How To Install Upgrade On Computer That Will Not Start
Oct 3, 2011
My computer has a problem starting. MBR problem. I'd like to do an installation that preserves everything. Is it possible? The computer will not start to do an "upgrade" repair. However I can remove the HD and attach it to a running computer. Can I use the running computer to do the upgrade install in the damaged hard drive and then put it back in the original computer?
I purchased an HP latop right when Windows 7 was coming out and the HP laptop had Windows Vista when I bought it but I was sent a free upgrade to Windows 7 Ultimate by HP during the time when they were selling laptops with Vista and sending free upgrades.So what I want to know since the fan stopped working some time ago, (cooling it with a small fan from Walmart sending air around and inside it somewhat) on the HP laptop I purchased and recieved the free upgrade. If I return the HP laptop to factory settings (did a complete backup when purchased) and put Vista back on it, can I use my Windows 7 Ultimate disk in a newly purchased laptop since it will still only be on one laptop since I am returning the old one to Vista?And do I have to uninstall Windows 7 Ultimate with the Upgrade disk so it knows it's no longer on that computer. In other words are they linked by some type of serial number on my HP laptop that only allows me to install the Windows Upgrade disk on that specific machine?
I bought a HP desktop a few months ago. I thought it was outside the 'free upgrade' period,so I bought the Home Premium upgrade when it was offered for half price. I installed the purchased upgrade when it was released, but I've just found out I qualify for the free upgrade from HP.
So -- a friend is looking for Windows 7. Here are 2 scenarios I'm considering:
1) Can I install the HP upgrade on his computer? Or is there something that restricts the use of the HP upgrade only for use on HP systems?
or
2) Can I use the HP upgrade product key on my system and use the key from my purchased Windows 7 Upgrade on my friend's computer? If I change keys, does it automatically make the old key available again for installation on a new system?
I just pre-ordered the student offer Windows 7 upgrade to initiate building my own computer after countless blue screen restarts on my old laptop. Now I've done some reading im not sure if i can even use it.I have a laptop which came with Windows XP Home and I'm hoping to build myself an i7 desktop after the release of windows 7 (with 64 bit professional).Can I install the upgrade on my new desktop using the key from the laptop?
Just finished installing Win 7 64 bit on my Dell Inspiron 1545. It appeared the update was going along smoothly until it came time to reboot. After rebooting, the laptop showed that it was configuring Windows. Once the configuration was completed the system went into Startup Repair. Once completed and checking the Repair Details it shows a message indicating that ci.dll is corrupt. I was able to restore the computer to original state, but once I downloaded the 80 or so win 7 updates, I get the same problem.
I am having a problem lately with my computer. When I want to install a software that is big in size it slows down my computer and the installer won't start. I can install software like VLC, Google Chrome etc. that are little in size, but I can't install for example Microsoft Office. I managed to install a game, but the installer started in 3 minutes and meanwhile the computer was very slow. After the installer started the computer returned to normal speed. It can't be a virus I just recently reinstalled Windows.
When i got home today didn't my computer work, my girlfriend has been the last one using it. So don't know how things were just before the shutdown or anything.when i turn on the computer i get to the screen where "touch bios" is and where i can see the options like Bios settings, boot menu, xpress recovery.but i cant press anything, and after about two seconds on that screen the PC shuts down again.The keyword lights up so there is a responds on it, but just doesn't work to press anything before it shuts down.I've got BSOD upto several times a day for a few months time.believe that my computer is affected by some virus or something is delaying my computer. might be an combination of several things.I got no external things hugged up to the stationeer computer right now.it is a windows 7 x64 machine. usually when i get issues i can access advanced boot up or bios, but can neither in this case..I wonder if it might be a hardware issue.
I upgraded my windows vista SP1 with windows 7 beta. It works great but windows media center will not start. When I click I get the cool windows media center logo fading in and out but then a blank screen. When I move my mouse it looks a grey version of a back arrow and windows logo is in the upper left and the standard in color minimize restore and close buttons are there but when clicking on them you get the media center sound but nothing happens. I'm assuming it's trying to set up but hangs.
