Help Installing on Dell 9100

[Hightower]

Now I'm fed up - I can't get a refund so I have to get this working. I have a Dell Dimension 9100. There's no additional/different hardware except I have installed an extra gig of RAM (which was working without fail on XP).

 

The machine has the latest BIOS (AO3), and only the following connections are made:

 

1) Power lead

2) Network cable

3) DVI cable for monitor

4) USB M$ Mouse

5) USB Kensington Keyboard

 

I've unplugged by wireless keyboard/mouse, and all other cables that were plugged in including the sound.

 

As I said, the BIOS is up to date.

 

Windows 7 gets right to the end of installation and then says "The installation was unsuccessful, all changes will be rolled back". This is from a clean install with a formatted HDD. I've tried reseating the RAM. I've ran PC Check with no errors.

 

I'm completely out of ideas! Any help?

[Hightower]

PS - I ran the upgrade advisor under Windows XP and everything was fine apart from a 'Creative Games Port', which it said would not work under Windows 7 as the drivers weren't available. Surely this won't stop it installing though?

[steveg]

I'd start by trying to install it with the extra ram removed, and everything that isn't essential disabled in the bios. Also remove the external keyb, mouse and monitor (i'm assuming its a laptop, if not that might make it a little tricky!)

 

Steve

[jc1875]

PS - I ran the upgrade advisor under Windows XP and everything was fine apart from a 'Creative Games Port', which it said would not work under Windows 7 as the drivers weren't available. Surely this won't stop it installing though?

 

Can you disable the game port in the Bios?

I'd be inclined to reset the bios to factory defaults and remove the extra RAM as SteveG suggested

[Hightower]

The machine is a desktop. I tried removing the RAM and removed the CMOS battery to reset the BIOS - still nothing.

 

The monitor (TV) is connected from DVI to HDMI. Could this cause the failure? I have a feeling connecting the TV via VGA would allow this to work, but don't have a VGA cable to hand.

[Hightower]

Well, I got Win7 on my Acer Aspire One, and I'm chuffed. Gotta say it's really nice.

 

Just gonna try and get it on the Dell now, or tempt the wife to getting a new PC.

[Hightower]

In the hope it will help someone else, I've managed to get Win7 working on my Dell. The problem was indeed using a DVI to HDMI cable instead of a VGA cable.

 

I plugged a VGA in, removed the DVI from my computer and setup went straight through without a hitch. I am absolutely over the moon!

 

Now I have it on my laptop and desktop, and it is gorgeous!