Repair Install

Nightdash · Nov 28, 2013

I got a major problem. I can only run the setup.exe, and when I press the install button it tells me that I am missing WININT.dll file and also have me a second message that WinSetup.dll may be corrupted and gives me the error code: 0x7E

I'm really mad right now because this also means I can't do a clean install to fix my PC. I've tried evrything that is possible so far. What other choices do I have available please answer back.

Brink · Nov 28, 2013

Hello Nightdash,

What type of installation media are you using?

If you have not a already, you might download the latest ISO file from the links in the tutorial to create new installation media with instead.

Nightdash · Nov 28, 2013

I'm using a PNY USB drive and I'm sure I have the latest ISO file

Brink · Nov 28, 2013

You might see if using the ISO on a local drive instead may work better.

BAMAMOM · Nov 29, 2013

What is a .vhd file?

Then, I would try booting from that different DVD,
hit the Shift_F10 trick for Admin Cmd prompt, then make a ".vhd" on either C: or preferably on another partition -if- its on a separate -physical- HDD.

If your other partitions are on the same physical HDD, it won't make any difference where it goes.

If your C: HDD is big enough, I'd make the .vhd 30 GB, and install into that.
There's an excellent Tutorial for "Creating and Installing to a VHD", on this board.

It's gonna take a while, so be prepared for a long coffee break while he's formatting the .vhd (file).

Things can still go wrong using this technique, but it seems like a "possible" option (to me). Maybe this can save your data, depending upon what Win_7 Setup does with the boot-sector, BCD-store, etc. Win_7 Setup/Install just might 'get it right' and give you a bootable machine, from the .vhd...

Good luck.
Last edited by chuckr; 31 Jul 2009 at 08:01 PM..
My System SpecsSystem Spec
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desantj · Nov 30, 2013

Hello Brink,

I have what I hope is an easy and fast question. I'll admit up front I haven't read all 145 pages of replies to your original "How to do a Repair Install to fix Windows 7" post. I did a search within it but didn't seem to find an answer.

The question: Will the repair install restore the original file and folder permissions and ownership for the entire drive, including other software installations?

The background: My system got hit with some ransomware over a year ago. I used another computer to research and determine how to get rid of it. However, I don't believe I got all of it out. Then, I got hit with another version of ransomware again earlier this year. After getting rid of it, I found I couldn't download items to my Downloads folder but I could save many items to the desktop. I'd get an error message saying the file couldn't be downloaded or saved, after the security scan message popped up at the end of the download. However, I'd see the item on my desktop. Some MS patches refuse to save regardless of the location I specify.

In researching the downloading/saving problem, I ended up taking ownership and changing permissions on various folders. So, I've made my problem worse.

In looking through the General Discussion thread, I saw a couple Jan 2012 posts from "greenmountain" about reformatting and reinstalling Windows 7 for the same basic reason. He said he backed up his old files using WinRAR and there was a setting that allowed the files to be restored without their permissions. He also mentioned a product called RollBack which appears to be RollBack RX that may or may not do the same thing.

I wanted to ask my question before I go too far down a path that goes nowhere. My goal is to try and save reinstalling everything that's on the hard drive, if possible. Thanks for your time and patience - regards! v/r, Jim in MD

Brink · Nov 30, 2013

Hello desantj, and welcome to Seven Forums.

I'm afraid that I do not believe that a repair install will help with this, but it won't hurt anything to try if you like. Just be sure to back up anything that you do not want to lose first to be extra safe.

desantj · Nov 30, 2013

Hello Brink,

Thanks for the reply! I'll go ahead and try the repair install after doing a backup. It may be a couple weeks before I can have the uninterrupted time to do everything. I'll post back to let you know what happened. Regards! v/r, Jim in MD

Brink · Nov 30, 2013

Ok Jim. I hope it goes well, and will be here when ready.

desantj · Dec 14, 2013

Hello Brink,

Thanks for your time and patience! I ended up not pursuing the in-place repair action. I did try something else suggested by a MS MVP in another forum but it didn't help either. I tried using the SubInACL tool. It did appear to help me regain ownership and permissions for some folders, but I think my OS and hard drive were already on the steep descent to crashing.

I made a complete hard drive backup, then I reformatted the hard drive and used a supplemental program to "wipe" the clear space left after formatting. After that, I reinstalled my OS and have slowly been reinstalling my programs. I wrote down everything I had installed to help me decide not to reinstall some programs I haven't used in ages. (Example: TaxCut 2004-2008 - I'm well past any possible IRS audits for those tax years and I have soft copies of the returns.)

