Unplug all other HD's and peripherals,
Boot into BIOS setup, reset to defaults, save changes. (If an EFI BIOS you'll need to decide if you want UEFI BIOS vs. Legacy BIOS. If UEFIfollow these special steps for Install, otherwise enable Legacy BIOS or Compatibility Support Module to proceed with normal install.) Set DVD drive first to boot, HD second, set SATA controller to AHCI, Save changes and Exit.
Then boot into Windows 7 installer DVD or flash stick burned or written using tool and latest ISO for your licensed OS version here.
At first installer screen Press Shift + F10, or enter System Recovery Options to open a Command Box, type:
DISKPART
LIST DISK
SELECT DISK 0 (after confirming Windows 7 target HD #)
CLEAN
CREATE PARTITION PRIMARY
FORMAT FS=NTFS LABEL='WINDOWS 7'
ACTIVE
EXIT
EXIT
Next click Install Now, then Custom install to Clean Install Windows 7 to the partition you created. If it fails then report back at which step and the verbatim error message.
In addition read over these steps to understand the tools and methods which work best to get and maintain a perfect Clean Reinstall - Factory OEM Windows 7. The steps are the same for retail.
After install you can adjust partition size or Create new partitions for data, etc. in Disk Mgmt. You are creating the partition here for the purpose of wiping the HD and marking Active which overcomes certain install failures.

Ok, so I am asking for a bit of help because I am basically losing my mind. I have this problem that doesn't make any sense to me, despite being decently experience with PC building and troubleshooting.
Here's what's going on: a few days ago I bought an Intel Server motherboard with two LGA1366 sockets (Intel® Server Board S5520UR) because I had two paired LGA1366 Xeons lying around and I was trying to build a cheap 8 core machine just for fun. This motherboard does have its issues, having some bent pins on both sockets. That being said, I was surprised to find out that it work absolutely fine, it boots, POSTs without any issues. I put a 2GB stick of RAM in the first memory slot and it worked no problem.
I then booted into a Win7 install disc to install the OS. Everything still fine. Installed it no problem, but then.. it just hangs and 'Completing installation'. No way to make it go past that.
I looked for possible fixes, here's all the things I did:
- I tried rebooting and it says I need to reinstall because there is an error.
- I tried reinstalling with mouse and keyboard unplugged.
- I tried installing on a different hard drive.
- I tried opening CMD and forcing it to start explorer.exe, but it just froze at something like 'setting web preferences'.
- I tried using regedit to change the install completion status.
- I tried installing with only 1 CPU installed.
Then I tried to run regedit from the install disk screen, forced all the install values and argument line to zero. This somewhat worked, as I was able to get to Win7's login screen, but then it just entered me into a light blue screen that did nothing, because it couldn't 'prepare my desktop'.
At this point I was quite frustrated and tried installing a trial version of Windows Server 2008 r2, the install seemed to work fine. The computer rebooted, and then it got stuck in a screen that says 'preparing your desktop'.
Still nothing. I am seriously quite baffled at this situation because it doesn't make sense to me. I thought I would have problems getting it to POST or be stable, as these things were my main problems last time I was trying to repair a damaged socket. But the computer seems just fine and then I can't get it to finaliza a windows install. I just don't get it.
If anyone has any insight on this whole thing, please do let me know, because as I stated this is driving me insane. Thanks.