Optiplex 745 Windows 7 problem

SATA Operation

(Normal default)

When this option is set to Normal, the SATA controller is configured for native mode AHCI.

The Legacy option provides compatibility with older operating systems ATA. SET THIS WAY.

Once setup in ATA Mode you can install the INTEL RST Drivers.

File name: f6flpy-x64_11.2.0.1006.zip	Version: 11.2.0.1006		Download
Date: 06/11/2012	Status: Previously released
Size: 0.32 MB	Language: English
Operating Systems: Windows 7 (64-bit)*, Windows Vista 64*, Windows XP Professional x64 Edition*
File name: f6flpy-x86_11.2.0.1006.zip	Version: 11.2.0.1006		Download
Date: 06/11/2012	Status: Previously released
Size: 0.28 MB	Language: English
Operating Systems: Windows 7 (32-bit)*, Windows Vista 32*, Windows XP Home Edition*, Windows XP Media Center Edition*, Windows XP Professional*
File name: STOR_Win7_XP_11.2.0.1006.exe	Version: 11.2.0.1006		Download
Date: 06/11/2012	Status: Previously released
Size: 12.35 MB	Language: English
Operating Systems: Windows 7 (32-bit)*, Windows 7 (64-bit)*, Windows Vista 32*, Windows Vista 64*, Windows XP Home Edition*, Windows XP Media Center Edition*, Windows XP Professional x64 Edition*, Windows XP Professional*

Purpose:

Installs the Intel® Rapid Storage Technology (RAID) driver version 11.2.0.1006 for Intel® Desktop Boards.

And run the Microsoft Fix.

After you use the BIOS setup of a Windows 7-based computer or a Windows Vista-based computer to change the Serial Advanced Technology Attachment (SATA) mode of the boot drive to use either the Advanced Host Controller Interface (AHCI) specification or redundant array of independent disks (RAID) features, you receive the following error message when the computer is restarted: 

It might be worth a quick look at this for an explanation of the different modes en.wikipedia.org/.../Advanced_Host_Controller_Interface

Make sure sata operation is in ATA mode.

If XP works then a BIOS update would be recommended.

Description	Importance	Version	Released	Supported OS	Download
DELL,DSK PROG,BIOS,OPTI,745,,2.6.6 OptiPlex 745 System BIOS	Recommended	266	2/7/2012	BIOS

Is this an

OptiPlex 745

or

OptiPlex 745c

Description	Importance	Version	Released	Supported OS	Download
Dell OptiPlex System BIOS, 1.2.2 Optiplex 745C 1.2.2 System BIOS	Optional	1.2.2	1/9/2008	BIOS

AHCI is supported out of the box on Windows Vista and newer versions of Windows.  However the drivers are buggy and therefore the F6 drivers exist if you want to install AHCI mode by default.  Personally I think its better to have both drivers installed so that if the CMOS is reset it will boot either mode.  The BLUE Screen is specifc to drivers not being installed.  The Version 11 RST drivers are dated 07 June 2012
release and therefore NOT Default drivers in XP/Vista/WIN7.  Windows 8 REMOVES Many supported Drivers for Older ICH5,6,7,8 systems.

This is also why WIN98 WINME WIN2000 WINXP are considered LEGACY.

Thanks for the reply. :-)

It's the 745 Ultra Small Form Factor. I thought I had updated the BIOS to the latest version, using the driver list suggested by the service tag on Dell.co.uk. However, I appear to still be on 2.6.4, so I'll reinstall XP and install 2.6.6 to see if that works.

Can't find anything in the BIOS regarding SATA operation mode - only an option that mentions a mode for legacy products?

If you have an 8 gig or larger USB Flash Drive.

You then F12 Boot from the USB Device with WIN7 and install from there.

Black Screen indicates DVDRW copy is not reading or crashing. :emotion-3:

Highly recommend installing WIN7 in ATA mode, then install INTEL RST Drivers, Then run the Microsoft Hotfix for AHCI.

I would suggest installing XP then installing ISO recorder.

Release 2 of ISO Recorder V2 supports Windows XP SP2 and SP3 as well as Server 2003.

Download

Here is the current 32 bit build.

Here is the 64-bit build. See Release Log Item 4 below for more details.

Please send all feedback to Alex Feinman

Make an ISO of the WIN7 Disc.

Then using XP install the requirements for the WIN7 DVD Tool.

Windows 7 USB/DVD download tool - Microsoft Store

FOR WINDOWS XP USERS

The following applications must be installed prior to installing the tool:

• Microsoft .NET Framework 2.0 must be installed. It can be downloaded here.
• Microsoft Image Mastering API v2 must be installed. It can be downloaded here.

USING THE WINDOWS 7 USB/DVD DOWNLOAD TOOL

Before you run the Windows 7 USB/DVD Download Tool, make sure you have already purchased the Windows 7 ISO download from Microsoft Store and have downloaded the Windows 7 ISO file to your hard drive. If you have purchased Windows 7 but have not yet downloaded the ISO file, you can download the file from your Microsoft Store Account.

