Will Not Boot - Bad Pool Header

bnailchi · 01 Jan 2014

I have been working with the Dell forum folks and I was told that I needed to install Dell drivers in a particular order so that it would work. They have a list of drivers by category in the order of installation on their Website.

However, in the process of installing, the laptop fell back into its Launch Repair loop and appears to be stuck there. During my previous installations following the clean reinstall of Windows 7, the computer made many repairs and kept reinstalling when I turned it on and updating when I shut it down. But other than not being able to install the WiFi driver successfully, it appeared to be working via ethernet cable.

Is this an indication of a damaged hard drive that needs to be replaced? I am willing to do another clean reinstall of Windows 7 and then install the Dell drivers according to their sequential chart if it's worth a try. Is this problem likely the hard drive or could it be something else? My husband is willing to purchase a new hard drive if that appears to be the issue.

Thanks for your help. We trust your best judgement.

BJ

bigmck · 01 Jan 2014

I think it might be time to get the Hard Drive. Newegg.com - 500 gb internal hard drive I have found this page that has some good 500 GB drives. You want to get a 32 MB Cache and 7200 RPM. Western Digital is a good brand. You can get one in the $70 range. Do you have a Windows 7 Installation disk? If not, I can direct you where to get one. Do you know how to install it? If not, let me know and I can direct you to a You Tube video. It is not hard. Through all of this, I have forgotten, is yours a laptop or desktop PC?

bnailchi · 01 Jan 2014

Thanks BigMck. It's a Dell Inspiron 5520 laptop.

bnailchi · 01 Jan 2014

Sorry, I forgot to answer your other question. I have a clean reinstall disk for Windows 7 but nothing else otherwise. I have done the clean reinstall once with this laptop and that is the extent of my experience with it. I welcome any advice or direction you can offer. Thanks.

bigmck · 01 Jan 2014

bnailchi said:

Sorry, I forgot to answer your other question. I have a clean reinstall disk for Windows 7 but nothing else otherwise. I have done the clean reinstall once with this laptop and that is the extent of my experience with it. I welcome any advice or direction you can offer. Thanks.

If you have done the Clean Install once, then you know how to do it. Here is a tutorial on it. Clean Install Windows 7 I will find a you tube video and post it. I will be here to answer any questions after you get the Hard Drive. == There are several different videos according to the model number of Inspiron. See if one of these is yours.
http://www.youtube.com/results?searc...+inspiron&sm=1
Also you will need the Product Key to input after Windows is working. You can find that in the compartment where the battery is probably. It might also be on the bottom of the computer. It is a 25 character key on a sticker that looks like this.

bnailchi · 02 Jan 2014

BigMcK,

Thanks so much for all of your help. My husband will purchase a new hard drive and I will install Windows 7 and the drivers, updates, etc. I had a trial run with all of this, including taking out and reinstalling the hard drive, during the weeks of troubleshooting. I think we are set. Once he gets the hard drive, if I run into problems I will check in with you guys again. For now, we can consider this case closed.

To BigMcK, YoYo155, and anyone else who may have helped during this long troubleshooting process, I thank you. You all have been extremely helpful, patient, and kind. You have taught me a lot during this process. I wish you all a very happy new year and beyond.

BJ