First time setting up a slave drive, need simple instructions

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Alex119

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Feb 10, 2013
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I'm planning to reinstall Windows 7 in an attempt to repair my corrupted registry and allow me to boot my PC up again. However, before doing this I'd like to make sure my files are safe as I have pictures, documents, etc that I simply cannot lose. Data loss is not an option. I know the reinstall should create a windows.old folder, but I still don't want to take any risks.

I'm hoping to connect my desktop's hard drive up to a friend's laptop so I can copy the data over just in case, but I'm useless with hardware and I need easy-to-follow guidelines to make sure everything goes smoothly. I've read up on the subject a bit but I've not seen anything specifically mentioning connecting a slave to a laptop and I'm not sure if it works the same.

Disconnecting the hdd from my machine seems simple enough; disconnecting the cables and making sure I know where they plug back in afterwards. It's the slave part I'm unsure about, changing pins and jumpers and such and I'm worried I'll do something wrong. Could anyone offer some simple instructions to make sure that even I can do this daunting task without any issues?
 
I've only had the machine two years so I suppose that would deem it a modern rig? If so, where can I go from here? I've read conflicting answers about whether or not a reinstall wipes data, and as I cannot boot the machine connecting it like this seems like my only guarantee at keeping my files.
 
As Alex said, you don't need to worry about jumpers etc with sata disks (assuming that's what you have).

I'm guessing you don't have a second HDD or an external HDD. If so, and you can't get hold of one from a friend, consider purchasing a low cost, reasonably sized internal or external (for your files and future backups).

- If your friend can give you a loan of an HDD you both will need to consider taking steps to remove possible viruses/malware/etc from your system first.

- If you do have enough space on your existing HDD you may use software to create a backup partition.

- consider purchasing imaging software (e.g. Acronis/Ghost) for future backups and problems
 
I meant modern rig as in SATA drive. 2 years should mean SATA. There are no jumpers.

Mesa, his problem is it won't boot. External hdd or imaging software isn't going to help as he can't get to the data he needs. At this point he might want to consider a "linux live" disk. Then see if you can save the data to a networked computer? (or yes an external drive.)
 
I do have an external HDD, but my PC's drive has more data than the external has space for so I was hoping to hook my drive up to the laptop and then split my data between that drive and the external one. As I was unable to perform a System Restore (was unable to check which drive I wanted to restore), reinstalling seems to be the only chance of a fix as command prompt didn't help either.

As I can't boot my machine to desktop it seems that the slave drive method is my only option. Is it possible? :/
 
Oops...missed the boot problem.

That's a bit more difficult.'Disk repair' utilities may help you to boot again. They can also help you to backup your files.

You do need make a rescue CD from one of these utilities. Utilities I use are Paragon Partition Manager and Acronis Disk Director. It's their rescue cd's that you'll be using to try to sort your boot problem and/or backup your files.
 
How would I go about making a rescue CD? Fortunately I do have access to the internet so if I knew how I should be able to quickly create one and hopefully repair my registry.

Forgive the potentially stupid question, but with Paragon and Acronis would I just need to burn their software to a disk and then boot from that?
 
For either Paragon or Acronis programs you need to install onto a PC and then select the 'create rescue disc' option (i.e. automatically burn to disc) within these programs. You'll then select the boot from cd 1st option in the BIOS. However, if you haven't used this type of software before you may run into more issues and might do more harm than good.

As another option, I would recommend googling 'free windows 7 boot repair utility' - or something like that, then do another google to review the program - these reviews (or user opinions) should give you a good idea of how to use the program.
With this, you might find that the boot problem gets fixed for free.

Additionally, you might want to check out your BIOS settings - e.g. making sure the 1st boot device is as it should be.
 


You have several options to consider:
1st Option: You can use your external hard drive enclosure if it's SATA not IDE: Remove the hard drive from the Enclosure and replace it with the internal Hard Drive, then connect it to the laptop and do whatever you intend to do... the only question is, if it has enoug free space to create a new partition where you can copy to or move your personal files to.

