Repair Install

SirTim · 31 Jul 2009

All right, thanks,
The partitions listed are a 100MB and a much larger one
You're saying to delete both? or just the 100MB? Cause I won't be left with any partitions if I delete both... lol

Brink · 31 Jul 2009

Yep, delete both. Windows 7 will recreate them during the installation. :)

SirTim · 31 Jul 2009

haha, sweet... (Yep, I'm a noob)
I'll try it out and edit this post w/ the results

EDIT: all right, well...
It got to prly 10% on expanding files, it then said
The installation was canceled
Any changes that were made to your computer during the installation process will not be saved.
(dialog box)
Windows cannot install required files. The file does not exist. Make sure all files required for installation are available, and restart the installation. Error code: 0x80070002

Any help?

chuckr · 31 Jul 2009

SirTim said:

Is there any way to install the new OS on a new partition and somehow retain all the data on the C drive?

The Memory Diagnostic Tool detected no problems either. So, I can't restore because I have no Restore Points, Startup Repair doesn't work, Memory Diagnostic didn't work, I don't have a System Image to restore to, I wasn't dual-booting so no Vista to backup my files with....
Is there any options other than a clean install and losing all my data?

Since you're pretty far down in the mud,

I would first borrow, beg, or steal a "different" Win7 Install DVD...
Did you check the hash-codes of the iso that you DL and burned?
Sounds (to me) like a 'faulty file' on the DVD is causing the install problem.

Then, I would try booting from that different DVD,
hit the Shift_F10 trick for Admin Cmd prompt, then make a ".vhd" on either C: or preferably on another partition -if- its on a separate -physical- HDD.

If your other partitions are on the same physical HDD, it won't make any difference where it goes.

If your C: HDD is big enough, I'd make the .vhd 30 GB, and install into that.
There's an excellent Tutorial for "Creating and Installing to a VHD", on this board.

It's gonna take a while, so be prepared for a long coffee break while he's formatting the .vhd (file).

Things can still go wrong using this technique, but it seems like a "possible" option (to me). Maybe this can save your data, depending upon what Win_7 Setup does with the boot-sector, BCD-store, etc. Win_7 Setup/Install just might 'get it right' and give you a bootable machine, from the .vhd...

Good luck.

SirTim · 31 Jul 2009

Well, seems like good advice, but I gave up on recovering my information, and deleted both partitions so that I could try the custom install from the DVD again...
You still think I should try to create a vhd? I only have one physical SSD btw 130GB
I'll see what I can do about the Win7 DVD... not sure where/how to get one...
I didn't check the hash-codes on the one I created, but reading online... it seems like the problem comes from somewhere else.. I've read that changing/removing RAM can fix the problem...

Brink · 31 Jul 2009

Tim,

If you have already deleted both partitions, then there is no need to try the slower VHD method.

SirTim · 31 Jul 2009

So in that case, the problem seems to be the DVD then...
I didn't check the hash-codes on the one I created, but reading online... it seems like the problem comes from somewhere else.. I've read that changing/removing RAM can fix the problem... but that doesn't seem like it should/would be the solution to what seems like a Read problem...
You think I should try to burn a new DVD or buy one or what?

EDIT: http://social.answers.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US/GettingReadyforWindows7/thread/48c9fdfc-979a-4db8-b1ab-2c23bf999d7e

Well, the problem seems to be with installing Windows 7 with a DVD period... maybe it's the motherboard, maybe RAM, maybe whatever...
I'm going to try the USB method and I'll post back if I get it working...

chuckr · 31 Jul 2009

Brink said:

Tim,

If you have already deleted both partitions, then there is no need to try the slower VHD method.

Right, the data's gone now...

WTH, it was a shot at preserving the data.

The memory chips are theoretically good, if one can have any confidence in Microsoft's Memory Diagnostic...

Ain't too much left:

"Windows cannot install required files. The file does not exist. Make sure all files required for installation are available, and restart the installation."

This seems to hint at the DVD, diskplatter or drive electronics.
And of course, he never tells you the NAME of "the file does not exist" - we have to guess at it.

USB install seems a good option, if he can boot from USB, and has facilities to create one.

SirTim · 31 Jul 2009

Well, I can boot from USB, I'm trying that out right now, I'll post back with success or failure. Thanks for the help. And yeah, of course they don't tell you the name of the file causing problems... that'd make it too easy, lol
I'll post back with info on the USB method
Thanks

ChuckR said:

Right, the data's gone now...

WTH, it was a shot at preserving the data.

The memory chips are theoretically good, if one can have any confidence in Microsoft's Memory Diagnostic...

Ain't too much left:

"Windows cannot install required files. The file does not exist. Make sure all files required for installation are available, and restart the installation."

This seems to hint at the DVD, diskplatter or drive electronics.
And of course, he never tells you the NAME of "the file does not exist" - we have to guess at it.

USB install seems a good option, if he can boot from USB, and has facilities to create one.

Night Hawk · 31 Jul 2009

According to what is seen on the thread there you tried out the USB Windows 7 Installation Key Drive - Create method.

Too bad you missed one other option using a usb device for data rescue before having to wipe the drive there.

Using the "Other OS" For a USB Rescue Device?

Sometime the optical drive itself can be the source of the problem if you did see a good burn to disk. The RCs themselves are still available until August 20, 2009 if you feel you need another fresh download.