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Question

Windows7 OS will not install

by Dec 3, 2016 4:15AM PST

I have a Dell Studio XPS 8100, running RAID0 and lost a HD. I replaced both HDs with two larger WD 1TB hard drives. I have both the OS and Drivers CDs that came with computer when new. In an effort to keep this from happening again I change the RAID to RAID1 in the BIOS. When reloading the Windows7 near completion I get a message "Windows Setup could not configure Windows to run on this computer's hardware." I've tried reloading the Drivers, but get a message "Drivers not found". No new hardware has been added to this computer other than the two WD hard drives. Any suggestions as to how to get the OS system loaded and running.

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Answer
This is a very advanced install.
by Forum moderator Dec 3, 2016 8:16AM PST

Windows 7 doesn't know how to deal with the RAID setup so back to Dell to find out if they documented the OS pre-install setup and then the actual OS install. I don't own this one but have had to research such on many others a lot of times.

The most common is that I have to prepare the RAID prior to the OS install (very machine specific) and then have some CD/USB of the drivers for the RAID to have handy during the OS install.

While I don't mind all the work I worry that RAID in consumer models will cause big support bills.

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Thank you
by 37Hardtop Dec 3, 2016 8:25AM PST

Thx I'll try Dell Support

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It's been a while but the last time I did this
by Steven Haninger Dec 3, 2016 11:26AM PST

I needed to pre-install the RAID drivers using that option during the OS installation. Not only that, the drivers needed to be on a floppy disk. I had to use a USB floppy drive and run some "make driver disk" utility from the motherboard CD. If I recall correctly, this was part of what's called Intel Rapid Storage Technology and I see drivers available here;

http://www.dell.com/support/home/us/en/04/product-support/product/studio-xps-8100/drivers

You might collect these and give it a try. Personally, I eventually gave up RAID altogether. While RAID 1 saved me a time or three, the overnight rebuilding of the array was more hassle than it's worth. I've moved to regular drive imaging instead.

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Thank you
by 37Hardtop Dec 3, 2016 12:14PM PST

I'll give your link a try. I have previously downloaded drivers front Dell utilizing the service tag number. I found out that it has to be on a disk, USB drives are not reconized at this stage..

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