Will Not Boot - Bad Pool Header

Golden · 22 Dec 2013

Hi,

Yes, you can proceed directly to Step 8 and perform the clean install. Do you know how to format the hard drive during installation? If not, see steps 6,7 and 8 here:

Clean Install Windows 7

Did you download the wireless driver necessary to get WIFI internet access? If not, download it using the computer you are using now -- in fact you can download all the product drivers you need now -- and save it to a USB drive for plugging into his laptop and installing later on, once Windows has installed and updated.

Steps you should do now:

1. Install Windows from bootable USB
2. Install wireless driver
3. Run Windows Update

bnailchi · 24 Dec 2013

Attempting Clean Reinstall of Windows 7
December 24, 2013

I put the prepared bootable USB drive in the laptop. If I select F2 (Setup) when I power on the laptop and go to Boot and then USB Storage Device, nothing happens.

If I select F12 (Boot Options) when I power on the laptop, and then select USB Storage Device, I get caught in that same old error loop that attempts to Launch Startup Repair but it ends up unable to do so after a few minutes in the process – “Windows cannot repair this computer automatically”. The loop is:

· Starting Windows
· Very quick flash of BSOD (not long enough to read any text)
· Dell logo
· Windows Error Recovery
· Launch Startup Repair
· “Windows cannot repair this computer automatically”

Is this an indication that a new hard drive is needed?

Thanks for your help and happy holidays!

BJ

bigmck · 24 Dec 2013

It is beginning to sound like a bad HD. I think I would try one more thing before giving up. If you have a blank DVD, I would try burning the Windows 7 ISO to a DVD and see if you can boot with it. Just go to the same site and burn the DVD and try the install. You might have a bad USB drive. Just a shot. Burn Disc Image - ISO or IMG file

bnailchi · 26 Dec 2013

Hi BigMcK,

Great suggestion! I burned the files to a DVD instead of using the USB drive and I was able to start working through the clean install process.

I got to Step 9 of the clean reinstall instructions and when it was almost finished, I got this message:

The installation was cancelled
Any changes that were made to your computer during the installation process will not be saved.
Set-up cannot continue due to a corrupted installation file. Contact the vendor of your Windows installation disc or your system administrator for assistance.

Does this mean that I may need to reburn a new DVD from the start or is it indicating something else?

Thanks for your help.

BJ

bigmck · 26 Dec 2013

Looks like we made a little progress. Trying burning another DVD and see what happens. Burn it at no more than a 4X speed.

bnailchi · 27 Dec 2013

Hi BigMcK,

Even better progress! I burned another DVD and was able to do the clean reinstall of Windows 7. As far as I can tell, all went well.

I tried connecting to the Internet using the Ethernet cable, but it doesn't work. What do I need to make an Internet connection, even if by ethernet cable at first? Do I need to download a specific driver by USB or...?

I have the product support page for Dell Inspiron 5520 (file:///C:/Users/Bar/Desktop/Tools%20for%20Reinstall/Product%20support%20for%20Inspiron%2015R%205520.html)

Thanks.

BJ

bnailchi · 27 Dec 2013

Success! I just figured out how to get onto the Internet. I found and downloaded the ethernet driver. Now I have Internet access using an ethernet cable. I am finding some more to download and update. I am okay for now. I will let you know how it turns out. Thanks again. BJ

bigmck · 27 Dec 2013

That is great. I am glad you got it going. Let the Automatic Updates run so you get all of the Win 7 updates. This could take a while. As I mentioned at the first of this thread, when you get it like you want, go to Macrium Reflect FREE Edition - Information and download and make an image of your C: drive. This way if there is a problem again, you only have to restore the image (15 minute job) and you are good to go. Be sure to keep your image on a different internal hard drive or an external hard drive. If you need further help, just let us know.

bnailchi · 28 Dec 2013

Hi BigMcK,

After lots of downloading of updates and redownloading and some repairing, it appears that all update and driver loading issues have been resolved. Time will tell.

I was able to download the driver to successfully connect to the Internet via ethernet cable. However, after lots of attempts at searching and troubleshooting, although I thought I downloaded the driver needed for WiFi, I am unable to get it. Do you have any suggestions as to how I might solve the wifi problem? Please let me know if there is specific information I can provide here that will help.

After I get the Wifi connected, I plan to do a back-up on an external hard drive.

I think that is all that is left to do. I told my husband that once I get the wifi working and the whole system backed up, he should use it and see if any problems arise and we can take it from there. But, for now, it sure looks good!

Thanks,

BJ

bigmck · 28 Dec 2013

For the Wifi, I would suggest going to the Dell site. They usually have a forum much like this one for questions. They should be able to provide more detailed help. Glad you got it going.