Forced hardware change, Windows can't repair itself

My AMD based system died back in late November, this happened without me being able to prepare the system for a major hardware change. This weekend I finally got around to building a new system based on Intel. I have two HDD's which are fully accessible and healthy as far as I can tell with CHKDSK. The OS is Windows 7 Home Premium 64 with Service Pack 1. I have a retail OEM DVD.

The system has tried and failed to repair itself. I tried using the install DVD to "upgrade" as a means to repair but the installation utility complained about a wrong version. I'm confused about that as I thought Windows Seven remained on Service Pack 1.

I can get to a utilities screen and to a command prompt. I don't know how to proceed from there in order to put the OS back in a generic drivers state from which I could boot into the GUI to then install the correct drivers for the new hardware.

I want to repair this but if I am forced to I will go out and purchase 8.1 and use that as a repair means. I really don't want 8.1 at this time as I am waiting on 10 to be released. I also don't like "upgrade" versions which might be required in this case (I don't know). I always purchase full versions.

I'm also wondering if the new UFEI architecture might be an issue as I got the following message when I was exploring possible options:

Windows can not be installed to this disk. The selected disk has an MBR partition table. On EFI systems, Windows can only be installed to GPT disks.

Please help! Thanks

Are you saying that you're trying to start Win7 on different hardware? If so boot free Paragon Adaptive Restore CD (provided) to Adjust Win7 to boot on new hardware with Paragon Adaptive Restore CD

If Win7 was installed to legacy BIOS on MBR disk, then first enable Legacy BIOS or CSM in BIOS setup. There may also be a setting for Legacy First to boot. Then make sure the Win7 disk or System Repair Disk is booted as a non-UEFI device. Surely you noticed that you were booting the disk now as a UEFI device.

If there are further problems report back exact error message and at which step, along with all BIOS settings choices for CSM, Legacy BIOS, EUFI, EFI, and BIOS Boot Priority. Confirm that Secure Boot is disabled in Security tab.

You may need to reinstall to UEFI (Unified Extensible Firmware Interface) - Install Windows 7 with - Windows 7 Forums.

You have retail System Builder's OEM Win7, correct?

I would stick with that even if you need to do a Clean Reinstall Windows 7.

gregrocker said:

Are you saying that you're trying to start Win7 on different hardware? If so boot free Paragon Adaptive Restore CD (provided) to Adjust Win7 to boot on new hardware with Paragon Adaptive Restore CD

If Win7 was installed to legacy BIOS on MBR disk, then first enable Legacy BIOS or CSM in BIOS setup. There may also be a setting for Legacy First to boot. Then make sure the Win7 disk or System Repair Disk is booted as a non-UEFI device. Surely you noticed that you were booting the disk now as a UEFI device.

If there are further problems report back exact error message and at which step, along with all BIOS settings choices for CSM, Legacy BIOS, EUFI, EFI, and BIOS Boot Priority. Confirm that Secure Boot is disabled in Security tab.

You may need to reinstall to UEFI (Unified Extensible Firmware Interface) - Install Windows 7 with - Windows 7 Forums.

Hi Greg,

Yes I'm trying to start Windows 7 on hardware other than it was installed on. Thanks for the Paragon link, do you happen to know if there is an alternative place to download other than Dropbox? Maybe a FTP site or torrent link?

The legacy BIOS aspect appears to be functional and working by default. IE the system will boot to the C: drive. It's just that the OS can't load because of the driver conflict since the OS is on hardware that it wasn't installed on, it will BSOD. The system is not booting as a UEFI device as far as I can tell.

:)

AddRAM said:

A retail oem dvd ?

No such thing, are you saying you purchased an oem disc through a retailer ?

Why aren`t you doing a clean install ?

Why do you think you have to buy Windows 8 if you purchased an oem disc?

Just do a clean install of windows 7 and use the key that came with your oem disc to activate Windows.

Clean Install Windows 7

If memory serves I bought the Windows 7 OEM software at the same time as I bought all the parts I needed for my last system (which has since died, hence this transplant issue). That was from a major online retailer.

I will not be doing a clean install. That would be a destructive path that I have no intention of taking needlessly. My intent is to restore my system to functionality. The Windows 8.1 question was put out there so I could explore my options for restoring function, not for a clean installation scenario. I certainly don't have a problem with doing a clean install but I only do those when I have taken all the steps to have complete profiles saved in their entirety. Since the hardware of the old system died, that hasn't been done yet.

:)

gregrocker said:

You have retail System Builder's OEM Win7, correct?

I would stick with that even if you need to do a Clean Reinstall Windows 7.

Yes and yeah I'm really not interested in 8.1 either.

(But will do it if it gets the restoration job done.)

Layback Bear said:

Another option. I used a few times when needed.

By Brink:

Repair Install

Hi Layback,

That is exactly what I want to do alright but I don't think that method will work for me as I just took a quick look at the prerequisites.

It states:

You can only do a repair install from within Windows 7.

Darn.

The weird thing is that I used such a method numerous if not many times in the past with other Windows versions to fix a busted OS but it appears that it won't work here.

Marsby said:

gregrocker said:

Are you saying that you're trying to start Win7 on different hardware? If so boot free Paragon Adaptive Restore CD (provided) to Adjust Win7 to boot on new hardware with Paragon Adaptive Restore CD

If Win7 was installed to legacy BIOS on MBR disk, then first enable Legacy BIOS or CSM in BIOS setup. There may also be a setting for Legacy First to boot. Then make sure the Win7 disk or System Repair Disk is booted as a non-UEFI device. Surely you noticed that you were booting the disk now as a UEFI device.

If there are further problems report back exact error message and at which step, along with all BIOS settings choices for CSM, Legacy BIOS, EUFI, EFI, and BIOS Boot Priority. Confirm that Secure Boot is disabled in Security tab.

You may need to reinstall to UEFI (Unified Extensible Firmware Interface) - Install Windows 7 with - Windows 7 Forums.

Hi Greg,

Yes I'm trying to start Windows 7 on hardware other than it was installed on. Thanks for the Paragon link, do you happen to know if there is an alternative place to download other than Dropbox? Maybe a FTP site or torrent link?

The legacy BIOS aspect appears to be functional and working by default. IE the system will boot to the C: drive. It's just that the OS can't load because of the driver conflict since the OS is on hardware that it wasn't installed on, it will BSOD. The system is not booting as a UEFI device as far as I can tell.

:)

That is Kaktussoft's download link so it is safe. I have a Onedrive link I can share.

Sounds like PAR would easily work. I'm here all day so let me know if you hit a snag.