Latitude D520 - Cannot Install Vista - DVD Issues

Question

I have a D520. It has a Sony DVDROM/CD-R drive. Alss has 1.5 gig of RAM. When I try to install Vista (burnt from ISO download) it partly installs, and then gives some errors about not being able to install all files, during the Expanding Files section. Or I get a BSOD with various errors. (Usually IRQL_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL with no further info) BIOS is A02. I cant locate an updated firmware for the DVD drive. I know the DVD works, as I installed it on another PC to test. I have burnt countless DVD+Rs and DVD-Rs. Always burnt at the slowest speed, and burnt the ISO using Nero in XP (on another machine) and Toast in OSX (another machine again. What can I say, I am a geek) So, I figured I'd go ahead and install from XP, so I put the Dell XP disk, and it wont install from that. So, I believe there is something wrong with the DVD drive. Anyone have any ideas? Oh, live-XP boot cd's work fine. I am a computer programmer myself, so am not a newbie. I've installed Win versions from 3.0, countless *nix version, OSX etc etc. Am I missing something? Is there some patch I am missing? I have the latest BIOS, and there is no firmware from the DVD drive. ??????

anton_spaz · Answer

Oh, and I cannot get the system to boot using a USB (IDE) DVD drive. It either doesnt recognise the drive (not give it as a boot option) or gives an error about no boot loader existing.

And yes, I've tried dumbing down the system, disabling whatever devices I can in the BIOS, even dropping to one-core etc.

jmwills · Answer

What program did you use to burn the image and have you tried different media?

anton_spaz · Answer

As I said in the original post, Toast under OS-X and Nero under XP. And have used DVD+R and DVD-R, 2 different brands of each.

jmwills · Answer

The only other option is a bad reader on your laptop.  Be sure to disconnect and USB peripherals before starting.

jmwills · Answer

Disable the onboard one in Device Manager.  The BIOS will only see one and since it is running, technically, the secondary one is being bypassed.

anton_spaz · Answer

That is my *guess* as well.   But any idea why I cannot boot off a USB DVDROM (or DVD-/+R). ?   Yes, USB Legacy is turned on (which is required to 'boot' from USB device).

anton_spaz · Answer

Hmm... I dont recall any BIOS option to disable the DVD drive (I miss the old days, when the BIOS let you turn EVERYTHING off... sound...etc)   But, I can do the next best thing.  Remove the drive, and see if it then will boot off a USB-DVD drive.

Windows General

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