Windows Update doesn't work after C: partition restore.

First, I feel like I'm so close (after many hours of struggling) to getting my system back but just one more major problem...Windows Update doesn't work. I need some expert advice.

Second, sorry for the long, upcoming explanation but I think it is necessary to get meanful advice. Please be generous and read my story if you possibly can help.

How it started: I have a Dell XPS Studio MT 435 with a two HDD RAID0 system. It has three partitions: 1) C: System, 2) D: Recovery 3) Unnnamed. It shipped with Vista Home and I upgrade to Win 7 Home. HDD1 was causing errors...the RAID0 was dying. I was getting many BSODs.

I bought Acronis True Image Home 2012. I was NOT able to clone the entire disk as an image because of the BSODs. I was able to backup (sector by sector) the C: and D: partitions. I did not backup the unnamed partition.

I was also able to have Win 7 backup save off the C: partition.

I then replaced to the two hard drives (WD 640 GB) with two new hard drives (Seagate Momentus XT 750 GB) and reestablished the RAID0 with these new drives.

First I used the Win 7 recovery CD and its backup to restore the C: partition. The restore was successful but it wouldn't boot. There was no MBR. Windows didn't ask about nor put a MBR back on the system.

Next I used Acronis recovery CD and its backup to restore the C: partition. It did ask about a MBR, which I said to do. The restore was successful and when complete, it booted up to the Win 7 login. Yeah!!!!

I logged in and checked things out. Everything seemed fine, my stuff was back. Until I tried Windows Update. If failed saying that the service isn't running. I checked, the server was running so its a false error report.

I found Fix It for Windows Update and it did stuff but no good. Windows Update still fails.

I then got a clue that it won't run unless Windows thinks the software is genuine. So I ran the MS validation site. It reported that I was missing files and to fix that I needed to install Windows from a genuine DVD. Which I have.

I ran the installer (in custom mode, it wouldn't install in express mode as the DVD was older version). The installation almost completed and I get a dialog box saying the Win 7 was not compatible with my hardware!!!! Get out!

I don't know what to try next. Of course I have compatable hardware, it was running on the old drives and running on the new drives with a broken Windows Update.

HERE WHERE I NEED YOUR ADVICE...and thank you for reading this far.

I feel that I'm so close to being fully back up and I don't want to give in and start from scratch by install Windows on a wiped disk and then loading all the programs and data file one by one back onto the system.

Do you have any clues, tips, hints, knowledge at what it might take to:

1) Fix Windows Update (in my case).
2) Get Win 7 installer to ireinstall on my computer and not report the hardware incompatiblity (that is, help me restore what apparently is missing that makes Win 7 think the hardware is bogus.)

THANKS!!!!

1. Open Services.msc and stop the Windows Update service.
2. Open C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution folder and delete its contents (this will remove the cache and any history).
3. Reopen Services.msc and start the Windows Update service (the above folder structure will be recreated).
4. Now use Windows Update as normal.