[Solved] W7 installation on a 64 bit Dell

[Starbuck]

Hi Jim,

 

Would that still be the case if we reverted to the Dell Vista Premium and upgraded to W7 from there.

As long as the hard drive is formatted and the larger partition selected to install the Operating System on..... there won't be any future problems.

 

I just assumed that what ever mistake was made would not be repeated

That's right.

[Starbuck]

I will let Ken continue to talk you through this, so as to avoid any confusion.

[mij]

I will let Ken continue to talk you through this, so as to avoid any confusion.

Thanks Starbuck. Your help is much appreciated.

jim

[KenB]

Hi Jim

 

I am having problems with the connection here ( I am in France at the moment ) - so apologies if I can't reply as quickly as I would like.

 

and also produced the Vista disks for re-installing the operating system

Brilliant :)

 

Do these disks say "Recovery" on them or are they the full version of Vista? ( I suspect, being Dell, that they will be Recovery Disks )

 

It will be much better for your grandson if everything is reverted to "normal"

 

1. - Take a look at the contents of both C: and D: and copy any files / photos etc that you do not want to lose to a memory stick or burn to DVD

 

2. - Check in the BIOS that the CDROM is set as the first Boot Option.

To do this switch on and tap F2 and DEL keys alternately about once per second ( This covers both options as either F2 or DEL will access BIOS ... could be either )

 

Move around the BIOS with the arrow keys and look for Boot Sequence / Boot Priority or similar.

Once you have found it check the Boot Order.

CDROM should be top of the list.

If it isn't then move it up. It will tell you on screen how to do this.

Don't forget to Save and Exit ( usually F10 )

 

Once you have done the above - get back to me and hopefully I will still have a connection :)

[mij]

Hi Jim

 

I am having problems with the connection here ( I am in France at the moment ) - so apologies if I can't reply as quickly as I would like.

 

We all have our little crosses to bear ;)

 

Do these disks say "Recovery" on them or are they the full version of Vista? ( I suspect, being Dell, that they will be Recovery Disks )

It says

'Reinstallation DVD, Windows Vista, Home Premium 64 BIT SP1'

It will be much better for your grandson if everything is reverted to "normal"

 

That would be good. He is due back today, late last night we got a text saying he was staying another night.

 

1. - Take a look at the contents of both C: and D: and copy any files / photos etc that you do not want to lose to a memory stick or burn to DVD

 

Yes have done that.

 

2. - Check in the BIOS that the CDROM is set as the first Boot Option.

 

Okay I have done this. On this computer it advises F12 for the BIOS, I have located this and changed it to the CDROM

CDROM should be top of the list.

If it isn't then move it up. It will tell you on screen how to do this.

Don't forget to Save and Exit ( usually F10 )

Thanks for that info - I needed that.

Once you have done the above - get back to me and hopefully I will still have a connection :)

Okay I have completed that......many thanks

jim

[KenB]

OK - here's hoping that my connection holds ..... :)

 

Use the mains adapter - we don't want the battery dying half way through.

 

Put the "Reinstallation DVD" into the drive then re-boot.

 

It should then boot from the DVD.

 

You should be able to select Language / Time / Currency etc.

It should then give you an option to Install.

 

If prompted select the "Custom - Advanced" install.

It should locate the two partitions and ask you which one you want to install to.

Select C: ( The big partition )

 

You may get a warning that everything will be lost and the drive will be formatted. This is fine.

If you are prompted to select a file system pick NTFS.

 

From here it should then go through the installation process - if prompted after selecting the drive opt for the "recommended" options.

 

=====================

 

Hopefully at this stage you will have Vista back on the machine.

 

You will also have Win7 on the other partition ( D: ) - we can deal with this later.

 

You may get prompted on startup to select which Operating System you want to boot from as you will have 2.

I think Vista will be the default but if it isn't you will have to be quick to select it otherwise it will by-pass it.

 

===========

 

Let's hope it all goes smoothly :)

 

The installation will take the machine back to factory settings.

