URGENT! A method to REINSTALL Win 7

Ok guys, I have ran into a perculiar problem. My dad brought home a desktop from a co-worker that needs repairing. I am apparently being paid 40$ for it, but there is a funny series of issues.

1) Windows 7 is installed on this computer, and it is more corrupt than any govt' official. (lol)

2) He wants me to restore his computer and keep ALL his files and settings.

I have tried a couple methods already including:

1) Inserting a Windows 7 installation DVD into the DVD-ROM and running repair tools; bootsect, diskpart

Ok! I'll interrupt myself here, I didn't look yet but I think I have an idea worth noting. I can BACK UP all his data. The thing I am thinking about now is BACKING UP the WHOLE registry! If I can do both those things, format the drive, run a new clean install of Win 7, then restore both data and registry. He should be at a no harm no foul state right? Or is there a better approach than that?

PS: When everything is plugged in appropriately the computer will power on. It will POST. It will then go through attempt to load windows, but it hangs there. Upper left corner displays a "_" blinking cursor. (It is a SATA drive. I changed SATA ports and attempted again. This time I get a "POST detected missing hardware press F1 to continue or F10 for setup." F10 shows the hard drive is still detected. F1 brings me to a frozen screen showing me the warning message. (Press F1 or F10 etc)

Any clue what I should do? Talking to the guy revealed he had some sort of virus. Maybe boot sector virus related? I am not sure the direction I should be heading here; ANY immediate advice is highly welcome!

-X

 

What is the point of backing up the registry?

After a clean Windows install, all other installed programs will be gone. What programs are installed on that machine?

 

The point of backing up the registry would be to restore it on the new clean copy of windows. I was thinking by creating the same user name's upon the clean installation, restoring the back up, then restoring the registry. (Checking Access Permissions and etc) that he should be able to use all his programs that he has installed. (From the looks of it, he has various things from microsoft office to a multitude of games.) Maybe he doesn't have his CD-Keys anymore? I don't know. I just hope to satisfy the clients needs.

 

http://windowssecrets.com/top-story/win7s-no-reformat-nondestructive-reinstall/

Any credibility to this article? It seems likely.

(I'm going to check this guys sticker to make sure its not an XP sticker or some odd sort)

-X

 

yea,its credible,but if the system is corrupt from virus or malware,and you attempt a repair reinstall without removing it first,the malware or virus will still be in the system.if you find that malware of some sort is the culprit,and is removed prior to the repair reinstall, chances are that the repair will go a lot more smoothly and be successful.

 

Right, I'll get my tools running on this. After which, I'll run the 'upgrade' installation and let everyone here know the results. You'd think people have posted something about this on google a little more often; instead of the whole "FORMAT, CLEAN INSTALL!" method.

-X

 

To close this thread: I did not run a registry sweep or extractor or any of the sort. I simply slid the hard drive into its original computer, popped in a Win 7 install disc, told it to install on the C: drive without formatting, went through Windows.old and pulled all the useful bits of info out of it and onto an external, went back to Win 7 install disc and format reinstall. Just put all the users stuff back onto his hard drive and told him that his registry was too corrupt to repair. (Which was true in a sense, the old registry size was only 360'ish kbs)

Too bad, I really wanted to see if I could have restored all the computers programs back to its original state. WHICH reminds me, as I was looking up some sort of solution... Windows 7 installs have their registry stored somewhere in the Windows folder (can't recall where exactly atm) and some chump made a batch file that can copy those registry files as a back up. Pretty much all he has to do is back that all up on a seperate hard drive and anytime you run into a registry problem; just restart and restore. That might be an idea someone might want to think on, no clue. Surely its faster than restore points and backups and can be used in special scenarios.

-X

 

Hi,

I'm glad you found some resolution. For my own information could you answer a few questions?

I always associate the blinking "_" with a bad MBR. I'm curious if you tried bootrec /fixmbr along with the bootsec etc. fixes from your first post.

Did it actually show some attempt to load Windows before going to the blinking cursor?

Erunt is the standard for registry backups. I've never bothered to keep backups but keep meaning to start.

 

I am so sorry for the late reply. I've had no internet for the last 2-3 months thanks to a cable outage in my area. My ISP decided to give me 3 EXTRA months of free internet in compensation.

To answer your question: No. It showed NO attempt to load windows prior to the blinking cursor. ( "_" )

Also, I tried Bootsect but not Bootrec. You think that'd help at all?

-X

 

No problem on the late reply, I was just curious. Thanks for getting back to the thread.

I think the blinking underscore cursor is fixed 95% of the time by writing a new MBR to the HD. (The only time it hasn't worked that I recall is when the blinking cursor is caused by a non-system floppy disk forgotten in the A: drive, which is virtually a non-existent problem anymore. Perhaps a severely damaged HD could give the blinking cursor but I can't remember an exact thread where that was the cause.)

For Win7 with a blinking cursor and an available installation disc, I would have tried the bootrec /fixmbr command to see if it changed the error. I immediately associate the blinking underscore cursor with a bad MBR and it usually turns out that writing a new one lets the system boot, just something to keep in mind for the future.