Is it possible todo a repair reinstall without being in Windows 7?

6stringbass · 19 Oct 2015

I'm trying to save a Windows 7 install. I would do an inplace upgrade but I cannot get the original install to load. The BSOD says a virus has been detected and has caused Windows to shut down. I've pulled the drive and scanned it in another system with Avast. Nothing was found there. Same with Malwarebytes. Has another method of installing windows over itself been found or is my only recourse to do a clean install?

Steve

Ztruker · 19 Oct 2015

You can install Windows 7 without formatting, which will move all the existing stuff into C:\Windows.old. This is a parallel install.
Then you can copy whatever you want from Windows.old to locations of the new install.
Delete Windows.old when done.

Not a Repair Install but at least you shouldn't lose any data. Keyword is "shouldn't". Stuff happens so ti would be best do do an image backup of the existing install to an external hard drive using Macrium reflect Free.

6stringbass · 20 Oct 2015

Thanks for the reply. I knew I could do that but was hoping another solution was available. The requirement to run the upgrade install from inside Windows limits the repair options. Oh well....I've tried pretty much every avenue to fix the current install with no improvement. On to a new install. (And an image backup was the first thing done before trying any repairs!)

Steve