Solved Windows 7 activation 'Must reinstall" OEM Windows

[MellowCream]

Hmmm - OK. let's check the permissions on a few folders, then

In an Elevated Command Prompt, run the following commands, and post the results.

ICACLS C:\WINDOWS
ICACLS C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32
ICACLS C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\7B*.*
ICACLS C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\WBEM

Microsoft Windows [Version 6.1.7601]
Copyright (c) 2009 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.

C:\Windows\system32>ICACLS C:\WINDOWS
C:\WINDOWS NT SERVICE\TrustedInstallerF)
NT SERVICE\TrustedInstallerCI)(IO)(F)
NT AUTHORITY\SYSTEMM)
NT AUTHORITY\SYSTEMOI)(CI)(IO)(F)
BUILTIN\AdministratorsM)
BUILTIN\AdministratorsOI)(CI)(IO)(F)
BUILTIN\UsersRX)
BUILTIN\UsersOI)(CI)(IO)(GR,GE)
CREATOR OWNEROI)(CI)(IO)(F)

Successfully processed 1 files; Failed processing 0 files

C:\Windows\system32>ICACLS C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32
C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32 NT SERVICE\TrustedInstallerF)
NT SERVICE\TrustedInstallerCI)(IO)(F)
NT AUTHORITY\SYSTEMM)
NT AUTHORITY\SYSTEMOI)(CI)(IO)(F)
BUILTIN\AdministratorsM)
BUILTIN\AdministratorsOI)(CI)(IO)(F)
BUILTIN\UsersRX)
BUILTIN\UsersOI)(CI)(IO)(GR,GE)
CREATOR OWNEROI)(CI)(IO)(F)

Successfully processed 1 files; Failed processing 0 files

C:\Windows\system32>ICACLS C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\7B*.*
C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\7B296FB0-376B-497e-B012-9C450E1B7327-5P-0.C7483456-A289-439d
-8115-601632D005A0 NT AUTHORITY\SYSTEMI)(F)

BUILTIN\AdministratorsI)(F)

BUILTIN\UsersI)(RX)

C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\7B296FB0-376B-497e-B012-9C450E1B7327-5P-1.C7483456-A289-439d
-8115-601632D005A0 NT AUTHORITY\SYSTEMI)(F)

BUILTIN\AdministratorsI)(F)

BUILTIN\UsersI)(RX)

Successfully processed 2 files; Failed processing 0 files

C:\Windows\system32>ICACLS C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\WBEM
C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\WBEM NT SERVICE\TrustedInstallerF)
NT SERVICE\TrustedInstallerCI)(IO)(F)
NT AUTHORITY\SYSTEMM)
NT AUTHORITY\SYSTEMOI)(CI)(IO)(F)
BUILTIN\AdministratorsM)
BUILTIN\AdministratorsOI)(CI)(IO)(F)
BUILTIN\UsersRX)
BUILTIN\UsersOI)(CI)(IO)(GR,GE)
CREATOR OWNEROI)(CI)(IO)(F)

Successfully processed 1 files; Failed processing 0 files

C:\Windows\system32>

 

[NoelDP]

That looks OK to me too - I need some sleep!

back tomorrow.

 

[MellowCream]

That looks OK to me too - I need some sleep!

back tomorrow.

Thanks for the help man!

 

[NoelDP]

We've now run out of the 'normal' causes of this problem - which means that from here on in it would be a case of hunt-and-peck that could go on for a considerable time.

I think your quickest solution (and possibly best) may be a repair install. See here for instructions. ..

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/3413-repair-install.html?ltr=R

 

[MellowCream]

We've now run out of the 'normal' causes of this problem - which means that from here on in it would be a case of hunt-and-peck that could go on for a considerable time.

I think your quickest solution (and possibly best) may be a repair install. See here for instructions. ..

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/3413-repair-install.html?ltr=R

I don't have CD's that are 4gb, and I have no USD flash drives either, is there software that could help?

 

[NoelDP]

There is no such thing as a 4GB CD - you need DVD-R media.

So far as I know there is no really reliable way to do a repair install from a hard drive - but I could be wrong!

 

[MellowCream]

Is there any other possible fixes?

 

[NoelDP]

...eventually, - probably - but in what might be considered a reasonable timescale, it's unlikely.

Bear in mind that a Repair install such as I'm suggesting merely (effectively) uninstalls the Windows updates, while leaving your WIndows installation in a better state than it currenty is, and shouldn't affect your data at all.

It's not as if it's a clean install - which would wipe all data on the C: partition, and require a reinstall of all installed programs.

 

[MellowCream]

...eventually, - probably - but in what might be considered a reasonable timescale, it's unlikely.

Bear in mind that a Repair install such as I'm suggesting merely (effectively) uninstalls the Windows updates, while leaving your WIndows installation in a better state than it currenty is, and shouldn't affect your data at all.

It's not as if it's a clean install - which would wipe all data on the C: partition, and require a reinstall of all installed programs.

So it wouldn't delete all my programs?

 

[NoelDP]

Nope - that's why it's called a Repair
Read the instructions in detail to learn the possible pitfalls.

 

[MellowCream]

Okay, so I fixed it, here are the steps I used.

1. I installed a program called Daemon tools, it basically emulates a DVD Drive. Download: http://www.daemon-tools.cc/downloads

2. Got the Windows 7 Home Premium ISO.

3. Unpacked the ISO with Daemon Tools.

4. Ran the setup.exe

5. Followed the instructions from the "repair install" thread, given to me by NoelDP


Noel and Golden, Thank you for helping me solve these issues. I now feel obligated and my help others with there issues.

- Mellow

 

[NoelDP]

Well done with the fix - I would suggest however that yu uninstall Daemon Tools now that it's done its job, as some versions are known to cause problems with Win7 - and you really don't want this hassle all over again! (which exact version did you install, from where?)

Thanks for letting us know, also - it will undoubtedly help others in the future.

 

[MellowCream]

Well done with the fix - I would suggest however that yu uninstall Daemon Tools now that it's done its job, as some versions are known to cause problems with Win7 - and you really don't want this hassle all over again! (which exact version did you install, from where?)

Thanks for letting us know, also - it will undoubtedly help others in the future.

Version of Daemon Tools: 13.37 (I know, so "leet", right)

 

[NoelDP]

LOL!
I really don't wanna go there!