300 Touchsmart Crash During Win 7 OS Install

[Dendriform]

Hello all,

I have an HP TouchSmart 300-1025. It came pre-installed with Win 7 (Home) 64 bit. I have been repeatedly attempting to install Win 7 (Home) 32 bit. Every time the system gets close to completing its OS install, I get a blue screen that very briefly shows on the screen. From what I can see during its momentary appearance, the blue screen mentions and physical memory dump. I can not get the system to complete its install of Win 7 (Home) 32 bit. The crash process repeats. Would anyone be able to provide some helpful advice? Is this system designed not to receive an OS install other than its stock image? Am I experiencing a hardware issue? I run a diagnostic check in its bios. All checks pass. I would greatly appreciate any help if any is available.

Thank you for your time.

[frrw · Accepted solution]

Dendriform Hello:

          Of course it is going to crash you can not install Windows 7 32 bit software on a 64 bit operating computer you need to stick with Windows 7 64 bit software there is a big difference in operating systems o.k. If you  like to run older version software on your Windows 7 64 bit computer you still can but not all of the software will work you can up grade Windows 7 home 64 bit to Windows 7 Ultimate 64 bit and ounce that is downloaded go to microsoft website and download windows xp mode. These computers are not 32 bit computers. That is your problem and that is why it crashes. Go back to Windows 7 home 64 bit software. Just like you can not install 64 bit software on a 32 bit computer with out changing computer parts 3d cards hard drives and what ever else needs to change out.

[Dendriform]

Thank you very much. Last night, after I posted this, I re-installed 64 bit and it took. Thats when it occurred to me. I'm special. Lol. I didnt even think that this pc was meant to only run 64 bit. My reason for wanting 32 bit is because there are a few programs that I wanted to run on it that were compatable only with 32 bit OS. I suppose I'll have to adjust my plans for this pc. :0)

Thank you very, very much for your help.

[dianebrat]

This machine can run 32-bit Windows without problems, there is nothing on it that makes it exclusively 64-bit. 32-bit drivers for this machine are available on the hp.com web site for both Win7 and Vista.

While this is not something I would recommend to the casual user, any power user that has installed their own OS from scratch including drivers should be able to handle it.

It should also be noted that 32-bit compatibility is very good in Win7 and the majority of 32-bit programs will install just fine, is there a specific program you have that you know will NOT run under the 64-bit Win7 installation?

There is also no need to upgrade to Windows 7 Ultimate for XP Mode, VMWare makes a free for home use product that will work fine to install an older OS such as XP or even Win7 32-bit.

[Dendriform]

I haven't checked this yet, but...should I check the BIOS for settings that would need to be changed to allow 32 bit installation? Drivers after install are not my concern. The problem that I am having is that the install won't complete. It crashes shortly before finishing. I am needing to use certain pos software that was written for 32bit software. Ive done this to a great many pc. This particular pc is the first time that Ive had this crash issue. :0(

[Dendriform]

I've checked the BIOS. I don't see any features there that would allow for any changes regarding OS bit preference.

[dianebrat]

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Dendriform wrote:

I've checked the BIOS. I don't see any features there that would allow for any changes regarding OS bit preference.

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There is no such setting, my suspicion is a driver that needs to be loaded in setup that's BSODing, but finding it might not be easy. have you pulled the extra RAM? I have seen 32-bit installs of the OS crash when there's too much RAM in the machine.

[Dendriform]

My first thought was the ram also. Not that it had too much, but that maybe a stick was bad. I didnt think that it had too much. It has more than a 32 bit needs...but it only has 4gb. not too much more.

I ran a diagnostic test on the ram, cpu, hdd. The program said that they all passed. I will pull a stick of ram and see if that may help. Honestly, I am willing to try anything, and I greatly enjoy playing and tinkering with my machines. :0) So please, all the suggestions are welcome! Thank you for reading and responding to my post.

[frrw]

Hello Dendriform:

          You are welcome. You can still run older version software even if Microsoft says it's not campatable. I have Windows XP plus installed. I also have Windows 98 software installed as well. Let me know what software you are having troubles installing. Plus I have Microsoft Office 2003 installed. We already know Microsoft Office 2003 was the best version put out by Microsoft. Some software you have to open disc in new window view files. Look for Insulation files on disc and install them individually. Insert disc. then go to my computer click on E: drive select open in new window veiw files. Individual install insulation files. This works for non capatable software.

      Like the older games some times are not because of this new cheap 3 D graghfic card. You will see that message anyway as you install it. Other then that everything else is a go. frrw