Hey,More problems with this old Dell which I want to get working cos i cant use my big desktop at night cos it keeps everyone awake. Basically, the problem is it wont stay on. I have been trying to run the installation of Windows 7 over the top of XP, and I get to 27% of the expanding files and it will just turn off. So I plugged the HDD into another comp and ran the install from there. Now the laptop has trouble booting into that OS and when I run the Windows 7 repair, it crashes. Its like the battery has just died. I have tried it with the battery in and out, plugged in not in. Everything. The strange thing is that it will run fine in XP, but that wont run now because Windows 7 has gone over it. Its just bizarre, I am thinking it will probably be the end for it but its worth a shot. Any ideas?

If its turning off during install it could a heating issue. or RAM issues , can you check how hot does the machine get within a few minutes.

I cant really check cos I cant get into the OS, but in Melbourne it has been mid thirties for a while and could get to 40 tomorrow in my area. Of course, we do have AC. but still around 30ish.

You can check the heat manually, by touching the laptop body below. Can you remove your RAM and reset them.

Ahh, doesn't matter. I have the HDD out and in my computer and now I just need to remove the OS, but protection is stoppiung me doing that so IO cant. I want to remove the OS but keep some files on it, any ideas?

Ahh, doesn't matter. I have the HDD out and in my computer and now I just need to remove the OS, but protection is stoppiung me doing that so IO cant. I want to remove the OS but keep some files on it, any ideas?

I don't know much about windows as more of a linux guy. Hey just copy the files which you need to your other HDD and then format it.

thats exactly what I was thinking.done, wouldn't think that a formatted drive would help the installation, would it? If it did then I may give it a go.

thats exactly what I was thinking.done, wouldn't think that a formatted drive would help the installation, would it? If it did then I may give it a go.

what installation ?

of windows 7, it just shuts down when i try

If the LT is really old and Win7 sees something that it does not like maybe that is why it shuts down, just a thought anyway.You can try to use diskpart to completely wipe the drive and then install Win7. Double check that you are plugged into a constant AC source and you are not fighting low battery problems.How to get to diskpart from Win7 Install CDhttp://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/119713-diskpart-pc-startup.htmlHow to use diskpart to wipe the drive before installing the OShttp://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/91339-ssd-hdd-optimize-windows-reinstallation.html

i think its a 2009 model Vostro 1310