Dell Inspiron 15R N5110 can't install Windows ...?

[846]

Hello,
I have a Dell Inspiron N5110 laptop. Well, two actually, neither of which worked, but I used parts from both to make one good one. However, I have a problem: the computer turnns on OK, and I can go into the BIOS, etc ... but when I put in my Windows 7 Installation DVD, it does the "windows is loading files" thing for quite a while, then just gives me a black screen with a mouse on it, and it just stays on that screen. I even tried leaving it hours and nothing happed.
I know the DVD works because I've used it on a different laptop. I know the problem's not the DVD drive because I got the same problem with an external USB DVD drive.
Any suggestions?
Thanks in advance for any help anyone can offer.

 

[WyomingKnott]

Sounds to me like maybe you didn't build a whole good one. Can you try to install something else? Personally, and I'm not putting you on, I would pull out my DOS installation kit and try, just to see if it can do an installation procedure.

What kind of installation DVD is it? Retail, OEM, one that came with one of those Dells?

 

[846]

Sorry about the late reply.
The installation DVD is a Dell one that came with one of the laptops, and I have used it successfully before so I don't think that's the issue.
I tried installing XP on it but got a blue screen about 10 minutes into the installation.
Any suggestions? A bad HDD perhaps? (I hope not because those HDDs are hard to change!)
Thanks

 

[846]

An update on the situation - sorry for the very late reply - I tried pulling out the HDD and putting in another old one that I had - it seemed to work better but the Windows installation got stuck on 34%...
I think the original problem was the hard drive but now there's another one!
Any other ideas?
Thanks