyte makes them too as i'm sure do many other manufacturers, these are far better than the intel mobo based atom nettops.
:hijacked:

[Signa]

lmao, i had the exact same issue on ME playing max payne 2. i got stuck in a room from where he had to jump on to a ledge...but that was on a really crappy computer that had the onboard savage S3 graphics (shittiest graphics sub system on the planet), and when i bought a hercules card (forgot which) it was ok. damn that was a good game.

EDIT: btw, speaking of nettops, if you're going for an atom based one, make sure you DON'T go for one with an intel mobo...they're shite. gigabyte makes them too as i'm sure do many other manufacturers, these are far better than the intel mobo based atom nettops.
:hijacked:

Yeah, my issue in MP1 was on the catwalk in the room where you have to shift around the stage backdrops at the night club to proceed. They throw a few baddies at you right as you walk onto the catwalk, and it would crash before I could dispatch them. If I remember, it was a full hard-lock, and I needed to reboot the computer to get out of it. Yeah, Vista has NOTHING on ME.