Following other advice from "greenmountain," I've installed a roll back program that loads at system startup and takes the place of System Restore. It gives me the option to restore an earlier system snapshot before the OS loads. It also takes a snapshot of the system before the OS loads. And, once the computer's up and running, I can take a snapshot any time I want. I've been taking them after I reinstall each program, just in case I encounter problems.

One other unrelated question for you - what's your thought about registry cleaner programs that purport to remove bad registry entries? My first in-place repair action came about from using the registry cleaner portion of a well-known software program a little too religiously. It apparently removed valid entries as well as bad ones. While troubleshooting the problems and before I did the in-place repair, the person helping me advised normal installation and uninstallation of software should not create registry problems. He advised against using any sort of registry cleaner. But, anti-virus and other programs now seem to include these registry cleaners that run and report problems, almost like "nagware." I welcome your thoughts on the use of these programs and any recommendations you have for them.

Thanks, regards, and I hope you and yours enjoy a safe and relaxing Holiday Season! JRD

v/r,

Jim in MD

Brink · Dec 14, 2013

Hello Jim,

I'm happy to hear that you are back up and running again without losing anything, but sorry it took a clean install.

I agree with the other person that helped you. Registry cleaning programs are to be avoided at all cost. There are just to many out there that are nothing more than snake oil that claim to fix everything including the kitchen sing that only cause damage to Windows usually leading to have to reinstall.

Registry cleaners that are over aggressive in reporting what should be removed from the registry is often the problem. The next problem is the user allowing these results to be deleted from the registry without knowing what is safe or not safe to allow to delete. The program doesn't really help to let the user know what is safe or not, and the ones that do may not always be correct. We all know what happens if you delete something from the registry that shouldn't have been deleted. You'll find yourself with an unstable/crashing Windows and/or other programs.

Barnum · Dec 31, 2013

I have run scannow numerous times and each time it tells me it could not repair all the files...

The only Windows 7 disc set I have is the one I just received from HP....it does not allow for repair.

Appreciate your help.

Brink · Dec 31, 2013

Hello Barnum,

Yeah, that disc set would only allow you to do a factory install of Windows 7.

You could see if doing the items listed in the blue Note box under step 4 in OPTION TWO if the tutorial below may be able to allow SFC to repair the files afterwards.

If not, then please post back with your sfcdetails.txt file from OPTION THREE to see what SFC says it cannot repair, and if it's anything to worry about. Are you having any other issues?

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/1538-sfc-scannow-command-system-file-checker.html

Barnum · Dec 31, 2013

No other problems...just this long startup.

This is the message I got when I ran sfc/verify

Microsoft Windows [Version 6.1.7601]
Copyright (c) 2009 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.
C:\Windows\system32> sfc /verifyonly
Beginning system scan. This process will take some time.
Beginning verification phase of system scan.
Verification 100% complete.
Windows Resource Protection found integrity violations. Details are included in
the CBS.Log windir\Logs\CBS\CBS.log. For example C:\Windows\Logs\CBS\CBS.log
C:\Windows\system32>

Brink · Dec 31, 2013

If you like, go ahead and post back with a sfcdetails.txt file after running a sfc /scannow command, and I'll be happy to see what it says it cannot repair.

mangoh · Jan 14, 2014

I have a Toshiba C660D but when booting the laptop it gets passed the welcome screen but it then says "windows explorer crashed" and prevents me from doing anything else i.e. No desktop icons load

It seems like someone turned off the laptop half way through a windows update.

Spec:

Toshiba C660D
Windows 7 64Bit

Do you recommend a repair install?

Ex_Brit · Jan 14, 2014

Can you boot into Safe Mode and while there, initiate System Restore?

Lesson #1: Never interrupt Windows Updates, or any update for that matter.

Kaktussoft · Jan 14, 2014

mangoh said:
I have a Toshiba C660D but when booting the laptop it gets passed the welcome screen but it then says "windows explorer crashed" and prevents me from doing anything else i.e. No desktop icons load

It seems like someone turned off the laptop half way through a windows update.

Spec:

Toshiba C660D
Windows 7 64Bit

Do you recommend a repair install?

Do a "system restore" ... eventually from "win7 recovery environment"

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/700-system-restore.html

ubose · Jan 15, 2014

Try booting up in safe mode and restoring to a previous restore point.

cfourkays · Jan 15, 2014

Could not retrieve information

Going to do an Install/Repair on a HP Slimline Desktop
Getting BSOD, with IRQL and others
Clean of malware
Could only boot to Safe Mode

Had to resort to Selective startup settings with nothing checked to boot normal.
Now boots OK.
When I go to the install part, get temporary files loaded then:
"Windows could not retrieve information about the discs on this computer"
I assume there's some service that needs to be checked but I don't know which.

Pete

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