Windows 7 Repair Install Failed

[dlwmacgregor]

I am trying to do a Windows 7 Repair Install to repair some USB driver issues I am having.

I did a Clean Boot and un-installed my AMD display drivers first using DDU.

I started the Repair Install using the instructions on this forum in the Tutorials.

Everything proceeded as per the tutorial and then during the "Gathering files, settings and programs" step
it suddenly failed and stopped.

I would appreciate any help you can give me.

Thanks.

Doug

 

[gregrocker]

Do a http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/1649-clean-install-windows-7-a.html following these same steps to get and keep a perfect http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/219487-clean-reinstall-factory-oem-windows-7-a.html#post1839164. Read them over closely so you can ask back any questions.

If you didn't back up your files, you can rescue them using the step given in the second tutorial above.

 

[dlwmacgregor]

Thanks Greg. I'm getting to that point.
My games work perfectly (that's all I use Win7 for). I dual boot from 2 separate HDD's - Win7 Pro 64-bit and WinXP Pro.
When my Win7 becomes unusable I will do a Clean Install. For now, the only thing not working is my front USB3 ports (plus System Restore and Repair Install).

 

[dlwmacgregor]

I found the problem Greg.
I decided to do a clean install to a new hard drive and got the following error.
I contacted Microsoft and they said it was a corrupt CD. They are sending me a replacement.

 

[gregrocker]

The latest official installer with tool to burn to DVD is Step 1 and 2 in Clean Reinstall - Factory OEM Windows 7, and we could have told you the error is very common and points to a bad installer, so you didn't need to call MS or wait for the disk if you were following that.

Once again, you'll get and keep a perfect install based on how closely you stick with the tools and methods in that tutorial.

 

[dlwmacgregor]

Thanks Greg.
I will try that but one quick question...what is a bad installer?
One added piece of information...I did a MemTest and found hundreds of errors on my first 4GB DIMM.
I have 2 4GB DIMMs. I re-seated the first DIMM and pulled the second one out and re-did the MemTest with the same result.
I pulled the first DIMM and substituted the second one..no errors.
Then I put in my spare DIMM and no errors.
This could explain all my random errors in the past couple of weeks and my general corruption errors.
Corsair will be replacing myDIMM.
I will try what you suggest and retry the Clean Install on my spare drive.

 

[gregrocker]

Bad installer can be an incompletely downloaded ISO file, bad burn or write to stick, corrupted stick, dirty or scratched DVD. An easy solution is to start over with a new one from the tutorial.

 

[dlwmacgregor]

I was ready to try your suggestions when my new disk arrived.
So I tried a Repair Install and it failed.
I then did a Clean Boot and tried again and it failed again, both times I received the attached error.
So I will try a Fresh Install on my 3rd drive(it has a fresh install of WinXP on it which I don't need).

 

[gregrocker]

Did you make sure you have all Important and Optional Windows Updates? This is also critical on a Clean Reinstall - Factory OEM Windows 7 (steps are same for retail) after enabling Automatically deliver drivers via Windows Update (Step 3) since this is how Win7 updates your drivers and patches the OS.

Be sure to unplug all other HD's when you install to the third drive. If it is on the same hard drive, post back a screenshot of Disk Management - Post a Screen Capture Image after install so we can give you the steps required to eventually remove the old Win7 and recover its space. Essentially it's this: Partition Recover Space Used by an Older OS

 

[dlwmacgregor]

The problem is that my Windows Update stopped working about a week ago.
It gives me an error when I scan for new updates and when I shutdown after being up for an hour or so it gives me the Shutdown Option of installing the updates...the same 3 updates each time.

I ran the Belarc Advisor and it listed 3 updates (2 critical and 1 important) that needed to be installed.

When I get a chance I'll capture the error and post it. And I'll give you the Update numbers.

It's strange though. Even though I have all these problems, my games are still working no problem. Good thing this is all I use my Win7 for at this point.

As I mentioned, when I finally give in and do a fresh install it will be to my 3rd hard drive. Besides, when I finally decide to switch from XP to Win7 for my main system I will want a clean, working OS.

Drive1=XP Pro. (Main System)
Drive2=Win7 Pro 64-bit (Games)
Drive3=XP Pro Fresh Install (never used)

 

[gregrocker]

Work through the Troubleshooting Steps for Windows 7 starting with a Clean Boot, check for infection, SFC. Report back results. Then cull the logs shown for repeat errors.

 

[dlwmacgregor]

Here are the Windows Update screen captures, both before checking for updates and after.

I will update soon with the results of the Troubleshooting Steps.

 

[dlwmacgregor]

Here is a screen capture of the Belarc Advisor, showing the missing updates.

 

[dlwmacgregor]

I'm beginning to think that this thing is not repairable.

