What to do: Windows CD couldn't repair my Windows?

[Sammy888]

Granted it's been many years since I wiped my system and started fresh. However, the timing now isn't the best because I don't have the time to reinstall everything.

I tried every option. Windows 7 CD couldn't restore previous restored points, it couldn't fix Windows to boot. I just ended up rebooting into the bios and the menu prompt that I couldn't boot.

With no other option, I had to do a fresh install of Windows. Windows renamed the old installation to Windows.old. I have too many (useful) applications over the years, some of which are no longer available to reinstall them all and configure them as I have done through the years.

I am reasonably confident something corrupted the boot so I wasn't able to boot into my Windows.

Is there a way (now) to boot into my old Windows(.old)? I can post a screenshot of the Windows directory if that will help diagnose what might be missing?

 

[iko22]

Hello Sammy888, sounds like the boot manager is corrupted, but it would help to have some description of any error messages that you are getting, or what color the screen is, etc. You can upload a picture of your computer's screen if you think that would be helpful.

Firstly, can you confirm that the BIOS can see your main disk drive?

 

[samuria]

What often happens is people try to use the old system DVD on a system with service packs and updates so the files sent the same

 

[Sammy888]

Hello Sammy888, sounds like the boot manager is corrupted, but it would help to have some description of any error messages that you are getting, or what color the screen is, etc. You can upload a picture of your computer's screen if you think that would be helpful.

Firstly, can you confirm that the BIOS can see your main disk drive?

Yes, all the drives including main drives are shown in the BIOS.

At one point, I had the option of booting into two different Windows 7 (before windows.old was created). I chose the older boot but I ended up in a boot loop. No boot error message like NTLDR not found. It just ended up in a boot loops with Windows asking me if I wanted to repair the startup.

Right now, there's no error message since Windows is booting into the new Windows, but I need to get into the old windows because I have a version of Quicken that's no longer supported but I have years of data for archival purposes which I would need to convert so it' can be used in another financial software. I have other applications as well that I have similar issues.

 

[Sammy888]

What often happens is people try to use the old system DVD on a system with service packs and updates so the files sent the same

Yes, that's why I created a slipstream DVD a long time ago.

 

[file3456]

From the get go you should have came here on help to fix the unbootable system. Now you have a major mess, and from what I read, restoring the Windows.old folder may not function the way it should.

First and foremost, and I can't stress this enough. Get a USB stick or external USB HDD of adequate size and copy/paste Windows.old to the external drive as a backup. Do so quickly because I read that Windows will auto delete the Windows.old folder in about 30 days.

Now once that is done read this word for word. If you don't understand anything then ask. If you don't have another computer or laptop to view the tutorial then print it out.

Windows.old folder - Restore into a new installation

If you have successfully resorted the Windows.old folder, then you will most likely encounter that boot failure again. Read this on how to do a repair install: Repair Install


Read everything verbatim, and if necessary read it all again. If you don't understand anything, ask.

 

[file3456]

And now let me stress the importance of investing in a external USB HDD for periodic backup clones of your computer.

I do this with all of my computers using AOMEI Backupper. The external drives have the clone and if all hell breaks lose I can clone back to my computer with the clone and it will be like nothing ever happened. Well, I'd lose anything that wasn't backed up between clones, but it's a lot better than losing everything. I do a clone of my computers about once every two to three months and the external HDDs are put in ziplock bags and stored in a couple of *fireproof safes rated for electronics that only set me back about $35 a piece on eBay. Reason for the ziplock bags is if God forbid there is a fire the contents inside the safe will get moist, and that is what the safe manufacturer recommends to use. Do this with paper documents as well. They sell plastic sleeves.


Anyway, always prepare for worst case scenarios in all things in life. You'll be a lot better off in the long run. I apply my "paranoia" on backups and redundancy, security, etc on everything I do. To SHTF scenarios, to my website's, computers, networking security you name it. I even encrypt all of my computers and since I know there is a particular flaw with the encryption I use, I put in place a few things and a WIFI camera in my room to alert me on my phone should anyone enter my room and tamper with my hard drives, etc. Granted I'm well aware of things to circumvent that, so that's why I use layers I'm not willing to post for public consumption. LOL!

* The safe is not meant to keep anyone out since the lock can be easily defeated. It's for fireproofing only, and the cloned HDDs are encrypted.

 

[iko22]

Hello Sammy888,

Yes, all the drives including main drives are shown in the BIOS.

At one point, I had the option of booting into two different Windows 7 (before windows.old was created). I chose the older boot but I ended up in a boot loop. No boot error message like NTLDR not found. It just ended up in a boot loops with Windows asking me if I wanted to repair the startup.

Right now, there's no error message since Windows is booting into the new Windows, but I need to get into the old windows because I have a version of Quicken that's no longer supported but I have years of data for archival purposes which I would need to convert so it' can be used in another financial software. I have other applications as well that I have similar issues.

