Thank you for the detailed information. I have everything I need for the repair. One last question before I jump in, if you had the choice of a completely fresh install or the repair install, which would be the better choice? I understand that a full, fresh install may be a bit more work but I have the time and would like to end up with the best solution. Again, Thank You!
I'd repair install
If you don't need any of your installed programs, you could transfer all your personal files, folder, etc. to Flash Drive or External HDD (fresh install requires reformatting) you could do fresh install.
Nothing at all wrong with Repair Install, both install windows 7.
Fresh install & you have to reinstall all your installed programs. I have well over 100, would take me days, maybe a week. & you still have all the updates to install.
Repair install takes a few hours, Updates, probably like overnight. I'd repair install.
Like I said in earlier instructions on repair install, if you have 4 gig RAM or less, choose a portion of the 200, & 13 optional updates. If you have 4 gig Ram choose about 100. You can watch the RAM load up with Task Manager, Performance tab.
I did repair install on 3 machines past few days. Piece of cake.
Updates may take many hours (6-7 or less up to 24-48 not likely) to start downloading & or installing.
Set Power Options to NEVER, & let it run.
So I was going to try the repair but I could not find Service pack 1 in the Windows Updates, which I need to uninstall before the repair can begin. I have a Windows 7 Home Premium 32 bit disk that includes SP1 but during the validation it said that the installed Windows is newer than the one I am trying to install. System properties says SP1. Is there a way around that?
Your system specs say Win7x64 pro.
Can't use Win7x32 for Win7x64.
If that's the case you'll have to download ISO from M$ & burn to DVD. see above post.
If not, you could try to uninstall SP1, & use Compatibility Mode.
wusa /uninstall /KB:976932 /quiet /norestart
Open elevated command prompt. Click start orb lower left screen, type cmd, right-click cmd.exe, choose>run as administrator
copy & paste bold code above.
When it finishes executing the window will close.
Restart
Try now, or try compatibility mode for Windows 7.
Should work now.
Either way, let us know your results.
ISO's from Microsoft Download Center include sp1
OEM media (the customized Windows install DVD that came with your PC) might cause errors, such as "Windows 7 Professional cannot be upgraded to Windows 7 Professional".
The Windows version that you're running needs to be no newer than that on the installation media. If you installed Windows 7 SP1, then you'll need installation media with SP1 already in place.
From one of Shawn Brink's posts:
If you have Windows 7 SP1 installed, then you either must use a "retail" Windows 7 SP1 installation disc to be able to do a repair install, or uninstall SP1 to be able to use a retail Windows 7 installation disc to do a repair install with.
Sorry, should have been more clear - this is not my PC. It is in fact a 32bit Home Premium unit that I am working on. My install disc is a Microsoft iso with SP1 (not a retail disc). There already was a folder "Windows.old" so I am wondering if some one already tried a repair install some time ago. I did try to uninstall SP1 but it was NOT listed in the installed updates. I tried the command line wusa /uninstall /KB:976932 /quiet /norestart but nothing happened, just a window with the different wusa command options. Is it possible that the previous installation was done with a disc that included SP1 and that is why it is not listed in the updates?
You have been extremely helpful and I have taken up too much of your time on this. Since there are not many programs and little user data, I will proceed with a fresh install. I am sure I will get another chance to try a repair install, especially now that I have all this info you provided.
No problem, I boo boo all the time, more so as I age! Been retired for a few years with too much time on may hands.
If your computer is several years old, like when win7 first came out, your M$ disc is most likely pre sp1.
I'd download the ISO, burn it with ImgBurn and give it a go. Couldn't hurt, doesn't take a whole lot of time.
To the best of my knowledge, pre sp1 disc will not work for repair install ever.
If your friend ever needs it, he'll have win7x32 w/sp1. Good idea to make two copies.
I've had DVD's, including my win7x64 become corrupt. Guess you'd call it a backup disc.
If you do go with fresh install, install CCleaner, on tools, lower right corner, you can save a list of installed programs to text file. Save having to write all of them down.
Don't make it a slipstream disk (all updates installed on disk) you can't do a repair install, well actually it will let you, but the programs that will add the updates, most popular (RT seven lite) alters files and folders already on disk, which is what the windows updates do to the files/folders on your HDD. You end up with a machine that causes headaches, not good.
I never use slipstream disc for fresh install, because you are then precluded from ever doing a repair install.
Hello wben353 - Thanks for all your help! I did tri another win 7 iso and it did repair install however I wound up with a different update error, I thing 8007000E - did a quick search on that but did not see any useful solutions. So, I threw in the hat and did a clean install - everything happy now! Thanks!
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