Windows won't load! Please help!

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  1. Posts : 27
    Windows 7 Home Basic
    Thread Starter
       #41

    Hi writhziden, thanks for that.

    Gave it a thorough read through, it looks quite involved and to be honest is a bit beyond me... It doesn't mention which .iso file to remove the ei.cfg file from.

    I originally downloaded the Home Premium 32bit .iso file, which was incorrect. Can I use this .iso file to repair my OS? I installed and ran the ei.cfg removal utility and tried to repair Windows, which didn't work.

    Another article mentioned downloading the Professional .iso file, running the ei.cfg removal utility and being able to install Home Basic Legal Download from DigitalRiver: Windows 7 SP1, 13 languages

    I hope this makes sense! Shall I download the Professional .iso file as the article says, then run the ei.cfg removal utility tool? 2gb+ is 2 days solid for me, sat in a wi-fi cafe in India!

    Thank you very much everyone!
      My Computer


  2. Posts : 11,269
    Windows 7 Home Premium 64 Bit
       #42

    I believe the process is basically the same in the article you refer to as in the tutorial I linked to, but you are only dealing with one ISO in that case. That may be less involved for you and is worth pursuing if that article is less intimidating. Let us know how things go as you progress.

    I have never done the stripping down from ISO files myself, so I am afraid I cannot provide more help. If I find time later today, I may try it and see if the instructions in that article you link to are easy to follow.

    Since the tool provided for removing ei.cfg does not work with SP1 discs, you will need to use 7-Zip to extract the ISO and remove it manually from the sources directory. You will then have to re-create the ISO and burn it to disc or create a disc from the files themselves. ImgBurn may be helpful in that regard.
    Last edited by writhziden; 27 Apr 2012 at 09:21. Reason: 7-Zip and ImgBurn
      My Computer


  3. Posts : 27
    Windows 7 Home Basic
    Thread Starter
       #43

    Hi writhziden, thanks for this.

    As you can probably tell, I lack the technical wherewithal to strip down an ISO file. But I presume this is what the ei.cfg removal tool does?

    I'm at a stage now where I'm trying to download the Windows Professional ISO file from Digitalriver, on the hope that I can modify the ISO file by removing the ei.cfg file, and to run the Home Basic REPAIR tools to try and fix my OS.

    The flaky wi-fi connection where I am is limiting me massively, and I'm spending hours downloading at 35kb/s trying to get this ISO download!

    If this doesn't work, I shall probably do a fresh install of Windows and start over. Can this be done with the ISO files I have? Hopefully I shall have the Professional and Home Premium ISO files. I don't have the ability to burn a DVD, and can only boot from a USB drive. I found the product key on the bottom of my laptop!

    Any help or advice whether I'm going down the right track would be great.
    Thank you very much again everyone!

    Stu
      My Computer


  4. Posts : 7,730
    Windows 7 Ultimate SP1 64-Bit
       #44

    This tutorial may help you: USB Windows 7 Installation Key Drive - Create
      My Computer


  5. Posts : 27
    Windows 7 Home Basic
    Thread Starter
       #45

    Thanks for that.

    With the ISO file I have on a USB drive, when I boot from it I have the option to install Windows. I haven't tried going through with it. Do I still need to go through the process of following and implementing the stages in the tutorial you mentioned BEFORE I can install Windows?!

    Cheers
      My Computer


  6. Posts : 7,730
    Windows 7 Ultimate SP1 64-Bit
       #46

    If you have the option to install Windows and a drive/partition to install to, go right ahead.

    You'll be given exactly the same steps as you would when installing from a DVD.
      My Computer


  7. Posts : 27
    Windows 7 Home Basic
    Thread Starter
       #47

    Hi guys! Managed to download the professional ISO file, took a week but got there in the end.

    I plan to use the ei.cfg removal tool, then stick the ISO onto my USB stick and boot from this. Do you think I should be able to repair/re install Home Basic from this ISO file going by what I've mentioned before?

    Or alternatively, can I straight up use the ISO file, without removing the ei.cfg file and just use my Home Basic Windows Key from the Professional ISO file?

    I hope some of you original guys who've been following this thread can help me out.

    I can't thank you enough for your help on this everyone!

    All the best,
    Stu
      My Computer


  8. Posts : 12,177
    Windows 7 Ult x64 - SP1/ Windows 8 Pro x64
       #48

    You will need to remove the ei.cfg first.

    Good luck and let us know your progress.
      My Computer


  9. Posts : 27
    Windows 7 Home Basic
    Thread Starter
       #49

    Hi there,
    I loaded the professional ISO file onto USB after removing the ei.cfg file...with no luck. The repair option didn't work again, so I went straight for a new install. That failed too with this error message:

    "Windows cannot install required files. Make sure all files required for installation are available, and restart the installation"

    Writhziden mentioned this a couple of responses ago:

    Since the tool provided for removing ei.cfg does not work with SP1 discs, you will need to use 7-Zip to extract the ISO and remove it manually from the sources directory. You will then have to re-create the ISO and burn it to disc or create a disc from the files themselves. ImgBurn may be helpful in that regard.
    Do I have to do this before it will work? I do not have access to a DVD burner, unless there is an option within ImgBurn to load onto a USB.

    On the previous article I've linked to, it mentions this:
    ---
    If your modified ISO won't install to a USB drive, there are other options.

    - Unetbootin.
    It reads ISO, it's updated frequently. (Earlier versions didn't work well XP ISOs, haven't tried it lately, not a problem for installing Windows 7.)
    Always format the USB drive in NTFS before you start.
    ---

    I'm going to give this a shot now, I'll let you guys know what happens tomorrow!
    Cheers.
      My Computer


  10. Posts : 11,269
    Windows 7 Home Premium 64 Bit
       #50

    ImgBurn has a way to create an ISO file, which you could then put on USB as you are doing with your current ISO.

    Let us know how your current attempt goes, and then you can try the ImgBurn create ISO method after using 7-zip and manually removing the ei.cfg.


    Unfortunately, it may be that your ISO file is not complete or has artifacts that prevent the installation from working properly. Given the issues you had downloading, I would not be surprised if this was a result of those problems. It may also have been corrupted by trying to run the removal tool for the ei.cfg file since it was not designed for the Service Pack integrated install media.
      My Computer


 
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