To reinstall you should use 32 bit if you have 4gb or less RAM and 64 bit if you have more than 4gb RAM.
For the repairs if SFC offline reports you're using wrong architecture and you are using a 64 bit installation Media or Repair CD then it appears you actually have 32 bit OS or it wouldn't give that error.
It is definitely a 64 bit os. I havent used 32 bit for years due to the memory limitations. I have 8gb ram in this system. Im confused as to why sfc gives that error? Probably part of the problem as to why it wont repair
Are you ready to reinstall? I will support you to get a perfect Clean Reinstall - Factory OEM Windows 7 if you will stick with the steps which have worked for tens of thousands of others for five years without a single complaint.
Yes, I dont mind reinstalling. At this stage it looks the only option. However is there anyway I can do it without losing my data on both drives? How about programs/settings that are installed etc?
The best way to organize your data is to sort it into User folders, then copy them to your hard drive.
Afterwards you can either move each ones' contents back into the new User folders per the tutorial, or you can link them from the HD to your new install on the SSD by either moving the User Folders - Change Default Location to the HD ones, or rightclick each User folder on the HD to add it to the related Library - Include a Folder - Windows 7 Forums then make it the default folder for that Library - Set Save Folder - Windows 7 Help Forums
If you are going to finally install on the ssd, and you have no data on the ssd, then you won`t loose anything, except the games you said you had there, you will have to re install them. You will have to re install all your programs once your done the install.
And again, make sure you unplug the 500 GB hard drive before you start.
As stated much earlier, the best scenario is to have windows and programs installed on the ssd, and your data, games and disk images installed on the hard drive.
Once you have windows perfect and how you want it on the ssd, you create a system image and store it on the hard drive. That way if you have another problem in the future, you just re image windows to the ssd from the hdd.
Backup Complete Computer - Create an Image Backup
I think I'd want as many games as possible installed on the SSD and not from the HDD, since like Programs they surely benefit from the speed.
What I'm not sure you understood is that by having the OS on the HD and Games on the SSD it made them no faster at all.
It's your files (best sorted into User folders) that benefit least from the speed so can easily stay on HD where you can move them before you do the reinstall to the SSD plugged in alone.
Ok guys. After another fruitless night trying to fix tonight I guess it will have to a fresh install. I had read that when all else failed a couple of people had got windows to boot via usb then could carry out better repairs to get it back booting as normal but I couldnt get this to work.
I will back up my user folders but thers not that much of importance in there to be honest. The killer is gonna be having to reinstall programs/games/tweaks/drivers etc etc. Had a perfect setup running in terms of all that! I have microsoft fsx on the ssd and that is over 55gb of stuff which is pointless backing up because it will need reinstalling into the new windows registery!
This is probably a stupid question but is it at all possible to install a fresh windows, copy the fresh boot folder over the old non booting windows and see if it boots??
After you install Win7 to the SSD, you can install EasyBCD to try to add the old Win7 partition to see if it will boot from the Dual Boot menu it will create.
Looking at your screenshot posted earlier I am reminded that the HD was marked Active. When you attempted to repair the 100mb System Reserved partition which you'd also marked Active, had you marked the HD Inactive during these repairs? This might make a difference.
Ok will do that tonight hopefully. Everything I need from the ssd is in one folder so I will copy that out to the hdd, unplug the hdd and install windows onto the ssd using the guides you posted earlier. Will then install easy bcd to see if the old windows will boot.
Yeah I tried it marked inactive but still wouldnt repair. Thanks for all your help, will keep you posted
Quote