After this is done, you can either format the OS partition from the laptop or move the Hard Drive to your PC and format it during the installation, or don't format it if you want to keeps programs and do a Repair installation.

2nd Option: From your friend's laptop; you could download the Hiren's Boot CD ISO, burn it on CD (Live CD) which you can run on your PC and have access to the hard drive: create a new partition with one of the included tools and copy your files to, or move them to the new partition. Next either format the drive from the Hiren's Boot CD with one of the included applications, or format it from the Windows CD/DVD during the installation, or leave it as it is and do a Repair installation which BTW does not destroy personal files but it's good practice to back them up to be safe.

3rd Option: Is do as in the 2nd option up to running the Hiren's Boot CD on your PC.. the difference is you can run the included application named "RegResWiz" (Registry Restore Wizard) and with it Restore the Registry to a previous date, restart the computer, remove the Live CD, and see if Windows now boots and allows logon. The Live CD allows Internet access in case you need further assistance. Registry Restore Wizard is very easy to use and the only risk is losing the programs you installed from the date you select to the present.. but that will happen with a Windows System Restore just the same.

Hiren’s BootCD 15.2
http://www.hirensbootcd.org/download/

RegResWiz in Hiren's Boot CD
http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1GXW9OGGdkw/UBm-V9aiDgI/AAAAAAAAATY/lSZFVQTKzDM/s1600/5_Reg_Restore_Select.png
 
Thank you both for your help so far. I've downloaded Hiren's Boot CD but I've just discovered my friend's laptop won't recgonise disks so once I've resolved that I'll update this thread with how I got on. :)
 
I'm currently using Mini XP to backup all important data to an external HDD just in case. I had a quick look and noticed a registry tool in XP. Would this be the one I need to restore my registry or would it be on another part of the disk?

Edit- I just re-checked the Hiren screenshot posted earlier and now I recognise Mini XP being used I assume I can fix my registry as shown. Will the Registry Restore Wizard allow me to roll back to a certain date?
 
As I said before RegResWiz does restore the Registry to an earlier date. I've done it on several occasions, and logged on aterwards. If RegResWiz finds a date, it means you can restore the Registry to that date. The only risk is you'll lose programs you installed from that date to present, so if you want to install them later and you need their licences, Hirens Boot CD includes a tool named Licence Crawler that can scan for your licences.
5_Reg_Restore_Select.png
 
My data finished backing up overnight and I'm now ready to repair my registry. However, the Registry Wizard doesn't detect any restore points so I need to try something else. Is there a system restore option on the disk? I also tried the Registry Backup and Restore Tool but got this error:

Registry backup encountered error(s):

Error: Unable to create any backups

Which I suspect may be to do with file permissions/privileges. The next thing I'll try is a system restore, if the disk has the option for one.
 
Just thought I'd post to update on my progress- or lack of- so far.

As mentioned above the Registry Restore Wizard seems a no-go as it hasn't detected any restore points for me to choose, so I'll need to try something else. However, the other registry tools don't seem to be much help either.

- ERUNT- doesn't seem to support Windows 7
- Fix hard disk controller- looks complicated and doesn't seem relevant to my problem
- Glary Registry Repair- will not run as it tells me hhctrl.ocx was not found
- NT Registry Optimiser- doesn't seem to support Windows 7
- RegScanner- looks complicated and doesn't seem relevant to my problem
- Registry Backup and Restore Tool- only gets so far as I get Error: Unable to create any backups
- Registry Editor PE- looks complicated and doesn't seem relevant to my problem
- Registry/Process Monitor- looks complicated and doesn't seem relevant to my problem
- RegFromApp- doesn't seem relevant to my problem
- RegMon- looks complicated and doesn't seem relevant to my problem
- Registry Restore Wizard- unable to select any restore points
- RegShot- looks complicated and doesn't seem relevant to my problem

