Windows 7 Pro Upgrade repair failed - is there a log?

[rcdunbar]

Twice I followed your Repair Install to fix Win 7 (published 02/02/2009), and both times, after nearly 2 hours of uneventful processing and restarting, Windows informed me that the upgrade/repair failed. It then restored my previous settings. I ran the repair from a downloaded ISO + SP1 file (placed on a USB drive).

Between the two attempts I did uninstall the few applications that the first attempt flagged as incompatible.

Your instructions are great, and in no way responsible for the failure. But the eventual failure notification gives not the slightest hint as to why. Does Windows maintain a log of the upgrade/repair process that might give me a clue as to why, after spending so much time and effort, the process failed? If yes, where should I look for this log file?


Thanks

 

[gregrocker]

Did you turn off everything at startup including your AV as shown in Step 3 of Troubleshooting Steps for Windows 7?

Repair Install is limited by the number of possibly corrupt settings it replaces after reinstalling the OS, so you'll likely save time and end up with a much better install if you follow these same steps to get a perfect Clean Reinstall - Factory OEM Windows 7

 

[rcdunbar]

Thanks, Gregrocker,

Yes, I turned off NIS A-V and Firewall (presumably Windows firewall was not active), de-authorized iTunes, and ran a full deep scan with Malwarebytes (zero problems reported). I had run sfc /scannow from the command prompt some weeks earlier for another problem (no problems reported), but did not run it again this time.

For months I have been unable to create or recover restore points - all the buttons in the System Properties / Protection tab are always grayed out. Any application, such as Windows Update, that tries to create a restore point spins for about 20 minutes before proceeding without it. Fixing this vexing issue has been one of the reasons for trying the Win 7 Install repair.

I took a quick look the Troubleshooting Steps (your link); I need to look more closely to see if I have overlooked anything. But I'm edging closer and closer to doing a clean Win 7 install.