Windows 7 needs cd/dvd drives to install

I'm going from 32-bit vista to 64-bit win 7; my alienware m17x-R1 can support 64-bit. I bought win7 at a store (OEM system builder pack) When I boot from the cd/dvd, windows works till after I click the install button. At this point it informs me that it can't find the cd/dvd device driver and that I need to find it so I can install it. (Which is weird because it boots the disk.) I looked around and I've tried few things like this: "Change the BIOS setting from IDE to AHCI or RAID (if your planning to use RAID). AHCI is for SATA components, HD, DVD etc. If AHCI or RAID is set in the BIOS it will install the drivers. Windows 7 is trying to find IDE drivers for a SATA DVD. Change the BIOS and try the install again the option isn't there." I can't do this in my BIO's (In fact I can't do much from my BIO's) From BIO's it does list the dvd drive as a IDE. The SATA Optiarc DVD RW A SCSI is whats in my laptop. I've went into the registry to try and remove the upper/lowfilter, but it was not there.

In help would be... just awesome. I can't try the disk on another pc, I don't have spare cd/dvd readers lyning around.

 

Since you bought a OEM disk, it may be for another computer manufacturers machine. In other words the disk you bought was for another computer and it doesn't have the proper drivers for your machine. Just a wild guess. Other than that, you could buy a new win 7 disk that is not an OEM disk and try that. Doesn't Dell sell Alienware? You could try to buy a disk from them. They should have win 7 install disk that is specific to your machine.

 

I think the IDE is a general find I installed Windows7x64 ult sp1 on 1525 that has IDE drives and they work just fine and on hp dv4, dv5 with Sata drives without any problems I think that just windows way of installing drivers but if after installing the O/S and you can still use your drive then that should be ok. I usually have my BIOS set to AHCI if possible when installing and usually I don't have problems with it. But do make sure your BIOS is the latest if you want to.

 

Well, a Dell disc probably would be ideal with the Alienware the OP owns. However, system builder OEM discs are not tied to an OEM (the name is a bit of a misnomer), so it should not be "for another computer manufacturer's machine." System builder licenses are intended for system builders - be it a server or PC - and are subject to use for companies and end users, according to this article.

OP: you may either need a Dell OEM copy of Windows 7, or see if installing from a USB drive will allow you to get through installation. Then perhaps you can find 64-bit drivers that your current copy is saying you're missing. Does your system builder copy contain service pack 1?