BSOD 0x124 During Windows 7x64 Setup -- Help!!

Hi all,


I purchased Windows 7x64 Professional last night. I downloaded it and burned the DVD, I had to use a workaround to burn the DVD due to the fact that I have XP 32bit installed. Once the DVD was burned I began the installation. As soon as I selected the HDD to install on and Custom installation, I hit next. The install began and I got the BSOD when it was expanding the installation files.

I have been a PC Tech since I was 10, I'm A+,MCSE and DCSE Certified, so I'm sure you will be able to see why this is aggravating me so badly.

Here are the Details I got from the BSOD:

The system encountered an uncorrectable hardware error

STOP: 0X00000124

This occurs before there are files on the HDD, so there is no minidump.

This problem has occurred in several places in the installation, I've experienced it in the following locations:

- Before the installation is fully loaded
- As soon as the HDD options appear
- Every time I click on the link that says "Drive Options (Advanced)"
- When the install is Epanding Installation Files
- After the installation has rebooted the machine and begun the setup. (I don't know how it got this far, but one of the times it did)

Hardware information:
Dell Inspiron 1720
2.2Ghz Intel Core 2 Duo w/4mb cache
Intel Chipset
3 GB DDR2 667mHz (1x 1GB, 1x 2GB SODIMMS)
GeForce 8600GS
1x 160GB SATA 5400RPM HDD
1x 160GB SATA 7200RPM HDD w/Drop Protection


What I've tried:
- Ensured that I have the latest BIOS update for the Dell Inspiron 1720: A09.
-Tried both ATA and AHCI, the install seems to get a bit further on AHCI
- Removed one DIMM of my memory (tried both the 2GB and the 1GB)
- Reset BIOS settings, tried multiple configurations, disabling unnecessary Hardware for example.
-Removed all prepherals from the machine (Wireless, Bluetooth)
-Removed one HDD, tried Both HDDs as primary.

I called Microsoft and got exactly what I expected.... nothing.. Absolute cluelessness.


At any rate, I have a couple theories:

1. My machine cant do the x64 version. I don't see that this is the solution though, because I've found several instances where people have got Win 7 X64 running on Dell Inspiron 1720s.

2. Something went wrong creating the disc. I've currently got the disc downloading on my work machine (Server 2008R2 x64) So it should create the Disc appropriately.


Any thoughts or Ideas on what I could try?


Any help is much appreciated.

Rule out the DVD burn by installing from USB... USB Windows 7 Installation Key Drive - Create

Test for 64-bit with GRC|SecurAble: Determine Processor Security Features|

I checked and made sure using that link that my Processor is 64 bit capable and it passed all that. I also made sure that the Drives are all turned on in the bios. All is well in that regard. I also made sure that virtualizaton was turned on and that the drives were in AHCI mode before I attempted the install (as ATA mode is required to use win xp) Any other Ideas? I'd really like to get Windows 7 installed on this machine, but I'm extremely frustrated here.

I Got the ISO file from Microsoft, thinking that maybe its a problem with me making the DVD from 32 bit, a problem occurring then. The ISO was burned easily, and without problem, The same exact problem occurred.

The Installation proceeded until "Expanding files" stops at 0% and then gets the same BSOD. Any assistance would be much appreciated. This is getting really aggrivating.