The only way to close it is to hit the windows logo start button on the keyoard which shows the taskbar on the bottom, right click and start task manager and then clicking end task in task manager. MCE worked normally in Vista SP1. Video card is a new NVIDIA GeForce GT 9400 with a pre-release driver installed. All windows 7 updates installed and re-installed. Sound card is aCreative SB Audigy 2ZS. The sound card does have a game port which did not work in vista or Windows 7. Any one have this problem.
I have recently upgraded to Windows 7 Ultimate from Vista Ultimate, and everything has gone okay except for when I press the windows key/Ctrl + Esc on my keyboard, or click on the windows start icon on screen, nothing happens. Another problem is that there are no group icons appearing on the taskbar (IE/windows explorer/media player etc)
Does anyone have any ideas what could be causing this?
i just upgraded my windows 7 starter in toshiba netbook to windows 7 ultimate by keying in reg number using windows 7 anytime upgrade. Then the msg said it was upgrading and restarted. when it was logging off, upgrading windows was only 30% complete and then it shut down. when i started the netbook, windows won't start. the msg is start windows normally or system repair. tried both but no success. can't even start windows using safe mode, using last configuration settings etc.
Per microsoft I need to do try a repair install from original disk. Is there a difference between running repair install from Windows or booting from original disk then selecting upgrade install? Is one or the other preferred? Directions say both attempt to preserve installed programs, but not all drivers, and both require reinstalling all the 60 or so windows updates released after my disk. so no differences there.
Does anyone know whether there is a difference in performance between doing a clean install of Windows 7 vs upgrading Vista? Any better stability? I'm just wondering whether it's worth the trouble of the clean install.
I am trying to upgrade my son's laptop from Vista to Windows 7. My son's computer is a Toshiba Qosmio and I ran the Toshiba Upgrade Tool with no problems. The problem I have now is that the virtual memory service is not starting so when I start the install of windows 7, I get the error "windows could not retrieve information about disks on this computer". I tried to manually start the service and get the error "service failed to start".
If I put it on automatic, it just stays on "starting". Obviously, this is not allowing windows 7 to see my disks. Disk management does not show my disks due to virtual memory service not being able to start. The computer is ready for the upgrade, just can't get passed this problem. I don't want to use the recovery disks if I can help it.
I have seen a lot on clean installs but all guides are from like 2009. Is clean install still a way to install windows 7 with upgrade disc on a new hdd? since i have a hdd with vista on it and i have the licence how do i install 7 with the licence and a black hdd?
I originally did the upgrade install of Windows 7 from Vista to Windows 7. I am seeing that I now am running "ChkDsc" every time that my computer is shut down. I was told that I would be better off to do a clean install and reinstall programs and files. Can I do a clean install with my upgrade disc, or will I be creating additional problems ?
I'm finding this decision quite hard to decide on and can't decide what to do. I am very picky about wasted space or unnecessary stuff on my hard drive, yet I'd rather not install everything all over again which will take about 20 hours or so.
My question is...if I do an upgrade-install, can I just delete everything in the Windows.old folder and have everything practically the same as a clean install? Or will there be still be some left over things from the hundreds of programs I've installed and uninstalled?
Edit: I've ran the Windows 7 Upgrade Advisor and everything seems ok.
I know that I can upgrade from XP to Windows 7 in the same computer, problem is that my computer is too old and does not have what it takes to handle Windows 7. Can I install my XP in a new computer and then upgrade to Windows 7?
I have 3 HP machines (out of warranty) with Visa on them and will installing 7 Pro on them. Clean install vs. upgrade...The computers have been slowing down over the past 2 years so I'd like a fresh OS installation. Will the upgrade option be starting fresh enough or is a format the better option? I know it will be more work but that's OK. And how about HP stuff? Most of it I don't use but there's stuff I'll need, right (drivers, etc). I don't even mind their Update software.
I have Windows 7 Home 64 UPGRADE RETAIL pre-ordered
I have an ISO of Windows 7 Home 64 Retail (I'm guessing it's the full version? I don't even know if there is a difference in the media itself or is it just the key that is different)
Now my question is:
Can I upgrade from Vista to 7 with my Windows 7 Home retail iso and NOT put in a key and when i get my upgrade cd key just put in that cd-key and activate windows?
