Solved Repair install got stuck

[MaynardJ]

Hi,

I'm trying to do a repair install (upgrade) of Windows 7 SP1, but it just got stuck. The setup rebooted the PC, but upon starting Windows I'm getting an error message saying it can't start the installation process. When I click OK or just close the window, the PC reboots and I'm getting the same thing again. The same thing happens when I turn off the PC and start again.

In other words: Windows won't properly start up anymore. How do I fix this?

 

[matts6887]

IF you have the windows 7 disc; i would try starting up the pc with the disc in; boot off the disc; and try and do a repair off the disc.

 

[MaynardJ]

I started the repair install from a bootable disk I created myself, the original installation disk doesn't have SP1. After that it got stuck. A custom install instead of upgrading (replacing Windows instead of repairing it) might be a better option by now.

So, boot from the disc and reinstall from there? I'll try that and get back to you.

 

[MaynardJ]

That seems to work. It's properly reinstalling now and replacing everything on the C drive. Thankfully all my documents are on another hard drive.

 

[MaynardJ]

My C drive is a pretty small 75 GB SSD. I'm expecting it to get pretty full if a Windows keeps the old version stored in a Windows.old folder. Would it hurt to delete that folder?

Edit: Yes, it's getting crowded in there. The Windows.old is taking up like 35 gb and I'm down to about 15 gb of free space.

 

[MaynardJ]

I did a Disk Cleanup and that did the trick. Half my C drive is empty now.