Windows 7: Windows 7 will not boot and cannot boot from DVD drive

Hi:

My computer hard drive crashed a week ago and most of my back-ups went with the system. So, I got a new 500 GB drive and have been re-installing everything from scratch. I started with a clean install of Windows XP (service pack 2), which took forever to get all the up-dates done. Then I upgraded to Windows 7 and did the up-dates for that. I didn't make a recovery disk at this point because I wanted to get everything installed first.



Unfortunately, the last time I went to reboot it failed. When I power-up the computer it stalls out on the Dell BIOS screen. The F2 and F12 keys do not work. Also, I cannot boot into safe mode. In addition, I cannot get the machine to boot of the DVD drive; so, even if I wanted to, I could not start over at this point.

My machine is a Dell Inspiron 530.

Any assistance would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks.

I just noticed something else - none of the USB slots seems to be working. This would explain why the F2, F8, and F12 keys do not work since I am using a USB keyboard.

Have you checked the BIOS to see whether your hard drive is recognised?

Have you also configured your DVD drive as the first boot device?

You would also do better to carry out a clean install rather than an upgrade, as this tutorial explains.

Clean Install with a Upgrade Windows 7 Version

Windows Vista doesn't have to be installed first. The fact that you have it with a genuine license allows you to clean install Windows 7 with an upgrade disc.

The major problem right now is that I can't use the keyboard or mouse to do anything on the computer.

When you installed Windows 7, did you install the chipset drivers? Without them the USB controllers won't work, which explains why your USB ports aren't recognised and why your USB keyboard and mouse aren't recognized.

Providing you can get online from another computer, my advice would be to download the drivers you need for your system either from Dell or the hardware manufacturer and save them then clean install Windows before installing the drivers.

Check this link first: http://www.computerhope.com/issues/ch000217.htm

You can also try this- Troubleshooting Windows 7 Failure to Boot
Alternatively, you can restore your system to its factory state with the recovery partition (assuming you didn't delete that). You'll lose your data by doing so. Backup your data first, ways for which have been given in the first link.
How to Use the Recovery Partition on a Dell Inspiron 530 | eHow.com

I believe they were. The system rebooted through various updates and there was no problem with the keyboard or mouse prior to the last attempt to reboot.

The problem with that is this is a new hard drive; so, there are no factory settings. The original one the machine came with died. This is why I had to get a new one, which was unformatted to begin with.

Thanks,

In that case your best bet would be to do a clean install for which you've been provided the tutorial in post 3.
You said your keyboard and mouse (both usb interface presumably) aren't working.
Have you tried a ps/2 keyboard. You'll need a ps/2 to usb adapter like this one- Belkin : PS/2 to USB Adapter
I have an option in my bios to disable usb keyboards. Check if there's any similar option in yours incase you might have accidentally enabled it.

EzioAuditore:

I have a PS/2 keyboard. However, the problem is that there is no PS/2 slot on my machine. It's all USB. Also, I can't check anything in the BIOS because I can't get to it.

So, I guess the question at this point is whether or not there is anyway for me to boot off the DVD drive given that I do not have access to a keyboard or mouse?

Thanks,