How To Startup Repair Win7 Located on an External Device


  1. timoto
    Posts : 14
    Windows 7 Pro 64bit SP1
       New #1

    How To Startup Repair Win7 Located on an External Device


    Hello

    I've taken an SSD from an old laptop, which I no longer have access to.

    I've mounted the SSD via external USB on my new laptop. I am able to boot Linux from the external disk.

    When I launch Windows 7 from the external disk, the load begins but BSODs.

    I then boot Win7 Installer from a flash USB, click the Repair option, but I get the error message that the versions of windows are not compatible. Probably it is detecting Windows 10 which is on an internal drive and skipping the external disk that I want to repair.

    Is it possible to do startup repair on an external disk when running the Windows Installer/Repair from another external flash ?

    Thanks for any support
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  3. ThrashZone
    Posts : 20,583
    Win-7-Pro64bit 7-H-Prem-64bit
       New #2

    Hi,
    I would imagine what your asking is not allowed
    Mostly because the install on the ssd is locked to the unavailable laptops mother board.

    If you need files off of that partition just access it like any external hdd or ssd can be.
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  4. timoto
    Posts : 14
    Windows 7 Pro 64bit SP1
    Thread Starter
       New #3

    Hello ThrashZone

    Thank you for your input.

    I believe it should be possible to migrate a Windows image even if it is OEM, because a new product key could be purchased and entered.

    However, I'm not even reaching the desktop as the system BSODs during windows boot.

    My issue is most likely that there are old drivers in the image, that I want to remove, using Startup Repair.

    What I need to know is if/how it's possible to use Starup Repair on an external drive when the tool is located on another external flash.
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  6. ThrashZone
    Posts : 20,583
    Win-7-Pro64bit 7-H-Prem-64bit
       New #4

    Hi,
    Install it into the other laptop enter safe mode with networking.
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  7. timoto
    Posts : 14
    Windows 7 Pro 64bit SP1
    Thread Starter
       New #5

    Hi

    I know longer have the old laptop, I have tried safe mode with new laptop, but still BSODs.
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  8. SIW2
    Posts : 16,161
    7 X64
       New #6

    You ca't fix that with startup repair.

    1) Disk needs to be internal because win7 doesn't boot natively from usb.

    2) Reset it using Make Windows 7 bootable after motherboard swap
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  10. timoto
    Posts : 14
    Windows 7 Pro 64bit SP1
    Thread Starter
       New #7

    Ah thank you SIW2, that seems like the sort of thing I was looking for.

    Hopefully I can write that ISO to a USB and use it from a flash disk.

    I didn't realise it wasn't possible to boot Win7 from USB, so that's another hurdle to overcome. I don't think my system has the internal SATA cable connection. Will need to sorce it.
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  11. SIW2
    Posts : 16,161
    7 X64
       New #8

    It is possible to make 7 boot from usb, with a little fiddling, but it doesn't do that natively.It would be very slow from usb2. Not worth the bother.
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  12. timoto
    Posts : 14
    Windows 7 Pro 64bit SP1
    Thread Starter
       New #9

    Ah, well if it is possible to boot natively from USB3 then that's what I'd prefer to do at this stage.

    What do I need to "fiddle" with to enable that possibility ?
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  13. timoto
    Posts : 14
    Windows 7 Pro 64bit SP1
    Thread Starter
       New #10

    SIW2 said:
    It is possible to make 7 boot from usb, with a little fiddling, but it doesn't do that natively.It would be very slow from usb2. Not worth the bother.
    Do you mind pointing me in the direction of the "fiddle", I'm pretty sure running Win7 via USB3 will be worth it.

    Thanks
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