Repair install of Windows 7 if cannot get to desktop 1st

[dbmas]

how to do a repair install of windows 7 on a computer that only shows a black screen and the mouse pointer

 

[jr9]

A. Boot from a Windows 7 DVD and select "Repair" from the Installation screen.

B. Boot from a bootable USB with a Windows 7 ISO image on it and select "Repair" from the Installation screen.

 

[AtlBo]

If you are trying to perform an in place repair, that must be done from a normal boot inside Windows. That type of installation will save files and programs and only delete Windows updates. For more information Google "Youtube Britec Windows 7 In Place Repair Installation"

Hopefully the boot repair options mentioned above can get you to the desktop.

 

[dbmas]

A. Boot from a Windows 7 DVD and select "Repair" from the Installation screen.

B. Boot from a bootable USB with a Windows 7 ISO image on it and select "Repair" from the Installation screen.

A does not work as it is looking for a working system 1st before allowing a repair install.
I think you are saying the same for B except to boot from a USB drive.

 

[dbmas]

My problem is the computer will not boot to the desktop.
It goes to a black screen with the mouse pointer that is live but nothing further no what method of booting I try, ie normal or safe mode.
Is there any way to do a repair install if you cannot get the computer to boot to the desktop 1st?

 

[AtlBo]

Which do you have, a bootable Windows 7 installation USB or a bootable Windows 7 DVD? You need to set your Boot order so that the bootable will be used by the computer for the boot. Go into BIOS and move the DVD to first if it's not there already if you have a installation DVD or put USB device first if you have a installation USB. Now try to boot again to see if the installation routine will begin.

From an installation disk, you can run a number of repairs for your broken installation. Hopefully, these will help you get into Windows. Then you can perform the in place repair installation if you like.

In place repair installation can't be performed in safe mode btw...

 

[dbmas]

Which do you have, a bootable Windows 7 installation USB or a bootable Windows 7 DVD? You need to set your Boot order so that the bootable will be used by the computer for the boot. Go into BIOS and move the DVD to first if it's not there already if you have a installation DVD or put USB device first if you have a installation USB. Now try to boot again to see if the installation routine will begin.

From an installation disk, you can run a number of repairs for your broken installation. Hopefully, these will help you get into Windows. Then you can perform the in place repair installation if you like.

In place repair installation can't be performed in safe mode btw...

 

[dbmas]

Have already tried all choices in Repair from both a Windows 7 Repair CD and a Windows 7 Install CD.
Have even tried the Kaspersky Rescue Disk scanning for a virus and replacing Explorer.exe in the Shell key in the registry.
Also tried fixmbr and fixboot.
Nothing gets me back to a working install.
Without a working install I cannot do a repair install.
My only option is to connect the hard drive as a slave into another computer and copy all files to a backup.
I did not want to go this route but am running out of options and ideas.

 

[AtlBo]

I had this same problem. The only fix was to delete the partitions, set the drive from UEFI based GPT to MBR. That was just to save the drive and for it to be usable. I had tried everything just like you. I suspect that MBR protection in a security program may have caused the problem. GPT doesn't require protection, yet there is still an MBR on the drive. I think some security programs may try to protect it, even though it's already protected. So if it's a no write problem for EUFI or something idk, but it leads EUFI to believe multiple mbrs exist. Fixing the problem with MS tools on a GPT drive was not possible for me, just like you. Causes me to wonder if you have the same problem, assuming you have a GPT drive. I you aren't EUFI/GPT I guess you can ignore the rest below. I think you are right anyway. Only reimaging finally worked for me.

Hate to admit it but after going through everything you have been through I had to reimage. Couldn't even do that successfully until all the partitions were removed and the drive set to from GPT to MBR. Image restores wouldn't boot either on the drive prior to that. The disk was useless to me until I tried that change on the empty drive with no partitions.

Think it has to do with the age of the native tools of Windows. Seems mbrfix and the rest aren't capable of fixing a problem on a GPT disk.

If you would like to see what kind of disk you have, there is a very good free program that you can use to change from GPT to MBR and so on. It's called Active Partition Manager and can be found here:

http://www.pcdisk.com/download.html

It's also on Major Geeks if you would rather get it there. It saved my bacon. I had already reinstalled even though I had good images, because the images wouldn't boot either...just like the failed OS boot. That made no sense to me, but I remembered that I had the same problem before, and I bought a new disk to use that time. That image worked. So, this time, I found Active Partition Manager and saw the drive was GPT and thought, "OK, probably the new drive that worked last time was MBR." I decided to use the ability in the partioning program to change from the native GPT to MBR. Then restored images booted again but only after I deleted all the partions and did the conversion. Just converting the black screen OS installation drive full of data from GPT to MBR meant the same black screen. Weird, especially since the images restore the drive to GPT.

I think you might have this same problem. Seriously, it was the exact last thing I was going to try. I guess you don't have a good image backup though from the sounds.