So that's where I'm at. None of the registry tools have given me any success, and I can't seem to find an option in Mini XP for system restore. Where do I go from here? Are there tools on the other parts of the boot CD that could help? :/
 
I haven't found an application in the Hirens boot cd that can restore the registry... the only one is RegResWiz but since you didn't find any backups, it may be due to Windows 7's strict security... but now that you've backed up your files you can do a Repair reinstall of Window 7. This mode of installation doesn't delete programs or personal files... the folder you mentioned (Windows.old) is created when doing a fresh installation on the same drive without previously formatting... that doesn't replace the original Windows folder, just renames it, but a Repair installation rebuilds it with new system files. So if loosing your programs is what holds you back, be assured that a Repair install is the installation mode to do.

If you'd rather restore the registry, check the link for related information... it sounds simple enough to do, but it’s for restoring registry backups remotely, not from a Live CD, but it still may be possible to do from Live CD with some ingenuity.

How to Restore Previous Versions of the Registry in Windows 7
http://www.howtogeek.com/howto/31136/how-to-restore-previous-versions-of-the-registry-in-windows-7/

RegFileExport v1.06
http://www.nirsoft.net/utils/registry_file_offline_export.html
 
I've scanned through the link you sent me, I'll run through it tomorrow when I get the chance.

In the meantime, I wonder if I could get clarification on one or two things.

Prior to making this thread, I had been looking at Repair Installs myself though hadn't yet tried one as at that stage I hadn't backed my files up. I came across this
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/3413-repair-install.html

Repair Installs seem simple enough and I've started to seriously considering doing one anyway just to be safe. I'm guessing that after everything this would probably be the easiest way to resolve the issue?

Alternatively, I came across the link below and wondered what kind of reputation that software had and whether or not it would be a simpler fix.
http://download.cnet.com/Free-Window-Registry-Repair/3000-2086_4-10606555.html

The registry restoration sounds complicated but seems effective. So, I suppose the question it comes down to now is, which solution would you recommend? Personally I like the sound of a Repair Install as it sounds like it would keep my program settings, though I'd greatly value a second opinion. :)
 
if none of that works try this.

if you have a windows 7 cd all you would need to do it load that and use it to upgrade. if it wont let you go find a friend whos at a college that has cheap upgrade cds($20). an upgrade deletes no personal data at all. nor does it delete programs.
 
The application at download.cnet.com is a registry cleaner like so many others and won't do what you need done.. some developers give their applications the wrong name just to trick you into using their apps but they don't really offer what you need.. the application would also have to be installed on Windows 7 so it's not a solution.

From the Warnings in the Sevenforum:
The bit that you can not use a OEM Disk.. it's the same thing they've been saying about Windows XP all along, and it isn't always the fact... what it all boils down to, is that you can't repair a Windows OS with the same disc it was installed from, because the installed system has been updated through Automatic Windows Updates, so it's already a newer version and you can't repair a newer version with al older one. So if your Windows 7 is the original version you can try and see if the Repair (the word is "Upgrade" on Win 7 [see the image]) and if the upgrade is not available or possible, you still have the option to Slipstream the Service Pack 1 update onto the original Windows 7 DVD to make a bootable Windows 7 with SP1 upgrade DVD.

So your alternate option is to Download the Windows 7 Service Pack 1 update, and slipstream-integrate it with your DVD's contents to make a Windows 7 SP1 upgraded version. There are still more updates that may be possible to integrate for a fully updated Windows 7 SP1+Updates to 2013 DVD
See here:
http://www.msfn.org/board/topic/139877-post-sp1-updates-for-windows-7-updated-08012013. To make a fully updated Windows 7 SP1+>2013 DVD

Windows Updates Downloader
http://www.windowsupdatesdownloader.com/ProgramFiles.aspx

