Windows 7: Windows 7 SP1 64bit Install and Uninstall problems

I installed Windows 7 64bit SP1 a few weeks ago and it never completed the installation, so when I reboot the computer it constantly returns to Stage 4 of the set up and then fails at 69%. The computer then proceeds to reboot, but runs very slowly, and glitches occur when running various programs. It also continually tries to install security update KB2556532, but this install, which says it has been completed successfully, fails every time (and the system has tried to install this fix more than fifteen times). To solve the problems I tried to uninstall the Service Pack through Control Panel (programs and features utility), but when I bring up that screen it says that there are NO installed updates, even though I know for a fact that there are dozens of them.

Can I use the Windows 7 disks to do a repair, or do I need to do a clean install?

Happy New Year Apotheoun,

Please refer to out Tutorials below...

Repair Install

Clean Install Windows 7

Thank you for the response and the links. If I am reading the information correctly at the first link you provided, I cannot do a repair install because I have a factory built system with recovery disks, and so I do not possess a retail copy of Windows 7 Ultimate for the SP1 damaged computer (see the quotation below).

"You cannot use a OEM Windows 7 'Factory' Restore/Recovery type of installation disc that came with or created from a store bought computer to do a repair install with. These can only be used do a clean install instead."

Such is life I suppose.

Did you make the OEM manufacturer's Recovery Disks?

I didn't have to do that, because the recovery disks were sent with the computer.

The problems with my system since SP1 was added are strange. For one thing, the computer tells me that SP1 is installed, even though every time I reboot the computer it goes through stage four of the installation process. When it gets to 69% the system boots up without finishing stage four. I have never received any error messages about the SP1 installation, and the System screen says that I am running Windows 7 Ultimate 64bit with SP1. So the computer does work since installing SP1, but it tends to be glitchy and a bit slower than before I installed SP1. Clearly something went wrong, but I have no idea about what or where the problem is. I will create a repair disk if that is necessary, but can a disk of that kind reverse the SP1 update?

The good news is this: I have a copy of everything on the computer that is important to me on a back up harddrive, so I'm not worried about losing any information.

See if these links offer an alternate approach.
Option 3 in the first link may be feasible

Windows 7 Service Pack 1 (SP1) - Uninstall

How to uninstall Windows 7 Service Pack 1 (SP1)

BTW Good to know you back up.
Well done!

Thanks for the links. They were helpful, even if not in the way I wanted. When I try to uninstall SP1 with the command prompt code, I get a catastrophic failure error: 0x8000ffff

It then says that I need to reinstall Windows 7.

I guess I have to do a clean install with the recovery disks I received when I got the computer. After I do a clean install of Windows I do not know if I will ever download and install the service pack again. It has been an ongoing hassle for the past few weeks.

Sorry to hear of your problems with SP1.
Rest assured there are lots of people who experienced no grief at all.
Should you require more help in the future you know where to find us.
We can even help & guide you prior to installing SP1 later.