Windows setup could not configure windows to run...hardware

[zalliv]

Hello to everyone. I am having a problem installing windows vista Home Premium x64 using the recovery disks order from HP and keep getting "windows setup could not configure windows to run on this computer's hardware".

Computer Specs:
Hp Touchsmart IQ506
P/N: KQ437AA-ABA
Intel Core 2 Duo
Original HDD: Seagat 500GB SATA
Build ID: 83NAv6XrA5 (Recovery Disk sent by HP Build ID 83NAv6XrA3)

So my original HDD crash and I bought a new hard drive (WD Caviar Green 1TB). The recovery disks I created did not work so I order them from the HP website. I follow the system recovery instructions choose advanced options and selected "Reset the computer by erasing the entire drive and recreating the factory setup". Once that step is done it says that windows setup is going to finish the installation and I click the finish button and the computer restarts. Then a dos windows pops up showing mainly Build partition was successful and then a grey background with a animation of two folders transferring files. Then it restarts and I get the same animation which takes longer and finally windows setup starts with a progress bar on the bottom and once it gets 3/4 completed I get a pop windows saying "windows setup could not configure windows to run on this computer's hardware". I thought it might be the WD Hard Drive so I exchange it for a Seagate Barracuda 1TB but still the same problem. I will appreciate any help and thanks for reading my post.

[johnnygeneric]

I'm having the same problem and I've posted the issue on the appropriate forum.  If I get the answer before you do, I'll pass on the solution.  I read that it may be in the BIOS setting for the drive.  Right now mine is set up for RAID.  But someone says to change that to ACHI, or whatever the anacronym is.

Good luck!

[zalliv]

I appreciate if you can keep me up to date on your progress johnnygeneric. I would also like to know if you have the recovery disks build ID match exactly your pc Build ID. I have also read about changing the SATA controller to AHCI OR IDE but my was already set to AHCI and bios tells you and others as well that it's not a good idea to change these settings. So I did not try that method but theres another which is found also on the Microsoft website which you need to download an exec file to update a driver since newer hard drives came with a new advance format and this could cause the issue of windows setup could not configure. But it's listed under windows 7 and windows 08 server and says it is not require for vista but you can still download the file for vista x64. I did download but you need to run the exec on a working computer and then have the files save on a desktop folder and transfer those files to a boot flash drive. I am going to try something else first and will keep you posted. Let me know if how your progress is going and thank you for responding.

[johnnygeneric]

OK.  The guys here provided the solution for me.  And it worked.  I just don't understand how it did.  Do a word search with my handle johnnygeneric and you'll find the posts over in the desktop computers section.

There is a "Cyberlink" fix.  You download the file and burn the CD.  You run this first before you run the recovery disks.  When the program runs the screen is filled with an IKEA-like graphic that basically tells you to take the burned CD out and replace with the recovery disks.  You reboot the computer and off you go with the normal recovery procedure.  I just don't know how this fix works.

Like I mentioned in the post over there, I saw this soultion the very night I started have the problem.  It just seemed so improbable at the time.  But it worked!

[zalliv]

Thanks johnnygeneric for providing a solution. I was still able to access the recovery manager of my old hard drive so I started the procedure with the new hdd connected as an external. It started the process but it eventually fail. So I just used a copy of vista any time upgrade disk and just installed the OS. The only problem is that it installed the 32 bit instead of 64 and I needed to install the network driver. I already downloaded the updates and it's working. I will keep the solution in mind. Thank you again for keeping me up to date on your progress.

[AymanAbdul]

I had the same problem with my HP TouchSmart IQ505 after replacing the hard drive.  I've basically changed the drive configuration in the setup to IDE (drive emulates IDE interface).  Not sure what affect that has on performance.  Reocovery successful!! 

[Peterl1981]

What's the file you downloaded?

[ax5415]

Hi folks,

After a Hard drive failure on my IQ524 Touchsmart I had to use the 3 disk recovery on the new Seagate 500GB replacement (not the same model as OEM).  Same issues installing Vista x64.

I went to the BIOS and changed the SATA controller from AHCI to IDE and restarted.  Got the expected BSOD from the partial install.  Rebooted with the Recovery set and it installed perfectly using the complete wipe option.

Then to set the controller back to AHCI mode i used this guys procedure.

http://bourlas.alloenablog.com/2011/01/09/how-to-enable-ahci-mode-for-windows-7-and-vista-without-fo...

It worked perfectly.  doing the 2 hours worth of updates as i type.  GOOD LUCK to all