Windows 7 repair woes

jpdepucci11 said:

I stand corrected - Thank you for the info. However, this is something I would never do.

And why wouldn't you use a upgrade DVD to install the OS Clean when you have a all right to do so.

Was this ISO a Win7 installer with SP1 slipstreamed in manually, or one which was provided with SP1 already included?

The reason I ask is because it is believed that slipstreamed Win7 installers cannot run a Repair Install, one must have a Win7 with SP1 installer.

I downloaded the ISO via Torrent as I believe I have the legal right to a copy (I do worry about these things but I do have the Vista full license + the Win7 upgrade licence and then had a useless original disc having installed SP1.)

The ISO was listed as SP1 and did not mention slip-streaming.

Probably a technet or MSDN ISO. I hope you checked the comments to make sure it wasn't cracked or had anything else added, and then rightclick scanned it with your AV and Malwarebytes .

How was it activated?

Yes I did mention in the last but one post I'd scanned it with Symantec Endpoint Protection and also Avast. There were no comments that suggested it was anything other than a legit SP1 ISO and indeed it did activate normally with my existing serial (which I didn't need to re-key in.)

Is there anything on the disc I could examine to tell you which model/version/serial/type it actually is?

Check the hash with hashtab or something similar. Then compare to official msdn and technet hashes. Use google.

How is performance?

If you reinstalled with the Product Key on the COA sticker which came with the computer, at what point did you input the key to activate it? It has to be inputted at some point or it might be a self-activating cracked ISO. We can help you determine this if there is a question about whether you inputted the key or not.

Good question. I've been racking my brains as I did it all automatically, brain switched off, but I'm pretty sure on reflection that I did enter the key during install and not 4 days later when it asked me to activate.

I am legal regardless but in any case is there a way for me to tell that the installation is legit?

Run Belarc Advisor to see if the Product Key it reads from your HD is the same as the one on your COA sticker: Belarc Advisor - Free software downloads and software reviews - CNET Download.com

Allow Belarc to also fully audit all of your security updates so you know you're complete, and save a copy of it so you have a complete audit of your hardware and all installed software versions and keys for future reference.

Nice bit of software, thanks for the heads-up. Yep it all matches. Hurrah!