Cannot load an OS after hard drive crash.

Question

I'm trying to load a new hard drive for my Dell Studio 1557 LT due to the original failed. I've worked on many PCs and LTs before and loaded software so I know the basics and then some. Problem is, when the LT boots from the OS from an external dvd drive -Win 7 64 when it attempts a write to the hard drive at the same point in the installation every time it blue screens then reboots. I cannot capture the blue screen info due to the immediate reboot. I have tried many utilities and other hard drives but the LT wont let me write to the hd to load an OS. I tried loadeing a hd from another pc then install it into this LT, same results blue screen then reboot. Very strange as if the LT wont allow a new hard drive or OS to be loaded. Please help, I've been trying to get this loaded for a week now and have tried everything. The hd was even DoD low level formatted too. Is there s Dell disk I need to get it started ? Please advise.

DELL-Chinmay S · Answer

Hi johnwalker1,

You may run a diagnostic test on your computer to ensure the correct functionality of system hardware. To know more about diagnostics, you may refer to link: http://dell.to/OUGnqT

If the diagnostics pass, you may try changing the SATA Operations from ATA to AHCI or vice versa, then save settings and restart. To access system BIOS, you may refer to the following steps:

Restart the computer.
As soon as you see the Dell logo, start tapping the ‘F2’ key on top of the keyboard.
If you wait too long and the Microsoft Windows appears, then continue to wait until you see the Windows desktop. Now shutdown your computer and try again.
After this a new window would appear. You can only use the arrow keys of the keyboard to navigate between the options as the mouse is not functional in this mode.
Navigate to Advanced tab, Change SATA Operations from ATA to AHCI or vice versa.
Press F10 to save settings and restart.

Check if the issue persists.

johnwalker1 · Answer

Thanks for the reply. I've already tried all that you have suggested and no luck.

Dell is stuck with it's a MB issue but a hardware failure and it's not. There has to be a way to flash the bios. I tried A05 dos and a09 win and both

utilities fail during flashing the bios. Dell says there could be no encryption set if I can make changes in the bios settings. I still think something

is prohibiting any write commands to the new hard drive.

Philip_Yip · Answer

Forget the external DVD drive and instead attempt OS installation via USB. Use another computer with a DVD drive to copy the Windows 7 Reinstallation DVD to a 4 GB or larger USB stick using NovaCorpWinToFlash (get from official ftp server). Attempt installation via USB and load the SATA drivers during the WIndows setup.

If that fails also attempt installation of UBUNTU via a USB. If UBUNTU cannot install then it looks like a hardware issue.

Windows General

Cannot load an OS after hard drive crash.

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