Solved Random BSOD (probably) caused by graphical driver issue

[MaynardJ]

Ok, that instruction looks pretty clear on what to do in case of a Repair install. I should try that when I have more time, somewhere next week. I'm not entirely sure if I have SP1 installed or not, but it definitely looks like it isn't on the installation DVD.

But... I'm not sure if a repair install is really necessary. Is it also an option to upgrade to Windows 10 (which I've been considering already since it was released) instead of trying to repair Windows 7? Would Windows 10 entirely overwrite/replace my "broken" Windows 7, or build on it as some kind of "broken foundation" (the latter possibility being of course what I don't want to happen)?

 

[axe0]

Not having SP1 installed could also cause problems, not saying it does but it could.

I would recommend upgrading when you have no problems.
With upgrading the problems are given over to the new OS and in most of the times new problems are coming with it, so you would have the problems from Windows 7 AND Windows 10 upgrade.

 

[MaynardJ]

I tried to do the repair install today, following all the instructions:

1. I downloaded the Windows 7 SP1 ISO because I have an installation disk without SP1.

2. I downloaded Windows 7 USB DVD Download Tool and used it to create a bootable USB drive on an empty flash drive.

3. I ran the setup file on the flash drive.

Up to that point everything went smoothly, but then the compatibility report told me I needed like 16.5 GB of free space to do the installation. My (SSD) C drive is only 75 GB in total, so freeing up space proved to be quite a challenge. I managed to free up a few GB by removing the old Windows update files and some more stuff through Disk Cleanup and deleting old GPU driver folders from the AMD directory, but right now I'm at about 14 GB of free space.

More than half of the remaining space is being used by the Windows folder. Possibly a weird question: would it be an option to (selectively) remove parts of this folder, since I'm reinstalling anyway? And if so, which parts should I remove first? Or should I try another way of reinstalling Windows 7 from the USB drive I created?

Which brings me to another question: would Windows 10 even fit on my SSD drive??

By now this is hardly a BSOD related topic anymore. Those seem to have stopped happening since I fixed the BIOS.

 

[axe0]

Extended disk cleanup tutorial | Windows 7 Help Forums

For Windows 10, you'll need at least 30GB free space on the Windows partition,

• 20 for the Windows.Old folder that'll be created after the upgrade and this folder is removable but removes your by Windows offered way back to Windows 7*,
• 3 for the download
• the rest is because you'll need at least 10-15% free space on every partition for the system to function normal

*There are more ways to revert back, like an image from a backup program like Macrium Reflect.

 

[MaynardJ]

Two questions:

1. So, the present Windows folder (taking up about 28.5 GB right now) would be replaced by the 20 GB Windows.Old folder if I were to upgrade to Windows 10? Then I would gain 8.5 GB, and there should be enough free space to upgrade right now. Otherwise, I might wait and replace my SSD first.

2. I think you missed the first question from my previous post. I still need to repair install Windows 7 SP1, and right now I'm about 2.5 GB short on disk space. I need 16.5 GB according to the installation wizard, but managed to clean up the C drive up to... What? As I am checking my C drive again, it appears to have 19.4 GB of free space by now. I don't know how that happened (maybe the reboot cleared some things up?). I'll to try the repair install again.

Question 1 still stands though.

 

[axe0]

1. the Windows.Old folder won't replace the Windows folder, it'll add about 20GB, with the Windows and Windows.old folders you would have a Windows 10 Windows folder and Windows 7 Windows folder.

2. Never delete anything from the Windows folder, unless specified by someone from Microsoft or someone with a lot of knowledge.
With Windows Update, as you have used the extended cleanup utility, you get space back from the updates that are old versions of the current installed updates. The free space will increase, it could take a few days or weeks, but it will increase. However, the cleanup utility will also remove the possibility to uninstall updates in case necessary sometimes.

 

[MaynardJ]

I'm trying the repair install right now. Then this happened after a reboot... now what?

 

[axe0]

I cannot help you properly with installation problems, please create a new thread at the Installation & Setup section for this.