XPS 8500 Operating System

I had been able to get to the desktop ( I had not seen earlier the windows.old and had looked for it but due to the errors the computer restarted so couldn't look further) the but now computer automatically goes to either start Windows normally or Launch Start up Repair, then without any input from me, says, "Windows is loading files...and goes to Start up Repair and says, "Startup Repair cannot repair this computer automatically and checking problem details, shows Problem signature of Autofailover, Bad Driver among other things.

Cynthia

In that case hold down your power button so that the computer shuts down. Remove the AC adaptor and wait 10 seconds.

Power up your computer. When you get to the Dell BIOS screen, tap F8 repeatedly.

This will open the Advanced Boot Options Menu

Select Last Known Good Configuration and press Enter.

Can you get into the Windows Desktop now?

Yes, it does include it.

Cynthia

Download the latest Intel Rapid Storage Technology Driver from here. Download the f6flpy-x64.zip file only and unzip it. Copy these files to a USB flash stick.

Once the format with DBAN is done. Remove the DBAN CD and insert your Windows 7 Reinstallation DVD,

Power down your computer by holding the down the power button for 10 seconds.

Hold F12 while powering up your computer (at the Dell BIOs screen).

Select boot from CD/DVD.

Press any key when prompted such as "h" when it says Press any Key to boot from CD/DVD.

You will get a black screen that says "Windows is Starting Files" then one that says "Windows is Loading Files." These should disappear pretty quickly. Next one that says Starting Windows

You will then be prompted for your language, time and currency format and keyboard settings. Mine are all set to U.K. as shown below, amend for your preference.

Select Install Now.

Read the license, check to select and then select Next.

Next select Custom (Advanced).

When you get to this screen select Load Driver and select your SATA drivers USB stick.

Ensure that "Hide drivers that are not compatible with hardware on this computer is ticked" (it should be set like this by default). Select all the drivers listed and then click next. It will take you back to this screen. Select "Drive Options".

This will reveal the drive options. The tools are rather self-explanatory. For a new hard drive you will need to select New to make a new partition (case below).

You should get a message saying some space must be "System Reserved" and a System Reserved Partition is made, don't worry about it, it is very small.

You will then a screen telling you the progress of the install.

Note some parts may be very fast and some steps may be very slow.

However it should not take any more than a few hours; if it is stuck on the same % for a few hours on one part then it has likely froze and you must start again (this rarely happens) by holding down the power button until the machine powers off and then reattempting the install.

Type in your "username", by default the PC name will be "username-PC" but you can change this as desired.

Next type in your password, retype it and leave yourself a hint. Alternatively just select next (to have no password - not recommended but optional).

 Select Use recommended settings.

Then select your time and date settings.

Set up Network settings and or connect to a wireless network.

Finally the setup will Finalise.

Let me know if any hiccups occur doing that. The DBAN should take a few hours.

As for the driver install, copy all the files from your DVD or USB onto the Windows 7 Desktop. These should be the same as you mentioned but check through them. Install in the following order:

Chipset

Intel Chipset Software Installation Utility Chipset_Intel_W74_A00_Setup-VW3N8_ZPE.exe

When you run this it should extract to C:\Dell\Drivers\VW3N8\ an installer should autorun if not go to the folder and run the setup file. Restart the computer.

Intel AMT HECI Driver ME_Intel_W74_A00_Setup-DWW4Y_ZPE.exe

When you run this it should extract to C:\Dell\Drivers\DWW4Y\ an installer should autorun if not go to the folder and run the setup file. Restart the computer.

Intel USB 3.0 xHCI USB3.0_Intel_W74_A00_Setup-9J21D_ZPE.exe

When you run this it should extract to C:\Dell\Drivers\9J21D\ an installer should autorun if not go to the folder and run the setup file. Restart the computer.

SATA

Intel Rapid Storage Technology iata-enu.exe (get from Intel).

This should just run the setup directly. Restart the computer.

Video

Intel Integrated GFX Driver Video_Intel_W74_A00_Setup-N6T52_ZPE.exe

When you run this it should extract to C:\Dell\Drivers\N6T52\ an installer should autorun if not go to the folder and run the setup file. Restart the computer.

AMD HD7770 GRPHC_AMD_W74_A00_Setup_1GWCJ_ZPE.exe

When you run this it should extract to C:\Dell\Drivers\1GWCJ\ an installer should autorun if not go to the folder and run the setup file. Restart the computer. Alternatively for the AMD HD7770 you can get the latest version direct from ATI here (select Desktop Graphics and Autodetect and install).

These are the 2 you have listed so I assume its what you have, there is normally only 1 Video Card needed as the integrated graphics are usually disabled when the graphics card is present but some systems can use both together so install both just in case. If ones not needed it will fail to install.

Removable Storage

Foxconn Card Reader APP_CardReader_W74_A00_Setup-FFNVC_ZPE.exe

When you run this it should extract to C:\Dell\Drivers\FFNVC\ an installer should autorun if not go to the folder and run the setup file. Restart the computer.

