Instructions re:clean install Win 7, on Dell insp. 1501

[Phil856745]

I inherited the titled laptop, it started out as a vista machine, upgraded to Win 7 Home premium version 6.1, build (7601:SP1).

Depending upon which file properties are examined, their are anywhere between 3 to 5 users (accounts). At present there are two active accounts, and a guest account that is turned off. Should I turn off the other account? Should the DVD drive appear in windows explorer?

Thanks to all, still broken!

Phil856745

[Remah]

Remove any accounts you don't need. It may resolve some residual problems if they are associated with specific accounts.

Yes, the DVD drive should appear in Windows Explorer. Which methods have you tried to resolve the issue and what happened?

[Phil856745]

Remah, I've now used all 3 methods with no success? I had been using CClean extensively, to try to reclaim disk space, could it have removed drivers?
I'm down to 2 accounts, can I take it down to one? I'm starting to believe that this may be a registry issue, It's been a long time since I've run regedit, how should I backup the registry, i.e., .BAK, and where? Desktop?

Thanks in advance, Phil856745

[Remah]

Originally Posted by Remah

FYI, here's what Microsoft says to do when Your CD drive or DVD drive is missing or is not recognized by Windows or other programs.

Avoid methods 3 and 4 which have more scope for damaging your system. You can try them if the other methods don't work.

Originally Posted by Phil856745

Remah, I've now used all 3 methods with no success?

Try this Microsoft CD/DVD problem troubleshooter.
which works in Windows 7.

If that doesn't work then try the methods 3 and 4 as suggested by Microsoft. They might solve the problem to get your CD/DVD drive working.

Originally Posted by Phil856745

I had been using CClean extensively, to try to reclaim disk space, could it have removed drivers?

Unless it has a bug, no.

Originally Posted by Phil856745

I'm down to 2 accounts, can I take it down to one? I'm starting to believe that this may be a registry issue, It's been a long time since I've run regedit, how should I backup the registry, i.e., .BAK, and where? Desktop?

You only need one administrator account if you are the only user. Then optionally a second account for higher security by running applications with lower rights.

You can backup the registry by downloading and running ERUNT which allows you to save the backups wherever you like.

[Phil856745]

Dell Insp. 1501 - is almost a brick, I was going through the error log, and it seems that the problem is the IDE drivers failing to load, I wish you could see the windows explorer, it's a mess.

I'm down to 1 account, and I've been searching Dell, Sony, anywhere for the installation driver pkg. Any Ideas?

Phil

[Remah]

Registry changes
So did you try the Registry changes?

IDE driver problem
If the IDE drivers aren't loading then that would explain why the CD/DVD drive is not working for you. But that is a problem with Windows loading its drivers so it probably won't help going to the Dell site.

It also means that the problem might only be software/configuration so reinstalling Windows would fixc it.

You should try restarting the laptop with a bootable CD or DVD in the drive. Bootable disks would be any Windows installation disk, a Linux disk, a Windows recovery disk, etc. If the CD/DVD drive will work with booting from a disk it is probably best to reinstall Windows. But you probably don't have a suitable disk for the license that comes with the laptop. So let us know what happens

Drivers from Dell
Here are some links to get info on the laptop and its drivers:

If the PC has Internet access then go to dell.com and select "Detect my product". If it doesn't have Internet access then you can enter the Service Tag details here too:
http://www.dell.com/support/my-suppo...ef=tntredirect

Dell Inspiron 1501 support page

Dell Inspiron 1501 drivers are available but it doesn't include the complete set of chipset drivers which would probably have to come from the AMD/ATI site.

[Phil856745]

Remah, thanks for all the help!!! I seriously do not know how I managed to revive the DVD+- , but it now shows in the explorer, and if I click the DVD in Win. explorer's left pane the tray opens.

I know that this laptop is still sick, and a clean install is probably the best next step. My question(s) are should I run the apps from ERUNT, and in which order? Are there any disc's I need to make? (I have the win7 PID and the holographic sticker from original box.

What, if any, other numbers or disc's do I need to make?
Thanks to all!!!!!!,

[Remah]

Originally Posted by Phil856745

... I have PID, Win7 Home Prem. & SP1 on DVD ...

I understood from your earlier comment that you have the Windows 7 install disk and the product key. If so then, now that the CD/DVD drive works, you can boot from that disk and install Windows 7.

If you don't have the install disk then you can download and write the appropriate ISO file to DVD.

Before you do a clean install there are two things that you could do:

• Use your Windows Install Disk to try to repair your system. This might work and save you doing a full install. Anyway, it is worth checking that the disk has no problems and that memory is OK before doing a clean install.
• Download the laptop drivers for Windows 7. Write them to a CD/DVD or USB stick. That way when you install Windows you can use the drivers if requested.

[Phil856745]

Thanks so much! You've been a great help! This machine would be a brick w/o your help! Another question, are there any freeware programs that would help me back up progs., and drivers?

Phil

[Remah]

You have more than one option:
1. Best Free Drive Cloning Software will make a backup copy/image of an entire disk.
2. Best Free Hard Drive Backup Program will backup files on the disk but not the entire disk.
3. Best Free Folder Synchronization Utility will duplicate files and folders.
4. Best Free Online Backup Sites allows you to create backups on the Internet cloud.

I clone/image my disks (1), have backups on the Internet (4) and keep copies of files on multiple disks (3) as well.