BSOD Leads to re-install despite all my efforts.

[Note: BSOD Collection software EXE was run today, 1 week after a re-install, the BSOD fixed & after Windows.old was moved to another location. Should I replace Windows.old to C:\ for more info? I also have an exact copy of C:\ with previous install. Should I move the BDOS EXE to old Documents folder for proper info on previous BSOD?]

- x64 [Corei7/2.66Ghz/1600Mhz DDR3/ASUS P6T Deluxe V2 <Green>
- the original installed OS on the system? Window XP SP3
- an OEM or full retail version? Full Retail [Vista Upgrade Version w/ x86 & x64 DVDs]
- What is the age of system (hardware)? 2 years [case/PSU/H50 is new]
- What is the age of OS installation (have you re-installed the OS?) 1 WEEK OLD!
-(Previous Install was 8 months old from first install attempt)

Hello folks.

About 3 weeks ago, my Windows 7 Ultimate 64 install (that had never froze or BSOD'ed ONCE blue-screened at boot after installing a "questionable" program. It was a "modified" copy of UltraISO (with a custom install, but no AV matches & run in Comodo's Sandbox). Also, I had installed TransMac recently, and couldn't seem to get it uninstalled, even using CCleaner (another app that like to do some heavy system messing, btw).

Any of these apps (or something else, I did a lot that day) could have caused this. Anyway, this is what happened. Hopefully someone can learn from my mistakes...

So everything was fine, until I restarted after this install. I got an Error 0x490 in Windows Automated Repair (Said "Changes to the System Config may have caused the crash" or something) and even though I had a System Image Backup, Windows Image Restore couldn't find it (because it was on an external USB HDD? Because I left out 200Gb of Media [Only 2 Folders!]? I dunno.). Finally, Windows Restore Points crashed with (Error 0x80070057) whenever I tried that.

All I had was my iPod to research with, unless I ran an Ubuntu 10.10 Desktop x64 Trial CD, or used my BIOS OS to browse the web. I stayed off the PC, except to test the hardware. I was here a lot, of course. I tried rebuilding the MBR and all the other stuff that command does (I forget the name) and did sfc /scannow and found "0 Windows Installs"!

Finally, I got pretty hopeless and remembered how well Microsoft had gotten my "Vista Upgrade" Version Authenticated. The (American, that time) tech guy was really good and had me editing the registry and even doing stuff I'd never even seen before! Then again, he was installing, something they know how to do real good, apparently. I used to build systems for a living and it takes a lot to impress me... So I thought, if anyone can save this OS install, it has to be the Manufacturer! Wrong!

So, after finding out my support had ended a few months ago, I bought a case file from Microsoft "Support". Needless to say, they were totally useless. First off, the call quality dropped from 8-10 to 2-3, when I got transfered to some guy in India (if I had to guess, no disrespect!). I gave him the error codes, (which he seemed to ignore), and asked if they could help me fix the install, but he just asked "Can you boot into Safe Mode?" I said "No.", and he just wanted to format and re-install, after blaming my hardware!

Guys, I know my way around "The Ultimate Boot CD" for Windows and I have SeaTools for DOS, MemTest, CPU-Z, and the rest, and I could run my "Trial Install" CD of Ubuntu 10.10 with no crashes!

Still, he told me I had to format and re-install. But I begged to differ and told them I could do the install just fine myself (thank-you), without paying $59.99 for their hand-holding AND retain ALL my old files, aside from just Windows.old, and I did. I made them refund the money and left a nasty bit of feedback. Maybe "Re-Install Windows" won't be their default response to anything outside of a bootable Windows 7 Install, but don't get your hopes up folks...

Anyways, I had to re-install my Windows 7 Ultimate 64. I used this site's great tutorials to install my "Vista Upgrade" version with no problems. After the new Install, I used Image Restore to get all my System and Installed application files & configurations back, along with Windows.old.

Now, all I have to do is figure out how to replace all my important bits from the last install. See my other recent post in the Installing area of the Forums for that issue.

Feel free to ask any questions... Who knows, I might save you some of the trouble I went through if you're in a similar position. Feel free to PM me if you prefer. If you live in the continental US, I might even be willing to give you some on the phone tech support, though doubtless, there are many more qualified members who could do much better that me.

I'm also open to any suggestions on how I could have saved this Windows 7 install and all the hassle or a clue on where I went wrong...

Thanks for reading!

-az

Well screw me sideways... Just found the [FIX] I couldn't locate when my system was un-bootable.

If you have the same problems as I listed having above, and you have access to the partition that contains the System Image Backup, please see This Solution [FIX] (link)

Oh well. I have a fresh install to match the fresh new Antec case/PSU and H50 Liquid Cooling Unit (see my system specs) that I'm installing my with my hardware with as soon as I get my QuickSilver 5 thermal paste from newegg. The previous install was from March of last year.

I will do a careful, selective re-install of Fallout:NV game saves, CounterStrike :Source setup (custom binds and other cfgs), Adobe CS4 Web Premium settings files, etc, etc, etc.

-az

Any input would still be appreciated! This FIX/Solve doesn't help me now that I have to do all this file swapping crap to do manually [link to other message].