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Alienware R4 - Reload of Windows 7 - System Freezes
So I am on my 4th attempt at installing Windows 7. I should preface it by advising I was having some issues with the previous OS install. The system did crash a couple of times - also generating an error on disk 2 in the RAID. After the crash, Windows update would no longer work. I tried several things, but eventually decided a reload would be best.
The initial load works fine - However I usually have to try the windows install once, at which point it will fail at about 97%. I then have to reboot, go back into the windows install - delete and re-create the partion. Each time I have done that, the installation has then worked.
Once I am able to get into Windows, I start the driver installation. I have downloaded all the latest ones off Dell Support. Process - I install one driver (chipset) reboot. Then install the 2nd driver - reboot. On the 3rd driver installation - it always fails. The driver installation will fail/freeze - it starts and then just hangs. If I force the PC to shut down - it will no longer boot back into windows.
I have tried following this driver installation order -> http://support.dell.com/support/topics/global.aspx/support/kcs/document?c=us&cs=04&docid=536192&doclang=en&l=en&s=bsd&dgc=SM&cid=249387&lid=4352017.
It does not seem to matter which installation I do. It always (which is very strange) fails on the 3rd driver installation.
I am thinking I have something wrong in the Hard Drive sub-system. I have tried the firmware update for the drives - but that always fails too.
I am going to try breaking the RAID to see if it makes a difference. But any help would be great.
hutcha4113
49 Posts
1
December 28th, 2012 12:00
In my experience (I work in IT) a hard drive either fails in the first 6 months (as mine did) or it lasts for years. Seems to be the pattern.
I agree though - it would have made my life much easier if I could have found some logs/alerts, etc. to tell me what was happening.
Oh well - 3 image attempt - maybe this one will be good...hahahahaha.
morblore
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December 2nd, 2012 18:00
Hello
That's kinda what it sounds like. Try to scan the drives for errors. There are a few tools out there that can do it or you can hit F12 and run the pre-boot system test. Run the full scan and it will test the drives. It can take a long time depending on the size of the HDD's.
I think redoing the raid is also a smart idea.
Good luck and I hope you fix it
Morblore
Tesla1856
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December 2nd, 2012 19:00
If installing with a RAID already setup in BIOS, you might try using f6flpy-x64.zip from a USB drive.
http://downloadcenter.intel.com/Detail_Desc.aspx?ProductID=2101&DwnldID=21852&lang=eng&iid=dc_rss
Of course, your RAID and HDDs have to be perfect.
You could always try breaking the RAID and quickly installing Win-7 to each as stand-alone drives (to test them each separately).
hutcha4113
49 Posts
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December 3rd, 2012 09:00
I hope I fix it too....lol.
I had a thought last night - when I am installing the drivers I always do the Chipset first, and Intel Management framework. So thought I would try a different order in case - I mean - why it starts to fail on the 3rd driver install is beyond me.
I tried it - but same thing.
I have also reset the RAID, and put it to Mirror just see what would happen. I ran a chkdsk but it did not see anything on drive. I guess I will try the PSA tool and see if it shows anything. I was able to get Windows updates to go last night, so I am going to continue installing and see what happens.
hutcha4113
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December 4th, 2012 07:00
Well, it appears to be working now, but I have no idea why. On my last installation I changed the order of the install - and did not install the Intel Management driver. That did not seem to make a difference, as the PC froze again when installing the USB drivers. This time however I let the machine sit on the USB 3 installation, rather than hard setting it.
It was a little sluggish after, but once I had all drivers installed/plus windows update, everything seemed fine. I was able to finish the installation last night.
So I am at a loss. I have never seen a machine do something like this. I will monitor my Hard Drives as I still think there is an issue there. As mentioned in previous posts, I would get an error on the Intel SATA Boot ROM - drive 2. I could clear the error with the Intel Management software. PSA check did not show anything.
If the error comes back, I will open a support ticket.
Tesla1856
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December 28th, 2012 12:00
Tesla1856
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December 28th, 2012 12:00
Yes, I have seen bad HDD that don't throw a SMART error (but it's rare).
However, I don't think I have never seen a bad drive pass a manufacturer supplied long Surface Confidence test.
hutcha4113
49 Posts
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December 28th, 2012 12:00
Well, the OS ended up becoming corrupt again, after the last fresh install. Opened a ticket with Support. We are going to replace the hard drives. Pretty sure there is a hardware fault somewhere.
hutcha4113
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December 28th, 2012 14:00
Ok. So the same issues are appearing, as the last time I installed. I will get to the 3rd driver install - and the PC will start freezing, etc. I usually have to hard reset. I have also just had my first chkdsk on the PC boot up - which was happening before my last OS crash.
So I am thinking that it is not the hard drives. (Maybe it is RAM?).
Here is the setup of my PC, in case I am doing something wrong.
2 * 3TB drives in RAID 0 -> 5.1 TB usable.
I am doing a UEFI boot off DVD and installing with the Dell CD. (Interestingly the first install failed at about 90% - which it did the last time I did a reload). Checking the drive once Windows loads, it is showing as a GPT partition, which it needs to be correct (drive over 2TB)?
Going to try getting all the drivers installed - but if it fails again, not sure what to do. The bad thing is the PSA tests, and Alienautopsy are not showing anything.
Tesla1856
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December 28th, 2012 14:00
What exact make/model drives?
Test ram outside of Windows with self-bootable http://www.memtest.org/
If it runs through that 2 or 3 times (long test with zero errors) ram is 99.99%- 100% good.
PSA is ok. AlienAutopsy is pretty lame because it's an "in-OS hardware check".