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Random things and geekery
Installing Windows 7 Beta on an Optiplex 740 w/Nvidia 6150 LE Video
Author: M@15 Jan
So I joined up to beta test Windows 7, more for the fun and distraction of it than anything. I downloaded both the 32 and 64 bit ISOs and burned em’ to DVD for installation. Below is a basic walkthrough of the installer and a fix for a problem that occurs on my test hardware (Dell Optiplex 740)
7’s install is as straight forward as Vista’s. You choose your language, time and currency format and your keyboard layout and then accept the license. Next you choose your install type (I chose custom, not upgrade). Following that, you select your destination partition (I’m installing on a dual boot system and I created the partition in advance) and let it go. The installer copies the files to the hard disk and reboots the machine for the first time.
This is where the fun begins! The machine boots and you get the fancy Windows particle animation, some notifications of reg and system updates, a message reading that Windows is completing the installation and then… a black screen with just a hint of color in the top row of pixels. The installer is still working as indicated by DVD and hard disk drive access. Eventually, the machine will reboot again and attempt to load Windows, you’ll be left at the same black screen.
The problem is that there’s a driver update required for the video chipset to work properly, here’s how I got into Windows in order to install the update.
Note: I was able to get higher resolutions working as long as I didn’t select 1280×1024. Since that’s what I (and the OS) wanted, I went for the updated driver.
- Restart
- Press F8 to pull up advanced boot menu
- Select Enable low-resolution video (640×480)
- Setup will continue… (albeit in a low resolution)
- Give Setup the information it needs (account, PC name, password and so on)
- Run Windows Update and install anything required
- Restart when prompted, be sure to select low-resolution mode during boot..
- Run Windows Update again
- Install the optional NVIDIA updates (there’s only 1 update if you installed w7 64bit)
- Post install, Windows will set the res to 1280×1024 and you’re done.
That’s all folks, start installing your apps and see what works 
5 Responses for "Installing Windows 7 Beta on an Optiplex 740 w/Nvidia 6150 LE Video"
Glad to see you’re testing the upcoming OS. You appear to be one of the lucky ones to have so few problems. I’ll let you know how our test bed installs go (fail) as we move forward
Pressing F8 doesn’t doesn’t give me the option to continue in low res mode. Is there a trick to getting the Enable Low resolution mode menu item. I get safe mode option but when I pick that the installer won’t continue.
Garry, are you sure the installer has gone as far as it needed to? The installer will reboot at least once after the first time you see the black screen. I ran into the same type of problem and just needed to be a little more patient. If that’s not clear, let me know.
It don’t work on my Dell 740…
Blue screen with the code: Bug Check 0×0000007F
I’ve tried your workaround but it don’t work.. Blue screen…
Do you have an idea ??
Snorri,
When I posted this, it was the Beta (build 7000), the release candidate is now available (build 7100). I would suggest giving that one a shot. I installed it yesterday on my 740 and everything went flawlessly. There was an update for the video driver, but it was installed following setup and I’ve had exactly zero problems with the RC.
If you’re using the RC, have you had any other problems with the PC in general? I installed 42 of these machines and I’ve had to replace memory in 5 of them. They tended to crash and reboot sporadically when they had faulty memory. There were times a machine would be fine for days and then start choking.
You could always download a live Linux CD and run memtest+ (the Ubuntu desktop CD would do the trick for you). I found that this tool was better at detecting memory problems than the Dell tools. Hope this points you in the right direction.
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