Can't figure out how to do a Repair (Upgrade) install

[GMX]

larryccf - Thanks for the tip. I'll look into it.

 

[Megahertz07]

Check disk doesn't look for windows corrupted or missing files. It looks for logical issues on the partition.
System File Check checks for windows issues. It doesn't check any program files or data files.
If you're saying that the Windows folder size is getting smaller, don't waste your time. There is no way to repair your Windows. Do a clean install on another disk. As I already suggested, buy a small SSD (128G) to install windows and programs.

 

[GMX]

Check disk doesn't look for windows corrupted or missing files. It looks for logical issues on the partition.
System File Check checks for windows issues. It doesn't check any program files or data files.
If you're saying that the Windows folder size is getting smaller, don't waste your time. There is no way to repair your Windows. Do a clean install on another disk. As I already suggested, buy a small SSD (128G) to install windows and programs.

I'm not familiar with restoring/reinstalling Windows 7 because I've never had to complete it other than using restore points. The four outcomes or requests that I would like are:

- Do not erase any programs or personal data
- Get Windows 7 to boot (either my original c: drive or a new ssd drive)
- Get desktop icons back exactly as they were before this boot error occurred
- Not have to reinstall programs (other than Windows)

I think if I install Window 7on a new ssd the first two items should be fine. However, is there any way to accomplish the last two outcomes/requests?

Some ideas I'm considering (which might not be possible):
1. Install Windows 7 via a Custom Install and then try to fix the Windows 7 version on the c: drive. I figure sfc /scannow might repair the c: version.
2. Delete c:\windows on the c: drive and copy and past the new ssd:\windows version from the ssd.

I think the c:\windows version is likely smaller in size than the d:\Windows Old version due to a copy error from d:\Windows Old to c:\windows. I might try to delete the c:\windows version again and try to copy and past the d:\Windows Old version.

As for chkdsk, it's been so long since I've used it that my terminology was wrong. I've seen posts saying that a slow chkdsk is due to a bad hard drive, but HDTune said it was fine with no bad sectors or other issues.

I'm not against the ssd idea, but I just want to make absolutely sure that there's no way to repair my current c: version of Windows 7.

Lastly, I forgot to mention that my internal hard drive also has a HP-preinstalled recovery partition. I think that HP recovery will only restore Windows 7 back to original factory default condition though.

 

[larryccf]

GMX - SUCCESS!!

Torchwood, in another thread here on windows seven, suggested the trial iso download from Heidoc and not sure why but it installed, not as an upgrade, but as a Custom - interesting part, it left a lot of my programs from the Home Premium version in place in Programs and Programs (x86)

but give it a try - Microsoft Windows and Office ISO Download Tool

once there, it's not apparent but just download the Windows ISO Downloader.exe tool, and open it - it will then guide you to download the version, language etc you want. Once i'd done that i just double clikked on the image file on my desktop and burnt it to a DVD.

I did notice that this install added some steps to the installation process, and the restarts were lightning fast, as well more restarts than when i tried re-installing from my microsoft disk.

Something else that may have played a part in my problems earlier, i was using a 3 yr old blu-ray internal writer that has been giving me some issue (one studio video engineer had told me he buys new writers every 2-3 years) - and in fact, when i burnt the first copy to disc, it wouldn't open the setup files - so i burnt a copy on a relatively new external blu-ray writer and it just worked like magic

hope that helps you

 

[Layback Bear]

If one has a Retail copy of Windows 7 and if one care to use said copy, just clean install Windows 7 using said disk and be done with it.

