Windows Installation problem

I tried re-installing windows 4 times on my alienware m17x r3 it has a 320GB 7,200RPM SATA-II HDD and i Always get this error every single time:

Windows Setup could not configure windows to run on this computer's hardware, please restart to compelte the installation.

When i restart I get the same darn error. It pops up after windows installs and in the "completing installation phase"

Now I cant install windows and my computer cant switch on it keeps going to the same screen.

 

have you tried formatting the hdd?

 

are you trying with the original alienware DVD, or standard W7 install media ?

 

the problem is you have the bios set to raid....you either need to load the drivers durring the win7 install or set it to AHCI in bios....lots of post on this subject...hope this helps

 

@nayilalien I dont know how I could format it when windows doesn't even start up... How can I do that?
@Tigress Orchid The original alienware DVD that came with the m17x r3.

@ Steve

yes I read about it and I downloaded the drivers and windows cannot see them when I browse for them from the removable disk when installing windows. I have no idea how to set the bios to AHCI also, if I do somehow is it going to make my hardrive slower? I heard raid is better.

Thanks.

 

you need to make sure you use a USB 2.0 (right side port) port to load the drivers you cant see the drive if you plug into a 3.0 port...and no, using AHCI is not slower if you choose that route

 

and to get into the bios, press F2 while booting when prompted....im not sure which screen the RAID/ACHI option is on but if you cycle through the screens, you will find it easy enough

 

When you install win7 there is an option to format the disc as you install (I seem to recall under custom install), if you use the AW dvd then I don't know, use another computer, plug the drive in as storage then format.
Also when do you remove the DVD install disc? (Normally you should not remove it after the first couple of restart, but really once it is done restarting).
I don't think the "raid" is a problem since you got a HDD 7200rpm, not SSD. but I wouldn't know all that much either. All I know for sure is that mine came in with the 320GB in slot zero working beautifully, never did installed anything on that HDD though.
Maybe try to ask AW for a new DVD install? a real win 7 install ? good luck

 

I think set the raid option make no sense, if you have only 1 HDD.

 

Why are you using the disk, there is a hidden sector on the hard drive use that instead it should put it right back to factory specs

 

Dell ships the r3 in "RAID" mode even if you only have 1 drive. it doesnt mean you are running raid, it just menas you can.. Trust me, im right about this. I had the same issue.

 

hm, but it might be true, cause i have 1 HDD, and there is always driver for RAID loaded...

 

The question about RAID mode came up a few months ago and people found out back then that Intel recommends RAID mode because AHCI is automatically enabled. From there, I would assume that the RAID driver has the logic detection to support their claim.

Nevertheless, I turned RAID off after re-installing Windows 7 on my computer. It gets pretty tiring of seeing that RAID Configuration screen in the BIOS when you're not using it.