Win7's no-reformat, nondestructive reinstall

[Dave Leippe]

I know those listed products will find the keys for Windows, however, they also show up as spyware. I prefer two other programs that are also much more useful in additional ways. Both programs are also free utilities.
The first application is Belarc Adviser. Not only does it retrieve your Windows keys, but it pulls out most other product keys. The report also provides pages of detailed information that is very helpful to the computer owner and or a repair person to understand that specific computer.

The second application is Speccy. It doesn't pull out as much information as Belarc, however, it pulls out the Windows key, and also goes deeper into component details, such as the exact brand, voltage, etc of installed memory modules. It pulls up the current temperatures of the motherboard, hard drive and CPU. It has a detailed SMART report on the hard drive.

Apparently these are better kept secrets than doing an in place upgrade of Windows XP, Vista, or 7. I have been using the above programs for troubleshooting, repairing, and upgrading computers for at least 8 years.

Cheers,

Dave Leippe

[elitebuyer]

When I get to the section that I have to pick upgrade or install windows 7 i pick Upgrade. I get a massage that my copy of windows does not allow upgrades.
anyone else seen this problem.

[Medico]

More info is needed. What version of Windows are you attempting to upgrade? What version of Windows are you attempting to upgrade to? These questions would be versions and bitness of versions. I realize the title does say Win 7, but are you upgrading from a version of Win 7 to another version of Win 7 or from XP or Vista to Win 7. From Home Premium to Pro or Ultimate, from 32 Bit to 64 Bit. There are many different variables that you would have to provide before any answer could be provided.

[RobCr]

I have discovered that installation of IE9 fails after performing an upgrade from Vista to 7 (at least for me...and a few others with whom I have consulted). It only apparently responds to a clean install. Will this fix solve that problem? I have delayes moving to IE9 for the sole reason that I don't want to deal with the re-creation of my whole system.

As I mentioned earlier, I have been unable to do Repair Installs with Win7.
Regarding IE - Anyone who wishing to do repair Installs SHOULD ONLY USE the version of IE, that was in the original Install CD.
MS have threaded IE into the OS like a Goa'uld and everyone is letting them get away with it.
Thus when you do a Repair Install, it will try to fix IE, but it (your CD) knows nothing about the subsequent versions of IE
So uninstall your later versions of IE, and use Firefox to send a strong message to MS

[HarvM]

TOP STORY Win7's no-reformat, nondestructive reinstall By Fred Langa You deleted a file yesterday; now you really need it back. Your Windows recycle bin is empty — what now? Your next-best option is the Restore Previous Versions tool — a truly great, automatic data-protection feature buried in Win7. The full text of this column is posted at windowssecrets.com/top-story/win7s-no-reformat-nondestructive-reinstall/ (paid content, opens in a new window/tab). Columnists typically cannot reply to comments here, but do incorporate the best tips into future columns.

Fred:
If there is an answer to this I'm sure you have it.
I have used the "no reformat repair install" It didn't work for me. W7 hangs at the pulsating windows splash screen. It is a new install, dual booting with XPP.
If I choose to go to XP at the first boot menu, I can go there and it works just fine. ( so I think it is not a hardware problem)
If I choose the default W7 ( and it did work for the first week) , Now I can't get past the splash screen. If left for some time an error message appears telling there is a hardware problem. The problem started after the computer was left running over night and it shut down on its own.
Your help is much appreciated.

[ruirib]

Fred:
If there is an answer to this I'm sure you have it.
I have used the "no reformat repair install" It didn't work for me. W7 hangs at the pulsating windows splash screen. It is a new install, dual booting with XPP.
If I choose to go to XP at the first boot menu, I can go there and it works just fine. ( so I think it is not a hardware problem)
If I choose the default W7 ( and it did work for the first week) , Now I can't get past the splash screen. If left for some time an error message appears telling there is a hardware problem. The problem started after the computer was left running over night and it shut down on its own.
Your help is much appreciated.

HarvM,

I think you should start a new topic, about your issue, in the Windows 7 forum. It's the best way to ensure a fast response to your specific issue.

