Windows 7: Error booting from Win7 Install Disk

Hi,

I'm doing an upgrade from 32 bit XP to 32 bit Windows 7 on a Dell Dimension 8300 desktop. I've run the upgrade advisor. The desktop has 2 hard drives and a RAID controller configured in Stripe (RAID 0).

I bought the Windows 7 Home Premium family pack (3 installs) and did the XP to Windows 7 upgrade on two laptops; so I think the disk is okay. When I start the upgrade for a clean install on the desktop I get a "f1 to retry boot f2 for setup" message from the BIOS indicating that it does not seem to recognize the Windows 7 install disk in the CD. I've check the CD reader and it seems to read the files without a problem. I can start the Windows 7 install within XP but that does not work for the clean install, I need to start from the boot. There is a second DVD ROM drive on the system but that does not work either.

I wonder if the problem has to do with the BIOS or the RAID controller that prevents the system from seeing the optical drives during BOOT.

Any suggestions are appreciated.

Dan

Try reseting your BIOS.

Break the RAID array. Install to a single drive, use the other for backup.