BSOD HDD Failed - Install Windows 7 on external hard drive from boot

[oliverdowning]

It is a DVD drive (sorry for not being clear there) and I was able to reset the BIOS, but the same problem has replecated itself.

 

[alphanumeric]

Its conceivable that it could be a motherboard problem. The hard drive controller could have failed. It could be a bad cable too. At this point I'd want to confirm that the Cd's or DVDs are actually bootable. If you have another PC test them in that. If they are bootable then the Dell may in fact have other issues other than just a bad hard drive. The hard drive may not be defective if the motherboard is what is messed up.