Solved Will upgrading my Windows 7 Home Premium eliminate OS errors?

[terry95628]

I have a PC running Windows 7 Home Premium (64-bit). It is owned by my wife and has encountered numerous problems over the past few months:
· Adobe Acrobat X Pro stopped working and it was impossible to reinstall. (My wife doesn’t recall the error, but we tried Adobe uninstallers, etc to no avail.) She was not able to install Adobe Reader and had to settle for a 3rd party PDF reader.
· When Norton Internet Security 2011 ran out, the Norton Internet Security 2012 nor the Norton 360 would install
· When I try to access the Printers through Control Panel, it keeps trying to build up the printer list for hours (and never succeeds.)
· I tried to download some Garmin maps but they would not install

Obviously, we have some serious software conflicts or registry issues. I know I could format the drive (or replace it), but I would love to save the time, if possible.

If I bought Windows 7 Pro (64-bit) upgrade, do you think my problems could be solved or would they likely be passed on to the new OS? (I believe the OS was pre-installed on the purchased PC, so I don’t have a CD to do a repair. There may be a Restore CD, but that will wipe out everything, too.)

 

[ignatzatsonic]

You shouldn't need to buy anything, assuming you have the Windows 7 Home Premium Product Key for your wife's PC. And maybe even if you don't have it.

It should be on the bottom of the PC or maybe in a battery compartment. It's 25 characters in this format: xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxxx.

If you have that key, you can download an ISO of Windows 7 Home Premium, burn it to a disc, install from the disc, and activate with the Product Key you already have.

Got the Product Key?

Another choice: I assume it is a PC by a major outfit such as HP or Acer. If so, it should have a "recovery partition" that will let you restore to factory specifications.

Which do you prefer: clean reinstall with Product Key or restore to factory specs via recovery partition?

 

[seavixen32]

Welcome to Windows Seven Forums.

The upgrade will not solve your problems. Assuming you are talking about Windows Anytime Upgrade, all that happens is this: the files need to upgrade the system are downloaded and installed, which means any underlying problems will still exist.

A clean install should solve your problems and you don't need to buy an upgrade to do it. You can legally download a Windows 7 ISO and use your current product key to activate it, as this excellent tutorial explains.

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/219487-clean-reinstall-factory-oem-windows-7-a.html#post1839164

 

[DustSailor]

Helly terry, welcome to Sevenforums

Instead of trying to purchase a new OS, you might try to use the restore CD first: http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/668-system-recovery-options.html

If you choose to attempt to keep the OS going and fix it instead:

:info: The following paragraph describes how you may need to uninstall some programs. I recommend using Revo Uninstaller Free to remove the programs as it does a better job than the Windows Uninstaller.

I would recommend uninstalling everything (Or as much as you can - the more the better. Do not uninstall any drivers or updates listed in the control panel or Revo Uninstaller, however), and running this tutorial (by Brink). If you use Revo, select a program to uninstall, click uninstall, make sure you choose "advanced" mode when prompted, and when the options arise to delete extra registry items or files, make sure you click all of the individual items and files and select 'delete', then next. After you've followed all of these steps, download Ccleaner and do a registry scan and delete anyything that presents itself as needing fixing.

The reason I would have you uninstall as much as you can is if you are going to wipe the system anyway, you might as well. And this way, it ensures the problem doesn't lie with a program, and allows your system to more easly get fixed. If Control panel has more programs listed (not drivers or updates) that aren't listed in Revo, uninstall them in the control panel.

:warn: If ever you have any questions, don't hesitate to ask them. If you have any trouble downloading the software I've recommended, let me know, and using any kind of virus scanner you may have, try to detect if your system has a virus. If you do not have a functioning scanner/antivirus, let me know that also.

 

[edwar]

I would also like to welcome you to the Seven Forums.

First thing I would do is Remove any and all Norton software from your this computer. It is the worst piece of software ever written. Either find some other AV product and don't use an AV product and just be more aware of what you do on the computer. I have not run any AV software for many many years and have never been infected. Why cause I don't do Stupid stuff.

If that does not solve some, if not all, of your problems then it may be time to format the drive and reinstall. First saving all your personal files to an external drive.

 

[whs]

I would also like to welcome you to the Seven Forums.

First thing I would do is Remove any and all Norton software from your this computer. It is the worst piece of software ever written. Either find some other AV product and don't use an AV product and just be more aware of what you do on the computer. I have not run any AV software for many many years and have never been infected. Why cause I don't do Stupid stuff.

If that does not solve some, if not all, of your problems then it may be time to format the drive and reinstall. First saving all your personal files to an external drive.

I don't think that you are right. Norton is about the best AV program around. G-Data or Eset would be my other choices. But with NIS I never had a problem (on several systems) - unlike with MSE (on another system) where I caught a couple of viruses immediately. And AVG destroyed 18 of our systems.

 

[edwar]

I would also like to welcome you to the Seven Forums.

First thing I would do is Remove any and all Norton software from your this computer. It is the worst piece of software ever written. Either find some other AV product and don't use an AV product and just be more aware of what you do on the computer. I have not run any AV software for many many years and have never been infected. Why cause I don't do Stupid stuff.

