If you have System file damage after cloning again, run SFC /Scannow several times to see if they can repair.
If not I'd consider a Repair Install
Is this an original HP preinstall, or has it been clean reinstalled yet to shrug off the corrupting preinstalled crapware and useless utilties which have much better versions built into Win7? Clean up factory bloatware
Mate what about the EaseUS what have you got to lose? Seems everything else is falling by the wayside and if it all goes pear shaped - a reinstall.
I must admit I forget the Readiness tool that SV suggested - surprised you had trouble with it.
A Google came up with these windows update results in catastrophic error 0xc8000247 & Windows 7 64bit: Windows Update Service Not Running (but it is - Microsoft Answers - don't know if anything in these will help.
SUCCESS!
I repeated the SFC /SCANNOW with the same ineffective result, so I tried yet another scanning program to clean the registry, etc. (SpeedMaxPC), and although it cleaned a lot of stuff, I still couldn't get MS Update to work. Then I explored the link given by ICit2lol about Windows Update Service Not Running (but it is), and determined that my Intel Rapid Sotrage Technology (RST) drivers had to be updated to work with a drive > 1TB. Quick easy install with a couple of reboots, and now all is fine!
Thanks to everyone on this great forum! I literally couldn't have done it without all of your help!
Stan
Great news!
But I would undo any changes (using System Restore if necessary) which were made by that Registry cleaner as these are not legiitmate optimization or repair tools for Win7 at all, but will almost always ruin your install. The only cleaner I would use is Win7 Disk Cleanup or CCleaner.
SystemFileChecker is the built in tool which Win7 uses to check its own System file integrity. Registry Cleaners are fly-by-night sales scams which do nothing but cause problems.
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