[ICONIC]

So i just finished my school semester and decided to format right, i start the format process Install > etc.... then it starts going through the steps, (Copying files, Writting files etc..) it does all this in a matter of seconds but then it goes to a black screen with just the mouse showing which i can move around and so far its been like that for like 3 hours.

My computer is a Dell Inspiron 1720, Dual Core, 2Gb Ram, Geforce 8600M GT.

can someone give advice on this.

[ICONIC]

any advice anyone?

[Elvandil]

How did you start the installation? From the DVD, a recovery partition, or what?

[ICONIC]

I started from the cd, and deleted every partition on there, then formated the primary partition that was left which didn't take long.

then just continued

[ICONIC]

there was nothing wrong with my computer what so ever before this. im just wondering why it goes to a black screen?

theres no indication of it install vista after its says "Completing installation . . ."

[ICONIC]

i guess ill just wait it out till tomorrow and if it cant format then im very disappointed in dell because all they've done is let me down so far.

anyway untill tomorrow...

[Rich-M]

Before we indict anyone, can we start at the beginning? Are you using the Vista dvd to Format ? Is this a Dell dvd or Microsoft dvd? Any reason you did not use the restore partition?
The main reason installs fail is either mismatched or corrupted ram, dirty or scratched Windows disk, weak or dying dvd-rw or weak hard drive.

[ICONIC]

Im using the Dell Vista Premium DVD, i didn't restore from the restore partition because i wanted a absolute clean format and vista install.

There weren't any problems before the format so i don't thinks its ram or hard drive, and there were never any signs of my dvd drive failing it works fine, ill check the dvd for scratches though.

But it starts up and everything, lets my partition what i want and format what i want and start the install. But once everything is done it just goes to a black screen with my move-able mouse on it, theres no errors or anything.

[Elvandil]

When setup shows you the partitions, can you see the recovery partition there? Did you leave it or remove it?

Where did the Vista DVD come from? Is it a recovery DVD from Dell or something else?

Have you tried removing all the partitions, including the recovery one (if you don't want it and have other methods of recovery), and then creating a new one for Vista? How big was the partition you were installing Vista into? Did you do a full or "quick" format?

[ICONIC]

I removed the recovery partition and all the other partitions. then made a new partition that was the amount of room i had left, this is the weird part, it says i have 148GB free room on it (i have 160GB hard drive) but when i create a new partition and specify the amount of room it says i can have 152GB.

Anyway The Vista DVD im using came with my Dell laptop. Its an Operating System Reinstallation DVD for Windows Vista Home Premium 32BIT.

It never gave me an option for quick or full format, once im done partitioning it i just go "next" and it starts.

I watched the process carefully and what happens is it goes through the steps and everything, then it restarts the computer then goes to "Completing Install . . ." and does that for close to an hour probably more. then once thats done it wont boot the OS. i though there was something with the disc but i used i different disc of the same type (my brother got the same laptop i have) and the same thing happened.

I dont know im out of ideas.

[Elvandil]

If it is a recovery CD and not a normal XP CD, it may be that it requires that the recovery partition be present and that the partitions on the drive be the same size as they were when you bought the machine.

Is there any option to let it choose the partition sizes and locations itself?

[ICONIC]

its defiantly a Reinstallation DVD, but i also have a Drivers and Utilities DVD that im running to do tests on my system. ill get the results when its done. Im still not sure why it would be doing this. I havn't called dell but im waiting for the tests to finish.


P.S My System passed every test.

[RootbeaR]

Originally Posted by ICONIC

its defiantly a Reinstallation DVD, but i also have a Drivers and Utilities DVD that im running to do tests on my system. ill get the results when its done. Im still not sure why it would be doing this. I havn't called dell but im waiting for the tests to finish.


P.S My System passed every test.

Dell may be different, but HPs' recovery discs, at least mine, recreate everything including the recovery partition.

I think what I'd try in this case is to reformat with a different app like gpart or something (whatever works on Vista other than Vista), in FAT32. Then stick in Vista disc and let it reformat and install as it sees fit.

Change disc architecture after that if you want but DO NOT delete the recovery partition.

[Elvandil]

Originally Posted by RootbeaR

Dell may be different, but HPs' recovery discs, at least mine, recreate everything including the recovery partition.

I think what I'd try in this case is to reformat with a different app like gpart or something (whatever works on Vista other than Vista), in FAT32. Then stick in Vista disc and let it reformat and install as it sees fit.

Change disc architecture after that if you want but DO NOT delete the recovery partition.

I wasn't sure, but I thought that it would do that formatting and partitioning by itself. So why is the OP getting options that don't work? There has to be some automatic setting or there is something else going on.

[RootbeaR]

Originally Posted by Elvandil

I wasn't sure, but I thought that it would do that formatting and partitioning by itself. So why is the OP getting options that don't work? There has to be some automatic setting or there is something else going on.

I am not positive either, I don't use Vista.

My thinking is that Vista is by default formatting in its' fs structure.
Recovery partitions are generally formatted FAT32.
Vista is expecting that rec. part. to be there ready to go and is not set to format in FAT32, just its' fs.

What I can tell you is that I tried a dual boot with Vista when it first came out, before we found out it didn't want to play with any other OSs', and I was at this point.

Friends brand new PC and all I can do with it is boot a liveCD, after trying to dual boot.

Reformatted, with g-parted I believe, in FAT32. Stuck in Vista and voila, 4 hrs later we were looking at the desktop.