OK, Tom.
Maybe I did not give you enough info.
The firs time I downloaded the ISO the file was too short, so I immediately downloaded again and it was longer.
Sure enough when I tried to make the DVD with the first download, the MS DVD creator said "invalid ISO".
So, when I tried with he second one, the DVD was created "OK." <--- this is the one that only gave me a blinking cursor.
So, frustrated, I went through every disc I had and found a backup of the original Dell disc that I made years ago.
This booted up to the loading files point and I stopped it. I am just wondering why I kept this disc separate from all my other W7 install stuff. I can not remember. I am trying to remember if there was anything wrong with this disc. Can't think of anything.
So, now, should I use this old disc or should I use the newly downloaded one with a live Win 7 going on the machine?
... well, I thought about this for a while and decided to see what would happend by booting to the found disc.
I booted and it loaded files and gave me option to repair system on the "e" drive --- no other windows on system so I figured it made my C into and "e" drive.
But, now I am at a point where I have more choices and do not know which one to shoose:
SYSTEM REPAIR (says it has to do with Windows starting problems --- so not sure here)
SYSTEM RESTORE (i DO NOT HAVE A RESTORE DISC)
SYSTEM IMAGE RECOVERY (NEEDS EARLIER CREATED SYSTEM IMAGE WHCH i DO NOT HAVE)
MEMORY
COMMAND PROMPT
I will await your further instructions, Tom. I willjust leave the system like this until I hear from you.
Thanks again for your help.