Jack

 

[Megahertz07]

The only way to restore windows with all programs, settings and data is by a repair install. As a repair install can only be done from running windows, that isn't a choice as you aren't able to boot windows.
I can only see a clean install. And you will have to reinstall all software and updates. The desktop Icons and folders you can recover from the backup you did on D:\Windows.old

I still think you have a disk issue.
How did you run HDTune if you can't boot Windows?
What is your disk brand (WD, Seagate, Hitachi..)?
WD and Seagate has diagnostic tools that you boot to test the disk.
http://support.wdc.com/download/notes/DLGDiagUSBInstructionsv3.pdf
http://download.wdc.com/dlg/dlgdiag_5_25.zip

 

[Layback Bear]

Megahertz07 you could be correct. Their just might be a hard drive problem.

I should of stated to do a clean install on a known good drive.

My bad

Jack

 

[larryccf]

the problem as i recall GMX describing it, was the same as mine, hitting or getting that "incompatibile system" msg during installation.

GMX - a warning: after spending 5-6 hours setting my new install up, re-installing all my programs etc, i spent about 2+ hours downloading windows updates, about 30-40 at a time (there were a ton of windows updates waiting to be downloaded), and at 2:15AM this morning, during a restart, i got a big red message box telling me the system had incurred an error and to go into UEFI BIOS > advance > boot and select another secure drive. That was at 2:30AM -this evening i'll try to repair the MBR partition, if i can't repair it, i'll start all over.

If i do, i'm going to do a clone copy of the disk every so many update downloads, and keep track of which downloads were downloading when it crashes again, and hopefully skip repeating the fun.

It occurred to me the incompatibility issue may have been due to the UEFI BIOS and the earlier disks, from 2011 not being compatible with the UEFI BIOS

fwiw

 

[Megahertz07]

Larry, GMX would like to do a repair install. His problem has nothing to do with Clean install.

If you have UEFI BIOS you MUST disable Secure boot as Win 7 isn't compatible. Some BIOS has as OS=other, some as CSM.

For the updates, use the offline SP2 MS releases SP2 for Windows 7 - Windows 7 Help Forums

 

[larryccf]

Larry, GMX would like to do a repair install. His problem has nothing to do with Clean install.

If you have UEFI BIOS you MUST disable Secure boot as Win 7 isn't compatible. Some BIOS has as OS=other, some as CSM.

For the updates, use the offline SP2 MS releases SP2 for Windows 7 - Windows 7 Help Forums

whether a clean install or repair install, he was encountering the same incompatibility msg i was, from his first post "This error message is essentially the same one I received when I tried booting from my Upgrade DVD (just the boot source names differ). I can't start Windows normally. If I could I wouldn't need a Repair Install (Windows Upgrade).", and if i recall correctly, he was trying to use an early upgrade disk, same as i was - mine was from 2011.

i had dis-abled secure boot in BIOS - i built this PC 3 years ago and still had my notes, and even with secure boot dis-abled it was still a chore getting windows 7 to install. But once installed, an upgrade should not have had these issues.

When i went the Custom or clean install route yesterday it installed like a breeze, easy peezy, just something in the updates didn't play nice when they installed

I will try that SP2 release - that's the first i'd heard of it, but then again, i don't spend that much time in computer forums - thanks for that tip

 

[larryccf]

fwiw, in case this helps some

went and retried to boot from the orig OS drive that i had installed the new copy of Win 7 Ultimate on, just to reread the error msg - indication was hardware or firmware has been changed, yada yada about going to BIOS and selecting another secure drive.

Keep in mind, during installation win 7 ultimate hard restarted successfully 7 or 8 times, then during installation of each program (about 12) i always do a restart, then during the windows updates downloads, depending on the type of update and size, i might download 2 or 3 updates, up to 30 or more (security or defender small updates, and most had required restarting, i'll estimate somewhere between 12-15 restarts, all successful. It wasn't until i had 2 or 3 updates remaining, when the last update failed to restart.

I opened the windows file (C:Windows folder and replaced the entire Boot folder with the one from the Win 7 Home Premium drive. Win 7 Ultimate drive booted and i've finished downloading updates and tweeking programs etc

big relief not to have to go thru a full new re-install

again, fwiw