Chkdsk runs everytime I restart

gregrocker said:

I was referring to the Win7 installation DVD which is sometimes provided by Dell and contains a clean copy of Win7 onlly along with auto-activation, not the Recovery DVD's which contain the factory image with all the preinstalled bloatware. Do you have this DVD which provides a cleaner install?

Let us know how the reinstallation or recovery goes with the new HD.

oh .. yes, my reference to the Win 7 Insall DVD was indeed the DELL Win 7 DVD

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OK back to the new install, I am really trying to do this right and do it once...

I need to ask ( as this is the step I massed up last time) ..

So I going to have one virgin drive installed, and one shiney Dell Win 7 install DVD. I am gonig to boot from that DVD, My questions are this:

QUESTION 1) On this tutorial, Clean Install Windows 7, after step 6, when I expect to see the Disk 0 Unallocated Spece partition, the instrcutions "If the hard drive or partition that you have selected is unallocted, then you can just click on the Next button instead and go to step 9 since it is already empty. "

So, to be clear, there is
- no need to use Drive options to Format ?
- no need to hit New to Create partitiion ??

Correct?

QUESTION 2) I do intend to split the large 1 TB drive, (ie to create Data parttion) but it is so much easier (for me) to do that later, using Disk Management, ie shirnk the C and create a D drive. I assume this is acceptable - correct???

Are you using the 1tb drive you referred to for the installation? If so I would create your partitions in advance using the installer's Custom>Drive Options to partition as you wish, rather than later struggling to shrink such a large partition with Disk Mgmt.

First create your install partition, which on an empty drive will also create the 100mb System reserved partition which is fine. Then either leave the space to its right empty to Create/Format your data partition later, or do it now. Then you can click Next.

If you already created just the one OS partition, that's fine too, but you may need to use free Partition Wizard bootable CD to successfully shrink such a huge partition at boot when no OS files are running.

gregrocker said:

Are you using the 1tb drive you referred to for the installation? If so I would create your partitions in advance using the installer's Custom>Drive Options to partition as you wish, rather than later struggling to shrink such a large partition with Disk Mgmt.

First create your install partition, which on an empty drive will also create the 100mb System reserved partition which is fine. Then either leave the space to its right empty to Create/Format your data partition later, or do it now. Then you can click Next.

If you already created just the one OS partition, that's fine too, but you may need to use free Partition Wizard bootable CD to successfully shrink such a huge partition at boot when no OS files are running.

Thanks for sticking with me.

For those of us who dont do this every day, the process is unbelievably frustrating.

Yes new 1 TB drive ; Dell Win DVD. Nothing else connencted

Okay, here is the play by play:

1) Before I got your reply, I started the process, and follwed the tutorial instructions to the letter which said to hit NEXT. I let it complete only to get the error below. I am really suprised at this one - thought this was the simplest cleanest option of all.

2) So I let it reset ,and then presented me with the partitions it created from the first attempt - the 100MB reserved System Partition, and a large Primary one.

3) All the drive options at that point re new / delete /create/ formqt were grayed out. And all I could select was the reserve System partition or the large priamry partition So, I selected the large primary one, and again let it install.

4) Again I got the "installation was cancelled" error message

Please advise next steps.. I am currently looking at the erro message. Pulling my hair out.

Delete the second partition, select a smaller size (around 100gb is good) for the OS, Create and Format it.

Make sure all other HD"s and peripherals are unplugged. Try install again.

If it fails then without rebooting try Install again doublechecking your partitioning is correct.

Next write the DVD ISO to flash stick to try install: Install UltraISO trial version, on File tab Open DVD or ISO, on BOotable Tab choose Write Disk Image, Format, Write. Boot under USB, Removable, HD's on one-time BIOS Boot Menu or by setting first to boot in BIOS setup.

