Hi, When I try to install Windows 7 booting from the DVD, I get a lot of periods where the DVD drive suddenly stops and there is no DVD or hard drive activity for a minute or so, and then the DVD starts spinning again and installation continues. This happens like 10 times or so during the installation. Is this normal? Windows 7 ends up installing correctly but it takes a lot more than it should with those idle periods. Regards

That is normal, it can take anything from 30 minutes to 45 minutes to install your OS.

Pablo87,

RobinBredin is correct. This is normal. It does the same on my system.

Well, what I experienced was quite strange. It would read 5 seconds from the DVD (and write to the hard disk at the same time) and then it would stop spinning, and no hdd activity. Then after a minute or so, the DVD would start spinning again (and writing to disk) for 5 secs and then stop again for a minute. And this was repeated like 10 times in a row. Doesn't sound normal to me.

No ... 45 minutes is on the extreme end ... not what I would call typical or "normal".  This should take no longer than 20 minutes with Windows 7 ... 30 tops if you have a slow computer (hard drive, DVD drive, etc.).   Vista was longer and XP is a good solid 40-60 minutes, but 7 should not take that long.

Since I was just about to build this one anyway, I thought I'd time it:

Dell Optiplex 330
2GB RAM
80GB 7200 RPM HDD
16x DVD drive
Core 2 Duo E6550 2.33MHz

1:31 - booted to DVD, Loading (45 seconds for "Loading Files" progress bar), Welcome, Select Language, Install Now, License, Custom/Advanced, delete existing partitions, create 20580MB partition to install to (all took a little over 1 minute)
1:33 - hit Next to start install
1:38 - done expanding files, reboot
1:39 - install resumed
1:41 - install completed, reboot
1:41 - starting Windows
1:42 - setting up for first use
1:43 - name, computer name
1:44 - Desktop fully loaded, ready to go

So, 13 minutes to fully install Windows 7 on the above-mentioned computer.  I installed Windows 7x64 to an SSD in 8 minutes on an HP laptop, 14 minutes to a 7200 RPM drive in the same laptop, and 16 minutes on an old XPS Gen 4. 

You would need to add time if your DVD read speed is not as fast as 16x and add time for a 5400RPM drive (even if you consider 5400 is 75% as fast as 7200, you're looking at a max of 18-19 minutes because of the slower drive).

Sorry, but if it took 45 minutes on that PC, you have something wrong.  I would suggest installing via USB flash drive to see if it is your DVD drive that is the weak link.  If it still does it, then suspect your hard drive.  Also, make sure that AHCI/SATA is enabled in the BIOS (don't know if the N7010 even has the option to turn it off, but check it).

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/2432-usb-windows-7-installation-key-drive-create.html

Yes, there is certainly something wrong. My installation time was about 30 mins, but it could have been 20 without those strange idle periods. I'm sure its not a hard disk problem or a DVD problem. Ubuntu 11.10 (with acpi=off) installs in 13 min from DVD and 2 mins from USB.

What about your DVD itself ... have you tried other media ... from USB, downloading the ISO again, and/or tried different software or burner to create the DVD (or burned at a slower speed)?  Or is this a Dell-provided DVD?  If it is a Dell DVD, you can download the ISO from Microsoft's online partner (although you will need a 2-minute phone call to Microsoft to activate):

www.mydigitallife.info/windows-7-iso-x86-and-x64-official-direct-download-links-ultimate-professional-and-home-premium

At this point, it would only be for testing anyway, cuz it sounds like in the end you are able to get it installed.  Does it seem to run normally once installed?

It's the Windows 7 64 bit DVD that came with the computer. Once installed it works perfectly. I'll try getting the iso and burning it to a USB flash drive.