Solved Stuck in a failed update loop.

[total confusion]

Hope this goes better than the kitchen I'm designing, stupid program just put an island right in the middle of the kitchen sink

 

[NoelDP]

At least you caught it in the design stage and not after some idiot chippy had built it that way!

 

[total confusion]

Yeah, cause I'm the idiot who is going to be building it

 

[NoelDP]

OK I've had a look at the files, and it seems to me that the problem is simply a case of missing data, rather than corruptions.

Paradoxically, that makes a repair harder rather than easier, as the usual corruption is only a single bitflip, which allows a quick repair. Missing data has to be built up from scratch - or the detection system fooled.

All of the affected registry entries are for SP1 rather than an ordinary patch.


I suspect that your best (and safest) option is going to be a repair install of Windows, and then updating again.

See the instructions here..


http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/3413-repair-install.html

 

[total confusion]

Thanks for all of your efforts Noel. I've dreaded doing that. Question: If I do a repair install do I lose all of my personal files?

 

[NoelDP]

A repair install should keep all your data intact, although you will lose a few system settings as they are restored to default.

As always -- back up to external media first, just incase....

 

[total confusion]

Thanks Noel
I just read all of those instructions for creating a useable ISO DVD repair disk. Sounds easy enough (then why is my gut tied in a knot). Sure wish there was an easier way.
I made a repair disk (SP 1) from digital rivers before. Am I to understand that this would be a different one that includes the updates or am I just praying out loud?

 

[NoelDP]

Repair disks are a whole different ball-game to install disks. - and usually contain a minimum number of files, just sufficient to gain access and control of a dead installation so you an find out what's wrong and put it right. I prefer to use full install disks for that purpose anyhow.
Unfortunately there's no such thing as a downloadable disk that's been updated past the basic SP1 install.

 

[total confusion]

So the ISO image I got of the 7 Pro with SP1 before will be the same one as the one I just downloaded??? If it is then I should just be able to back everything up and run that. I don't need to make another one Yes, no?

 

[NoelDP]

Assuming it's the full SP1 disk, yes, it'll be the same .

Good luck!

 

[total confusion]

Now I know why I build cabinets for a living!!!
So a full SP1 disc will be the stand alone version? What is this ISO I just downloaded? It's what they said to download to a repair?
And how come the product ID and the product key on my PC aren't the same, isn't it the same thing?

 

[NoelDP]

The Product ID is not a unique one- there are potentially many thousands of machines with the same one as yours.

The Product Key (except in the case of Volume Keys, and OEM_SLP Keys) are absolutely unique to each computer.

The ID is generated at activation by a built-in routine that takes into account the hardware installed and the Key.

You just downloaded the full standalone SP1 Refresh Windows 7 Installation ISO for your edition of Windows (Hopefully! )

 

[total confusion]

Ok I'm backing stuff up right now. I assume I should disconect my external HD or isn't that necessary?

 

[NoelDP]

It's always a good idea when installing to have the minimum possible conflicts - so unhook all non-essential USB devices, eSATA devices and second monitors - disconnect local printers if any.

 

[total confusion]

WOW never thought about that stuff. More drivers to reinstall and update. Yippee
Where do these Windows files disappear to anyway???

 

[total confusion]

Well I'm at a loss of what to do now. I'm including 2 screen shots. Notice in the NOW WHAT shot there is an ISO file. That is the ISO I downloaded back in Feb of 2012. The one below it is from the link in the repair tutorial. That is one heck of a difference in size. I tried using the Windows burner in the second shot. The first I used the NTI burner.
What am I doing????

 

[total confusion]

Forgot to add this one. Wouldn't it be one of it ISO options?? Isn't that what I'm trying to create? Will that UDF create a ISO image? Also I thought ISO images were supposed to be smaller in size?

 

[NoelDP]

Looks like the old file was just the SP1 download, and not the full install disk
It's definitely the 2.5+GB one you want.

Try right-clicking on it and selecting 'Open with...' then 'Windows Disc Image Burner' - then it should work (I think - never tried it with 32-bit!)

 

[total confusion]

Hi Noel
Nope that didn't one didn't work either. My NTI (burner software) says the file is too big and Windows says it's writing at the wrong speed. I changed the speed on the burner to 8, maybe that will work. It normally copies at 16x. Will this ruin the ISO and keep it from running properly?

 

[total confusion]

Well that didn't work either. I don't have trouble burning other data so this doesn't make sense. There is plenty of room on the disc, it's a Verbatim brand disc. (These aren't cheap) I've got to check my cabinet and see if I have any rewritable ones. This is the 3rd disc, it burns .036MB then quits. Just enough to ruin the disc.