A Windows Re-install routine similar to XP.

[loninappleton]

I'm going to ask this another way than I have before.

Is there a repair installation for Win7 similar to what needs to be done to _re-install_ the operating system.

Whenever I had to do this in XP I had to have a printed sheet in front of me saying what to press next-- it was that confusing. Example: In XP to reininstall, you don't select Repair (Win7 never says it can or does repair anything-- they say call the company) you say install but branch to an install that
doesn't kill your data files.

What is the recommended way from Seven Forums to install the operating system (which got damaged on mine by a clone operation) and save the data files? Microsoft could not have gone so far backwards as to make it impossible. However, 'repair' is not the answer.

As always I appreciate your response.

 

[Layback Bear]

Here are two tutorials by Brink. I'm not sure which one you are asking for.

Clean Install
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/1649-clean-install-windows-7-a.html

Repair Install
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/3413-repair-install.html

 

[loninappleton]

A clean install would be a disk wipe of data, yes?

A repair _install_ different from a simple repair. The use of the words here is still
confusing.

I will look at what you've given. thanks again.

 

[Layback Bear]

A Repair install is sometimes call a Upgrade. I'm not sure why.

Information This will show you how to do a repair install (aka: in-place upgrade install) to fix your currently installed Windows 7 and preserve your user accounts, data, programs, and system drivers.

 

[loninappleton]

Repair it will be since the other description says it does not save files and settings.

Oddly the repair info you gave says you have to have Windows of the same kind on the disk.
I'm going to try it since I have readable files on the disk but the OS doesn't load.

A repair _install_ that needs a working copy of the OS sounds like a contradiction.

But the instructions look easy to read: I have no choice, I have to continue.

Will report back.

 

[loninappleton]

I'm just attempting to do this repair install now.

FIY the error report is " A disk read error occurred, Press Cntl Alt Del to restart."
That's as far as the damaged disk gets. But the file content is accessible. My reason for
the reinstall is there is a large area of shared files from a network folder which is not
available.

Perhaps, as part of this, you know a way to find the shared content on the folder named "Public."
As afar as I know that only comes on when the homenet connection is active.

 

[loninappleton]

Further information:

I got out my old Hirens Boot CD (last full edition 5 years ago) and ran Seagate Seatools for this
old 500Gb drive. Seatools does not see anything.

Hirens Mini XP which is supposed to be able to allow viewing of the data files on the
disk did not load. Perhaps there is a mini Win7 some place to run as a CD .iso (?)

The NTLDR leader program (for old XP) just gave the same original error saying
can't read the drive.

I'm still poking around in Hirens.

 

[loninappleton]

Still poking.

Hirens miniXP on a different backup cd. It reported looking to start NTLDR and the screen just went dark
and that was it.

I don't know if there are NTLDR tools around for this: to just write what is needed.
I may be able to find some fix mbr routine to force an overwrite which is what seems necessary.

Again, I was able to view data from this Seagate when it was on as a slave and not boot disk.

 

[Layback Bear]

You got me confused.

A Repair install of Windows 7 needs nothing but the DVD of Windows 7 to match what is on the computer.

A Repair Install must be done from within Windows 7.
Can you boot into Windows 7 on this computer?
Windows XP has nothing to do with a Windows 7 Repair Install.
Forget about what was done when using XP.
Put your Windows 7 hat on and put the XP hat in the closet.

Please read the tutorial again!

 

[loninappleton]

It just won't go. To answer your question, no there is no booting of windows at all.
Seatools (for this Seagate drive) cannot even see the drive installed.

It looks like curtains.

As to the tutorial, yes I followed it as far as the original system DVD could take it.
In the routine it gets to a spot that says, now remove the DVD and boot windows (which
we know cannot take place.) Removing the DVD is odd at this point since whatever
went into memory would be lost.

Maybe you can explain this odd procedure. I cannot get such a thing so call me
ignorant if that be the case.

NTLDR and all that, ok, it's not something that will work. But in the old XP you could eventually
find the routine to run setup off the source removable disk. All this other seems incredible.
"Use what you don't have to get back what you lost" is the message from any of the 'tutorial' or anything else in it.

.

