The Windows 7 roll-out, while smooth overall, hit a rough patch with some users. Problems run the gamut, from minor networking issues and gaming hiccups, to more serious boot failures and BSODs. Here’s a look at the top 7 annoyances plaguing early Windows 7 adopters, and the associated fixes.
1. Installation Fails
You won’t get much further on this list, or with Windows 7 in general, if the installation fails. Several users have experienced a problem in which the installer gives the error message “Setup was unable to create a new system partition or locate an existing system partition. See the Setup log files for more information.” Generally this error occurs in situations in which multiple disks are connected to the system. In order to eliminate this issue, disconnect any disks that are formatted as “dynamic disks.”
Meanwhile, some users have encountered an issue in which Windows 7 installation fails at the very end of the process, with the system rebooting automatically as soon as the Windows 7 splash screen appears. The system then displays a message indicating that it was not shut down properly.
This issue is, in most cases, due to a graphics card driver issue. One potential remedy is as follows:
- Turn your system off
- Disconnect your monitor from the DVI port and instead connect it to the VGA port on your system (this will require a different cable)
- Turn your system back on and reinstall Windows 7–the process should complete properly
- Disable Windows Update automatic update (in control panel>System>Automatic updates)
- Go to your motherboard or graphics card manufacturer’s website and download the latest Windows Vista driver(s); install the driver(s).
- Turn your system off and connect your monitor via the DVI port again
2. BSODs
Yup, they still exist in Windows 7. The most common cause of blue screens of death (BSOD) at startup, under Windows 7, is an antivirus software conflict. In some cases, this problem may be caused by a conflict with the Kaspersky Antivirus package. Follow these steps to disable the software.
Some users are also experiencing crashes or blue screens of death (BSODs) under Windows 7 when attempting to wake systems from sleep (hibernation). The first response to this issue is generally to disable sleep mode, but there is another fix.
Enter your system’s BIOS mode. This is accomplished by pressing a specific key repeatedly as soon as your computer is turned on (or right after it is restarted). For many computers, the key is F8, but it may be F1, F2, F10, the Delete (del) key or the Escape (ESC) key. Consult your computer or motherboard’s manual or try different keys until you find the right one. Next check your HDD or storage settings. Turn off SATA and reboot normally.
Filed under Windows 7 by on Oct 27th, 2009. Comment. 
Several users have reported a problem in which Windows 7 freezes when waking from sleep/hibernation (usually after the computer has been left alone for some time, the display/monitor turns off, then the user tries to activate the system).
This problem can sometimes be solved by turning off the auto-hide function of the taskbar. To do this, right-click on the Start button then select “Properties.”
Click the taskbar tab, then uncheck the “Auto-hide the taskbar” box. Restart your computer and check for persistence of the issue.
Filed under Windows 7 by on Oct 16th, 2009. 11 Comments.
Windows 7 may freeze or hang when the user attempts to copy files across the network. “hetmankp,” a poster to the Microsoft TechNet discussion boards, writes:
“When I attempt to copy large files onto a shared network directory the entire user interface freezes. No response to the mouse or keyboard. Waiting several minutes (i.e. long enough for the copy to finish) does not restore functionality. The only option being a hard reset. The remote network share is running on a Linux box using a Samba server. There is presently no anti-virus installed locally.”
Fixes
Install a new driver The problem may be especially prominent with the Atheros L1 Gigabit Ethernet 10/100/1000Base-T Controller used on Asus p5k motherboards. This driver (FTP Link), intended for Windows Vista, has been reported to solve this issue under Windows 7 in a variety of cases.
If you aren’t using an Atheros card, check the website of your network card’s manufacturer for updated drivers–even those for Windows Vista, which may work properly under Windows 7.
Use alternate drivers Try seeking out alternative drivers from manufacturers’ Web sites — both the manufacturer of your computer, and the manufacturers of specific devices.
Also, note that the presence of antivirus software scanning can block proper installation of drivers that are necessary for device function. Try turning off any antivirus or anti-malware/spyware software temporarily while you install or update device drivers, then turn it back on.
You may also want to try installing your device drivers in admin mode. To do this, right-click the driver installation .exe file (e.g. setup.exe) then select “Run as Admin.” Proceed with installation.
Many Windows Vista-compatible drivers offered on device manufacturer websites work well with Windows 7. Check for any Vista drivers and install them on your Windows 7 system. This procedure is especially useful for users who were running Windows XP or another version of Windows other than Vista before installing Windows 7.
Use a new network card Unfortunately, if the aforementioned fix does not work, you may need to use a different network card (NIC). The Dynex DX-PCIGB, available for roughly $30 from Best Buy, has been reported to work well under Windows 7.
Disable non-essential system services Follow these steps:
- Click the Start button and type MSCONFIG then press enter
- Go to the startup tab
- Uncheck any third-party and nonessential startup items. Click to select the Hide All Microsoft Services check box, then click Disable All, and then click OK. Apply the changes and press OK, then restart the system if it does not happen automatically.
