Windows 7 - Repair Install

I meant from off the Windows 7 installation disc from the System Recovery Options screen instead.

System Restore

Ah, Yeah, I was actually too worried about losing my information to hit next on the DVD, but now that I do, I see that you can repair it (instead of just the clean install)
Thanks,
I'm trying it now, (says it might take over an hour), so I'll post the results once it's done)

Aight, well... I tried the Startup Repair option, booting from the DVD, I ran it through once and it didn't fix the problem, I tried another time and it still hasn't fixed it. It turns out that I actually don't have any System Restore points, because I'm an idiot. I figured it was set up to do them automatically, but I guess not. I'm trying the Memory Diagnostic Tool now.
*sighs* Looks like I'm going to have to do a clean install since I didn't make any restore points... Is there any way to install the new OS on a new partition and somehow retain all the data on the C drive?

The Memory Diagnostic Tool detected no problems either. So, I can't restore because I have no Restore Points, Startup Repair doesn't work, Memory Diagnostic didn't work, I don't have a System Image to restore to, I wasn't dual-booting so no Vista to backup my files with....
Is there any options other than a clean install and losing all my data?
Thanks for all the help btw

Tim,

You can reinstall using the Custom install option without formating the hard drive. This way Windows will place your previous installation into a C:\Windows.old folder that should still contain your data.

Clean Install Windows 7

All right, thanks, I've learned from my mistakes and I'll definitely creates Restore Points from now on.
Thanks for all the help, I'll try the custom install image and hopefully it'll work out all right.

Well.... I got a install error,
The installation was canceled
Any changes that were made to your computer during the installation process will not be saved.
(in dialog box)
Windows cannot install required files. The file does not exist. Make sure all files required for installation are available, and restart the installation. Error code: 0x80070002

I'm assuming that this is a problem with the DVD I burnt? Was it the burning process or the download process?

sirTim

What data do you need to save from the win 7 install. Is it data, or programs ( I know re-installing apps is a pita, but). Think you should concentrate on saving data then you can always do a clean install. Do you have access to the data by another OS?

Ken

Thanks Ken, but no, I wasn't dual-booting. I bought the laptop online with Windows 7, and didn't bother to install a separate OS, (nor create restores.....)
I have quite a lot of downloaded music and some stories that I've been working on, on the laptop. If I clean install I'll lose quite a lot of work. I only care about the data, I could reinstall programs all day. Anyone know what problem I'm running into with this DVD custom install??
I've searched online and found only that removing RAM has fixed the problem with some people. It does seem like a DVD error, as in corrupted burn or download, but not from what I've read online.....
Any suggestions or fixes?

Well, I've tried to install from the disc, and it said Windows cannot install required files. The file does not exist. Make sure all files required for installation are available, and restart the installation. Error code: 0x80070002

That was with the custom install.

I said goodbye to my data and tried to use the regular install. It failed as well, because "The computer started using the Windows installation disc. -improv- Restart using normal windows and then insert the disc -improv-
So I can't really restart using normal windows, cause that's broken. So the Upgrade option is useless to me, and the Custom option isn't working....

and when my computer restarted from attempting the custom install, it went to the Windows Boot Manager and said "Windows failed to start. A recent hardware or software change might be the cause. To fix the problem: Etc...
Status: 0xc000000f
Info: The boot selection failed because a required device is inaccessible.
BTW, I can still access the DVD, but it hasn't helped any....
It's even worse off now than it was earlier....
Any help at all???

EDIT: And, when I try the custom install again, it says setup.exe - Corrupt File, The file or directory D: is corrupt and unreadable. Please run the Chkdsk utility
So what the heck do I do now

EDIT2: So I booted from the DVD and used the command console provided in the repair option to run Chkdsk D: /f /r
Hopefully this will fix whatever freaking problem that's popping up...

Tim,

The second 100 MB system partition that Windows 7 created in the previous installation is protected and may be causing this during this installation.

When you get to the area to select where to install Windows 7 at, click on the Drive options (advanced) link and delete all partitions listed and let it install on the only partition left.