Network

Realtek 8111E Ethernet LOM_Realtek_W74_A00_Setup-16V32.zip_ZPE.exe

When you run this it should extract to C:\Dell\Drivers\16V32\an installer should autorun if not go to the folder and run the setup file. Restart the computer.

Dell Wireless 1703 DW1703_W74_A00_Setup-MMX1J_ZPE.exe

When you run this it should extract to C:\Dell\Drivers\MMX1J\an installer should autorun if not go to the folder and run the setup file. Restart the computer.

Audio

Realtek ALC887 Audio Driver Audio_Realtek_W74_A00_Setup-3RP5P_ZPE.exe

When you run this it should extract to C:\Dell\Drivers\3RP5P\an installer should autorun if not go to the folder and run the setup file. Restart the computer.

Thank you for your detailed description. I will be working on doing this and check back when I have done so.Thank you,

Cynthia

Hello,

I am waiting for dban to finish. I started it last night and at this point it says it has 6 hrs and 54 minutes to go. I can wait if this works.

Then will progress forward.

Cynthia

Hello,

I did dban and here's the message I get now and many hours later.

dban says it succeeded.

"All selected disks have been wiped.

*pass ATA Disk ST2000DM001-9YN1 DC4A 1863GB Z1EOKADM

*ERROR /dev/sda (process crash)

*ERROR /dev/sdc (process crash)

*ERROR /dev/sdb (process crash)

*ERROR /dev/sdd (process crash)

*pass ATA Disk Samsung SSD PM83 CXM1 29GB SOXLNYAC300082

Press any key to continue..."

I am assuming the error messages mean this did not work completely.

Cynthia

Your 2 primary disks have been wiped. I suppose you have a 2 TB HDD and a 30 GB SSD (presumably meant to be a cache drive). The 4 errors are probably each card slot in your multimedia card reader, I guess you didn't disable it in the BIOS setup...

Anyway it seems to have worked. Are you attempting to install Windows 7 on the 2 TB HDD or the 30 GB SSD?

Okay I was having a look at it in more detail. Your BIOS settings will be like that of my XPS 8300. When you press F2 you will go to the main:

Use the right and select Advanced. Select System Configuration and press Enter. The onboard card reader settings would of been here.

The one below USB controller (highlighted the wrong one in this picture) should of been disabled.

Anyway can you verify the SATA Mode is it AHCI or RAID (mines is AHCI).

Since you have the SSD as a Cache Drive it should be setup to be RAID and you should load the latest Intel SATA drivers during Reinstallation. You should get them from Intel here. The f6flpy-x64 files. Download the folder and extract it by double clicking it.

Copy the folder f6flpy-x64 to a USB Stick (it should have files which look like the above) and insert it into one of the back USB ports on your Desktop (ensure it is a USB 2.0 port). You will need these at the drive options/load driver screen.

When you get to this screen select Load Driver and then browse and select the f6flpy-x64 folder on your USB stick.

Ensure that "Hide drivers that are not compatible with hardware on this computer is ticked" (it should be set like this by default). Select next. continue the setup as normal.

Hi,

I went to advanced as you suggested and it shows no onboard card reader just like before when I started the dban. That is why I had went ahead with the dban knowing if the card reader was there it would cause errors. If it won't cause problems I will proceed as you've suggested. Unless it is hidden somewhere else I am not looking.

I have SATA Mode/AHCI

I am not certain which disc to put the Windows 7 on. The computer was supposed to be ready to do extreme media work and that is what I need if it's possible. Not sure if this makes any difference right now. Do you have a suggestion?

Cynthia

Change SATA mode to raid and install WIndows 7 on the 2 TB drive.

Hello,

I apologize for not quite knowing how to going about changing from SATA to Raid. Can you tell me how to do so and assume should do so before I install the Sata drivers at install of Windows 7 per your instructions.

Cynthia

Power up your system and press F2 at the Dell BIOS screen to enter the BIOS setup.

In the BIOS setup you will start at main:

Use the right and select Advanced. Select System Configuration

Next go down to SATA Mode and press Enter, change it to raid.

Press esc and save and exit. Do this before installing Windows 7.

Since you have the SSD as a Cache Drive it should be setup to be RAID and you should load the latest Intel SATA drivers during Reinstallation. You should get them from Intel here. The f6flpy-x64 files. Download the folder and extract it by double clicking it.

Copy the folder f6flpy-x64 to a USB Stick (it should have files which look like the above) and insert it into one of the back USB ports on your Desktop (ensure it is a USB 2.0 port). You will need these at the drive options/load driver screen which will show during the Windows 7 install.

When you get to this screen select Load Driver and then browse and select the f6flpy-x64 folder on your USB stick.

Ensure that "Hide drivers that are not compatible with hardware on this computer is ticked" (it should be set like this by default). Select next. continue the setup as normal.