Windows 7 not starting at all

[Megahertz07]

MrZork, make it simple. You now want to repair your computer and in worst scenario, reinstall Win 7.
Just add the MVMe driver to boot.wim (index 1 and 2) and to Install.wim (index 2 = HP). Don't create an iso.
Copy the files from the folder to a FAT32 USB flash disk. Insert the USB flash disk to a USB2.0 at the back plate.
During post launch boot menu (F8?).
Select UEFI flash disk.

 

[MrZork]

Is the maximum file size for FAT32 2 GB? I ask because I just finished downloading the correct ISO, and I see that sources/install.wim is 2.8 GB.

 

[Megahertz07]

Max file size is 4G
File Allocation Table - Wikipedia

 

[MrZork]

Just add the MVMe driver to boot.wim (index 1 and 2) and to Install.wim (index 2 = HP).

I am fine with not creating an ISO.

Do I add those NVMe drivers using SIW2's tool? (I am not sure how to add drivers to a wim file otherwise.) That is what I am currently doing. Once it finishes, I will copy the whole install tree to a FAT32 USB drive. That is, assuming the sources/install.wim file is now small enough to fit.

 

[MrZork]

Max file size is 4G

Good to know!

So, this will be using exFAT, as Paul mentioned earlier?

 

[Paul Black]

Hi MrZork,

So, this will be using exFAT, as Paul mentioned earlier?

No, it will be using FAT32.

 

[Megahertz07]

Extract the files from the iso with 7zip to a Win7 folder. Don't use spaces or special characters on the folder name. Just Win7
Put the MVMe driver files on 7UPDATERv5\Drivers\Bootx64 and 7UPDATERv5\Drivers\Installx64
Run SIW2 tool. Browse to Win7 folder. Follow the instructions. Skip the updater.

It will take some time. Be patient.

It's time for Dinner.

 

[MrZork]

Ok. Got it. LOL, I should have known better than to trust the Google summary of the source web page without clicking through.
Google's summary:

​

Source page:

​

 

[MrZork]

Thank you, Megahertz07. I will get that set up then. Any advice on what I should do when I can boot from the USB stick? Should I run through the Repair Install? Since things are booting up now, I am a little uncertain what I should be looking for in terms of preventing future non-boot situations.

I have to leave my PC for a while shortly. I will report back later tonight or tomorrow with results and/or more questions. Thanks to both of you for all your help with this.

 

[Paul Black]

You are very welcome MrZork, I am off to bed now as it is 12:30 AM here in the UK. I hope it all goes well!

 

[Megahertz07]

As I already wrote, Repair Install must be launched from running windows, and as you said, you can't boot into windows. So the option should be to repair windows from the win 7 installation disk.

 

[Paul Black]

Hi MrZork, how did you get on?

 

[MrZork]

Not successfully.

I was able to create an installation USB stick, per Megahertz07's instructions. However, when I first tried to boot with it, I got an error that it was not a bootable disc (or something to that effect). But, it seemed to boot anyway. I have no idea what that means.

Booting from that USB stick takes me to what looks like the start of the Win 7 install process... Pick a keyboard country and then on to the installation start screen. Beneath the "Install now" button are two clickable links. One for "What to know before installing Windows".

The other link is to "Repair your computer", which certainly sounds like the correct thing. But, when I choose that option, I get an error widget that says, ""This version of System Recovery Options is not compatible with the version of Windows you are trying to repair. Try using a recovery disc that is compatible with this version of Windows."

I am not sure where to go from there. I have to leave again in a little while, but I was going to do a bit of searching.

BTW, I see that according to the Repair Install tutorial, I should actually choose to "Install now". But, it looks like that takes me through the process of re-installing Windows. All I want to do is to fix whatever broken/missing/misconfigured bootup files are preventing my PC from booting. I don't want to reset Windows from the ground up and I especially do NOT want to reinstall all of my software. It seems like the Repair Install is too drastic. Am I wrong?

 

[Paul Black]

Hi MrZork,

This version of System Recovery Options is not compatible with the version of Windows you are trying to repair. Try using a recovery disc that is compatible with this version of Windows.

I know that this might sound like a silly question, but are you using the right bit type?

 

[MrZork]

I have the 64 bit version of Windows 7 installed and the link Megahertz07 sent was to Win7_HomePrem_SP1_English_x64.iso. I assume that they are the same bit type.

 

[Paul Black]

Hi MrZork,

I have the 64 bit version of Windows 7 installed and the link Megahertz07 sent was to Win7_HomePrem_SP1_English_x64.iso. I assume that they are the same bit type.

Yes it is.

I just found this which might be of use for anybody creating a UEFI - GPT ISO for re-installation with Rufus.

 

[MrZork]

BTW, here is the current state of the PC...

• I start it up with no USB stick inserted, no recovery DVD inserted, etc.
• The BIOS splash screen comes up for a couple seconds and then the screen goes blank.
• The cursor flashes near the upper-left corner for a few seconds and then I am taken to the BIOS settings page.
• I click "Save and Exit". I get a note that I have not changed anything and I confirm that I want to save changes & reset.
• The machine reboots.
• BIOS screen flashes.
• Cursor in upper-left corner.
• The Windows Error Recovery screen comes up. "Windows failed to start. A recent hardware or software...". My choices are "Launch Startup Repair" or "Start Windows Normally".
  • If I choose the former (and I can do this many times with the same result), the screen goes blank for a second or two and I come back to the same Windows Error Recovery screen.
  • If I choose the latter, it looks like Windows is starting and "Starting Windows" appears near the bottom. Then, I am taken back to the BIOS settings.

 

[MrZork]

Thank you for that note on the Rufus option. However, the USB stick that I was able to create is bootable and takes me to the Windows installation screen I mentioned earlier ( after choosing a keyboard, I am at the same screen shown in Step 8 of the Repair Install tutorial).

So, I think I have a bootable USB stick. The problem is that the "Repair your computer" option is incompatible somehow and I don't know if the more drastic option of the full Repair Install (per the tutorial) is overkill.

I would really like to get the "Repair your computer" option to work.

 

[Megahertz07]

"The problem is that the "Repair your computer" option is incompatible somehow and I don't know if the more drastic option of the full Repair Install (per the tutorial) is overkill"

As I wrote before, to repair (or install on) a UEFI - GPT disk, you must boot the installation disk as UEFI. You're not booting the flash drive as UEFI. You're booting as Legacy-MBR
During post, launch the the boot menu (F8).
You must see an option UEFI - USB disk

 

[MrZork]

I think I am doing that.

• I am booting the USB stick with the Windows installation that I made via the process you described earlier.
• I interrupt at the BIOS screen to choose the boot option.
• I choose "UEFI: SanDisk Ultra 1.26 [that's the USB stick] Partition 1 (15,287 MB)"
• The PC boots from the USB stick and Windows boots.
• I choose a US keyboard.
• The Install Screen comes up with the "Install Now" button, then the links to "What to know..." and "Repair your computer". I choose "Repair your computer"
• I get the error I mentioned before that "This version of System Recovery Options is not compatible..."

What am I doing wrong?