Windows 7: DELL POST error

I was reinstalling 7 on a year-old XPS Dell for a friend. Now I am getting a POST error. Problem is that part of the message is off the screen. I need to know what failed.

Here is what shows up:

...ting has failed POST
Press F1 to continue or F2 to enter setup

After pressing F1, Windows will load.

Need assistance

have you run the Dell diagnostics ?

Can't.

I just installed a retail copy of 7 x64 on it. No trace of it's OEM load is left (XP Pro x86) and Dell hasn't released their diagnostics app that is fully compatible with x64 on that model. I recieved an error upon installation of Dell diagnostics.

what about the diags built in the bios F12 which XPS model is it ?

Have owned more than a 1/2 dozen DELL PC's and laptops, regardless of what OS it's always been something was either corrupt in your MBR or the boot dialog.

What has worked in every case was boot with the CD and do a repair installation (XP) or a repair (Vista and Windows 7).

In XP it will just boot the next go around or it won't. With Vista and Windows 7 you will see Vista (recovered) and the same Windows (recovered) with 7.

If this is a new drive I'd run a good disk checker, preferably from the manufacturer of the drive. If it is an older drive I'd run the checker as outlined in the new drive.

In either event I'd back up any data you wish to save since it may indicate the drive may need to be RMA'd for replacement under warranty or replaced if out since it may be failing but not necessarily but would be prudent to back up the data.

Based on the age you specified would this be an XPS 600 PC, very well made and huge for its day and just sold mine less than 1 year ago and still running strong.