re-installing windows 7

I finally got my XPS 15, first thing of order is starting fresh with windows 7.

I get an error after hitting install, that a dvd/cd device driver is missing. Right now I am trying to slipstream SP1 into my windows installation to see if that helps. I am installing via USB.

I also have some questions about drivers. Intel has a newer driver out than Dell, but its 20MB smaller. Has anyone updated without any problems?

Also, I found out the DE351DL motion sensor has a version 2 on the alienware's driver section Drivers and Downloads , but its still version 1 on the XPS 15 page Drivers and Downloads . I'm going to give the version 2 a try, but just wondering if anyone has experience with it

 

It is strange that you get an error about the dvd/cd device driver when installing Windows via USB..

Maybe the install version on your usb stick has an error? I suppose you used the following Windows tool to create your bootable ub install drive?
Have you tried installing from a DVD?

The clean install guide might help you with all the drivers and order of installing them (although for the XPS 17, I suppose it will be quite similar for the XPS 15).

 

yes, its very strange. when googling the error, it seems most people had it with the beta of Windows 7. I don't know everything about the hardware on my XPS 15, but I'm guessing the usb ports are shared USB 3/2 ports, and that may be giving me a problem.

I haven't tried installing from DVD because I replaced it with a drive bay.

slipstreaming didn't work, I just DL'd from digital river and am trying with a newer version of windows 7 now. My discs are the ones that shipped when it first sold.

 

Theres an utility made by MS to turn an usb stick into a Windows 7 installation device. Its what im using right now. Its an official Microsoft app called "Windows 7 USB/DVD Download Tool".

 

yes, I used the microsoft USB tool. It didn't work, or rather it worked but I still got a driver error after windows booted up, right before configuration.

Right now I'm using RT 7 Lite, its letting me slipstream SP1 into my USB installer along with current windows updates. I also tried to integrate the USB 3.0 drivers. I'm really starting to suspect its the USB ports that are giving me the problem.

this sounds so similar [Resolved] - Install Windows 7 64 bit on VX6 "driver is missing" error

I could just put the dvd drive back in, but I just want to figure it out to save future headaches.

I'm really surprised this hasn't come up before with someone else

 

Just in case anyone else is having this problem, I will put my solution down for people that use the search function.

I have 7z installed on my main PC computer, I downloaded the USB3 drivers from Dell, and extracted them using a right click and selecting 7z extract.

I then used "RT 7 Lite" to inject the usb drivers into a folder I eventually used for my USB installation. There is no need to use the microsoft USB tool, RT 7 will do this for you. You won't even need to make an ISO first. The usb 3.0 drivers must be .inf files, there are two of them, they are 2-3 deep into folders. I used the x64 folder.

I tried to integrate SP1 and the newer updates to my install, but my 4GB flash drive wouldn't fit them all.

I might have some kinks to still work out, it seems like it is defaulting to install on the mechanical drive in the optical drive instead of my ssd mounted inside the laptop. I have a feeling this will be easy to fix though and the hard part is overcome