You will need to install some Drivers / an AV etc afterwards - and maybe get rid of some bloatware :)

 

I am on the way out now - will pick this up later :)

[mij]

Thanks KenB, I have received this and will start this now. Thanks for the good luck wishes - I got a feeling I may need some

jim

[mij]

OK - here's hoping that my connection holds ..... :)

 

Use the mains adapter - we don't want the battery dying half way through.

 

Put the "Reinstallation DVD" into the drive then re-boot.

 

It should then boot from the DVD.

 

Yes it did just that :)

 

You should be able to select Language / Time / Currency etc.

It should then give you an option to Install.

I did just that.

 

If prompted select the "Custom - Advanced" install.

It should locate the two partitions and ask you which one you want to install to.

Select C: ( The big partition )

 

You may get a warning that everything will be lost and the drive will be formatted. This is fine.

If you are prompted to select a file system pick NTFS.

I did as you said. I did not get the option of NTFS file system - I assume it did it anyway.

 

From here it should then go through the installation process - if prompted after selecting the drive opt for the "recommended" options.

Unsure of this.

 

 

=====================

 

Hopefully at this stage you will have Vista back on the machine.

That is the case :)

 

You will also have Win7 on the other partition ( D: ) - we can deal with this later.

It does show a partition club drive D: ).

 

You may get prompted on startup to select which Operating System you want to boot from as you will have 2.

I think Vista will be the default but if it isn't you will have to be quick to select it otherwise it will by-pass it.

 

What happens is it says 'no medium in the CD drive and goes straight into Vista -hooray!

===========

 

Let's hope it all goes smoothly :)

I did manage to make my porridge whilst it was loading.

 

 

The installation will take the machine back to factory settings.

You will need to install some Drivers

Now that I didn't expect, Dell do supply a lot of disks with drivers on them. They say things like this is already installed on your computer etc...

 

an AV etc afterwards -

Will MSEssentials do?

and maybe get rid of some bloatware :)

And this I didn't expect either. Does this mean we can get rid of some of Windows?

 

I am on the way out now - will pick this up later :)

Thanks very much for that. Back at the start gate. :)

jim

[mij]

Anticipating a question like what drivers do I have (and these are as old as the computer)

Obviously the re-installation disk

A 'Drivers and utilities' disk

Application, lower down it states it's for FastAccess facial recognition Software

Roxio Creator DE10.2

Power dvd player

Dell webcam re-installer

Dell touchcam software

Epson printer (I was looking for this)

Lumix digital camera

 

A home recorded CD for Dell Diagnostics dated 1st July 2012

These are all separate disks but I assume they may well be out of date.

jim

Edited September 4, 2013 by mij

[KenB]

Just been out for lunch. 4 courses and wine !!

 

Well done Jim. :)

 

It may be that all drivers etc. are loaded from the DVD - let's find out.

Start > type in ....devmgmt.msc .... ENTER

Click the + next to each entry and make a note of any that have a yellow exclamation marks next to them.

 

You may well have an AV on there that is free for a time. Norton or McAfee

Take a look in Programs or Add / Remove from Control Panel.

You can safely remove this - let us know which one it was as there is probably a removal tool that will take care of any left-overs.

 

MS Essentials is fine - this is what Starbuck and I use.

Remember - only one AV on the system at any one time.

 

Does this mean we can get rid of some of Windows?

No - not Windows.

Bolatware is the junk that comes with some installations.

Trial offers etc.

 

If nothing obvious is popping up then we will leave well alone. It is possible to remove any junk later if necessary.

 

==================

 

If all seems stable with Vista let's get rid of the stuff on D: drive.

Start > type in .....diskmgmt.msc ...... ENTER

Right click on D: ....... there should be an option to format.

A quick format will do.

This will clear the partition and it will be empty - but useable - for your grandson to make use of.

 

Let me know if this works for you.

 

==================

 

EDIT:

 

Our posts crossed:

 

Drivers and utilities disk

We may need to run this after you get back to me re: device manager and yellow exclamation marks.

