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#11
Please see if you can try a repair installation :)
Repair Install
After looking at the link provided it does have a few caveats
"You can only do a repair install from within Windows 7.
You cannot do a repair install at boot or in Safe Mode."
I am unable to get into windows at all, is there a workaround available.
I've tried a repair install of Windows 8.1 outside of Windows once myself succesful, however because there is a difference it may be the wanted result is different.
It is almost the same as a clean install (of course), in step 6 choose 'Upgrade'
Clean Install Windows 7
tried to do an upgrade install but the system requires that i boot into windows then re insert the win 7 cd and upgrade from there...
Then I'm afraid that you'll have to start all over again
I do hope that all your data is NOT on the Windows partition?
it is, but i cloned the drive before starting this repair endeavor..
is that different from a clean install or will that still delete all files , programs etc
It depends on what you do in the setup, there is the possibility to delete all partitions but that is a small advanced thing.
Though if everything is on a single partition programs will be removed, but personal files and videos can be recovered from the Windows.Old folder.
When you do not delete the C partition, many things will be moved to the Windows.Old folder but things as programs must be reinstalled in order for them to work properly. Moving them back if they are present is not a good idea, because you will miss certain things as registry configurations.
in my case i have 3 partitions on my drive. the first c: is the system reserved the second is the D: the OS, programs and data files and the third which is an almost empty partition intended for future storage.
so where do you think a reinstallation of windows will place the Windows old folder?