Hi,My recently installed ubuntu (using wubi) has screwed up the already installed win7,it wont boot!,i want to use a usb stick with fully functional win7 and a key recovery pogramme to find the key code of the damaged win7.I can if necessary use an external USB HD
If this is factory preinstalled Win7 the key you have installed is a batch key used at factory which will not work to reinstall anyway. Use the key on COA sticker on machine to do a Clean Reinstall - Factory OEM Windows 7 which is a vastly better install on an HP which has the worst load of bloatware in the industry. Read the Note for HP Owners at the end.
Have you confirmed that Win7 partition or it's System Reserved boot partition (preferred if you have it) is Partition Marked Active and then run Startup Repair - Run 3 Separate Times . This resolves the same issue in most cases where Win7 is corrupted by other random fixes.
Otherwise everything that can be done to start it is here in Troubleshooting Windows 7 Failure to Start
If you do a rescue install I'd use free Partition Wizard bootable CD ( which can also confirm or mark Active) to shrink C by enough to install Win7 then transfer over from the old OS. Later we can help you remove the old Partition to Recover Space Used by an Older OS .
Solved Get Product key from other OS - Windows 7 Help Forums
3 Methods to Recover Windows Product Key from Dead or Unbootable Windows ? Raymond.CC
HI Greg
Auto repair didn't work,however using the CLI as instructed in
startup-repair-run-3-separate-times (Startup Repair - Run 3 Separate Times ) did succeed,I have set the ubuntu partition as inactive.
I will attempt to uninstall ubuntu and the associated grub2 loader and hope that I can again run win7 normally.I want to reinstall ubuntu but only in it's own partition not disturbing the win7 installation.
Thanks a lot
It seeems that win7 can not satisfactorily be made portable i.e. on a usb stick,unless anybody knows otherwise
If you want something portable, just put Linux Mint 16 or Puppy Linux on a flash drive, no need to install it. I keep it handy for emergencies.
http://www.linuxmint.com/
Last edited by AddRAM; 21 Jan 2014 at 04:26. Reason: More info
- Delete Linux partition
- Mark "system reserved" partition ACTIVE. If not on system then mark WIN7 partition ACTIVE
- Do a startup repair 3 times.
Thanksto all
I have a usb stick with xubuntu,(actually inteneded for internet banking) but useful otherwise,as a complete novice Xubuntu s very easy to use from windows experience
thanks again
brian
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