IE gone missing...

[cottonball]

Hi folks!

Would certainly appreciate some help.

Trying to help a neighbor with a 'troubled' computer. Was told there was a virus found, he decided to remove it with MSE, and then, decided to remove miscellaneous files 'manually'.

Well, now, Internet Explorer is nowhere to be found, Internet Options in Control Panel is not there either, and downloading IE11 gets nowhere in a hurry with "IE11 setup utility has stopped working."
The following is also referenced at some point as something that cannot be found: http:go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=299204


Additional info:
MSE no longer runs
MBAM does not install
Windows Updates back to Sept 2013 failed

Thought of a Clean Install, however, the Product Key is partly worn out, and cannot figure out the last 5 digits/letters.

Any suggestions as to how to get IE back and running?

Thanks for the help!

 

[Gator]

Can you get Belarc Advisor to install? You can get the Prod key that way. Maybe you could try a repair install if you can get the product key.

Have you tried System Restore from before the "Virus" and file removal?

Maybe SFC scan at boot with a System restore cd?

 

[whs]

Nah, the Belarc Advisor product key does not belong to that PC. It is a generic key the OEMs use for mass activation. He needs the key from the COA sticker or a new license which will set him back $99.

Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium SP1 64-bit - Operating Systems - Newegg.com

Alternatively he could ask the manufacturer of his PC for an installation disc. That may be cheaper. But the one time expense for a new OS may incent the person to make images in the future.

 

[Gator]

Nah, the Belarc Advisor product key does not belong to that PC. It is a generic key the OEMs use for mass activation. He needs the key from the COA sticker or a new license which will set him back $99.

Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium SP1 64-bit - Operating Systems - Newegg.com

Alternatively he could ask the manufacturer of his PC for an installation disc. That may be cheaper. But the one time expense for a new OS may incent the person to make images in the future.

Belarc has always worked for me. Is this only a problem with OEM in regards to Belarc?

 

[cottonball]

Thank you for the replies!

@Gator,

Belarc does not show the Product Key on the COA sticker, just the SLP key used by Asus.

System Restore does not show any Restore Points, and there is no Recovery/Restore CD.
Ran SFC in normal and safe mode, and found no issues.


@whs,

Asus has no installation disk for that netbook, which has Windows 7 Starter 32-bit on it.

It does have a Recovery Partition, but it shows up as having just 7 KBs of info, and that doesn't look good...

 

[whs]

Here seems to be a website from where you can get a Starter .iso. No idea though whether that is any good.

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/219487-clean-reinstall-factory-oem-windows-7-a.html#step1

But you would still have to be able to read the COA sticker.

Try that recovery partition anyhow. What can you lose.

 

[whs]

Is this only a problem with OEM in regards to Belarc?

Not only Belarc - any keyfinder. The key they find in an OEM system is not the key that belongs to the system. For that you have the COA.

 

[derekimo]

Here seems to be a website from where you can get a Starter .iso. No idea though whether that is any good.

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/219487-clean-reinstall-factory-oem-windows-7-a.html#step1

But you would still have to be able to read the COA sticker.

Try that recovery partition anyhow. What can you lose.

Wolfgang, I replaced your link with step one of Greg's tutorial which has the official link to download and instructions to get the Starter ISO.

 

[whs]

OK, no problem, Thanks. I did not remember it was in Greg's tut although I helped him to edit it, LOL. My memory is really bad.

 

[derekimo]

You're welcome.

 

[Gator]

Thanks for the info WHS. I guess I never ran into it or didn't think anything of calling Microsoft if something went wrong.

 

[cottonball]

Thanks, whs!!!

Great find!! Got it downloaded already.

Going to see a friend tomorrow who has a high magnification glass. Might be able to figure out the two worn out digits/letters. They are faded out in the last set of 5.

Does scanning the bar code on the COA provide the Product Key???

 

[whs]

Does scanning the bar code on the COA provide the Product Key???

That I don't know. It's worth a try. You have 23 of the 25 characters so it should be easy to tell.

 

[cottonball]

Thanks for the link to the Tutorial, derekimo.

The plan is:
A. Try Recovery Partition
B. If Plan A strikes out, use gregrocker's tutorial on Clean Install.

(The other download will stay put.)


Friend's high magnification glass is 10X. Hopefully, that will do it.

Have to back up about 3000 photos before starting anything else. Ugh!!

When done, will post back on how it went. Or, you might hear from me if there is trouble in paradise.

Have a great week, everybody!!

 

[whs]

Backing up 3000 photos should be fast. That is probably appr. 3GBs. I do operations like that with this Linux stick where I have 115GB of free space right on the stick.

 

[derekimo]

Thanks for the link to the Tutorial, derekimo.

You're welcome.

The only reason I changed it was because that was not an official Microsoft link, those are being hosted by someone with Linux servers and we don't need any complaints.

 

[cottonball]

You folks keep posting your suggestions!! The more the better!!

SIW2 suggested a Repair install.

Can the W7 Starter .iso be used for that? Or just use the Repair your computer option from the Advanced Boot Options menu that shows up when tapping F8?

 

[ThrashZone]

Hi you might see if this works,
http://iefaq.info/index.php?action=artikel&cat=42&id=133&artlang=en

 

[Layback Bear]

Sometime shinning a small light at a angle will allow you to see the COA.

 

[cottonball]

TrashZone and Layback Bear,

Thanks for your suggestions.

@TZ,

Unfortunately, the IE reg repair did not work.

Hesitantly, pressed F9 to use the Recovery Partition that I thought was empty (only had 0.7GB used), and, surprisingly, the system installed just like it was when new.


@LB,

Did try your light suggestion, along with a 10X magnifier glass!
Was able to figure out the missing info!!

However, since the Recovery Partition worked, did not need the Product Key. In any event, wrote the 25 digit/letter key for future use, if needed. Also planning to put some clear wide tape over the COA to prevent any subsequent fading from handling the Netbook.