Installing Vista Ultimate on Vostro 1700 BSOD loop!!

erikk · 08-01-2007, 05:20 PM

OK before anything else, I've never installed Vista before. I used to be technical (windows 2000 Systems Architect) before I left that career and started my new life. I'd like to think I'm still pretty good with computers but don't assume I'm not doing something completely assinine.

I got my Vostro 1700 today with Vista Basic on it. I have a copy of Vista Ultimate retail from the M$ e-store through a friend. I attempted to install Ultrimate on the largest partition on the computer without nuking any of the recovery or diagnostics partitions and when it rebooted the final time in the installation process (it did go through all the installing windows screens and was rebooting to get into Vista finally) it gives a BSOD for too short to read it and then goes back into the boot safe mode screen. Even safe mode BSODs back to the boot screen. I tried to boot to last known good and somehow I got into Ultimate (how the hell is there a last known good on a fresh OS install?). I tried installing the dell updates to get all the drivers and such and when one asked me to reboot I did and got stuck in the BSoD loop again (last known good this time didn't help).

I also tried nuking the recovery partition and installing on a fresh hard drive but it still gives me a BSoD.

Anyone have any idea what I might be doing wrong here? Is there some driver that Vista needs to run that isn't being installed out of the box? How do I install it knowing the problems above? Can I slipstream it into the Vista disc?

At this point I can't even use the PC recovery to go back to Vista basic (OS discs are on their way to me; stupid dell trying to get rid of them again). I'm going to keep trying variations of the last known good boots and see if I can get into Vista again. I'll install all the drivers/utilities/etc without a reboot and see if that works.

erikk · 08-01-2007, 05:25 PM

Sorry forgot to add:

Vostro 1700, Intel Core 2 Duo T7500, 2.2GHz, 800Mhz FSB 4M L2 Cache
17.0 inch Wide Screen UXGA TL LCD, Vostro 1700
2GB, DDR2, 667MHz 2 DIMM
256MB NVIDIA GEFORCE 8600M GT
160G 5400RPM SATA hard drive
Genuine Windows Vista Home Basic
Dell Exclusive MediaDirect Instant Play Software Application
Integrated 10/100 Network Cardand Modem, for Inspiron
8X DVD+/-RW with double-layer DVD+R write capability, w/o Roxio Creator
Integrated Sound Blaster Audigy Stereo
Dell Wireless 1505 Wireless-N Mini Card
Integrated 2.0 mega pixel webcam 1700
No Anti-Virus/ Security Software requested
85 WHr 9-cell Lithium Ion Primary Battery, Vostro 1700
No software package
Soft Contracts - Qualxserve
Warranty Support,Initial Year
Warranty Support,1 Year Extended
Type 3 Contract - Next Business Day Parts and Labor On-Site Response, Initial Year
Dell Hardware Warranty PlusOnsite Service, Initial Year
Type 3 Contract - Next Business Day Parts and Labor On-Site Response, 1YR Extended
Dell Hardware Warranty PlusOnsite Service, Extended Year
Standard On-Site Installation Declined
DellNetwork Assistant 1.7
Thank you for choosing Dell
Dell Wirless 355 Bluetooth Module (2.0+EDR)
Purchase is NOT intended for resell
Dell Support 3.4, No Install
Intel Core 2 Duo Processor
You have chosen a Windows Vista Basic System
Dell DataSafe 2.0 Online, 10GBfor 1 Year Free (for ABU only)
VOSTRO,Datasafe 10GB,1YR(Incl w/price)

moneydog96 · 08-01-2007, 05:32 PM

I read on another forum that changing the SATA controller from AHCI to ATA stopped the BSOD loop. Can you confirm this? I'm going to be upgrading to Ultimate as soon as I get my Vostro.

erikk · 08-01-2007, 05:36 PM

in another thread here (Help! Blue Screen When Installing Vista on Vostro 1500!!!) they mention the speedstep BIOS setting. I am going to try both those and see if either helps. Will report back.

ecaggiani · 08-01-2007, 05:38 PM

That is true. You have two options:

One is to go into the BIOS and change SATA from AHCI to ATA. The drawback there is that you bypass the advantages of AHCI, which I couldn't tell ya about.

The other is to use the Dell driver cd that came with your system to install the SATA drivers DURING the Vista install. So sometime during a fresh install, there will be a little text prompt that says something like "Hit F6 to install drivers" (that's not the real text, but it's something like that)

Hit whatever key it tells you, and put in the Dell cd. That will install the SATA driver for your machine and allow Vista to actually properly install.

I actually did the first one (disabled AHCI in the BIOS) and it works fine. I bought a 7200RPM drive and everything runs smooth. I only found out about the second option (installing the Dell SATA driver during the Vista install) after I had already gotten everything working, so I never reinstalled it. But it seems fast anyway!

DoubleBlack · 08-01-2007, 05:41 PM

Actually, don't disable it...you can install it fine. Don't fret though, I had this problem too! Typically, you assign RAID drivers and stuff so you can install on that drive because it doesn't see it...but this gets confusing, because it actually sees it. When it asks you where to install, you'll see an option to load drivers - you want to go to support.dell.com and download the Intel Matrix Storage Manager and load the drivers in there prior to installing and you'll be able to keep AHCI

erikk · 08-01-2007, 05:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ecaggiani

The other is to use the Dell driver cd that came with your system to install the SATA drivers DURING the Vista install. So sometime during a fresh install, there will be a little text prompt that says something like "Hit F6 to install drivers" (that's not the real text, but it's something like that)

yeah that'd be great if my system came with any CDs. Stupid dell. Sigh. The only CDs my system came with were the Audigy HD install, Webcam manager install and MediaDirect install. The re-install discs are on their way.

If disabling these things works, can I install them later? I mean can I disable AHCI and get into Windows and then install the driver and re-enable AHCI? Or should I wait for the driver discs to come?

zfactor · 08-01-2007, 05:50 PM

no they need to be done upon install As far as I know... go to dell.com and go to the downoad section everything you need is there

moneydog96 · 08-01-2007, 05:52 PM

I just Googled "loading drivers during Vista installation" it turns out you can load them from a flash drive. If you're willing to reinstall Vista with the drivers loaded go for it. For me, I don't have my Vostro yet >_>.

Here's the driver.
http://support.dell.com/support/down...&fileid=205611

DoubleBlack · 08-01-2007, 05:57 PM

No, you cannot disable AHCI in the BIOS just to install and then go back. BTW, in my experiences you CAN boot from a cold start, just not a warm start like a restart. AHCI/ATA is a very important setting. Just do like I said, which moneydog posted the exact link:

http://support.dell.com/support/down...&fileid=205611

and load that during installation and you'll be able to keep AHCI and everything will be dandy. Yes, this is really frustrating and I was the first person to post about this in the forums - I called Dell and they had no idea what I was talking about, I had to figure all of this out on my own...

and yes, you can load them from a flash drive - I actually did that