How To SlipStream Windows 7, SP1, and Recent Updates
http://www.davescomputertips.com/2012/10/how-to-slipstream-windows-7-sp1-and-recent-updates

How To: Download and store Windows 7 updates
http://tech2.in.com/how-to/software/how-to-download-and-store-windows-7-updates/485682

RT Se7en Lite - Downloads
http://www.rt7lite.com/downloads.html

Click on the link to see a Windows 7 installation tuturial. To try and Repair (Upgrade) install Windows 7 with your present DVD,

Windows 7 Installation Guide / Tutorial
http://www.techtalkz.com/windows-7/514412-windows-7-installation-guide-tutorial.html

RT Se7en Lite may not extract files from a ISO (Updates SP1+updates to Jan 2013), so you may need to install the right application (WinRAR, 7Zip, Izark, WinZip or an ISO Opener-Extractor ) to extract the files from the ISO you can download from here: http://www.msfn.org/board/topic/139877-post-sp1-updates-for-windows-7-updated-08012013

ISO Opener 1.0
http://www.softpedia.com/get/CD-DVD-Tools/Virtual-CD-DVD-Rom/ISO-Opener.shtml

So, yes a Repair Installation (called upgrade installation in Win 7), is the most practical solution... and a fully updated Windows 7 SP1 up to 2013 is even better... So I included the links to download the application that can slipstream your Windows 7 DVD contents with the accumulated updates up to January 8th 2013.
 
I seem to have run into yet another problem when trying to perform an Upgrade Install. :/

Obviously I changed the BIOS settings to boot from CD as I can't get to desktop, but when trying to reinstall this way I get the following message:

Compatibility Report

The computer started using the Windows installation disk. Remove the installation disk and restart the computer so that Windows starts normally. Then, insert the installation disk and restart the upgrade.

The message is saying to boot normally and then run the disk, but the whole point of reinstalling is because I can't boot normally so the only way I can access the disk is by booting from it. This looks like a problem. :/

The only way around this I can think of is to boot with Mini XP and then swap to the Windows disk, though as Mini XP isn't actual Microsoft software I'm afraid the computer would get confused and something would go wrong. What should I do?
 


I don't know if that would work... but you'd have to t ry and see... that's if you have two optical drives so you don't "swap" disks... that would drop Mini XP as it's probably running from the CD (It only loads virtual memory on the Hard Disk).. and if it goes wrong, only virtual memory is lost... the CD loads to the hard disk for better performance but it needs to have contact with the CD. If swapping the CD for the DVD and Mini XP is dropped the most that can happen is the screen will go blank but nothing can go wrong with the installed system or hardware. So try and see what result you get you have nothing to lose.

If it doesn't work, I'd suggest you do the DVD update to SP1 and other updates up to Jan 2013... you need your DVD, the RT Se7en Lite - Streaming application, the Win 7 SP1 update and posterior updates (for better chances of the installation going through). To get all the Windows 7 updates I'd suggest installing the Windows Updates Downloader, and a ISO reader-maker-burner or a separete CD/DVD/ISO burner, so you can make a SP1+ ISO of all the updates to Jan 2013.
 
I'll try the Hiren's method tomorrow and post back here.

If I have to launch the Upgrade Install after Windows itself has booted, instead of launching the install straight from the disk, then surely an updated disk won't help? It seems that, however updated a version I'm upgrading to, I'll still have to launch the installation from Windows instead of booting straight from the disk, which if true is obviously a problem.
 


Well, apparently that's what the Sevenforums tutorial says... but how can you repair a damaged unbootable Windows 7 installation if you have to logon? that's totally irrational... there must be a workaround.

What does the Startup Repair do if you run it? From what the video shows, the startup repair should work on a damaged installation.. but I suppose that's how you repaired your system previously? What happens now, what/how does the installer respond?

Cannot start your PC and need to reinstall Windows 7? Our tutorial will show you how
http://www.top-windows-tutorials.com/reinstall-windows-7.html
 
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