Windows 7 Home Premium x64 failng to start on DELL Studio 1555

Gents,

I have an issue with my beloved Dell.

Last week I started to experience some slowness when starting the machine, but, since it then worked fine, I just didn't pay much attention to it (MY FAULT!)

But, last Friday it won't start at all (well, no, after 15 mins or so, it'll eventually starts, but then nothing works fine).

I did a system check (using built in Dell Diagnostic tools) and found that there seems to be an issue with the HDD.

I bought an external HDD and backed up all my music, docs, confs and so on.

When it finished, I used Sys Rescue CD (http://sysresccd.org/) to check the partition on the HDD, but everything, but all I get was that everything seems to be fine.

So -and since the slot in DVD+RW drive that the PC has works really bad with non-original (music) CDs/DVDs-, I bought an external (USB) Asus DVD+RW Slim drive (335€) and, yesterday, tried to boot from there using the Recovery Disc I've made when buying the PC (I had to make 3 of them, one of Windows 7 and two for Dell Recovery Tools, since they charged me almost 50€ to get those from Dell), but it won't correctly initiate.

I got the windows background (the one you have when you're asked for your password, if you don't change it), the mouse moves and all, but, it won't go any further. It stays there for ever -the DVDs not spinning or anything- or, at least for 30 minutes.

Does anyone knows what may be happening?

I mean, is it because I'm booting from USB Drive?

Thank you all!

Any help will be much appreciated. Right now I'm OK using Ubuntu, but since I have to process some pictures (that's one of my jobs) I have no LighRoom there.

Thank you! I'll do so! But, where can I download the install DVD? (my PC didn't come with one)

Stupid me! :)

Thank you!

True! :)

Thank you!

I'll let you know the outcome!

I would take back the 335euro DVD drive since it seems you got ripped off. The going rate here is $40-50 but I'd never pay more than $20. You could have installed from a flash stick. You can also google how to replace your internal DVD drive and find one for cheap.

You also didn't need those Dell disks for 50euro since the installer is provided free in tutorial, and any drivers not in the installer or provided by optional Windows Updates should come from the Dell Downloads webpage for your tag #.

Follow the steps (you hadn't looked at yet) and you'll have a perfect install for as long as you stick with just the tools and methods given.

Let us know how it goes.