DC7800 MiniTower - failureto install Windows 7 Pro 64

[GeoffByrne]

Hi, first time here.

i recently bought a refurbed DC7800 convertible mini tower, quad core, 4 gig RAM.  Vista Business 32 is installed & I have no complaints - it's very good.

However I do a lot of graphics & was wanting to install 8 Gig RAM & a 64 bit OS - either Win7 Ultimate or Pro.  I notice doing some research that Ultimate is not supported on thei box, so Pro it has to be.

The problem is, it begins to install then fails around the point where it says 'Expanding Windows Files: 25%' or sometimes at 15%.

I have flashed the BIOS to 1.32 (originally 1.04) and set everything to default, but no joy.

I suspect the answer may involve the loading of a sata or DVD driver at the beginning of the install, but I haven't a clue which it ought to be.

Win 7 Home installed easily & I put on Ubuntu 10.10 64bit which took a long, long time, but was successful.

So, please, someone - help me get my Windows 7 professional 64 bit intalled!!!

thanks.

Geoff

[Paul_Tikkanen]

Hi, Geoff:

I just installed W7 x64 on my dc7800 CMT.

I didn't have any issues at all using a downloaded file that I burned to a DVD.

Try the W7 Pro file from the link below and use the product key you got to activate it.

http://www.mydigitallife.info/official-windows-7-sp1-iso-from-digital-river/

Then 2 days later my HDD died and I just mailed it back to Western Digital today. 

Paul

[GeoffByrne]

I did some more research & downloaded the Microsoft USB tool thingy & put the ISO on a USB stick.  Although I had a message which said it couldn't use 'bootsect.exe' - usual when making a 64 bit USB on a 32 bit system, seemingly - I plugged it in and it booted fine.  By bypassing the DVD drive, it installed in less than 15 mins & I'm a happy bunny.

Thanks for the link to the latest ISOs, I'll make good use of that.  Very slow download, though.

I'm now preparing my new (to me) box with all my usual software & moving my folder over.  I'm very happy with the hardware, quad core is nice.  I think I'll upgrade the RAM to 8 Gig.

Too bad about your hard drive.  It's a real nuisance when something like that happens considering the work & concentration that goes into it.

Thanks for the help, advice & link.

Geoff

[Paul_Tikkanen]

You're very welcome, Geoff.

Glad you got it installed. I would get the 8 GB of memory. That's what I did.

PC2-6400. Makes it run real nice with the 64 bit OS.

Mine has the E8300.

I might try the USB installation method just for the experience. I just need to run out an get a 4 GB flash drive.

I already have th USB installation tool that I downloaded from Microsoft.

Cheers,

Paul

[GeoffByrne]

Sorry, what's an E8300?

G.

[Paul_Tikkanen]

Pentium Core 2 Duo E8300

http://ark.intel.com/products/35070/Intel-Core2-Duo-Processor-E8300-(6M-Cache-2_83-GHz-1333-MHz-FSB)

[GeoffByrne]

Ah!  OK - I'm not up with all the designations.  As noted above, mines a Quad - a Q6600, I think.

I hope this will keep me going for a while.

G.