DVD drive wont run installation disc.

[buddyrich]

Im attempting to upgrade from vista 32 to windows 7 on an hp compaq presario cq60 with and AMD athlon Dual Core @ 2.10ghz. When i place the windows disc into the dvd drive nothing much happens. It makes a few noises then nothing. It's an optiarc dvd rw drive which otherwise seems to be working fine. I've already used the 32 bit and 64 bit discs to upgrade on my two other machines so i know there isnt a problem with them. I have checked that the drive is first in line for booting the machine but to no avail. Any suggestions would be welcome.

 

[Carolyn]

Go to Start ===> Computer

The DVD should be listed with the other drives. Can you launch the DVD by double clicking it?

I've already used the 32 bit and 64 bit discs to upgrade on my two other machines so i know there isnt a problem with them.

I hope you have valid licenses for all of those computers. :shock:

 

[neo101]

Update firmware for your DVD player to latest release as I think the Win7 disks are dual layer or some newer format that older DVD drive lasers can't cope with to read.

I had to buy a new DVD player for one of my older PC's cos no newer firmware was available!

 

[biggles1000]

this does sound odd... :/
when you put the disc in, is this with say, XP or Vista already running or booting from the disc just after the initial BIOS screen? If you are able to, I would recommend that you copy the install disc contents onto a memory stick (4GB+ as disc contents is about 2.5 (off the top of my head)). I know forums like this don't like 'dodgy ideas' such as this due to legalities, but given that Microsoft even offer a flash drive boot support tool, i'd say this is legal.
Anyway, if you do copy it all onto a flash drive, you have two options (my install disc kept freezing so I had to use the USB method). You can either boot the memory stick directly from the BIOS if this computer is relatively new (it will be one of the BIOS boot options).
Alternatively, if you have XP (I think it's SP2 and above that work with this) or Vista already installed on the machine, then you can just run the setup file that would now be on your memory stick (I write all this on the premise that you would copy the files onto it from the disc with another computer).
From your user profile, it says Vista, but i'm not sure if that is on the compaq you are having issues with..
Hope I helped, I'm afraid I do end up rambling on all the time :/

 

[buddyrich]

Thanks very much for all the comments. Yes i am licensed to run on three machines and it is vista. I'll try upgrading the firmware first. It wont boot from disc nor will the disc work if i have vista running and just put the disc in the drive. If i have no luck i'll transfer the install files via another machine and see if i can get it done that way.

Thanks again for the help.

 

[essenbe]

If you choose the USB route, this tutorial will help.

 

[buddyrich]

Thanks, i actually found a tutorial and did this today. I successfully changed the boot to the usb device and installation began with no problem. However after i selected the Upgrade option to begin installation, a message comes up telling me that i have booted from the installation disc, i must stop installation and go back to vista, insert the installation disc and install that way-which is exactly what i cannot do and is why im going thru all this hassle!!!!!!! Why did i bother? Seven sucks ass so far.

 

[essenbe]

Custom installs are done by booting into the installation disk. Upgrade installs are done by booting into the install disk from within your OS. Boot into your OS. Go to your USB drive that has the installation files on it. Click to open the USB. One of 2 things will happen. It will either ask if you want to run setup or one of the files you find when you open the USB will be setup (or something similar). Click on that file and setup will begin.