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#1360
Oops. Hopefully it'll go smoothly and quickly.
Just a note in case anyone else thinks of it, before going ahead with a clean reinstall of Windows, I tried using msconfig from safe mode to to do a Diagnostic Startup.
The good news for me is I was able to boot and log in to regular (non-safe mode) Windows with the Diagnostic Startup.
Bad news for anyone trying the Repair Install is I was not able to get it to run in that mode. Got an error about disk access.
Better news for me is after logging in with the Diagnostic Startup, I set msconfig back to Normal Startup, rebooted, and could log in. Looks like my issues is resolved.
My plan now is to just never logout or shutdown or run Windows Update ever again in case the issue isn't really fixed.
I recently had to do a repair install to fix many problems with Windows Update, so I created a bootable repair installation disk and followed the tutorial "How to Do a Repair Install to Fix Windows 7." This was the first time I took on a project like this--creating a bootable repair installation disk and then using it. For those who frequent this forum, that's probably routine, but for me, it was a huge challenge. I admit I'm pretty proud of myself right now, and yes, I'm gloating a bit. So I thought I'd share my experience for anyone who's apprehensive, as I was.
- First, everything went well. The tutorial is absolutely excellent. Thank you for that, Shawn! And thanks goes to NoelDP in the Windows Updates & Activation forum for helping me with my Windows Update problem.
- When I reached the download page where I had to choose the .iso file (suggested in the tutorial), I had three choices--a "media refresh" version, an "RTM" version, and a "old" version. I had to seek guidance on which one was right for me--I found no such help on the download page. Perhaps adding guidance on this in the tutorial would be helpful.
- It's important to follow the tutorial step by step to the letter. Read the tutorial carefully a few times before doing anything so that you know what comes next and how you will respond to options you'll need to select. I printed it and followed along for reference as I ran the installation disk. This idea might apply to using any tutorial here (am I suggesting a tutorial on tutorials?).
- The installation process can be long. For me it was about 1½ hours from start to finish.
- Watch the progress bars and completion percents, but don't panic when they seem stuck. They're not. The program itself provides excellent explanations of what it's doing, but some procedures take longer than others. I suppose you could walk away from the installation and it would wait for your return for input, but I didn't chance that. I waited nearby and watched the screen so that I could respond to choices and selections quickly.
Thanks again, guys, and Sevenforums, for the help!
Art
Thank you Art for the feedback. I've updated the tutorial to help make more clear what ISO version to get. :)
Hi, Will this help with a program that I have installed but is not working correctly? Basically, I want to remove some software as its not working, but add/remove wont remove it completely, so windows update wants to keep updating it but wont as its not working. I am considering a clean install, but backup will take so long and too many disks, I am prepared to start from scratch, unless this tutorial will reinstal windows and repair the problem software and keep my data.
What do you suggest?
Hello Martin, and welcome to Seven Forums.
Sorry, but a repair install will not help with the program. A repair install will only help with Windows itself.
You might see if reinstalling the program (if it will) to repair it's installation may help.
Hope this helps, :)
Shawn
Last edited by Brink; 05 Sep 2013 at 10:42. Reason: typo
Note
If you do not have a Windows 7 with SP1 ISO, then you can download the latest official Windows 7 SP1 Media Refresh (SP1 U) ISO file here:
Microsoft: Windows 7 Direct Download Links
Link is not working!!! Page not found
I've been trying to do this on both my laptop and desktop but to no avail. It keeps telling me to remove itunes, and ATI control panel. After I remove it, it still says:
The following issues are preventing Windows from upgrading. Cancel the upgrade, complete each task, and then restart the upgrade to continue.
Your current version of Windows is more recent than the version you are trying to upgrade to. Windows cannot complete the upgrade.
I guess I'll just have to wait a couple of months and do a clean install.