- If the problem not occur, go back to MSCONFIG and start re-enabling items in groups. Enable a few items, then restart and check to see if the problem. If it does disable some of those items then restart again. Keep enabling items until you find the culprit, then leave that service turned off permanently or uninstall it.
Filed under Windows 7 by on Aug 24th, 2009. 12 Comments.
We previously reported on some Windows 7 installation issues, including a problem in which the installer states “Setup was unable to create a new system partition or locate an existing system partition. See the Setup log files for more information” (see a fix for that issue here). However, users are now reported a host of other installation issues, including one in which the installer freezes during the “expanding files” phase and another in which the screen goes blank near the end of the installation process.
Fixes
For freezes that occur during the “expanding files” stage, bad memory may be to blame. See our article on checking for bad RAM and replace any problematic modules, then re-try installation.
For an issue in which the screen suddenly goes black, try turning your monitor off then back on again. It appears that the Windows 7 installer may lose communication with the graphics card or the monitor during installation, and powering your display off then back on can re-establish communication and allow you to continue with the on-screen prompts for installation.
Filed under Windows 7 by on May 19th, 2009. Comment.
Many freezes under various versions of Windows are the result of problematic third-party system services. Forget registry cleaners and other paid tools for “cleaning out” your system; a simple procedure can get you back to the basics and, likely, freeze-free. From that point, you can add back the services you desire and check for continued system stability.
Follow these steps:
- Click the Start button and type MSCONFIG then press enter in Windows Vista and Windows 7 (in Windows XP, click the Start button, then click “Run” and type MSCONFIG then press enter)
- Go to the startup tab
- Uncheck any third-party and nonessential startup items. Click to select the Hide All Microsoft Services check box, then click Disable All, and then click OK. Apply the changes and press OK, then restart the system if it does not happen automatically.
- If the problem not occur, go back to MSCONFIG and start re-enabling items in groups. Enable a few items, then restart and check to see if the problem. If it does disable some of those items then restart again. Keep enabling items until you find the culprit, then leave that service turned off permanently or uninstall it.
Filed under Windows 7, Windows Vista, Windows XP by on Apr 22nd, 2009. 1 Comment.
Several users have experienced an issue in which Windows XP fails to properly boot when external disks (either USB or FireWire) are attached. Generally, when this problem occurs, the system will hang at the Windows splash screen, forcing a restart. Disconnecting the drive(s) resolves the issue.
Fixes
Disable the 1394 Network Adapter If you are experiencing this issue with a drive that is connected via FireWire, try disabling the 1394 Network Adapter. This can be accomplished by going to the control panel, then selecting network connections. Right-click on the 1394 connection and select “Disable.”
Lower offending drive’s boot priority Enter your system’s BIOS mode. This is accomplished by pressing a specific key repeatedly as soon as your computer is turned on (or right after it is restarted). For many computers, the key is F8, but it may be F1, F2, F10, the Delete (del) key or the Escape (ESC) key. Consult your computer or motherboard’s manual or try different keys until you find the right one.
Next, find the boot priority (or boot sequence) screen–generally located in “storage” or a similar section–and lower the priority of the external drive that is causing the problem.
Switch connections If your computer has both USB and FireWire ports, and your drive support both USB and FireWire, try switching from one connection method to the other.
Apply Microsoft’s hotfix Microsoft supplies a hotfix for this issue as it affects FireWire drives, though not all users have experienced success.
Filed under Windows XP by on Apr 21st, 2009. Comment.
The Start button and Taskbar in various version of Windows may suddenly become unresponsive or frozen, failing to respond to clicks or other user input.
Fixes
Try the hotfix Microsoft has provided a hotfix for this issue as it occurs under Windows Vista. Unfortunately, a number of users report that the hotfix only temporarily cures the issue.
Remove problematic startup items/services Follow these steps:
- Startup in safe mode (tap the F8 key on your keyboard repeatedly as the computer is starting up)
- Select a method of safe booting from the menu (first try with networking; if the crash still occurs, try without networking)
- Once the system has booted, click the Start button and type MSCONFIG then press enter in Windows Vista (in Windows XP, click the Start button, then click “Run” and type MSCONFIG then press enter)
- Go to the startup tab
- Uncheck any third-party and nonessential startup items–on most systems, this would include all items on the list. Apply the changes and press OK, then restart the system if it does not happen automatically. Startup normally (i.e. not in safe mode)
- If the problem not occur, go back to MSCONFIG and start re-enabling items in groups. Enable a few items, then restart and check to see if the problem. If it does, boot into safe mode again and disable some of those items then re-attempt a normal startup. Keep enabling items until you find the culprit, then leave that service turned off permanently or uninstall it.