Here are my results for the Troubleshooting Steps.

1. Done - no errors.
2. Already tested and reported earlier. running with good RAM.
3. Cabling secure.
4. I use Argus Monitor - all temps are normal.
5. Ran MalwareBytes - found Adware.IBryte - removed and rebooted.
6. I use MSE.
7. Ran all my tests using Clean Boot.
8. Thru this one I downloaded and ran System Update Readiness Tool (Hotfix for Windows KB947821). Updated successfully but Windows Update still doesn't work.
9. System Restore stopped working 1 month ago.
10. Was always set.
11. Using current AMD display driver 13.12.
12. Lots of errors listed in Event viewer.
13. SFC /SCANNOW won't run - Windows Resource Protection could not perform the required operation. Ran it in Safe Mode with Command Line.
14. Not tried.
15 Event viewer loaded with errors.

I am attaching several screen captures.

 

[gregrocker]

You've been very thorough, found the main fix for that Updates failure SURT which hasn't helped. But we know from the System Restore and other failures that you have more massive corruption than that so what I would do now is cut my losses, back up files and follow these same steps to do a perfect Clean Reinstall - Factory OEM Windows 7.

The tutorial compiles what has worked best since Win7 beta in tens of thousands of installs we've helped with here. So if you'll stick with the tools and methods given, we already know that you will get and keep a perfect install for as long as you do.

To give yourself the cleanest slate, I'd wipe the HD first with Diskpart Clean Command so that nothing (old boot code, corrupt partition table) can survive.

Feel free too ask back any questions after reading over Clean Reinstall - Factory OEM Windows 7

 

[dlwmacgregor]

Thanks Greg.
I have no problem reformatting the 3rd drive because it has XP on it.
I will keep my current Win7 on the 2nd drive for now because my games are still working.
Once I have a working Win7 on the 3rd drive, I will re-install the games and transfer the User files over.
Then I will use EasyBCD and edit the Boot List to mirror my new setup.
Right now the Boot files are on my current Win7.

I will read the Clean Install Tutorial.

You have been very patient and helpful.

Thanks Greg.

 

[gregrocker]

In that case please post back a screenshot of Disk Management - Post a Screen Capture Image.

You'll want to unplug all other HD's during the reinstall, deleting all partitions to create and format new using the Drive Options pictured in Steps 7/8 of Clean Install Windows 7.

I would also swap the Disk0 drive cable to the target HD so it becomes the first HD. This way the boot files cannot be derailed to another preceding drive during any future Repairs or Reinstalls.

 

[dlwmacgregor]

Here are the screen captures, including my current EasyBCD settings.

I understand about disconnecting the other drives and the Drive0 cable.

Thanks.

 

[gregrocker]

Only the C System partition should be marked Active. Mark all others Inactive: Partition - Mark as Inactive - Windows 7 Forums.

In the future keep other HD's unplugged when you install an OS, set preferred OS as first HD to boot in BIOS setup, choose to boot any others using the one-time BIOS Boot Menu key.

If you don't like this arrangement, install EasyBCD to the default OS to add the others. This leaves each independently bootable which they are not now. The System partition is booting all 3 now.

XP partitions don't show the System flag which means they are likely not bootable from BIOS Boot Menu key, but you can try it to be sure. If you don't want to have to boot XP from the old Win7 as it is set to do now, run EasyBCD on the old Win7 to Edit OS Menu, delete XP listing. Then boot into the new Win7, install EasyBCD to add XP, and the old Win7 if you prefer to boot it that way instead of via BIOS Boot Menu key.

We can also give you commands to make XP boot itself from the BIOS Boot Menu key if you prefer it that way across the board.

 

[dlwmacgregor]

I have now successfully installed a new Win7 on my 3rd drive (the one on which the XP Fresh Install was located).
I disconnected the Main XP and Old Win7 drives to do it.
Then I reconnected them but I forgot to relocate the data cables.
I had to manually select the Old Win7 in the BIOS and reran EasyBCD on that drive to delete the XP and XP Fresh entries and then re-add the XP and new Win7. (I'm still booting from the Old Win7 for the time being).
That worked BUT it now wants to default boot from the XP disk.
The Boot sub-menu in the BIOS only shows the XP disk.
I can manually select any one of the 3 hard disks from the Boot Selection Menu but I can't get the BIOS to make the Old Win7 the default boot drive.
Eventually I will make the New Win7 as the default boot drive when I have all my XP stuff transferred/re-installed (after running EasyBCD on it and adding my XP drive for future reference).
I just can't figure out how to make the New Win7 (or Old Win7 for that matter) the default boot drive.

I have attached the Disk Management screen captures for both the Old Win7 and New Win7, as well as the EasyBCD settings for the Old Win7.

I hope you can straighten me out.
Thanks.