Re-installation Problems. I don't want to do it again!

[Steerforth]

I have a Dell Inspiron One. I have had it for quite a few years, and it has never given me any trouble.

Several months ago, I tried to install Trend Micro anti-virus program, but at the last minute of installation, it would abort. I contacted Trend Micro, and I gave them remote control. The technician tried for hours to install the program, but he could not. He finally gave up and told me to contact Microsoft.

Again, at this time, my PC was working perfectly. The only problem was that I could not install the program.

I phoned Microsoft on June 25, and I gave them remote control of my PC. They were unable to fix the problem, so they re-installed Windows 7.

On June 26, I had to contact them again to buy the key for the program. It was $40.00.

Immediately, I began to have problems - and still do. Pages jump, web sites open by themselves, and my cursor seems to have a life of its own. It will actually go by itself to the Start Menu, open it, and open a program. I am really unable to use Facebook, because it jumps around so much. Same with my Outlook program for email. My Start Menu appears by itself every couple of minutes.

I was unable to write this directly on the page because my cursor kept jumping around, and I kept losing my place. I am writing this on Notepad.

I had Microsoft technicians looking at the problems several times over the past three months, and I tend to think they have only made the problems worse.

Most recently, though, was a couple of days ago, and the technician wants me to do a "Clean Installation". I have downloaded a copy of Windows 7 from a link that the technician gave me. I understand what this is all about, and would rather not do it by myself as it seems to be complicated, and I am not too computer savvy.

I just ran Windows Malicious Software Removal Tool 64-bit. It took 2-1/2 hours and resulted in "no infections".

Any other ideas and advice will be greatly appreciated! It has taken me an hour to write this. Even on Notepad, the cursor and my place keep jumping.

Thanks very much!

 

[Paul Black]

Hi Steerforth,

Welcome to SevenForums!

Most recently, though, was a couple of days ago, and the technician wants me to do a "Clean Installation". I have downloaded a copy of Windows 7 from a link that the technician gave me. I understand what this is all about, and would rather not do it by myself as it seems to be complicated, and I am not too computer savvy.

Any other ideas and advice will be greatly appreciated! It has taken me an hour to write this. Even on Notepad, the cursor and my place keep jumping.

I think that probably a Clean Install is the way to go, considering all the previous problems you have had.
It seems that everyone and their friend has had a go, and to be honest, I wouldn't have thought it has done your OS any good, let alone the stability of it.

There is however, one option that you could try FIRST . . .

Repair Install - Overview

A repair install differs from a clean install in the fact that it ONLY replaces the corrupted OS with a new fresh copy. This means that ALL your User Accounts, Folders, Files, Documents, Pictures, Music, Videos, Data Files, Icons, and any installed programs are left intact. It does however, delete ALL the Window updates, and could possibly affect, sounds, services, visual effect settings and device drivers by re-setting them to default [unusual though]. You cannot do a repair install at boot, in Safe Mode, using a system repair disk, or using an integrated Windows update disk. Basically, this process can ONLY be performed from within the LIVE OS.

I hope this helps!

 

[Steerforth]

Re-installation Problems. I don't want to do it again!

Thanks for your reply! I have two copies of Windows 7 in my files from the Repair Install, which is what Microsoft did on June 25.

In July, I complained to them, and they sent me another copy, which is still in my files, but I have not installed it. If the first Repair Install copy was bad, what can I expect from the second copy? Is it worth taking a chance?

Thanks!

 

[Snick]

It's most likely not the Win 7 ISO.
Logs would help us
System Specs Please, System Info - See Your System Specs - Windows 7 Help Forums

Please download & run AutoSURT64 from my OneDrive, follow prompts please.
I'll take a look.
Bill

 

[Paul Black]

Hi Steerforth,

I have two copies of Windows 7 in my files from the Repair Install, which is what Microsoft did on June 25.