 

Dell webcam re-installer

You may need this too - grandson will not be happy without a webcam :)

 

The rest can probably wait.

[mij]

Just been out for lunch. 4 courses and wine !!

 

Just the meat and wine will do me :)

 

It may be that all drivers etc. are loaded from the DVD - let's find out.

Start > type in ....msconfig.msc .... ENTER

 

I keep getting a search box here. What am I doing wrong?

[KenB]

My error Jim ..........too much wine !!

 

I have corrected the previous post ............ it should read .....devmgmt.msc .....

[KenB]

Just a thought Jim ...... Do you intend using the Win7 upgrade disk ?

 

If so ....... we are wasting our time with AVs and Vista drivers etc ........... may as well sort D: partition ( format ) then upgrade to Win7 and take it from there.

[mij]

Just a thought Jim ...... Do you intend using the Win7 upgrade disk ?

Yes please, SWMBO got thw W7 to up-grade this thing for grandson

 

If so ....... we are wasting our time with AVs and Vista drivers etc ........... may as well sort D: partition ( format ) then upgrade to Win7 and take it from there.

That sounds better. Ok we'll go that way and get rid of that annoying little box that tells me I have low disk space on my club d:

jim

[KenB]

Hi Jim

 

If you have not already done so - format D: as per post #35 and if given an option use NTFS.

 

You have used the Win7 upgrade disk before so you should, in your next post , be reporting back that you have a nice new install of Win7 on the machine and a clean D: partition :)

[mij]

Hi Jim

 

If you have not already done so - format D: as per post #35 and if given an option use NTFS.

 

This is where I get lost. There is nowhere to type anything in on Vista and if I do get a cmd line via the windows button and the letter R it takes me to a black screen where it tells me there is no cmd as that.

 

You have used the Win7 upgrade disk before so you should, in your next post , be reporting back that you have a nice new install of Win7 on the machine and a clean D: partition :)

 

I didn't do it right somehow, perhaps this is where I went wrong?

jim

[KenB]

OK Jim - one step at a time :)

 

Format D:

 

Let's try a different route ....

 

Start > Control Panel > System & Maintenance > Admin Tools > Computer Management > you may need to expand Storage > Disk Management

This should be showing the partitions that you have.

 

Right click on D: > format ( quick format )

 

It should look a bit like this:

http://b2b.cbsimg.net/gallery/65238-500-323.jpg

 

Disk 0 is your C: drive with Vista on it.

Disk 1 should be your D: drive

[mij]

OK Jim - one step at a time :)

 

Format D:

 

Let's try a different route ....

 

Start > Control Panel > System & Maintenance > Admin Tools > Computer Management > you may need to expand Storage > Disk Management

This should be showing the partitions that you have.

 

Right click on D: > format ( quick format )

 

I succeeded on the second attempt - for some reason sometimes I have to carry out the procedure twice before they get actioned. I can only assume it's me.:rolleyes:

 

 

It should look a bit like this:

http://b2b.cbsimg.net/gallery/65238-500-323.jpg

The screen dump above did not show in your original post - only when I quoted it. It'd be interesting to know if it shows in my post.

 

Disk 0 is your C: drive with Vista on it.

Disk 1 should be your D: drive

 

To save printing out I am using my computer to communicate with your self so therefore I cannot do a screen dump to show you what it displays here. Perhaps I can describe it.

The top centre pane of that window lists the same 3 partitions as before nothing (empty space) then (C: ) simple basic ntfs etc.

my club (D: ) simple basic ntfs.

 

In the lower centre pane there are the same three listed under disk 0

 

under disk 1 is Removable (F: ) no media.

 

CD-ROM 0 DVD (E: ) no media

Does that read like it's correct to move forward?

jim

[KenB]

The screen dump above did not show in your original post

I added it later ..... sorry :)

 

In the lower centre pane there are the same three listed under disk 0

Hi Jim ........ I don't think I am at my sharpest today !!

Sorry for the confusion.

 

In your case .....Disk 0 shows your hard disk ........... and the partitions on it.

