Computer Shopping - Page 7 - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

Ara T. · #91 04-27-2010, 09:38 PM

The copy of windows 7 i use had both 64 bit and 32 bit.. i thought they were all like that now and you select which you want to install.

pawoSD · #92 04-27-2010, 09:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ara T.

The copy of windows 7 i use had both 64 bit and 32 bit.. i thought they were all like that now and you select which you want to install.

Depends on which disc you buy.

dannym · #93 04-28-2010, 08:08 AM

I think when you buy the OEM version you have to choose which bit version you want.
With my machine 64 bit won't work. I only have 1 gig of ram now. And I only have 3 slots for a max of 3 gigs.

What is this OPK, OEM Preinstallation Kit?
http://oem.microsoft.com/script/contentpage.aspx?pageid=565701#features

Do I really need this or can I just install Windows 7 from the OEM disc and be done with it?

OK, after much searching I found the OPK is needed only to add Microsoft Office 2007 to the system. More info here:
https://partner.microsoft.com/UK/40047375?PS=95000124

Danny

dannym · #94 04-29-2010, 08:07 AM

I got windows XP to boot up last night. Not quite sure how though.
I unplugged it for a while, took the battery out and installed the original hard drive. It started up and it asked for a system disc. I put in the windows 7 disc I bought and it worked! I got a message, "Successfully updated CM something, something file." and it booted up. So I went and got a 8 gig memory stick and put all my important stuff on it. Only had like 2mb of space left on it.

I cycled it off and on to make sure it would work and it did. So I put the other hard drive in and it crashed again. Put the original hard drive back in and no joy.

Tried all different combinations multiple times and nothing worked. Keeps asking for a system disk. The windows 7 disc has no impact on it at all now.
I can't even get it to do a fresh new install!

I'm at my wits end here. I don't even care about windows xp. If I can get that to work, fine, but I would rather do a fresh install with the windows 7 disc.
What do I need to do to get that to work?
Maybe because the hard drive was usedd before and I have the oem version of windows 7?
Do I need to do something to the hard drive to prepare it?

HELP!!!

Danny

caa337 · #95 04-29-2010, 12:23 PM

Are you booting to a CD? Does that harddrive work in another computer?(maybe the HDD is messed up) OEM should like the retail windows 7 with the install, boot to CD got through the installation. You should have gotten a 64 bit if you want to use over 3 gigs of ram since your vram is 1 gig.

Also doesn't it give you a cd you load before the windows 7 disk to prepare a blank harddrive and then it tells you to install win 7?

But it kinda sounds like a HDD or cd rom problem, just swap em out and make sure they both work.

Solid Snake · #96 04-29-2010, 12:44 PM

I've always bought Sony VAIO's; not one has failed me, having been dropped, shaken, ripped out of the wall, water-boarded, etc.

The most that has happened is I screwed up my power port, and the E key broke off after 5 years of use.

The best part is, having ordered custom, I don't remember if it was free, or $5, it came with no pre-installed software trials, etc.

Although for someone who has the skills to build your own, I'd go that route.

-Carlen

dannym · #97 04-29-2010, 12:46 PM

No, it only has 1 windows 7 disc.

I dropped into a computer store on my lunch break and he said my processor isn't fast enough for Windows 7. He recommended going back to XP but I don't have the discs.
I was thinking of 2 things to correct this.

1-Get the windows XP discs from Microsoft. or
2-replace the motherboard and go to Windows 7.

Here's the motherboard I have:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131451R&cm_re=asus_motherboard-_-13-131-451R-_-Product

Here's the Windows 7 system requirements:
If you want to run Windows 7 on your PC, here's what it takes:
1 gigahertz (GHz) or faster 32-bit (x86) or 64-bit (x64) processor
1 gigabyte (GB) RAM (32-bit) or 2 GB RAM (64-bit)
16 GB available hard disk space (32-bit) or 20 GB (64-bit)
DirectX 9 graphics device with WDDM 1.0 or higher driver

What would be a decent motherboard to run Windows 7 32 bit on?
Keep in mind I don't need or want a super fast or best and greatest machine. Just want something decent, reasonably priced that works. Also need to be able to plug in all my peripherals into like my monitor.

Thanks!

pawoSD · #98 04-29-2010, 06:08 PM

#1 rule, all computer store people LIE. That computer can run Win7 fine. You likely have other issues going on.