[DTPWarrior]

Need some information. I read through all 7 pages of posts to this thread and did not see my situation. I have Win7 Home Edition without SP1 pre-installed on a ZT Desktop PC. I have been getting a number of BSODs at different times since it was purchased about 2 yrs ago, but have just lived with it during that time. The BSOD frequency is about 2 or 3 times per week. The ZT tech support (in New Delhli) folks have no answers other than reformat and reinstall Windows.

I attemted to use Fred Langa's method of reinstall-upgrade but the OEM Recovery DVD that came with the computer does not offer me the choice for upgrading. The setup just proceeds to download the files when I click on "Install". It also does not offer me the option to "get updated file from the internet". It just starts installing. Well, I immediately cancelled out.

There was one screen that did appear that showed two partitions. C: (OS) and another smaller partition for System files. Does that mean I can not use the Fred's method?

Please advise.

PS: I also have an unused Windows 7 Upgrade package purchased a while back that does not have SP1 included. Would this be helpful to me in any way to do Fred's method of reinstall-upgrade?

Any assistance is most appreciated.

[HarvM]

HarvM,

I think you should start a new topic, about your issue, in the Windows 7 forum. It's the best way to ensure a fast response to your specific issue.

Just what I was thinking
follow the new post in Windows 7 forum . search tags Hangs, fix boot

[Alan Woodruff]

Win7 Service Pack 1 cannot be uninstalled. Does anyone know what to do now, by chance? Would greatly appreciate any help.

[CLiNT]

Download a copy of Windows 7 with Srvice Pack 1 from here.
...And look into performing drive image backups for future reference.

[ruirib]

Need some information. I read through all 7 pages of posts to this thread and did not see my situation. I have Win7 Home Edition without SP1 pre-installed on a ZT Desktop PC. I have been getting a number of BSODs at different times since it was purchased about 2 yrs ago, but have just lived with it during that time. The BSOD frequency is about 2 or 3 times per week. The ZT tech support (in New Delhli) folks have no answers other than reformat and reinstall Windows.

I attemted to use Fred Langa's method of reinstall-upgrade but the OEM Recovery DVD that came with the computer does not offer me the choice for upgrading. The setup just proceeds to download the files when I click on "Install". It also does not offer me the option to "get updated file from the internet". It just starts installing. Well, I immediately cancelled out.

There was one screen that did appear that showed two partitions. C: (OS) and another smaller partition for System files. Does that mean I can not use the Fred's method?

Please advise.

PS: I also have an unused Windows 7 Upgrade package purchased a while back that does not have SP1 included. Would this be helpful to me in any way to do Fred's method of reinstall-upgrade?

Any assistance is most appreciated.

Please start a separate topic on your own issue. These threads are hardly the best place to ask for help with specific issues. In your own topic, you will get full attention, concerning your specific issue.

[Alan Woodruff]

Please forgive my ignorance, but after it is downloaded, what do I do next? Install it? Won't that be a new installation? I was hoping to do the "no-reformat, nondestructive install." Not going to be possible?

[CLiNT]

Apologies , please create a separate thread in the appropriate Windows forum.
You'll get better attention, and a more specific response.
Thanks
C

[Blackbird1]

ATTN: Fred Langa,.... an Update for your MOST excellent article!

The Method of "Uninstalling Windows Service Pack 1 (SP1) will no longer work, at lrast on my computer.
I got the following info from one of Microsoft's FINEST techs, and I am assuming that it should work, but I have NOT done a re-install yet so I cannot officially verify it yet, but here goes:

You can uninstall service pack from the command prompt by using the following steps

1. Click the Start button , and then, in the search box, type Command Prompt.
2. In the list of results, right-click Command Prompt, and then click Run as administrator. If you're prompted for an administrator password or confirmation, type the password or provide confirmation.
3. Type the following: wusa.exe /uninstall /kb:976932
4. Press the Enter key.

You do not have to remove service pack 1 if you can use an installation file which has integrated service pack 1 in it to perform a repair install on the computer.
I hope that this might help!

P.S. from some of what I have read above it might be best to uninstall Internet Explorer first.
Thanks.

[digitalzen]

Save yourself a world of pain. If you have an encrypted system drive, such as with TrueCrypt, decrypt the drive first. Don't just enter the password, decrypt the entire drive.

If you enjoy formatting discs, reinstalling Windows and downloading backups, don't bother.