Win 7 Pro Problem - HELP!!

I'm hoping that someone will be able to help or at least answer a question or two. I purchsed a HP laptop (specifics in my profile) that had Vista Home pre-installed. As part of the purchase package, I was able to upgrade to Win7 Home, which I did. I then upgraded to the Professional version (vs. home) a few months later.

Everything has been fine with the sytem for the past year plus, upto this past week. Apparently the registry has been corrupted and will not start. Here's the results when I run the "start-up repair":

WINDOWS CANNOT REPAIR THIS COMPUTER AUTOMATICALLY.
Problem signature:
Problem event name: Startup repair offline
1: 6.1.7600.16385
2: 6.1.7600.16385
3: Unknown
4: 21200982
5: Auto Failover
6: 14 (I think each time I've run the repair, this number goes up - I think it's 24 now)
7: Corrupt registry
OS version: 6.1.7600.2.0.0.256.1
Locale ID: 1033

When I put the last upgrade (Win7-Pro) disk in, I can get to the install screen, but it hangs for hours (at least 6) at 0%.

Q1: Because I do not have any full OS disks, I can't repair or re-install the OS? Or can I?
Q2: The origianal OS I believe is on the "D:" drive, but I can access it. Is there a way to get to those files?
Q3: Even if I reformat the hard drive, I won't be able to reinstall the OS because I don't have full OS disk?
Q4: Do have have go out a buy the full version of Professional or just Vista and upgrade it like I did the first time with hopes that nothing bad happens again?

How do I get this system up and running? I'm hoping to get this running for school next week. Thanks in advance for any and all suggestions and help.

Bucky

You can copy out your data using the Install DVD or Repair CD with this method: Copy & Paste - in Windows Recovery Console

Then boot DVD Repair console or Repair CD, accept any offered Repair. If it won't start, boot back in to run Startup Repair up to 3 separate times to see if it will start: Startup Repair - Run 3 Separate Times

It's possible this is an accumulation of corruption from a Vista in-place Upgrade, so a clean reinstall using the Home Premium or Pro DVD will probably be your best bet. Be sure to wipe the HD first to overwrite any corrupt, infected or bad boot sector code: SSD / HDD : Optimize for Windows Reinstallation

Here are tips to get a purrfect install, based on hundreds done here: re-install windows 7

Just a followup to my earlier post - I was trying to save a bunch of unbacked-up files, but decided to do a clean install because I couldn't get the system to boot up in safe mode, nor would the repair disk work.

I didn't think you could do a clean install with just an "update disk" - I thought you had to have an some other version (i.e. XP) installed to upgrade to 7. I really appreciate you all responding and straightening me out. Several of the items lost can be replaced, but many of them can not - I learned a valuable lesson here - BACKUP YOUR FILES!!

Thanks again guys!!

Bucky

The Repair console is on the booted Installation DVD's second screen. Are you saying it would not boot, or would not find an installation to Repair, or couldn't repair it.

You can also use the DVD to copy out your files as shown in the tutorial posted (twice).

Next time post back and we will help you get the Repairs done and if necessary rescue your files.