Next make sure you have the latest BIOS version update from Dell Support Downloads webpage for your tag number. If so reboot and tap F2 key to enter Dell BIOS setup to reset the CMOS: Clear CMOS - 3 Ways to Clear the CMOS - Reset BIOS .

While in BIOS setup, check SATA controller setting. Set to AHCI first to try install. If fails, try ATA/IDE.

Confirm you have tested RAM - Test with Memtest86+ for 5-6 passes, and run chkdsk /f /r from the Win7 DVD or REpair CD Command Line. Remove all but 2gb of RAM to try install, swap RAM sticks.

Please fill in your System Specs in bottom left corner of post so Hardware experts can consult.

gregrocker said:

Delete the second partition, select a smaller size (around 100gb is good) for the OS, Create and Format it.

Try install.

If it fails then without rebooting try Install again doublechecking your partitioning is correct.

Next reboot and enter BIOS setup to reset the CMOS: Clear CMOS - 3 Ways to Clear the CMOS - Reset BIOS . Now try install again.

Next write the DVD ISO to flash stick to try install: Install UltraISO trial version, on File tab Open DVD or ISO, on BOotable Tab choose Write Disk Image, Format, Write. Boot under USB, Removable, HD's on one-time BIOS Boot Menu or by setting first to boot in BIOS setup.

I will be adding steps here.

I will try to delete , but I think it was greyed, out.. Will post back in one minute.

The ISO tuff you mentioned is all greek to me.

Delete is greyed out. All i can select off that screen is Refresh and Load Driver.

Delete and Format are only available if I select the reserved partitiion.

This is crazy.. Hoe to I return to wehre I started, ie all space unallocated?

I've done everything humanly possible,, Given up on my system files, my apps, my data, my hard drive. Bought a new drive. Have a valid DELL Win 7 DVD....

Cannot even do a basic install. ARRGHH!!!

I can try to reset the BIOS of the BIOD menu . But if this needs a motherboard jumper or a battery pull, this is insanity.

mediaman09 said:

I can try to reset the BIOS of the BIOD menu . But if this needs a motherboard jumper or a battery pull, this is insanity.

Please read the illustrated tutorial I linked before getting hysterical. This is supposed to be a learning experience and always leads to a satisfactory solution, so set aside the dramatics please.

Check now the SATA controller setting in BIOS. This may be the problem since the disk may not be being read correctly by installer as has been a prob with Dells in the past.

mediaman09 said:

Delete is greyed out. All i can select off that screen is Refresh and Load Driver.

I have never heard of Drive Options being grayed out except when Win7 installer is run from an OS, not booted.

If you confirm you are booting DVD and this happens again, then follow these steps to use Diskpart from Command Line to wipe the HD, create/format the partition and mark Active as shown in Step 2.2: SSD - HDD Optimize for Windows Reinstallation.

gregrocker;1616057Check now the SATA controller setting in BIOS. This may be the problem since the disk may not be being read correctly by installer as has been a prob with Dells in the past.

.....
If you confirm you are booting DVD and this happens again, then follow these steps to use Diskpart from Command Line to wipe the HD, create/format the partition and mark Active as shown in Step 2.2: [URL="https://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/91339-ssd-hdd-optimize-windows-reinstallation.html" said:

SSD - HDD Optimize for Windows Reinstallation.[/URL]

UPDATE

Re BIOS , I check the BIOS before starting the process to ensure it sae the new hard drive ( and only the new hard drive). I have not yet reset the BIOS.

Re the Win 7 install , I closed the partiion window (with the greyed out options), and exited the installation completely to let it reboot from DVD , load the files again, ask me the language question etc.

Saw the same two partions, but now was able to delete the big one. I deleted it and created a smaller one ( 350GB). I was also able to Format it, I left the remaining 550 GB unallocated.

I selected the 350 GB Primary partition as the one to iinstall Windows on.

Thats where I am now and its currentl installing.

Will post back with results soon .....

Sorry for the drama... its the stress talking..