You can run Windows7 on a Pentium II with half a gig of ram and an 8 gig hard drive if you want, it won't be fast at all, but it will still load and run.

How much RAM is in your current setup? List the specs and type of each piece of hardware.

dannym · #99 04-30-2010, 08:46 AM

Well, it has the motherboard linked in my last post & whatever processor came with it.
A Maxtor 20 gig hard drive.
NVidia graphics card.
Cd drive, without burner.
Floppy disc drive.
It has 2 DDR ram chips. The 256mb chip that came with it and a 1gig chip I added. Both worked fine before I tried to add the second drive.
I have a Western Digital 160gig hard drive I'm trying to add.

That's all I can remember now. I can get more information when I try to boot it later.

When I start the computer it goes to the bios settings at the processor speed menu. I just hit exit and save changes. I tried exit without saving too. It locks up asking for the system disc.

Danny

Zeus · #**100** 04-30-2010, 09:55 AM

Danny - You should be able to boot from, and install Windows 7, from the disc itself.

You need to ensure that your BIOS is set to boot from CD first.

You do have a new(ish) DVD-ROM drive installed, correct? The Windows 7 'CD' is actually a DVD. It won't boot from a CD drive.

You should be able to boot from the CD (DVD) and it will give you the option to do a clean install and wipe/reformat whatever hard drive you have installed.

If you can see your new hard drive recognized in the BIOS menu, you're good to go. If you can't then it hasn't been installed correctly. Check jumper settings on the drive, check cables, etc.

If your computer jumps to the BIOS CPU settings when you boot, it can be due to the incorrect type of RAM installed. Are you sure you bought the right type of memory for your motherboard? Some mobos can be very picky, others are more forgiving.

So check those three things -

1 - Boot menu in BIOS set to boot from CD first.

2 - Check new hard drive installation, verify in BIOS.

3 - Check RAM type.

In your situation, I would proceed in steps. Leave the new memory out for now. Install the new hard drive and check if BIOS sees it. If so, install the memory. If you get an error here, or get directed to the CPU settings in the BIOS, you likely need different RAM. If you get the RAM installed ok, move on to the clean install of Windows 7.

Good luck!

dannym · #**101** 04-30-2010, 10:48 AM

I'm 99% positive the ram chip is the right one. It ran for months with it in. And it was recognized by the Bios. But I'll try taking it out anyway.

I did move the cd drive up to #1 in the bios.

The Bios does read both hard drives when only one is plugged in. I did have it read both of them at the same time before all this mess started.

I do not know if it's a DVD drive. The way things are going, probably not. This is not a new computer. They don't even make these motherboards anymore.

When I put the windows dvd in the drive spins **pause** spins again **pause** spins again then nothing. Just the curser blinking on the screen.

At this point I don't really care about the smaller drive. I want to start clean with the 160 gig Western Digital drive. I'll try the steps you listed this weekend.

I'll pull the cd drive this weekend and see if it's a dvd drive too.

Danny

Zeus · #**102** 04-30-2010, 11:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dannym

I'm 99% positive the ram chip is the right one. It ran for months with it in. And it was recognized by the Bios. But I'll try taking it out anyway.

I did move the cd drive up to #1 in the bios.

The Bios does read both hard drives when only one is plugged in. I did have it read both of them at the same time before all this mess started.

I do not know if it's a DVD drive. The way things are going, probably not. This is not a new computer. They don't even make these motherboards anymore.

When I put the windows dvd in the drive spins **pause** spins again **pause** spins again then nothing. Just the curser blinking on the screen.

At this point I don't really care about the smaller drive. I want to start clean with the 160 gig Western Digital drive. I'll try the steps you listed this weekend.

I'll pull the cd drive this weekend and see if it's a dvd drive too.

Danny

Don't need to actually pull the cd drive, just look closely at the front tray panel. If it does not have a DVD logo on the front, it is likely a CD ROM drive.

Good news is you can buy a new DVD burner for less than $30.

Good luck!

caa337 · #**103** 04-30-2010, 12:22 PM

Yeah i didn't know it was that old. It is a CD-ROM drive im pretty sure and it can't read the DVD. And yeah dvd drives are cheap nowadays.

dannym · #**104** 05-13-2010, 07:55 AM

It's not a dvd drive.
The pc is working right now on the old drive so I'm going to put this on the back burner for a while.
At least until school is over. Don't want to mess it up again now!

Danny