Fresh Install Windows 7 Errors

[shoman24v]

Hey all, I hope someone here can help me. I've been going crazy trying to figure out this issue. I have a Dell Optiplex 745, and I can't install much on it even after a complete fresh install using my OS disk. When I download programs, they error out after they launch or do nothing. Also, windows updates fail to install some updates. I'm lost as to what to do here. I've done about 4 fresh installs today even using a different HD and nothing is working...

What is wrong here?

 

[JackMDS]

Get this portable App. Run it to make sure that Devices and Drivers are Installed as they should.

http://www.portablefreeware.com/index.php?id=2572

 

[shoman24v]

I don't know what I'm supposed to be looking for with that app...

For instance, I downloaded the Dell System Detect app for drivers from their site and I get the error 'The application was unable to start correctly (0xc0000005). Click OK to close the application.'

I also ran memtest and it passed.

 

[Canon101]

What is the source of the DVD/USB you are installing from? Meaning, is it the official Windows 7 (which is it, Ultimate, Professional, Home Premium, etc?) ISO?

I would recommend trying to install a completely different version of OS from a completely different source to see if that fixes the issue. Either upgrade to Windows 8.1 or 8 if you computer can support it, otherwise go from Ultimate to Professional or to whatever you were previously installing. You just want a new media & data source to test out if its the image that you are currently using.

 

[shoman24v]

I used my copy of Windows 7 Professional, no luck. So I downloaded a Dell version of 7 Ultimate and installed it via usb drive to try out and I experienced the same issues. The only thing I can think of is trying to put XP on it, which I am avoiding.

It seriously boggles my mind how with all these fresh installs, even writing 0's to a drive still caused the same issues on this machine.

 

[VirtualLarry]

Obviously, you have some sort of hardware troubles. A bad device, a bad HDD, bad RAM, or even a bad CPU or faulty motherboard.

 

[coolpurplefan]

You may want to try a new disc with a valid image: http://www.mydigitallife.info/official-windows-7-sp1-iso-from-digital-river/comment-page-1/

If I'm correct, you have to use Win7 Pro key with a Win7 Pro disc. If you used the Win7 Pro key with an Ultimate disc, I wonder if that's the problem.

 

[shoman24v]

Obviously, you have some sort of hardware troubles. A bad device, a bad HDD, bad RAM, or even a bad CPU or faulty motherboard.

I'm going to run some diagonistics (this PC doesn't have it built in like my 755) I'm downloading Hirens Boot CD - I ran memtest and the ram and it passed.

You may want to try a new disc with a valid image: http://www.mydigitallife.info/official-windows-7-sp1-iso-from-digital-river/comment-page-1/

If I'm correct, you have to use Win7 Pro key with a Win7 Pro disc. If you used the Win7 Pro key with an Ultimate disc, I wonder if that's the problem.

I'll try the images from this site, but I have not activated any of the copies yet. I'm just trying to get the computer setup and all updates installed before I activate.

 

[Gunbuster]

You must have wiped out the diag partition on the HDD. You can download the diags installer from the dell support site.

 

[shoman24v]

I believe I solved my problem. After running Prime95 on the device, running RAM tests, checking the HD for bad sectors and doing a full wipe on the drive I still found no issues. I installed and activated Windows 7 Pro successfully using the images posted above. I also successfully updated the motherboard BIOS.

I think my issue may have been the CD drive. It didn't work to begin with, the computer would recognize it, but would not read any type of CD. I installed the OS using my good CD drive and windows is now installing software and is updating as I type this.

Thanks for the help.

 

[coolpurplefan]

On second thought, if you're not going to activate right away you could always install Windows 7 without a product key and see what happens.

EDIT: Oops, answer posted at the same time.

 

[Steltek]

I believe I solved my problem. After running Prime95 on the device, running RAM tests, checking the HD for bad sectors and doing a full wipe on the drive I still found no issues. I installed and activated Windows 7 Pro successfully using the images posted above. I also successfully updated the motherboard BIOS.

I think my issue may have been the CD drive. It didn't work to begin with, the computer would recognize it, but would not read any type of CD. I installed the OS using my good CD drive and windows is now installing software and is updating as I type this.

Thanks for the help.

You know, I think I recall seeing a literal ton of firmware updates for various CD/DVD drives on the Dell Optiplex 745 support website. Remember thinking it seemed odd at the time to have that many, but it apparently didn't flag anything for me. Maybe I should have looked closer at it.

Anyway, you might check there to see if one of those firmware updates apply to the original drive in your machine.

 

[shoman24v]

I saw that too. I did update it once and hand no luck, figured it was dead. Maybe I need to try another update...