If that does not solve some, if not all, of your problems then it may be time to format the drive and reinstall. First saving all your personal files to an external drive.

I don't think that you are right. Norton is about the best AV program around. G-Data or Eset would be my other choices. But with NIS I never had a problem (on several systems) - unlike with MSE (on another system) where I caught a couple of viruses immediately. And AVG destroyed 18 of our systems.

I completely disagree. It is the biggest resource hog on the planet. If it was so great why to you have to use a Special program to completely remove it from the systems it has been installed on.

Not sure where you go and what you do on the net but like I said above I have not run any AV programs in years, like 8-10, and have never been infected with anything. Of course I don't so stupid stuff on the net or with emails.

 

[whs]

No need to waste my time discussing with you. You are not blessed with knowledge.

 

[gregrocker]

Sounds like creeping corruption requiring a perfect clean reinstall. Everything you need is in Clean Reinstall - Factory OEM Windows 7.

Be sure to use the lightweight utilties and tools mentioned which work best with Win7, nothing else, to maintain Win7 indefinitely in its featherlight, instantaneous native state.

You'll never have to do another reinstall either since with Win7 backup imaging you can reimage your HD or its replacement in 20 minutes.

 

[jumanji]

...... (I believe the OS was pre-installed on the purchased PC, so I don’t have a CD to do a repair. There may be a Restore CD, but that will wipe out everything, too.)

Can you please tell us the make and model number of your PC , how old it is and whether it is still under warranty.

This will perhaps enable the experts here to give you the most appropriate suggestions tailored to your machine.

My only suggestion at this stage - without knowing any details of your machine - will be just make sure you have a Restore CD and in good condition.

Read the documentation that came with your PC. If you are required to create a Restore CD do it now before doing anything else.

 

[karlsnooks]

terry,

Fill out your system specs with the specs of your wife's computer please.

I was going to make a couple of suggestions, but without the specs for your wife's computer, I might give inaccurate or incomplete advice.

Update your SevenForums System Specs
User CP (located on the top menu bar) |
Your Profile | Edit System Spec (left-hand column)

To gather info, use Speccy (my favorite) orSIW or System Info

Add the word laptop or desktop or netbook to the
“system manufacturer” block, for example,
Toshiba Satellite L305D notebook.

Provide full windows version info, for example:
MS Windows 7 Ultimate SP1 64-bit

Use the “Other Info” block for Optical Reader,
Mouse, touchpad, wifi adapter, speakers, monitor, etc

Scroll down and click on SAVE CHANGES.

 

[edwar]

No need to waste my time discussing with you. You are not blessed with knowledge.

Please lets not get personal. I don't care for your last comment.

If you got 2 viruses using some other AV program other then Norton then you are doing something on your computer or in your network setup that is allowing those viruses to get to your computer.
I do not know of any viruses that infects any computer without some user interaction and or a wide open broadband connection AND user interaction.

Thanks.

 

[gregrocker]

I have tempered my rage at Norton a bit after experts here who I respect convinced it has recently slimmed down. That said I would not pay for ANY level of bloat when MSE invisibly protects it's company's OS adequately with perfect performance.

No AV will stop one from clicking on fake AV infection since these pop up like normal ads from webpages. You must shut down the machine immediately without clicking anything to make the pop-up go away safely since the pop-up has probably programmed its Close button to download the infection.

The most egregious mess today on most preinstalled computers is MucAfee - replacing it solves about half the problems its users report.

 

[DustSailor]

I too believe some kind of AV is needed. Of course a virus can only be downloaded through user interaction, but that user action can be as simple as clicking on a google searched website that has a virus attached. "Safe" sites have been hacked before, so no where are you completely safe. If ever you browse the internet, you would be wise to have the added protection of an antivirus. Whether or not Norton is the best can be discused somewhere else, but think of it this way. If you don't have an antivirus software installed, how will you know if you have a virus to begin with? Besides, this is hardly the place to begin a discussion of antiviruses or no antivirus, as Terry is only interested right now in fixing his system. Hopefully he has enough info to begin.

Terry, let us know if you have any questions at all and we'd love to help you out. Good luck to you!

 

[terry95628]

All errors solved!

I want to thank everyone for their input. I used the Revo Uninstaller, did a CC registry clean, ran SFC /scannow. That didn't solve the problem, but these steps might have helped in the repair. I downloaded the Windows 7 Home Premium SP1 iso file, burned it to the DVD and tried the Repair Install (in hopes I would have to wipe my drive clean.) AND IT WORKED LIKE A CHARM!

On the final step of the Repair, a message came up that microsoft.net Platform 4 was corrupted (or had an error) and needed to be repaired. The repair was completed and EVERYTHING worked: Adobe Acrobat Pro, NIS, Printer control panel...everything that was messed up was back working.

Thanks again for everyone's input!

 

[gregrocker]

Great to hear it and thanks for reporting back.

I'm seeing the "Net Framework 4 being repaired" warning after completion of most every Repair Install lately.

 

[seavixen32]

You're very welcome Terry and thanks for posting back with your solution as it'll help others in a similar situation.