Am I going insane: Windows 7 backups have SFC errors and more

[Sammy888]

I've been going bonkers the entire day. I had an issue with Windows 8.1 which was enough for me to wipe it clean.

For the life of me, I could not find my original 7 Pro CD. I had a few backup copies lying around and none of them could boot. I had a boot message saying: NO MEDIUM.

I tried many Windows 7 hard drive images that I had backed up over the years.

When I dug up an older image that I knew worked well, but had minimal updates installed on it (from around the year 2010) I installed it and tried to do some Windows updating. I could not. I received a false positive that Security Services was off when it was on. Additionally, I could not use the Windows Update Service, but it too showed it was enabled in the system console. I tried to install Windows Security Essentials, but I couldn't. Each of my backup images had all experienced the same issues where WD was off and I couldn't update. SFC had corruption errors which could not be repaired.

I managed to install and update to Windows 7 SP1 (with errors) and I followed this guide here for additional updates. I connected my 2014 WD Mybook USB external drive and I received a driver error. I searched for the driver on WD's site and installed it. I still had an error. Previously, when I used Windows 7 about 6 months ago before migrating (clean install) to Win 8.1, I had no issues with this drive.

I downloaded a Windows 7 Home version from a link posted in this forum (I couldn't find the Windows 7 Pro iso file) just to see if I would have the same issues. And yes, I did. SFC had corruption errors which Windows couldn't repair, Windows Defender wouldn't work at all, and I ran into Driver and unsigned errors. Only Windows 8.1 now does not give me any SFC or driver signage errors.

Before I decided to vent by posting what happened, I just realized something. Is it possible that Windows has a built-in "timer" that it knows the date and then disables many components? Would the workaround be to change the date in my PC's Bios to another date, say to 2019 and try again? Should I disconnect my other hard drives to ensure Windows doesn't read dates that are newer than Jan 14, 2020?

I should also add that I took a quick peek at creating a Windows 7 Pro slipstream DVD and I had an an anxiety/panic attack. Is there a dummy's guide with step-by-step instructions? I'm also tempted to go back to Windows 8.1 but that would give me even more anxiety.

I have Windows 10 on my laptop, but I still prefer my workhorse desktop and my large 32 inch monitor as my dedicated PC. However, if it wasn't for this pandemic and the outrageous prices for graphic cards, largely due to crypto mining and shortage of chips, I would be looking at a custom built "dream" PC.

 

[RolandJS]

"I had a few backup copies...[no boot no media]" I want to learn from your experiences, how were the copies made? I also made backup copies of my TrueBlue MS W7Pro, so far, they boot.
"...I took a quick peek at creating a Windows 7 Pro slipstream DVD..." I took a quick peek at this:
The Last Windows 7 ISO You’ll Ever Need: How to Slipstream the Convenience Rollup
I understand! Looks complicated.

 

[flavallee]

RolandJS:

That article is more than 2 years old and no longer applies to what we do now.

If you want to update Windows 7 install media, the instructional threads by SIW2 and wkeller are the way to go.

Update your Win 7 installation media

Integrate7 script – automatically download and slipstream all updates!

 

[RolandJS]

flavallee, I have no intention of slipstreaming, I was trying to understand what the OP posted.
I will quote your post so that the OP knows who to go to and what to do:
"If you want to update or slipstream Windows 7 install media, the instructional threads by SIW2 and wkeller are the way to go." Update your Win 7 installation media
Integrate7 script – automatically download and slipstream all updates!
-- the above from flavallee

 

[Sammy888]

"I had a few backup copies...[no boot no media]" I want to learn from your experiences, how were the copies made? I also made backup copies of my TrueBlue MS W7Pro, so far, they boot.
"...I took a quick peek at creating a Windows 7 Pro slipstream DVD..." I took a quick peek at this:
The Last Windows 7 ISO You’ll Ever Need: How to Slipstream the Convenience Rollup
I understand! Looks complicated.

Hi. Thanks for reaching out. I have determined my booting issues are as a result of my DVD drive which rarely was used in over 13 years is flaky. When I created a USB Windows ISO boot drive, Windows booted.

I am going to speculate that within Windows 7 SP1 telemetry, there is a command that crippled Windows Defender, Windows Update, and requiring digital driver signing of new installations effective sometime in 2021.

When I do a basic installation of Windows (from an original DVD) that didn't come with SP1, everything is fine. Defender works and I assume Windows Update does. I disconnected from the internet so I don't know.

After I install SP1 that's when the trouble begins. Defender won't work and I have unsigned digital driver issues and the drivers are not installed. This affected my native video card and SATA/USB controllers. Windows wouldn't install them.

I installed Windows 7 SP1 from different sources and the result is the same. My last known good image was from Dec, 2020. Even when installing older images, the outcome is identical. Any new installations like printer or USB drivers fail, even with known good installations. There are no issues with Windows 8.1 whatsoever.

 

[Sammy888]

I should also add that I keep on getting an annoying Windows pop-up saying my Windows isn't activated even though I keep on reactivating it. When I verify the status using PowerShell (after I get the pop-up) or My Computer System info, it shows activated.