Solved Windows 7 Repair Install - Tutorial?

[MalcolmW]

I need guidance, please, as to the appropriate tutorial I should follow to repair install Windows 7 32 bit Home Premium on my Medion laptop. I have the complete upgrade pack (two dics, 32 and 64 bit) with the Product Key which I used for originally upgrading the operating system from Windows Vista.

The reason for a repair install is the extreme slowness of the computer despite cleanups, virus and malware checks and the uninstall of unused programmes.

Malcolm

 

[americancritic2]

Hello MalcolmW maybe this is what you are looking for, if not hit us back and we will do our best to help.

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/219487-clean-reinstall-factory-oem-windows-7-a.html?ltr=C

 

[MalcolmW]

Hello MalcolmW maybe this is what you are looking for, if not hit us back and we will do our best to help.

Thank you for your prompt response.
Does having the upgrade disc make the getting of an ISO unnecessary?

 

[gregrocker]

I understand you want to do a Repair Install which is often used to overcome problems that cannot be resolved by running SFC /SCANNOW Command and the other scans prescribed in Troubleshooting Steps for Windows 7.

A Repair Install as fully covered in the tutorial will reinstall the OS while saving your files, programs and most settings. However the passing back through of settings into a fresh reinstall as it does can preserve problems, so it may not be as good of a time investment as doing one perfect Clean Reinstall Windows 7. That will give you the best install one can possibly have, provided you stick with the steps, tools and methods given.

Your Upgrade media can be used for Repair Install or for Clean Install with a Upgrade Windows 7 Version as outlined in these tutorials.

 

[americancritic2]

Hello and thank you gregrocker for coming in and helping malcolmw try and fix his problem...

 

[MalcolmW]

Thank you americancritic and gregrocker for your responses to my request for guidance. I implemented a repair install which failed after I entered the Product Key with a message that the Key was not valid.

The 32 bit disc I am using was bought retail and is an upgrade disc for upgrading Windows Vista which was the operating system installed on my notebook when it was purchased. So the disc has ben used once for the uprade to Windows 7 and again for a previous repair. I can only assume I have encountered a limit on the number of times an upgrade disc is allowed to be used.

When the not valid message is displayed there is no provision to close the installation process or to go back. I have to shut down by holding down the power on switch.

I have tried to contact the UK Activation Team by telephone but the system is automated and there is no provision to talk to a MS support person.

Any thoughts on the way forward would be appreciated. I am going try downloading the ISO and chance that my Product Key might be accepted.

 

[gregrocker]

Instead of assuming, you should ask us because we deal with this here every day.

You can use the install disk as often as you want, as can you use the Product Key to reinstall or Repair Install.

If you completed the Repair Install and it failed to activate then it almost always means that you've inputted an incorrect character. There isn't any other reason it would fail if you used the same version.

Was there an error message? The way these are resolved is to google the verbatim text or post it back here.

 

[MalcolmW]

Your comments are noted gregrocker! Here's where I am now:
When I press the laptop's power on button the computer tells me it is resuming Windows and displays the Set Up Windows dialogue `Type your Windows Product Key'. The previously entered Product Key is displayed and highlighted. It is correctly entered and has been checked and rechecked multiple times. When I click Next the following message is displayed for a few seconds:

`The product key is not valid
`Please retype the product key.'

which I have done for exactly the same response to recur.

On my desktop computer I went to Microsoft Software Recovery to download a Windows 7 ISO file I found a prerequisite to verify my Product Key. I typed the key, double checking it and selected English as the language of the product I wanted to download. I was then informed that the product was not available in that language! Since then I have downloaded the ISO from The Windows Club but I cannot access the laptop's system to run the installation file.

Your further input would be much appreciated. Malcolm

 

[gregrocker]

I asked if it completed the Repair Install which is normally when one is asked to activate, from a popup in the System tray which doesn't block you from using the OS. If you got the activation windows before doing the Repair Install then you can simply close the box.

Resuming from Hibernation is taking you back to the activation box which you have opened. There is no such box after a repair or reinstall that comes up and blocks one from proceeding. You need to restart the PC from the Start button Menu rb: to be back into your system.

If you then want to install TeamViewer Download at all defaults, leave it open on desktop and reply back with Your ID and password it issues, I will connect and go over your install for you as I have free time now.

 

[MalcolmW]

My apologies for not making it absolutely clear that I do not have a laptop that I can use. It does not boot into Windows; it's locked in the installation process. I have to turn it off and then on using the power button. As it starts the opening screen appears briefly and the computer does not respond to F2 to open the BIOS. It opens with the Windows splash screen telling me it is `Resuming Windows' followed by as referred to previously the `Type your Windows product key' dialogue.

I am left with one possible solution; to remove the hard drive and with an external case format the C:\ drive.

 

[MalcolmW]

For no apparent reason the installation process has resumed, the Product Key accepted and with the installation completed I have a working laptop again!

Greg, what a relief!

 

[gregrocker]

Well I'm glad to hear it. I wondered why you were telling us what your "only remaining option" is since I thought you came here to find out what those are. We deal with tens of thousands of these cases here and have the top experts in the world..

The "Resuming Windows" message you quote can only mean it was in Hibernation from the OS, whether Repair Install had begun and hung on a screen or not.

Let us know if the Repair Install solves the problem.