CAN I USE MY NEWLY CREATED USB DRIVE TO INSTALL WINDOWS 7 ON SOMEONE ELSE'S COMPUTER?

No. The Windows 7 ISO file on the USB flash drive is only intended to be used to install Windows 7 on the licensed user’s own computer.

OK, so I installed XP 32-bit, which proceeded as normal. I then installed the BIOS update, successful to 2.6.6.

Then I entered the BIOS and set the SATA mode to "Legacy".

Finally I installed Windows 7 32-bit. Exactly the same behaviour as previously - screen goes blank and everything stops at exactly the same point in the installation.

Any more suggestions or is it time to skip the thing? :-(

SpeedStep!

You appear to be very well versed in these older Optiplex 620 & 745 Systems!  (You helped a few weeks ago on my question regarding the Pentium D & 620 machines!!).

New question/comment (somewhat related to this thread):

On the 620 & 745, which use ICH7 & ICH8 respectively *not* ICH7R or ICH8R -- well at least not the 620/745 that we obtained.

It appears that Intel Matrix Storage Technology / Intel Rapid Storage Technology are only applicable to the *R* variants; and indeed when trying to install IntelRST, the install does not succeed.

Is this what you have experienced as well?  That on 620/745 with ICH7/ICH8 (not ICH7R/ICH8R), IntelRST does not install and is not needed -- the Microsoft Windows 7x64 AHCI driver is sufficient?

I reviewed the "Intel ICH8 Family Data Sheet":

www.intel.com/.../intel-io-controller-hub-8-datasheet.pdf

On page 55, confirms that Intel Matrix Storage Technology is not applicable for the "ICH8 Base" -- which apparently are what my companies 620/745 systems are comprised of (are all 620/745 of the 'base variant'?)

Thoughts?  Simply ensure BIOS SATA mode is on "Normal" and just use the default Windows 7 AHCI drivers?

Thanks!!

Ed

IF RST 10 or 11 doesn't apply then its called INTEL Matrix storage Driver 9.xx

File name: STOR_all32_f6flpy_9.5.0.1037_PV.zip	Version: 9.5.0.1037		Download
Date: 10/14/2009	Status: Latest
Size: 0.26 MB	Language: English
Operating Systems: Windows 7 (32-bit)*, Windows Vista 32*, Windows XP Home Edition*, Windows XP Media Center Edition*, Windows XP Professional*
File name: STOR_all64_f6flpy_9.5.0.1037_PV.zip	Version: 9.5.0.1037		Download
Date: 10/14/2009	Status: Latest
Size: 0.3 MB	Language: English
Operating Systems: Windows 7 (64-bit)*, Windows Vista 64*, Windows XP Professional x64 Edition*

The Optiplex 745 BIOS does not support AHCI mode - the later 755 does.

The 'Normal' setting in the 745 BIOS is ATA - not AHCI.

BIOS settings:

Optiplex 745 > SATA Operation >  Normal or Legacy        (meaning ATA or Legacy ATA)

Optiplex 755 > SATA Operation >  AHCI or ATA or Legacy        (meaning AHCI or ATA or Legacy ATA)

�

I've never seen Dell documentation re. what 'Legacy' specifically means but I read elsewhere that it relates to disabling shared IRQs for OSs like Win 98.

I did installed Windows 7 64 bits on a used Optiplex 745 and had some problems. After 6 months most of the problems have been solved.

After I added a large capacity PCIe video card the computer would stop from time to time and I received a message from Windows system: "The video driver stiopped working but recovered". This was very annoying because you never new when it would happen. As recommended by others I looked for a new Nvidia driver but it never solved the issue completely. Whenever I checked the computer with DELL diagnostic it showed no faults. Also Windows diagnostic gave no clue to the problem. Only today I found the solution to this problem. The virtual memory that the system set automatically was not large enaugh. Once I increased the system virutal memory (I almost doubled it) the problem disappeared.

Try this solution.

"The problem is, a Dell Optiplex 745 simply cannot run a 32 bit version of Windows 7."

This statement is utterly false and misleading at best.

Most Models Of Optiplex 620, 745, 755, 760, 780 run windows 7

32 bit and 64 bit just fine.

You do However need 2GIGS of ram Minimum because the onboard video steals from system ram.

When I try to install windows 32, I get the C000021a error. BIOS has been flashed, changed hard drives, same problem.

When I try to load Spotmau, same error

When I try to install windows 32, I get the C000021a error. BIOS has been flashed, changed hard drives, same problem. When I try to load Spotmau, same error

STOP: c000021a {Fatal System Error}
The Session Manager Initialization system process terminated unexpectedly

win32k.sys has been replaced by malware or you have pirated windows