Win 7 will not reinstall, repeated error message as follows:

Was unable to DL Win 7 updates (error codes 80071A91, 80070643). Had previously formatted HD and installed Win Home Prem 7 SP1 32 Bit over XP. Ran for 3 years flawlessly. Started getting update fails about 2 weeks ago. Unable to resolve; contacted Microsoft and was told problem can only be resolved by reloading Win 7. Have attempted 3 times. Now PC is completely inaccessable and each time I get, after the install process goes thru all steps, the following error message: ''The computer restarted unexpectedly or encountered an unexpected error. To install Windows, click "OK" to restart the computer, and then restart the installation.'' I'm somewhat screwed as I need PC for work......any suggestions, please?
Further info: I followed the steps in sevenforums tutorials 1649 Clean Install Windows 7. Each time I got error message after step 9 was finished.

Are you/did you delete all partitions on the hard drive when you started the install and let Windows 7 create the partitions it needs. I've found this to work the best. Delete partitions so the complete drive is unformatted, then click Next to begin the install.

Disconnect everything except mouse, keyboard and display, everything.

If that still doesn't work then test memory and your hard drive.

MEMORY:
Download Memtest86+ (you want the 2nd one Download - Pre-Compiled Bootable ISO (.zip)). Unzip it then create a CD from the iso file using your CD burning software. There is a good freeware burner called ImgBurn which will do this easily.

DO NOT burn the .iso file directly to CD. It must be used as input to a program that knows what to do with it, like the one I mentioned above.

You can do this on any computer that has a working CD Burner.

You can also use a Flash drive instead of a CD.

Download - Auto-installer for USB Key (Win 9x/2k/xp/7) *NEW!*.
Unzip and run Memtest86+ USB Installer.exe.
It will format the flash drive if you tell it to. I used a small, 16MB flash drive and it had 8.5GB left when done.

Boot the CD or Flash drive and run Memtest86+ for at least 3 complete passes unless it shows errors sooner than that. An overnight run is even better.

HARD DRIVE:
Check the hard drive with the manufacturer's diagnostic tools.
7 Free Hard Drive Testing Programs
Hard Drive Diagnostics Tools and Utilities (Storage) - TACKtech Corp.
Bootable Hard Drive Diagnostics

Wow, Ztruker, thank you.
For years (I'm 62) I've struggled along anonymously, never considering the power of the collective; a forum. Kinda dim of me as the Greeks "got it" some millennia ago.
Anyhow, threw some DOS (DISKPART..........AAAARRRGgggg.........and got WSOD so now I'm on my tablet) Anyhow, successfully DOSed the beast and got Win 7 to load. So yes, I started with an unformatted, empty drive. All went well until I attempted to incorporate my ASUS wifi dongle.......white screen of death (which I've never actually heard of). Tried a different mfgs dongle (Patriot) and was able to connect and update IE8 to IE11. HOWEVER....updates still doesn't work (just searches for updates endlessly) and now I keep getting wsod. My head hurts; I've been at this for days. Do people using these 'forums' ever talk on the phone? I'd be happy to call you if ure suggestions don't work out. It's 8 PM here in Edmonton Alberta and I'm calling it quits for the nite. Again, thank you for responding, I think that's very cool.

When you reinstall windows, updates will take forever, just let it run overnight and they will be ready in the morning.

Do not install any optional updates if you don`t want Windows 10, you have to look over the optionals.

Definitely don`t install KB3035583 or KB2952664

And have your settings like this.

Install these first
https://download.microsoft.com/downl...109094-x86.msu
https://download.microsoft.com/downl...087039-x86.msu
https://download.microsoft.com/downl...078601-x86.msu
https://download.microsoft.com/downl...145739-x86.msu
https://download.microsoft.com/downl...153199-x86.msu

Reboot, then install this

https://download.microsoft.com/downl...075851-x86.msu

At the point you are at I don't see a need to test memory or hard drive as they appear to be working okay.