Win7 won't start - it loops on the repair option of the install DVD

There are so many posts about repairing win7 that I have become confused. Perhaps I could state my problem.

I have an HP Compaq nx7400 64 bit laptop. It came with Win7 but I upgraded to Win10. After a short while Win10 refused to start properly and started looping. I tried many suggested ways of curing this to no avail.

I decided to go back to Win7. But because the laptop came with Win7 pre-installed, I had no disks. I therefore bought a new Win7 legal Microsoft DVD with an official product key. It included Service Pack 1. This loaded okay and I was so pleased to see Win7 back again. However it started playing up and wouldn't start properly. I used the repair menu on the install DVD but a message said 1si_fc.sys is missing. Then after another go wmilib.sys missing.

On one of the repair cycles it started looking at my hard disk and found numerous errors which it corrected. I decided to use Killdisk to erase the entire hard drive with zeros so that Win7 would have a clean sheet to install upon. But it still won't start properly the latest message is winload is missing.

I would much appreciate some advice on what repair/recovery ISO to download so that it bypasses the installed Win7 and adds the missing drivers files, etc from outside.

hello crockhamtown,

welcome to seven forums!!


Firstly, we need to establish i) whether there is any personal data/programs on the drive and, ii) how many partitions are on the drive?

i) No personal data or programs.
ii) On one install there were two partitions. On the latest install there was only one.

Okay.

Next question, would you prefer Windows 10 OS, or do you still wish to return to the Windows 7 Operating System?

Thanks iko22 for your interest.

Windows 7 is my preferred option.

Use your Windows 7 Installation Disk as a System Repair Disk, to access the CMD prompt. And from the CMD prompt, use bootrec to rebuild the BCD installation of Windows 7.
To do this:

Access the CMD Prompt

Insert Installation DVD in drive, and boot the computer. You may need to select the DVD drive as the main boot device, either in BIOS or from the Boot Manager.
On the Install Windows screen, select language, and keyboard.
Then select "Repair Your Computer". Ie., DO NOT select "Install now"
Then select "Command Prompt".

Use BCDedit to rebuild the BCD installation, from the CMD Command Prompt

Type the following, pressing <Enter> once at the end of every line. As each line executes, make note of the output results.

Code:

bcdedit /export c:\bcd_bak
c:
cd boot
attrib bcd -s -h -r
ren c:\boot\bcd bcd.old
bootrec /rebuildbcd

This could take a bit time - other domestic problems have intervened.

All of above went in okay.
The last one said,
Total identfied windows installations: 2
[1] D:\Windows
Add installation to boot list Y N A

Shall I say yes?

Looks like you still have two partitions on the HDD. Nevermind. Say "Yes" for now.

Seems obvious to say yes. I did for 1 then 2 (presumably the 2 partitions).

Now restarting going through
Copying windows files
Expanding windows files
Installing features
Installing updates
Completing installation

Now waiting for those to finish .........