 

[dbmas]

I had this same problem. The only fix was to delete the partitions, set the drive from UEFI based GPT to MBR. That was just to save the drive and for it to be usable. I had tried everything just like you. I suspect that MBR protection in a security program may have caused the problem. GPT doesn't require protection, yet there is still an MBR on the drive. I think some security programs may try to protect it, even though it's already protected. So if it's a no write problem for EUFI or something idk, but it leads EUFI to believe multiple mbrs exist. Fixing the problem with MS tools on a GPT drive was not possible for me, just like you. Causes me to wonder if you have the same problem, assuming you have a GPT drive. I you aren't EUFI/GPT I guess you can ignore the rest below. I think you are right anyway. Only reimaging finally worked for me.

Hate to admit it but after going through everything you have been through I had to reimage. Couldn't even do that successfully until all the partitions were removed and the drive set to from GPT to MBR. Image restores wouldn't boot either on the drive prior to that. The disk was useless to me until I tried that change on the empty drive with no partitions.

Think it has to do with the age of the native tools of Windows. Seems mbrfix and the rest aren't capable of fixing a problem on a GPT disk.

If you would like to see what kind of disk you have, there is a very good free program that you can use to change from GPT to MBR and so on. It's called Active Partition Manager and can be found here:

http://www.pcdisk.com/download.html

It's also on Major Geeks if you would rather get it there. It saved my bacon. I had already reinstalled even though I had good images, because the images wouldn't boot either...just like the failed OS boot. That made no sense to me, but I remembered that I had the same problem before, and I bought a new disk to use that time. That image worked. So, this time, I found Active Partition Manager and saw the drive was GPT and thought, "OK, probably the new drive that worked last time was MBR." I decided to use the ability in the partioning program to change from the native GPT to MBR. Then restored images booted again but only after I deleted all the partions and did the conversion. Just converting the black screen OS installation drive full of data from GPT to MBR meant the same black screen. Weird, especially since the images restore the drive to GPT.

I think you might have this same problem. Seriously, it was the exact last thing I was going to try. I guess you don't have a good image backup though from the sounds.

 

[dbmas]

MY other idea was to create another partition and install windows 7 on it and then do a repair install on the original windows 7 install but I am doubting that the 2nd install will satisfy Microsoft's requirement that the repair be done on a working install. They certainly did not think this out when they did windows 7. Thank you for your input.

 

[jr9]

You should not need to do any of that to perform a repair install. All you need is the bootable USB or DVD with Windows 7. That really is your only option if you can't get into safe mode. If these things inside System Recovery Options did not help: cmd tools, System Restore, Startup Repair, then you should perform an upgrade/repair installation using the USB or DVD you are booted from. Recommend backing up the drive before doing this. You do not need a working Windows installation to perform an upgrade/repair installation outside of Windows (booted from the DVD/USB). The install Windows button is accessed from the main screen on the DVD or USB.

If the in place upgrade/repair install fails, a clean installation is the next course of action.

 

[AtlBo]

jr9, so it's possible to start the in place upgrade from Safe Mode? The PC reboots several times during the installation so for a PC that will only boot into Safe Mode, would that be an issue?

I am referrning to the installation that removes only Windows updates

 

[jr9]

I've never done an in place or repair/in-place/upgrade installation from within safe mode because if actually you can get into safe mode you probably can likely fix the Windows problem you had from within safe mode itself without installing anything.

Options if can't get into safe mode = Boot to Windows bootable media and perform an upgrade/repair or full clean reinstall, use repair tools inside repair -> System Recovery Options menu. Clean install is the last resort.

Options if you CAN get into safe mode = many. Driver configuration, startup option configuration, malware scanning, command line tools, looking at the event viewer to pinpoint issue, removing Windows updates

I'm not sure if you can start an in place upgrade inside safe mode but if I had to guess I'd say you can't. Many Windows functions and services as well as programs don't work in safe mode at all. I wouldn't try it and if you DO have to perform an in-place install to do it booted from the USB or DVD. Doing it in safe mode gives me a 'going against the design' feeling.

 

[AtlBo]

Thanks. I have a world of thoughts on my mind about the OPs issues. I have had and am having similar experiences. Strange how things work, but I had this happen on a PC today and one last week. I can do something about it from safe mode, but I am still stuck with this one PC in safe mode.

I don't think the in place upgrade repair would work from safe mode, I agree...not as it's intended. Just guessing but seems to me likely the result would probably be an over the top installation with the Windows.old folder. Thanks for your input on this, since I happen to have been having some of the same problems.

I'm in safe mode and can't do anything about this, just trying to imagine what the OP can do.

Well, here's two cents. If OP can get to a command prompt from the System Repair Options (Windows installation disk or system repair disk), this command will give him a chance to see if he can boot into safe mode:

bcdedit /set {default} safeboot network

When you are done booting in safe mode, command prompt:

bcdedit /deletevalue {default} safeboot

That's how I got in on this old dumb 1st gen i3 small market manufacturer PC with its crazy BIOS and no updates.