Ah, I sees what you are doing now. In which case I agree with F22 Simpilot.

Backup the windows.old, and backup your user data quickly.

Then, follow instructions for restoring the windows.old (if the computer has not already deleted it).

Here are some alternative instructions: How to restore a Windows 7-based computer to a previous Windows installation by using the Windows.old folder - Microsoft Support

HOLD OFF DOING a REPAIR INSTALL until YOU KNOW WHAT ERROR messages you are dealing with. (Think of a Repair Install as a kind of a last resort.)

 

[Sammy888]

From the get go you should have came here on help to fix the unbootable system. Now you have a major mess, and from what I read, restoring the Windows.old folder may not function the way it should.

First and foremost, and I can't stress this enough. Get a USB stick or external USB HDD of adequate size and copy/paste Windows.old to the external drive as a backup. Do so quickly because I read that Windows will auto delete the Windows.old folder in about 30 days.

Now once that is done read this word for word. If you don't understand anything then ask. If you don't have another computer or laptop to view the tutorial then print it out.

Windows.old folder - Restore into a new installation

If you have successfully resorted the Windows.old folder, then you will most likely encounter that boot failure again. Read this on how to do a repair install: Repair Install


Read everything verbatim, and if necessary read it all again. If you don't understand anything, ask.

Hello Sammy888,


Ah, I sees what you are doing now. In which case I agree with F22 Simpilot.

Backup the windows.old, and backup your user data quickly.

Then, follow instructions for restoring the windows.old (if the computer has not already deleted it).

Here are some alternative instructions: How to restore a Windows 7-based computer to a previous Windows installation by using the Windows.old folder - Microsoft Support

HOLD OFF DOING a REPAIR INSTALL until YOU KNOW WHAT ERROR messages you are dealing with. (Think of a Repair Install as a kind of a last resort.)

Ok thanks. I wasn't aware of the Windows time limit. I have used successfully the Windows repair CD in the past so I didn't feel the need to come here with the lack of information Windows was giving me. There was no error message at all other than what I have previously mentioned.

I'll follow the instructions to restore Windows old and report back. But I am not hopeful since I already tried to "upgrade" after I wasn't allowed to use System Restore to restore my computer.

 

[iko22]

It might not work, but is that the way you want to go? Always backup your files, before making any changes. The boot files can be recovered, and the system can be repaired. After that, you are just clutching at straws. The safest thing would be to leave all alone, but then you would not recover your program.

 

[Sammy888]

It might not work, but is that the way you want to go? Always backup your files, before making any changes. The boot files can be recovered, and the system can be repaired. After that, you are just clutching at straws. The safest thing would be to leave all alone, but then you would not recover your program.

There was some issues previously where Private Firewall wasn't stopping internet traffic, only Zone Alarm and Windows firewall would. My nephew told me he used Malwarebytes on my PC before and he deleted many files including some from the registry.

I'll try the process again and I'll make a new slipstream DVD just incase that might have been the reason why I couldn't upgrade.

The new Windows installation didn't install properly as well. I see my two hard drives show up as flash drives. Just like it did when I first brought it home from my PC Builder and I had to take it back to the store.

I have a couple of full image Acronis backups I'll use if I need to. I'm just having a beach of a time though now trying to copy window.old as some files are causing the copying of the files to hang. I just might boot into Acronis and save the directory that way.

 

[Sammy888]

So I went to Microsoft's site, entered my Windows 7 Pro license key and it gave me a Win7_Pro_SP1_English_COEM_x64.iso to download which is over 3 GB in size. My Windows DVD should be retail, installed by the PC Builder shop. This is the first time I seen this. Other Windows downloads elsewhere are only 1 GB in size. What's COEM? Is using the smaller sized version of Windows the reason maybe why I couldn't upgrade earlier?

 

[torchwood]

Hi Sammy,

Nothing wrong with that 3GB download size.

COEM is usually for non OEM installs, it doesnt cater for an OEM detail folder, Dell etc, which you WONT find on System builder or Retail installs.

note
Only have 1 of the 2 drives attached on the clean install, add the second
then use
use Eastbcd to find out whats on your comp and set-up a dual boot.

Windows.old folder - Restore into a new installation


Roy

 

[Sammy888]

Only have 1 of the 2 drives attached on the clean install, add the second
then use
use Eastbcd to find out whats on your comp and set-up a dual boot.

Windows.old folder - Restore into a new installation

Thanks Roy. Are you suggesting to avoid the "upgrade" and do a clean install?
Also, when should I be adding back the windows.old. Before or after the clean install?

 

[Sammy888]

Update.

I was able to move .windows old over. But I was unsuccessful in getting Windows to boot into it. I did see an error message saying the registry is corrupt. I tried accessing it's restore points via command prompt but I got an error message saying the registry is corrupt. It doesn't seem that I will be able to boot into even if I try dual boot?