Windows 7 turned into Windows 8, how did it do it?

[bizee]

First I want to say thank you very much for everyone's help. If nothing else works, I am learning a hell of lot of stuff here. I have been all over google before I succumbed to posting here, as I always give it the ole college try.
I don't have time today but I will try what you say tomorrow, I should have time then.
Thanx again.

 

[AddRAM]

Just backup your data and re install windows.

Windows should be on C not F or any other letter for that matter.

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/1649-clean-install-windows-7-a.html

But you`re running Windows 7 so don`t worry what anything else is telling you.

 

[Layback Bear]

I knew the Boss had a tutorial tucked away somewhere for that problem.
Happy computing bizee.

 

[bizee]

Yeah I was wondering if just reinstalling windows 7 might be much easier, since I have 2 separate hard disks with containing my important data.

I just thought it was weird to see this happen and was interested (and thought smart people like you all) in this situation.

Question: Why is it important to have the main operating system as C and not another letter?

 

[Ranger4]

This website may help to explain it for you.

Drive letter assignment - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

 

[bizee]

Ok, keep main drive as C: , so when attaching other hard disks or usb sticks, etc., there is no confusion when booting up. Makes sense.
thanx

 

[Layback Bear]

Did you complete the tutorial Brink posted #21

 

[bizee]

Yes I did as in tutorial in post #21 and now "msconfig boot tab" shows Windows 7 as operating system, however that did not change that F8 on boot up still does not take me to Advanced Boot Options. Computer still boots up in Windows 7 as it did all along. That is why I don't know if this can be fixed and maybe only a reinstall is the only thing to do. I tried changing the drive letter on my operating system from F: to C: and I get "parameter is incorrect" so it won't take it.

 

[Brink]

Usually you will only have a few seconds to tap F8 at the correct time at boot to see the Advanced Boot Options screen. I like to start tapping F8 as soon as the PC restarts until Advanced Boot Options displays.

 

[bizee]

thanx for replying Brink. I have tried hitting F8 immediately, fast, slow, 1 second intervals, you name it. As I say in my first post, it must be something to do with Windows 8 somehow installing itself. I do have a 2 legit Windows 8 iso's (and they are zipped) on a different hard disk in the same computer, so I don't know how Windows 8 could have installed itself from there.

 

[AddRAM]

Windows 8 did not install itself.

And you very well could have clicked on the executable of the windows 8 iso, but it gives a warning before unzipping it. So it could have been possible, however unlikely you didn`t realize what was happening.

 

[bizee]

I know I said ISO's, but they were compressed (I use WinRaR pro), so they would have to have been extracted, and yes, I would have had to accepted action. Anyways, anything is possible , but I find it hard to believe I clicked on anything since the Windows 8 compressed folder is on another separate physical hard drive in separate folder, and again in subfolder, and that I did not access at any time.

 

[pjd]

I may have overlooked something obvious but... why not force a restart in Safe Mode from msconfig, much easier than hitting the required function key at exactly the right time - it will take effect on next restart.

pjd

 

[Slartybart]

This might very well be a case for a re-install, but I'm not sure that the issue defines the issue.

I have Windows 7 on my computer.
I took some Windows updates the other day
I did not see anything saying "Windows 8"
The next time I started my computer I saw the boot screen coming up looking like Windows 8 (blue square instead of colored squares).
Then I noticed my desktop icons (google chromes) had lost their color and were now plain white.
I managed to search online to find out how to make them colored again, however next boot they were plain white again.
Then I tried rebooting and attempted hitting F8 to go into Advanced Boot Options and nothing happened.
I eventually ended up in "msconfig" and noticed my operating system (and there was only one choice) was Windows 8.
So I searched how to get into Advanced Boot Options in Windows 8 and found that F8 does not work for this operating system, which verifies that I have Windows 8.
This apparently from I understand is what happens with Windows 8. BUT my computer boots up in Windows 7.
Question 1: How the hell did my computer go to Windows 8
Question 2: Can I reverse this? (I tried doing system restore to 3 days before this happened and it did not work)
Question 3: Is my only option to reinstall Windows 7? (I am pretty sure it is)

Sure, lots of things point to Windows 8, except you boot to Windows 7.

This sounds more like malware than a magical upgrade.

There is another thread with the same symptoms, I'll look for it later.

First, a few suggestions. If one has already been offered, please excuse the duplication (I must have missed it).

Try a restore point going back to a time before the suspect Windows update (that wasn't the cause, but it's a good timeframe reference).
See http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/700-system-restore.html (it sounds more ominous than it is - think restore points)
Also pay attention to Step 7 - lots of people miss that important information.

If that doesn't cure what ails ya...

Run a few quick malware scans just to make sure there isn't anything lurking.

