Solved Repair Install Gone Bad...

[pjfarr]

I just tried the repair install tutorial here http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/3413-repair-install.html using Step 4 (burning the downloaded ISO on a DVD) and everything was chugging along fine, it looked like it was installing everything. I walked away and left it, checking in every now and then. The last time I looked there was an error message:

Setup cannot continue due to a corrupted installation file. [Contact your vendor administrator, etc...]"
The upgrade was canceled.
Any changes that were made to your computer during the upgrade process will not be saved.


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I clicked OK and it looked like it was going to go to my desktop, but then a DOS window popped up with:

"A winpeshl.ini file is present, but no commands were successfully launched. This could be caused by incorrect formatting or an invalid executable name."

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Followed by:

X:\$Windows.~BT\Windows\System32>

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I did a DIR and all the files folders still look like they're there intact, 2 partitions C: & D:
Not sure what to do now, would really appreciate some help!

 

[gregrocker]

This could be due to bad installation media or corrupt installation.

To be sure I would download the ISO again and burn or write to flash stick using the tool provided in the Clean Reinstall tutorial in my signature pic below, Step 2.

Establish a Clean Boot from the Troubleshooting Steps, turn off your AV.

You may save time doing the superior Clean Reinstall from that link. Stick with the tools and methods given to get and keep a perfect install.

 

[pjfarr]

The Clean install wipes everything out, doesn't it? I was trying to use the "Upgrade" trick to reinstall the same version of Windows while keeping all my doc, programs and settings intact.

I tried to restart the install with different media and got this:

"Compatibility Report
The computer started using the Windows installation disc. Remove the installation disc and restart your computer so that Windows starts normally. Then, insert the installation disc and restart upgrade."

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If I do what it says—take the disk out and start normally—it just ends up at that same DOS window "winpeshl.ini file is present..." etc. and I can't do anything else.

 

[gregrocker]

You must be booted into Windows to run a http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/3413-repair-install.html?ltr=R. It is run from the desktop.

It will not always solve all issues. If you dont' already have a perfect install as presented in http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/219487-clean-reinstall-factory-oem-windows-7-a.html#post1839164 then I would do that since you're here and we can help you get it perfect.

 

[pjfarr]

I was dreading the need for a complete reinstall. The thought of all the dozens of updates and reconfiguring of not only Windows, but all my programs as well (not to mention having to reinstall all those programs) made me want to go into a dark room and curl up in the fetal position.

I had a system image on a usb drive from April and knew I could use that to restore things, but it's 5 months old and so I was saving it as a last resort. I thought I'd first try the update technique in the tutorial I mentioned earlier to avoid as much extra work as possible, as it was designed to refresh the system and retain all programs and settings. That didn't work out too well, lol.

So I restored the system image last night and it went perfectly. I only have 5 months of catching up to do (and all my personal files were already safely backed up a few days ago and on a separate partition as well). It'll still be a lot of work as I'm a compulsive tweaker and a lot of stuff has changed in 5 months, but it's still better than starting from scratch.

Thanks so much greg, I appreciate your time!

 

[gregrocker]

Part of your problem may be compulsive tweaking. Win7 won't tolerate much outside of normal system settings since it is already the leanest OS ever with absolutely nothing running that doesn't need to be.

Compare the install you have to the reinstall in the tutorial in my signature pic below which compiles what works best to get and keep a perfect install, based on tens of thousands we've helped with here.