Or would i have to do an upgrade install on top of Windows 7? (can you even do that?) and during that upgrade put my key and activate it.
Or would i have to reload Vista and then upgrade to 7 again?
Just installed the student upgrade version of Windows 7 professional which came as a .exe file from within RC x64 7232. It allowed me to do a clean install on another partition without changing my RC.
So now I have the RC and retail installed and had no need to upgrade from vista or XP so I am happy .
I pre-ordered the windows 7 home premium upgrade from newegg. UPS said it would come today, but it didn't. My friend has an RTM disc. Is it possible to install home premium from the RTM disc without a serial number and then when my upgrade copy comes in, enter it without reinstalling?
I'm upgrading my desk top soon: main use email, little browsing, and lots of photos. Need to run Lightroom 3.6 and Phtotshop., however I am an amateur photography, not a powr user. I don't use games. Question is Win 7 or Win 8 . This could either be an upgraded system or new system. I suspect a new system, as some hardware not compatible with current.
My laptop recently broke so i am purchasing a second hand desktop and it has no OS on it i was wondering if i can use the windows 7 upgrade to put it on the desktop instead of the full one as it is 80 euro cheaper.
Today I got 2 new 4GB sticks of Corsair Vengeance Blue RAM to go with the 8GB I already have in my system (same RAM as well). After all 4 sticks were installed, my computer failed to power on properly. It would power on for about 5-6 seconds then shut off, and continuously try to start up again, only to shut back down. I did have a few minor overclocks in place so I went into BIOS and reset everything back to default, but the computer still refuses to power on with all 4 sticks in place. I've tried different combinations of the 4 sticks and they all work fine as long as all 4 aren't hooked up at the same time. My PSU is 650W if that helps. I really doubt 2 additional sticks of RAM is making much difference in power usage.
Note: As to why I need/want 16GB of RAM, I play around with Photoshop + do some video editing in After Effects and Premiere, and I found myself maxing out the 8GB I had rather easily.
I'm using Windows 32 bit, after I upgrade to 4GB RAM, and change my OS to 64 bit.
1) I see my computer really slower. I'm using one background program is Norton internet security 2012. does it make my 64 bit computer slow?
2) Before I upgrade from 2GB to 4GB, I just use about 1-1,5 GB RAM (and when no software use, just 800 MB). But, when I use 64 bit version with 4GB ram, windows start with 1,4 GB ram, and when i use software (like before), it turn to 2,5-2,7 GB?
after I upgraded MB, CPU & RAM, without reinstalling W7, system works fine except some programs freeze. Programs that freeze are firefox, thunderbird, utorrent, windows explorer, Freeze last for couple of seconds and usually unfreeze, but sometimes I must end firefox in task manager. I tested RAM with memtest 100% OK, I didn't OC, everything is in default settings,
Sometimes when I click start and sleep on my computer (windows 7) the monitor will go to sleep but the computer is still running. I cannot wake my monitor up so there is nothing I can do to wake it up besides manually turning it off using the button on the computer case.
First I want to say that I use Linux (Mint and Arch) and am thinking of purchasing Windows 7 upgrade with a student discount. I have two legitimate serial numbers, XP and Vista, from previous computers I have owned. So for the "upgrade" do I have to have a previous windows Installation on my system (which I do NOT have) or do I just need the previous keys (which I DO have)? And if I do need a previous Installation.well I will cross that bridge if I come to it.
I have a couple questions I have been trying to hunt the answers down for. Im super paranoid considering the not so easy to find rules and regulations Microsoft has for its software.I currently have an OEM version of Windows 7 Home on my laptop. I was wondering if:
1. I can upgrade from a Windows 7 Home (which was pre-installed on my laptop) to Windows 7 Professional using Windows Upgrade Anytime? If so,
2. Will problems that I have on my current windows transfer to the upgraded version? If not,Is it possible to do a 'clean install' of the upgrade?
As I will build a new computer, I need windows 7. (I only have Vista on my old)Is it, as described in this video, good enough to buy upgrade version for this?