Windows 7: Windows 7 installation disc not recognized.

Hey!

To start off, I've been having massive problems with my current laptop. Mainly just the OS which started going wonky after a Microsoft update about a month back. Ever since, I've had to deal with slowness, lagginess and many errors. After trying to fix these things manually, such as updating, removing old files I don't need as well as programs, I had to eventually give in and do a system restore. And this is where my other problem begins. For one reason or another, the previous restore points I had are mysteriously gone. I only had one from around 2 days ago. All the ones I had from as far back as a month are history. Why I do not know. I usually check up on that to make sure I have one from way back. Perhaps I may have deleted them without knowing. So much to that.

Next problem:

I really want to do a complete reformatting or system installation. A clean one. However, my DVD drive doesn't recognize or acknowledges any of my OS discs. None of them. And they're all purchased from Microsoft. Not even the ones that came with my laptop are working. All other discs work. Such as DVD's as well as regular CD's. I updated the DVD drivers and still nothing. I tried Fixit and still nothing. I don't get why it only does this with the Microsoft installation discs.

Currently, I am using Windows 7 Ultimate on a Dell Precision M4400. 32bit. The DVD/CD is a Toshiba TSST corp DVD+RW TS-U633A.

I have no idea what steps I should take next. I already tried cleaning the DVD drive as well as making sure all the installation CD's have no signs of damage. And they don't.

Any suggestions?



Thanks!

(Also wasn't sure if this belongs in this forum section or elsewhere.)

Welcome
Did you set the boot priority? It would be done with the same procedure in both Vista and Seven
Boot Priority - Change - Vista Forums
You may, also have a restoration partition, which would be the easiest method to use.

According to the Users Guide:

Dell Factory Image Restore
1 Turn on the computer. When the Dell logo appears, press <F8> several
times to access the Vista Advanced Boot Options window.
2 Select Repair Your Computer.
3 In the System Recovery Options window, select a keyboard layout and click
Next.
4 To access the recovery options, log on as a local user. To access the
command prompt, type administrator in the user name field, then
click OK.
5 Click Dell Factory Image Restore.
NOTE: Depending upon your configuration, you may need to select Dell
Factory Tools, then Dell Factory Image Restore .
The Dell Factory Image Restore welcome screen appears.
6 On the Dell Factory Restore Image welcome screen, click Next.
The Confirm Data Deletion screen appears.
NOTICE: If you do not want to proceed with Factory Image Restore, click Cancel.
7 Click the checkbox to confirm that you want to continue reformatting the
hard drive and restoring the system so ftware to the factory condition, then
click Next.
The restore process begins and may take 5 or more minutes to complete.
8 Click Finish to restart the computer.

Use the latest official ISO with SP1 burned to DVD or written to flash stick from Steps 1 and 2, then follow these steps to get a perfect Clean Reinstall - Factory OEM Windows 7.

Use the Dell F12 key to trigger DVD or flash stick to boot, keep the HD set first to boot in BIOS setup.

If your DVD drive doesn't boot any disks then replace it.