Recovery from Image or b/u disk

1. Remove Zone Alarm. Don't just disable. Remove.
2. Install the one anti-virus that has never given problems with Win 7, namely, Microsoft Security Essentials MSE - Microsoft Security Essentials
3. Turn on and use Windows Firewall. You won't need to make any adjustments, etc. Both Win 7 Firewall and MSE work straight out-of-the-box, in other words, no adjustments, etc needed.

Nearly all of us here are strong supporters of MSE because we don't like to have to fix problems caused by other AV/firewall software and we also want you to have a secure, virus-free system.

I understand the use and necessity of dial-up. Some of these city boys have never lived in the sticks.

Ok now, making a system image backup is easier than taking candy from a baby. We have an excellent tutorial explaining all of the iins-and-outs,
Backup Complete Computer - Create an Image Backup

I'll give you my abbreviated version thereof:
WIN | type Backup | Enter
In the left-hand pane, choose Create a System Image |
fill in the dialogs, specifying the backup location (often Win 7 will guess correctly) and when asked what partitions to include in the image, select all of them on the drive you are backing up.
OK you way and let the backup begin. (Drum roll!)

Definitely backup to an external usb drive. Do NOT backup to DVDs. Expensive, time-consuming, and problematic.

The backup is NOT a sector-by-sector backup so the backup drive doesn't need to be as bid as the drive you are backing up.

an example: I make a system image backup of C which has 30 gb of 50 gb used and the image is only 11 gb.

I gather from what you've said that you are more comfortable with the PC/Windows 7 etc. I wouldn't be worrying about getting the .NET Framework back. Unless there is a special reason I'd be going back to factory settings and starting again.
(Clean install if you have Operating System disks)
I then suggest you unload the trial software you don't want and focus on a stable system.

Posting more detailed system specs would be a good idea.

nithig,

as another mentioned, you can help us to help you by filling in your system specs.

This procedure will assist us both:



HOW TO FILL OUT YOUR SYSTEM SPECS


In the line at the top of www.SevenForums.com you will see UserCP.
That is an abbreviation for User Control Panel.
Click on UserCP.
In the left-hand column, under Your Profile you will see Edit System Spec.
Click on Edit System Spec
You can copy and paste from the output of Speccy, Speccy - System Information - Free Download to fill out much of the info. Be sure to use the Other Info section of your System Specs for such info as your optical drive, your wireless adapter, your speakers, etc.

mjf suggested

I then suggest you unload the trial software you don't want and focus on a stable system.

Sounds easy ... but that's where a mistake was made. (And I emailed MS several time for assistance!)

The nuisance of it is that all the Office Prog. are still in Start/All Programs ... they have not been removed.
So I'm a little confused about how to be rid of them.

Just went into CP and added more to system specs.

General comment: it's clear here how to make both b/ups and Images ... thanks.

I suspect your suggestion mjf to rebuild from scratch is what will happen... I have resisted because of
all those Updates! It must be wonderful to have fast b/band.

Will this help?
uninstall - Office 2003, Office 2007 or Office 2010 suites

Thanks Karl, I'll follow that up ... just now have to quit computer however
will save the MS page you've directed me to and study it asap.

cheers.

Yes! The Fixit program did it ... removed Office.
Thanks for that Karl ...

Now all is well ... have an external HDD with a new Image and backup ... and will
remove Soluto as that required .NET but I'm happy with a 1 minute boot.

It's been a good thread ... thanks to all who contributed ... learned some things
which have been or will be applied.

Hii Nithig,
Wonderful! Thanks for getting back to us with the results and glad that we could be of assistance.
karl

Good find Karlsnooks.
For hopefully the minority that MS uninstall alone doesn't work.

mjf, this is actually a rather common problem.