 

[Layback Bear]

What exactly is what you call (original system DVD) and how and where did you get it.

You must have a Microsoft matching DVD or a matching ISO burned to a DVD or Flash drive of the exact same Windows 7.

You must boot into Windows 7 before you start to do a Repair Install.
Can you boot into Windows 7?

When you complete #21 what happened.

 

[loninappleton]

I have to go to a printer to get the how to of the uninstall routine printed. I see where my mistake is: the piece begins by saying boot to Windows, but what is meant is boot windows on a separate drive where you have put an .iso with a setup on it.

I'll report back if/when I get the right .iso installed and going, then re-read the guide.
Fortunately this gaffe with Clonezilla was on some extra HDs.

But while I'm in here:

Say I get all this going. If the Setup is successful will I be able to establish the right sort of link to my homenet for the missing large shared media folder? IOW can I use Win7 menus to say 'join lon's homenet" and my media folder will then be accessible?

Keep in mind that this disk cannot see an OS at all. Which again may mean the repair cannot be done. However once I have all this as a procedure that works, I'll not bother with you further on the topic.

Thanks for your patience.

 

[Baddog22556]

To clarify the difference between an installation disc, a repair disc, and a recovery disc(s) -
If you have a W7 installation disk you can overwrite just the OS and maintain your data.
The repair disk is used for various repair purposes but cannot be used to reinstall a system.
The recovery disk restores your hard drive as it was from the factory. If your data isn't backed up
you lose it.

 

[Layback Bear]

We need some basic information. Your post are going in circles.

Without and CD/DVD installed; can you boot into Windows 7 in a normal fashion?

Lets discuses what you can or can not do once your system is repaired later.

Lets stick with problem (A) at this time.

Why in the world are you using or worrying about CloneZilla?

Lets stick with the Repair Install tutorial.

Whether you print the tutorial or have it painted on the wall is of no concern.

Just make sure you have it available to you when needed.

 

[loninappleton]

Yes I think everyone is getting short tempered.

As to your question, No I cannot boot into the problem HD. The message at start up concerned a 'read' error and the screen says press control alt delete. I thought I put that as part of the problem early on.

The independently developed Linux program from Sourceforge called Clonezilal was used as an alternative to Norton Ghost. Norton Ghost could not see the target clone drive. Clonezilla could see the target drive which was attached (I'm scared to say mounted for all that means) to a SATA PCI card because my old motherboard only has 2 SATA and with 2 SATA drives plus a SATA DVD recorder
I needed to attach the PCI add-in card.

An error in using Clonezilla involving an option which I cannot give here because I'm out of spare drives to run the program-- damaged the source HD and the Target. Both give the same 'read', press control alt delete message.

I'm going to leave off this for a while.

 

[loninappleton]

Yes I think everyone is getting short tempered.

As to your question, No I cannot boot into the problem HD. The message at start up concerned a 'read' error and the screen says press control alt delete. I thought I put that as part of the problem early on.

The independently developed Linux program from Sourceforge called Clonezilla was used as an alternative to Norton Ghost. Norton Ghost could not see the target clone drive. Clonezilla could see the target drive which was attached (I'm scared to say mounted for all that means) to a SATA PCI card because my old motherboard only has 2 SATA and with 2 SATA drives plus a SATA DVD recorder
I needed to attach the PCI add-in card.

An error in using Clonezilla involving an option-- which I cannot give here because I'm out of spare drives to run the program-- damaged the source HD and the Target. Both give the same 'read' error , press control alt delete message.

I'm going to leave off of this for a while.

 

[Layback Bear]

Then you have a boot problem not a Repair Install problem.

Here are a couple tutorials by Greg that has all kinds of information that could help you.
You must read and understand and follow exactly.
Take you time. Doing this correctly is most important.

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/324687-windows-7-installation-failure-overcome.html

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/219533-troubleshooting-windows-7-failure-boot.html

If for what ever reason you don't follow instruction you will not solve your problem.

No I'm not getting testy. I'm trying to follow and understand your post. It is challenging.

If you run into a problem please report back with the exact problem and any error codes as precisely as possible.
If I don't know the answer I will find a member that does.