Failure while setup is in progress - booting from partition

[Newbie Brian]

I have a Dell Inspiron laptop that got a virus on it. I tried to fix the virus but was just not able to and every time I turned the computer on it would get an error message and ask if I wanted to start windows normally, once in a while I would get a BSOD and it would reset itself. I don't remember what the error messages were because I kinda ignored the problem for a couple months and finally got around to saving what I needed and trying to do a reset. Everything went fine when I went into Dells Datasafe Restore. After it wiped the drive and re-installed I got past the Dell screen at startup and on to the windows screen then suddenly got a flash of a BSOD then the computer restarted. I went through the startup repair and got the message Failure while setup is in progress. I've been searching for a solution for a few hours now and I haven't found one. I don't have a recovery disk (I was just trying to use the partition) and I don't have a windows 7 cd. Where do I go from here?

 

[gregrocker]

Try running Dell Diagnostics by tapping F12 at boot and choosing it. If it won't run you can download and run it from CD or stick here: Dell DIagnostics downoad

If hardware is sound you can Clean Reinstall - Factory OEM Windows 7 with everything needed in the link.

If it balks then wipe the HD first with Diskpart Clean Command

 

[Newbie Brian]

Awesome, thanks, I did try the diagnostics and nothing was found wrong with the hardware, just didn't know how to get a version of 7. How do I find out what version to get (32 bit or 64 bit) and then what code will I need to use to log in once I get it set up? My HP has a windows sticker on it that tells what version and what the code is but the Dell only has an express service code.

 

[Newbie Brian]

Any Ideas?

 

[Newbie Brian]

I called Dell to try to get the OS version and security key so that I can try burning a new Windows 7 disk and do a Clean install but it took them 20 min to understand my billing information, The guy didn't ask any questions or give any input indicating that he understood the problem, then he told me he was going to transfer me to customer care, and now I've been on hold for about an hour. I'm guessing the first thing they are going to want before they will talk to me is a credit card # because the computer isn't under warranty. Why doesn't Dell put the Windows authentication sticker on their computers? Is there any way I can tell at least what OS was on it so i know what file to download?

 

[gregrocker]

Look under battery for the COA sticker.

However Inspiron 1545 came with Vista Home Premium 64 bit - the latest drivers posted on Dell' Support Downloads webpage are from 2009. http://www.dell.com/support/drivers/us/en/19

So are you wanting to reinstall Vista or is there a Dell Win7 Upgrade Kit or legal retail copy of Win7 already been installed on that machine? If the latter you'll need to locate the Product Key which should be on an insert that came with the DVD.