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Dell XPS 13 - how to do fresh Windows 7 install
I have a Dell XPS 13 Ultrabook (L322X) running Windows 7. Everything was fine up till a few days ago when Windows Update (for no reason!) decided to install some patches on my machine. When i next restarted, it started applying those Windows patches, and got hung Applying Update XX of XX. Multiple restarts and reboots didn't help. After trying a few things to resolve i gave up and i decided to perform a fresh Windows 7 install. (i have backups of all my files).
Does anyone have instructions on how to do a fresh install of Windows 7 from a USB drive on Dell XPS 13?
Philip_Yip
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January 14th, 2014 15:00
See Windows Reinstallation Guide/A Clean Install of Windows 7:
http://dellwindowsreinstallationguide.com/
Note you will need to disable the USB 3.0 functionality of the USB ports otherwise the Windows 7 install will crash as Windows 7 has no native support for USB 3.0.
dave_c_wong
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January 18th, 2014 15:00
I tried following the instructions and I have disabled USB 3.0 as described (by toggling the Debugging switch in the BIOS of the Dell XPS 13). I have created a bootable USB disk, and managed to kickoff the initial stages of the Windows install. However, after the working thru the first few screens of the Windows 7 install, i am getting the following error (just after the section where it asks me to format my SSD disk):-
"Windows could not format a partition on disk 0. The error occured while preparing the partition selected for installation. Error code: 0x80070057"
Would appreciate any help.
Philip_Yip
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January 19th, 2014 06:00
You'll need to load SATA drivers from here or here:
http://ftp.dell.com/published/Pages/xps-13-l321x-mlk.html
Latest:
https://downloadcenter.intel.com/Detail_Desc.aspx?agr=Y&ProdId=2101&DwnldID=23496&ProductFamily=Software+Products&ProductLine=Chipset+Software&ProductProduct=Intel%c2%ae+Rapid+Storage+Technology+(Intel%c2%ae+RST)&lang=eng
This will allow Windows to read/write to the SSD. For more details see here:
http://dellwindowsreinstallationguide.com/a-clean-install-of-windows-7/downloading-preparing-and-loading-sata-drivers/
dave_c_wong
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January 20th, 2014 22:00
I downloaded the Intel Rapid Storage Technology Driver off the Dell ftp website as per suggested in your post above.
(refer to the below for the driver i downloaded)
http://www.dell.com/support/drivers/us/en/04/DriverDetails/Product/xps-13-l321x-mlk?driverId=NGJCT&osCode=W764&fileId=3126807834&languageCode=EN&categoryId=SA
I then extracted the driver files as per the instructions in the video in the last link and copied them to my USB key.
I then proceeded to kickoff Windows 7 install from the USB boot drive and Loaded the drivers as per your instructions.
All well and good.... however..... Windows 7 install still hangs when formatting the SSD.
Can i confirm if i have got the right driver loaded for my Dell XPS 13? (as wanted to eliminate incorrect drivers from the equation)
is there anything else i can try?
David
Philip_Yip
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January 20th, 2014 23:00
Try with the newer driver by Intel:
https://downloadcenter.intel.com/Detail_Desc.aspx?agr=Y&ProdId=3449&DwnldID=23496&keyword=Intel+Rapid+Storage+Technology+Driver&lang=eng
Philip_Yip
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January 20th, 2014 23:00
Also run the F12 preboot diagnostics in case the SSD has failed. It could be the reason for your initial problem.