Solved Help! Power shut off during Window's Update!?

[ChuckMcLuck]

Two days ago, on my Acer Aspire One netbook, when my computer shut off and the blue update screen appeared, my computer powered off mid-update. When I turned it back on, I got some blue error screen and my computer tried to fix itself, but it couldn't. And I then preceded to set it back to factory settings! I now completely messed it up I'm stuck in an endless loop! At first it would try to perform the reset but end in an error. Yesterday, I opened it again. And it immediately tried to reset it again, I am presented with no other options. So I tried it again and it has been displaying "Setup is starting services" for more than 24 hours now! I know it's not frozen because the bar at the bottom keeps moving! But I have no idea what to do, if this is going to work, or if it is working but slowly. Please help me! (I am posting this from another computer).

 

[gregrocker]

What I would do is instead get the superior Clean Reinstall - Factory OEM Windows 7 with the Product Key from the COA sticker on PC, using the latest official installer provided in Step 1. You will get and keep a perfect install by sticking with only the tools and methods in the tutorial.

Unplug all other HD's and peripherals, boot into BIOS setup by tapping the key given on first screen, set SATA controller to AHCI, Save changes and Exit.

Tap the Acer F12 key at boot to trigger installer DVD or flash stick, at first installer screen Press Shift + F10 to open a Command Box, type:

DISKPART
LIST DISK
SELECT DISK 0 (after confirming Windows 7 target HD #)
CLEAN
CREATE PARTITION PRIMARY SIZE=102400 (for 100gb partition, adjust as desired)
FORMAT FS=NTFS LABEL="WINDOWS 7"
ACTIVE
EXIT
EXIT

Next click Install Now to Clean Install Windows 7 to the partition you created. If it fails then report back at which step and the verbatim error message.

 

[TVeblen]

Just wanted to mention here that if you have user files on the netbook that you need and are not backed up then you will want to try and recover those files before performing the above procedure.

And, although it may be too late for this now, you could try pressing F8 as the PC starts to get to the Windows start options screen and then choose: "Last Known Good Configuration".
If files were not overwritten during the factory restore that might work. A very long shot.

 

[gregrocker]

I didn't advise backing up or rescuiing files using Step 9 of Troubleshooting Windows 7 Failure to Start,
or any of the other steps to repair, because OP reports it failed in the middle of running Factory Recovery.

Did your Recovery offer an option to save your files Chuck? If so you can browse in to try to rescue your files as suggested using that method.

 

[TVeblen]

Yeah, I just wanted to point it out for the OP. We see so many people opt for that factory restore as their first attempt at repair, and it just makes me wonder if they understand that it is going to clear their hard drive, including the non-OS partitions! It should be a last resort, not the first.

 

[ChuckMcLuck]

Thanks everyone!

I used what gregrocker said to reinstall Windows. When I reinstalled it, four of my drivers need to be installed. I just downloaded them from the Acer website and transferred them via flash drive, and now it works perfectly! Thanks for all your help!