[01] Was the file that you downloaded an ISO file?
[02] Copy the ISO file to an external HDD.
[03] Backup any important files that you don't want to lose to an external HDD, just in case!
[04] Have you got your Product Key available [do NOT post]?

[05] Disconnect any external HDD's.
[06] Create a folder on the Desktop, something like Clean_Inst.
[07] Copy the ISO into it.
[08] Unzip the ISO using something like 7-Zip => 7-Zip.
[09] Find and double-click the Setup.exe file [follow the prompts].
[10] When you get to the installation screen, select In Place Upgrade.

All your files are saved. It is just Windows itself that is replaced with a full working copy. A backup copy of the OS is created automatically [Windows.old]!

Then you can either update the OS using WU’s [Windows Updates], or use SIMPLIX which is much quicker.

I hope this helps!

 

[RolandJS]

One thing that might help: windows repair all in one in windows safe mode with internet. Click boxes that speak of re-permissioning files, re-registering files, items 25 and 26 (restore windows to default settings), have patience, it might take awhile. I wasn't looking closely earlier, is this a desktop or laptop?

Paul, Snick, I have the official MS Windows 7 Professional 64bit, can I use that to a repair install? I share a piece of the problem that the OP posted.

 

[Paul Black]

Hi RolandJS,

I wasn't looking closely earlier, is this a desktop or laptop?

Desktop!

Paul, Snick, I have the official MS Windows 7 Professional 64bit, can I use that to a repair install? I share a piece of the problem that the OP posted.

YES!

 

[Paul Black]

Hi Steerforth,

I don't suppose you have a recovery partition [reset to factory] do you?

If you have, did they re-install from that, if so, that could be the problem. The recovery partition could be corrupted!

Please do the following . . .

Disk Management

Post a screenshot of the Disk Management => Disk Management - Post a Screen Capture Image.
Pay special attention to Step 5.

I hope this helps!

 

[Steerforth]

I have a few other important things going on right now, and I can't spend a lot of time trying to figure out what to do. As I told you in my first post, I am NOT computer savvy! ISO files? What? I am installing AutoSURT64 now. I will keep checking back. Thanks to you all for your kind assistance.

 

[Steerforth]

Yes, the second copy of the Windows 7 file that Microsoft provided on July 22 is an ISO file.

 

[Steerforth]

Re-installation Problems. I don't want to do it again!

Hi Steerforth,

I don't suppose you have a recovery partition [reset to factory] do you?

If you have, did they re-install from that, if so, that could be the problem. The recovery partition could be corrupted!

Please do the following . . .

Disk Management

Post a screenshot of the Disk Management => Disk Management - Post a Screen Capture Image.
Pay special attention to Step 5.

I hope this helps!

I apologize, but my head is spinning. I would not even attempt to follow the instructions; I have had too many problems along these lines because I don't know what I am doing! Thank you!

 

[RolandJS]

Steerforth, take your time, nobody is going away, like Motel 6, we'll leave the light on for ya!

 

[Paul Black]

Hi Steerforth,

Seriously, it is really quite easy, trust me!
When you are ready to try it, let us know, and we will walk you through it one step at a time!
You are not on your own, we are here to help!

 

[Steerforth]

Re-installation Problems. I don't want to do it again!

Hi Steerforth,



[01] Was the file that you downloaded an ISO file?
[02] Copy the ISO file to an external HDD.
[03] Backup any important files that you don't want to lose to an external HDD, just in case!
[04] Have you got your Product Key available [do NOT post]?

[05] Disconnect any external HDD's.
[06] Create a folder on the Desktop, something like Clean_Inst.
[07] Copy the ISO into it.
[08] Unzip the ISO using something like 7-Zip => 7-Zip.
[09] Find and double-click the Setup.exe file [follow the prompts].
[10] When you get to the installation screen, select In Place Upgrade.

All your files are saved. It is just Windows itself that is replaced with a full working copy. A backup copy of the OS is created automatically [Windows.old]!

Then you can either update the OS using WU’s [Windows Updates], or use SIMPLIX which is much quicker.