You should see C: partition with the new Vista installation on it ............ and D: partition and possibly one with no drive letter attached.

 

Disk 1 will probably be your DVD drive unless you have another hard drive attached.

 

Something like this:

http://t.cbsimg.net/i/tr/gallery/ee/hdidiskquota/SBS_ServerManagementDiskManagement.jpg

 

Can you confirm that D: has been formatted please ?

You can look at it from Start > Computer > right click on D: > properties

It should tell you that 100% is free.

[mij]

[quote=KenB;101801

In your case .....Disk 0 shows your hard disk ........... and the partitions on it.

You should see C: partition with the new Vista installation on it ............ and D: partition and possibly one with no drive letter attached.

 

Yes that is what I am getting

 

Disk 1 will probably be your DVD drive unless you have another hard drive attached.

It does not have another hard drive attached but for some reason it shows Disk 1 as a Removable (F: ) with No Media. Might this have something to do with the USB's

Can you confirm that D: has been formatted please ?

You can look at it from Start > Computer > right click on D: > properties

It should tell you that 100% is free.

Well it shows as 99% free. I assume some is taken to format it.And I had to wait while it formatted so yes, it is formatted. Looks like we are getting there :)

jim

[KenB]

Looks like we are getting there

We certainly are ........ as Stan Laurel used to say :)

 

Disk 1 as a Removable (F: ) with No Media. Might this have something to do with the USB's

If you have a memory stick or anything else that is used for storage connected to a USB port - this will show in Disk Management

 

OK.

I think we are ready to upgrade to Win7.

It should be a simple matter of putting the disk in the drive > restart > and the installation disk should do the rest.

 

Again - use the mains connection.

 

If you get options they will be similar to before.

Vista is now on C: so Win7 should be installed there too.

 

:) Good Luck :)

[KenB]

The process is straightforward - especially as you are going from Vista Home to Win7 Home

 

During the process you will be asked for the Product Code.

This is the 25 character key that came with the Win7 disk.

Make sure you type this in correctly.

Your installation of Win7 will then be verified.

 

There is a short set of pics here that may help - but it really is plain sailing :)

click here

[mij]

Thanks for that KenB.

 

I had to tread warily to avoid those sites desperate to get users but it has all loaded I think. It is currently downloading the updates necessary for IE10. If that doesn't give MSEssentials then I should be looking for that next.

jim

[mij]

After rebooting (to affect IE10) it offered W7 or W7. Does that mean it still sees the one I put in?:( I thought we'd lost that one!

jim

[KenB]

it offered W7 or W7. Does that mean it still sees the one I put in?

No Jim - it is the Boot.ini file that has not been changed yet.

Your old version of Win7 has gone from D: drive but the coding to boot from it is still in place.

 

We need to alter this - but we need to make sure that we remove the correct one - otherwise it will not boot up at all :)

 

Click on Start and type in ....msconfig .....ENTER

Click on "Boot.ini"

You should see something like this:

 

[boot loader]

timeout=30

default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS

[operating systems]

multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS="Windows 7" /fastdetect

multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(2)\WINDOWS="Windows 7" /fastdetect

 

We need to make a couple of changes to check which one is related to the recently installed Win7.

 

If your timeout=10 this gives you 10 seconds to make a choice before the default is loaded.

You can change this to 20 or 30 if you wish - when we boot later it will give you longer to think.

 

Also we need to make a change here:

 

multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS="Windows 7" /fastdetect

multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(2)\WINDOWS="Windows 7" /fastdetect

 

Change the top one inside the inverted commas to "New Install?" so that it reads like this:

 

multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS="New Install?" /fastdetect

multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(2)\WINDOWS="Windows 7" /fastdetect

 

Basically you can call it whatever you like .......... the bit inside the inverted commas

 

============

 

This is the testing bit as I do not have my Vista machine in France to test what I have just posted.

If you can make the changes - great.

 

If you can only view the boot.ini file from msconfig we will find another way to edit it.

 

If this is the case .............. what do you see in the Boot.ini ?