Windows 7: Major Problem Installing Win 7. Please Help.

Ok, so a few days ago, my system crashed and I lost a lot of data. Also, my performance went down the toilet. Long load times, freeze ups, etc. SFC/scannow wouldn't even finish a scan (17%) and would find corrupt files it couldn't fix. So I thought I would do a repair install of Windows 7.



Now, I got this copy of Windows 7 electronically through the MSDNAA website from North Carolina State University when I attended there. Just recently graduated. So this is a LEGIT copy and I have a LEGIT product key.

Only problem is I just recently moved to California from NC and I left my Windows 7 disk at my old home. So I had my little brother make an .ISO and send it to me over AIM. I booted the ISO using PowerIso and ran the setup. 3 hours later the setup is almost done and I notice that the words "This copy of Windows is not genuine" in the bottom right corner. I figured once I put in my product key this would go away. Still no help. My screen is now just completely black and I have no clue what to do. Luckily I have this laptop.

I moved to Cali to do Music Production and built my desk computer specifically for this. I'm supposed to have a meeting with a producer next week and now I don't have access to any of my works. I am in DIRE need of assistance. Thank You.

Are you able to get to Computer>Properties to activate? If so you should be given a phone activation option when Product Key is rejected.

If you only mounted the ISO using PowerISO it was not booted. Did you run an in-place "Upgrade" install which is a Repair Install in Windows 7, or Custom clean install?

Either way it didn't wipe anything so if you have corrupt or infected code it may still be there.

I'd Burn the ISO to DVD using ImgBurn at 4x speed. Then truly boot the DVD (via BIOS) and wipe the HD first, then Custom Install using Drive Options to partition and format.

Here are tips to get a purrfect install based on hundreds done here: re-install windows 7

If you have any further problems after burning DVD, I'd check the HASH against official Windows 7 hash: Windows 7 RTM SHA-1 hash / checksums. Here is a link to where MS made good after the Student download didn't provide an ISO at first: Microsoft Fixes Windows 7 Student Edition Upgrade Problems

As far as the system crash, I don't know what happened. My computer was running fine for a month once I moved all my stuff here. I didn't have internet cause my roommate's router is downstairs and I didn't have a wireless adapter at the time. I left to go home for the holidays and grabbed my father's adapter since he wasn't using it. Came back on New Year's Eve and as soon as I booted my computer, desktop came up, said files were unreadable or something, restarted and ran a disk check and ALOT of stuff came up unreadable/corrupt. ALOT of stuff was deleted.

When it finally finished and booted back up, everything was there except for all my personal files. Movies, Pictures, Music, etc. All my production VSTs (except for 1) were still intact. All documents were still intact also. Just my personal stuff. Thought it may have been a virus, but I didn't have internet for a month when I moved in and I use Spybot, MSE, MalwareBytes, AND Peerblock for system protection. All scan once a week and they never found anything before.

I can't get to ANYTHING. My screen is just black. I used to be able to see my mouse, but that's even gone. I have my CPU hooked up to my HDTV and when I switch the image over, I can kinda see a little bit up close. But I still can't find the mouse icon.

And no way I can do a clean install man. I CANNOT lose my production files. Everything is on this HD and I don't have any backup. Think I may be able to create a bootable DVD on the laptop and try another repair install??

Saying now that you cannot afford to lose your files makes the failure to back them up seem reckless.

See if you can access your data to copy out your files using the Windows 7 DVD or Repair CD using this method: Copy & Paste - in Windows Recovery Console or use free Paragon Rescue CD.

You may have disk problems. Run the HD maker's diagnostic/repair CD scan: HD Diagnostic followed by Disk Check from the DVD/Repair CD Command Line.

Once you check the HD, boot the DVD Repair console or Repair CD to run Startup Repair repeatedly to see if it will fix it. Startup Repair

If this fails, then try another Repair Install with confirmed DVD, or clean reinstall to wiped HD.

I know man, I know. I'm going to buy an external tomorrow. I think the screen was dark because windows needed a graphics update. I could see just barely enough on my TV screen to navigate and restart which fixed that problem. Then I could get to computer > properties and re-enter my product key which worked.

I appreciate all your help and will definitely back-up my stuff starting tomorrow. I'll probably put it on the external and just wipe the HD like you said. Just to be safe

Hello legend86.



I think the wrong link was posted earlier for the wipe (secure erase) process, these 2 below are the appropriate ones to use.

If you need to boot to diskpart, have a look at these 2.

DISKPART : At PC Startup

SSD / HDD : Optimize for Windows Reinstallation



To run a wipe from within Windows see this one.

Disk - Clean and Clean All with Diskpart Command