Windows 7 CD does not boot.

I went into the BIOS and changed the boot order. The first boot is the Optical DVD player. The Windows 7 CD still does not boot.

What I do not understand is, the boot order has always been DVD player first, hard drive second. But Vista still always loads.

I have a Sony computer.

I would prefer to boot from the DVD instead of going into Windows and booting the CD from there.

 

Also, is there any way to save the backup partition that has Vista on it and still install Widnows 7? I would like it there in case I need to install Windows 7 again since it is an upgrade CD.

 

how did you burn the dvd?

if your dvd is fine, then try to open the boot menu in the bios and select to boot from dvd instead of changing the boot order

 

It is not a burned DVD. It was from Sony.

Where is that boot menu?

 

He just did that.

I suggest you make sure the DVD isn't the issue. Try using someone elses computer and seeing if it will boot the DVD.

There is a way to save the recovery partition. However, you'll have to modify the Bootloader to allow you to boot into that partition.

If you put your make and model into your sig, that will help us give you better advice.

 

The Sony upgrade DVD is not bootable. Refer this thread http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=430379 for making a bootable DVD.

 

Good info.

Next question.

Is a clean install from Windows truly the same as a clean install from a bootable CD?

The clean install can be done from a Windows menu.

http://esupport.sony.com/US/perl/support-info.pl?template_id=1&info_id=507

Although, "it does reference a "retail version" in step 4.

It is confusing. What a surprise.

Is there any reason they could not have allowed a clean install from these upgrade CDs? Someone said Europe and Asia versions can do a clean install

Sony can eat a d*ck.

 

It is not exactly the same as you will not have the option to go advanced and format the drive before installing it AFAIR. It will only either upgrade vista or put vista into the Windows.old folder.

 

No, he didn't - on most computers, there is an option at the POST screen (one of the F-keys) to select the boot device, which is different from changing the boot order in bios setup - i made that suggestion just in case the bios was not using its boot order properly

 

If you want, you can download retail disks from the guide in my sig and do a proper clean install that way

 

Even thought it is not exactly the same, will I notice any difference in the performance of Windows 7?

I wish I would hae waited to buy a computer with Windows 7 installed.

 

If you clean install leaving vista on the drive it should not make any difference. You can delete the old vista files anytime.

 

Good deal. What are those files and where can I find them?

I reread your first post in this thread.

I appreciate the help, but which is it? They are two completely different things.

 

You can copy the Win7 CD contents to a flash drive and boot from the flash drive to install window7

Try this http://wintoflash.com/home/en/

hope that helps.

 

As I said, they will be on C drive (or whatever drive vista is installed on) in a folder named Windows.old. delete the whole folder and the files are gone.

Upgrade means that Vista is TRANSFORMED into Windows 7 and all the programs and everything you in stalled on Vista will already be installed on Windows 7.

The other one is clean installing Windows 7. Meaning you will need to install all your apps from scratch.