I hope this helps!

Here is an example of what I am talking about: Your instructions say to copy the file to an external HDD. The HDD that I have has 473 GB available, but when I try to transfer the ISO to it (5.68 GB) I get a message that says that it is too large, and there is not enough space. At this point, I do not know what to do, and there is not point in flying blindly. When I am attempting things like this, I often find problems that prevent me from continuing, and it becomes very frustrating for this old man. Not good for my heart.

 

[Paul Black]

Hi Steerforth,

Here is an example of what I am talking about: Your instructions say to copy the file to an external HDD. The HDD that I have has 473 GB available, but when I try to transfer the ISO to it (5.68 GB) I get a message that says that it is too large, and there is not enough space. At this point, I do not know what to do, and there is not point in flying blindly. When I am attempting things like this, I often find problems that prevent me from continuing, and it becomes very frustrating for this old man.

[1] Have you got a USB or External HDD that you can use to copy the ISO file to [not really necessary but at least you will know that you have it somewhere else as well]?
[2] You also need to copy any files that you don't want to lose to the USB or External HDD.
[3] Have you got your Product Key available [do NOT post]?

Once the above has been done, it is pretty straight forward.

 

[Steerforth]

I have a USB, and I have two HDDs with plenty of space. I told you about the problem, "not enough space". I do know my product key. I don't know where to go from here.

 

[Steerforth]

Re-installation Problems. I don't want to do it again!

Hi Steerforth,



[01] Was the file that you downloaded an ISO file?
[02] Copy the ISO file to an external HDD.
[03] Backup any important files that you don't want to lose to an external HDD, just in case!
[04] Have you got your Product Key available [do NOT post]?

[05] Disconnect any external HDD's.
[06] Create a folder on the Desktop, something like Clean_Inst.
[07] Copy the ISO into it.
[08] Unzip the ISO using something like 7-Zip => 7-Zip.
[09] Find and double-click the Setup.exe file [follow the prompts].
[10] When you get to the installation screen, select In Place Upgrade.

All your files are saved. It is just Windows itself that is replaced with a full working copy. A backup copy of the OS is created automatically [Windows.old]!

Then you can either update the OS using WU’s [Windows Updates], or use SIMPLIX which is much quicker.

I hope this helps!

Here is an example of what I am talking about: Your instructions say to copy the file to an external HDD. The HDD that I have has 473 GB available, but when I try to transfer the ISO to it (5.68 GB) I get a message that says that it is too large, and there is not enough space. At this point, I do not know what to do, and there is not point in flying blindly. When I am attempting things like this, I often find problems that prevent me from continuing, and it becomes very frustrating for this old man. Not good for my heart.

 

[Steerforth]

Re-installation Problems. I don't want to do it again!

It's most likely not the Win 7 ISO.
Logs would help us
System Specs Please, System Info - See Your System Specs - Windows 7 Help Forums

Please download & run AutoSURT64 from my OneDrive, follow prompts please.
I'll take a look.
Bill

Second barrier: I have attempted to post the files from the CBS file, and it is too large. I have tried to post the files one by one but I get an error message saying "Invalid File".

 

[Steerforth]

Two problems:

1. I cannot transfer the ISO file to my HDD because it says it is too large.

2. I cannot upload the CBS file because it is too large or they are invalid files.

See what I mean?

 

[Paul Black]

Hi Steerforth,

Two problems:

1. I cannot transfer the ISO file to my HDD because it says it is too large.

2. I cannot upload the CBS file because it is too large or they are invalid files.

See what I mean?

[1] As we are only doing a Repair Install [see my Repair Install - Overview in Post #2] it will probably not make a difference. If it does, then you could get another ISO from M$ presumably!

[2] You will need to .zip the folder first and then upload it . . .

Screenshots And Files - Upload And Post In SevenForums

This tutorial [Published by Brink] will show you how to upload the file =>
Screenshots and Files - Upload and Post in SevenForums.

I hope this helps!