Hi, I'm installing 7 on an Inspiron 1545. But right after the logo screen I get stuck at a Dos screen. It says something like x:/windows/system32. Can someone please help me?
More details needed:
Do you have a known legitimate Windows 7 install disk?
Are you booting from that disc--or not?
Is this a Vista machine in its current state?
Give us more to chew on.
The Machine originally had Windows 7 on it. The Hard Drive has been totally wiped. I went outta town and Came back to this. My brother some how screwed it up. On boot up it says "Missing Operating System". He gave me some Bootleg Version of Windows 7 and when I try to install I get the Dos command prompt box. HEEEELLLLPPPP!!!!
How did the drive get wiped? By your brother accidentally?
I assume the PC at one time had a legal version of Windows on it? Any you never had legal Windows 7 install discs and never made recovery CDs?
Or did he foul up your computer in some way and you deliberately wiped the drive when you used the bootleg disc to reinstall Windows and undo his foul up?
If all you have is the bootleg disk and you never had a legitimate disk, you may be hosed.
There are some ways to recover lost partitions with a boot disk. You might be able to repair or undo something with a legit Windows 7 install disc, but I would be spooked about using that fake disc any more.
Wait for more opinions.
As ignatzatsonic said, you might be out of luck if all you have is a bootleg disc. I would try to get ahold of a windows legitimate disc through ebay or something for cheap and reinstall using MS genuine media.
There are ways to recover, but I don't think that you would be able to undo a fresh install with a bootleg disc using any of them.
But I've watched Him Install It on 3 of my Family members computers.
Yeah, but do they have wiped drives like you do?
See if you can run Dell Factory Recovery as there's a possibility the Recov Partition wasn't wiped: Restoring Your Computer´s Software to the Factory Settings | Dell
If you have factory recovery disks you can boot and run them, or order from Dell.
Otherwise you'll need a clean Win7 Installation DVD for your version to install with Product Key on Dell COA sticker.
If there is a chance the DVD is good and can be used as a Win7 installer, then try booting it to do a Custom clean install. http://pcsupport.about.com/od/tipstr.../bootcddvd.htm
What version does it say at the License Agreement? If it is not your version, insert in another computer with an OS to extract ISO using ImgBurn, run the ei.cfg removal tool to unlock all versions, then burn to DVD using ImgBurn at 4x speed: http://lifehacker.com/5438005/eicfg-...windows-7-disc
Now boot the all-versions DVD, select your version and clean install following these steps: re-install windows 7
Quote