Download Malwarebytes Anti-Malware Free (click here to download, select the free version)
"Save as" the install package to your Desktop
Double click the mbam-setup file on your desktop to install and run Malwarebytes (Mbam)

Answer YES to all authorization prompts and then follow the Mbam setup prompts.
Do not make any changes to default settings.
When the install is finished, verify that only the following two options have checkmarks,
change to match if necessary.
[[FONT=Webdings, serif]a[/FONT]] Update Malwarebytes’ Anti-Malware
[a] Launch Malwarebytes’ Anti-Malware

Make sure that there is NOT a checkmark next to:
[..] Enable free trial of Malwarebytes Anti-Malware PRO

Then click the Finish button.

Allow Mbam to update, then
Select Perform Quick Scan from the options on the Scanner tab, then
Click the Scan button.

After the scan is complete
Click on Show Results
A window displaying any detected malware is shown
Select all malware (make sure all objects are ticked [a]), then
Click on Remove Selected

The Mbam report file pops up in your text editor when Mbam has completed the removal process.

:ar: Select all of the text in the report (Ctrl+A) and paste the text in a new post on this thread.

   Note

If MBAM encounters a file that is difficult to remove, you are asked to restart the computer.
The restart is REQUIRED to allow Mbam to complete the removal of the malware.
Failure to restart means that the malware is still present on your machine.

:info: You want to restart in Normal mode, not in Safe mode.

---

AdwCleaner is a two step process. Scan then Clean

Step 1: Download and Scan

Click here to download AdwCleaner (author: Xplode)
>> save the application to your Desktop.

• Right-click AdwCleaner.exe on your Desktop and select Run As Administrator to run the scanner with full privilege rights.
  :info: AdwCleaner is a standalone executable, there is no install.
  
• Click on the Scan button.
  >> AdwCleaner begins scanning your system. It might take some time to complete, be patient
  
• When the scan has finished, click on the Report button
  >> the AdwCleaner log: AdwCleaner[R#].txt is opened in your default Text editor.
  :info: [R#] gets incremented every time you run AdwCleaner - the highest number is the most recent.
  
• Look through the log for any recognizable entries - don't worry about other details in the log.
  i.e. I use Textpad on my system and AdwCleaner flags it as a possilbe threat because I configured Textpad to replace Notepad. AdwCleaner says "Hey, that's not quite right - you should take a look a this - did you make this change"
  
• Paste the entire AdwCleaner log in your next post.
  :info: AdwCleaner logs are located in the C:\AdwCleaner folder if you need to reference them again.

 

[bizee]

One of the first things I tried was a system restore to approximately a week before this occurence, and that did not help.

I have Advanced SystemCare Ultimate 7 and that did not find for fix it.

I have MalwareBytes Pro (tried flash, quick and full scans) and that did not find anything related to this.

I even tried CCleaner Pro and that did not find or fix it. Isn't Adwcleaner basically the same thing as my ASC and CCleaner?

 

[AddRAM]

Advanced System Care is unneeded garbage, get rid of it :shock:

Not one person I know here uses it or endorses it.

 

[Slartybart]

Thanks for the feedback re system restore.

Advanced SystemCare Ultimate sounds like a good idea.... but the 'tools' inside are of questionable value on Win7.

I only recommend a few tools outside of what windows offers - too many cause more harm than good, especially Registry Cleaners or Tweakers (CCleaner is the only such tool and I very carefully guide members on using the registry part of it, if I suggest that at all).

Most of these utilities are throwbacks to previous releases of Windows (XP and previous). Windows 7 is a more robust OS - applying old tweaks to a newer OS is akin to putting bald tires on a new car.

I'm so against the use of these so-called 'utilities' that I recommend that you uninstall Advanced SystemCare Ultimate 7 and I'll ask if you have any other similar 'tools' installed.

There are numerous on-demand malware scanners available - AdwCleaner is one of the best, along with Malwarebytes. Each has it's own strengths and one might find something another does not.

So no.... they are not the same. Please run AdwCleaner and report the findings. If after this scan and possibly one more, the only option left would be either a repair install or a clean install. Other members might have other suggestions or opinions on a final solution.

Let's see if there's something on your system first, if it can be removed/repaired and go from there, ok?

Bill
.

 

[bizee]

Ok, get rid of ASC, got you.
What do you recommend for AntiVirus? AVG FREE?
Somebody also told me about WinASO. What about that one?

As for my main drive being labelled F:, how do I change that? Tried that in "computer management" and says 'parameters are incorrect' and won't let me do it.

 

[AddRAM]

Microsoft Security Essentials and Malwarebytes Anti-Malware that, and common sense on the net and you should be good.

Microsoft Security Essentials - Microsoft Windows

Malwarebytes Anti-Malware - Protect, Detect & Remove Malware From Your PC

 

[bizee]

What do you think of McAfee (Security) that comes with my Internet Provider Bell?