1st Generation m17x & Windows 7 Installation Problem

I purchased a first generation m17x a little over a year ago, it has been a fantastic machine. It is loaded with Vista Ultimate 32-bit, 2.5GHz T9300 Core Duo, 4GB of PC2-5300 DDR2 Ram, SLI 2x 512 8800 GTX's, and a 1900x1200 LCD.

I'm tired of running Windows Vista 32-bit, and being able to use only 2.0 GB of my installed RAM - so I bought the Retail Version of Windows 7 Professional 64-bit. In order to upgrade from 32-bit to 64-bit you have to boot from the DVD and do a custom install (format, clean install...etc.). I'm totally fine with that.

When I do boot from the DVD everything seems to be normal. It says "Windows loading files" and the progress bar begins to fill, but when it comes time to actually setup the installation and install...the computer shows the Windows 7 background http://img297.imageshack.us/img297/3697/backgroundcli.jpg Then it doesn't show anything but a lone mouse cursor.

After a few minutes of the DVD spinning and slowing down my computer BSOD's - Showing a 0x0000007F error.

I have tried my DVD on two other computers and they work just fine. Does anyone have a clue what is going on?

Has anyone here installed Windows 7 on their 1st Gen. m17x?

I have been struggling with this since October 22nd. Please, for the love of God, help me...

 

if you can maybe try to reinstall windows 7 by booting from the dvd. If no luck maybe try to call microsoft/dell.

 

no offense, but did you even read my post...?

 

Try using Novicorp WinToFlash to load the DVD onto a bootable flash drive. It does it automatically so you don't have to rip an ISO or anything. I was having issues trying to install 7 from the DVD but when I did the flash drive trick it worked just fine, and installed fast!

I also found out that the flash drive needs to be at least 8Gb because the installation files are about 3Gb, and for some reason when I tried it with my 8Gb stick w/ only 1Gb free it failed, but when I cleared out 2 more Gb it worked just fine.. might have to do with the expanding windows files portion of the install.. idk

Anyway, give it a try mate, I'm crossing my fingers for you

 

Will a 5400 RPM Western Digital Portable 250GB harddrive do?

 

I am in the exact same boat. That'll teach me for being an early adopter. My issue is a little more straight foward. My install doesn't hang, it just tells me that I have to load the CD/DVD driver. Problem is, I can't find "the" driver on alienware's website.

I can pay $40 for "premium support" and they'll help me. I would try that latest suggestion about the 16 GB flash, but I can't find mine and I'd rather not pay an additional $70 for the priviledge of running Win 7.

I am really starting to feel ripped off since I was told as an early adopter that we would be grandfathered in for Vista 64, then told sorry, sucka...you can't have it.

Can I use a hard drive in a USB enclosure to do this?

 

Update. I tried Wintoflash with a 4 GB drive and was able to install windows 7 Ultimate without issue.

The only thing is that I am still having one of my original problems. No CD/DVD driver. I will try windows update and see if the hardware is detected.

Anyway, it works and I had no problem with a 4GB stick. Give it a try.

 

I think I have the drivers...what was the hotkey you hit to allow them to be manually installed? and at what time did you hit it?

 

also, please let me know how windows update works...and if it finds the hardware.

 

The cd/dvd issue was fixed. At some point while loading the alienware drivers, the Blu ray drive became available and works fine. *shrug* I am not sure what driver it was, but I suspect it was the ITE driver that supports the bus, allowing windows to see the drive and install it's own driver.

My m17x is now happily running Win 7 flawlessly. It's nice to finally access those other two GB of ram.

But apparently, there is no aliensense or TMP driver. The aliensense folder (on alienware's site) is empty and the TMP driver is the vista version which won't install on Win 7.

Thanks Maximus for the advice. You da man!