Filed under Windows 7, Windows Vista, Windows XP by on Apr 15th, 2009. Comment.
Windows Explorer in Vista may sporadically display the message “Not Responding” during routine operation. This message is accompanied by a temporary freeze of Windows Explorer, or a complete lockup in which explorer automatically restarts or the explorer task must be ended using task manager (control+alt+delete).
Fixes
Run the system file checker tool Click Start then click All Programs. Go to Accessories and right-click “Command Prompt” then click Run as administrator. Enter the command sfc /scannow and press return. After the scan and repairs are complete, restart.
Check your antivirus software The presence of multiple, conflicting antivirus or anti-spyware/malware programs can cause this issue.
Pick one and only one package and make sure it is updated frequently. Installation of multiple anti-virus packages can create conflicts that might actually weaken your system’s immunity and can create stability and performance issues.
Your antivirus software may also be out-of-date or incompatible with Vista. Here’s a list of some compatible programs–make sure you are using the latest of edition of whichever you choose.
Create new administrator account Issues with your user account may cause the “not responding” issue to occur. Try creating a new user account and check for persistence of the problem:
- Open the control panel
- Go to User Accounts>Add User account>Create New “Admininstrator” Account
- Restart and login to the new account
- Check for peristence of the problem. If it is eliminated, transfer your old files from: C:\users\oldaccountname.
Filed under Windows Vista by on Apr 9th, 2009. Comment.
Several users have reported an issue in which installation of Windows 7 fails, freezing on the “Completing Installation” phase.
Fixes
Disconnect external/internal devices The most common fix for this issue is to disconnect all external USB devices, excluding the keyboard and mouse, prior to installation. If installation still fails, try disconnecting the keyboard and mouse right before the freezing phase occurs.
Some users have also reported that they needed to disconnect internal third-party video cards or secondary (dual) monitors before installation would occur properly. The bottom line: get your system as close to bare-bones as possible prior to installation.
Turn on SATA AHCI Enter your system’s BIOS mode. This is accomplished by pressing a specific key repeatedly as soon as your computer is turned on (or right after it is restarted). For many computers, the key is F8, but it may be F1, F2, F10, the Delete (del) key or the Escape (ESC) key. Consult your computer or motherboard’s manual or try different keys until you find the right one.
Next check your HDD or storage settings–it may be set to “legacy device.” Change it to native SATA mode (SATA AHCI).
Filed under Windows 7 by on Apr 7th, 2009. 2 Comments.
Many users have run into a frustrating issue in which Windows Vista x64 will not boot with more than 4GB of RAM installed in the system. In some cases, startup does not occur at all. In other cases, a blue screen of death (BSOD) or complete system freeze occurs soon after startup. Unfortunately, this issue has no clear-cut fix, but a number of promising solutions have materialized.
Check BIOS settings The first, and generally most successful fix for this issue is to modify your BIOS settings. First, boot into BIOS. This is accomplished by pressing a specific key repeatedly as soon as your computer is turned on (or right after it is restarted). For many computers, the key is F8, but it may be F1, F2, F10, the Delete (del) key or the Escape (ESC) key. Consult your computer or motherboard’s manual or try different keys until you find the right one.
Next, navigate to your CPU settings and select “memory.” Look for a setting called “memory hole” and turn it on, then restart your computer.
If you cannot find that option, or it didn’t work to remedy the issue, boot into BIOS again and look for the “MTRR Mapping” setting. Set this to “Discrete” or “Enablde” and restart.
Remove RAM then perform a Windows Update Microsoft has released software updates that can resolve this issue. Unfortunately, you may not be able to apply these updates if you can’t properly boot your computer. The solution: remove one or more RAM modules until the total is under 4GB (we suggest leaving only 2GB installed), then run Windows Update by clicking the Start button, starting to type Update, then clicking Windows Update. Specifically, you want to make sure that Windows Update 929777 is installed.
Update your device drivers Try booting in safe mode by pressing the F8 key immediately as the computer is starting up. If the system boots and operates properly, a driver problem may be preventing the use of 4GB or more of RAM. Make sure all of your drivers are up to date. The fastest way to do this: click the Start button, start typing Update, then click Windows Update.
Next check the manufacturer websites for any of the installed hardware components you know of: graphics cards, motherboards, or just the manufacturer of your computer. Install any pertinent updates then restart your computer.
Check for bad RAM Check for bad RAM or RAM-related issues using Memtest as described in our previous article.
Worst case: Adjust maximum RAM In the worst-case scenario, you will need to reduce the amount of maximum RAM your system can address to something about 2GB but below 4GB. This can be accomplished launching MSCONFIG (click the Start button and type MSCONFIG then return), then navigating to Advanced Options > Maximum Memory. You might need to remove RAM, as aforementioned, to ensure a proper boot before performing this procedure.
Filed under Windows Vista by on Apr 1st, 2009. Comment.