|
Post by alexham36 on Mar 11, 2015 14:53:07 GMT
I run updates in Win 7 and now it does not work at all. None of the applications work. Firefox; Thunderbird; Open Office; Internet Explorer - nothing will start. I get error message that "the application is either not designed to run in Windows or it contains an error!" Either that or "bad image"! In the update was kb890830 - Windows Malicious Software removal tool, so I am wondering it that is the problem, but I have no reason to think that. Just guessing.
I have saved the Setup programmes for most of my applications and I tried to re-install Open Office, but it refused to do it. Restore option does not work either, because "it cannot find a restore point"!
I can format the drive and re-install but I am reluctant to do that because I do not want to go through the palaver of re-installing all the applications that do not come bundled with Windows.
I'd be interested to hear your suggestions.
Many thanks,
Alex
|
|
|
Post by jojo on Mar 12, 2015 13:00:38 GMT
I turned off W7 updates a while ago.
Really hope someone can help you. I'd be interested to know myself. But nothing would surprise me with M$.
|
|
|
Post by mikkh on Mar 12, 2015 14:08:37 GMT
The obvious first step should be system restore to turn it back to an earlier date, it's a bit hit and miss whether it works in my experience, but it's worth trying
I wouldn't be too bothered about a re-install, it will probably do you a favour actually and speed up your computer at the same time. The thing is you could spend hours chasing rainbows with no guarantee at the end of it, or bite the bullet and re-install which will definitely fix it
Apart from the programs you've mentioned, if you've been running Windows a while it's probably got lot's of extra programs you either no longer use or use so rarely they might as well not be there. With a new install, you'll only put back what you definitely use. Hopefully you've got copies of stuff that can't be replaced like original photos and documents and a Windows 7 install is only about 15-20 minutes depending on the speed of the PC.
|
|
|
Post by vikingken on Mar 12, 2015 21:11:51 GMT
Unlike XP, I have found System Restore and Windows Image work very well with Windows 7. A couple of hours reinstalling, is a bloody sight faster than buggering around for two weeks making things worse.
|
|
|
Post by jojo on Mar 12, 2015 22:47:23 GMT
|
|
|
Post by alexham36 on Mar 13, 2015 13:39:15 GMT
I have tried all forms of restore apps, but when I could not even get past the "password" stage I gave up. First I tried to re-install but the system copied existing files into Windows.old and that left me with very little space because I was running Win7 in a 50GB partition. I decided to format that partition, but the installation disc had not such facility - crazy. So, I went into WinSP and formated the partition from there and then installed Win 7. So, now I have a bare Win7 O/S and face hours of recovering of my favourite apps. Of course I saved the Setups when I originally downloaded them, but the subsequent updates were done online and that I could not save. I have no sound, because Win 7 installation disc does not have the right drivers for Nvidia. I had a problem with that in original installation and I remember that the support team from where I bought the PC were trying various fixes until they hit on the right one, but I do not remember which one. Also, the new installation of Win7 has overwritten the MBR, so I lost access to PCLinux-Minime, which is on one of the partitions on the same HD.
If there is a way to restore the MBR, I'd grateful for the instructions.
I will keep you informed of the progress.
Best regards,
Alex
|
|
|
Post by jojo on Mar 13, 2015 16:07:19 GMT
Use this to automatically update your drivers: www.majorgeeks.com/files/details/iobit_driver_booster.htmlYou are going to need to install Windows updates. May I suggest, you install to SP1 then turn off the update and install as required after that? You might also think about making an image of your setup, after appropriate updates, keeping it on a separate DVD? That will help you enormously if you are ever in this situation again. If you need I can suggest some good imaging software which is the appropriate price.
|
|
|
Post by alexham36 on Mar 13, 2015 17:11:01 GMT
Thank you mojo, but I am installing applications on another partition on the same HD, so if the OS crashes again, it will be a doddle to recover. By the way, I have restored the sound. I found the driver in "Downloads" - SoundMAX_AD1988B_Audio_V61016585_Win7 and the sound returned.
Thanks again,
Alex
|
|
|
Post by mikkh on Mar 14, 2015 0:11:52 GMT
Boot from the PClinuxOS live CD/DVD
From the start menu pick 'More Applications' then 'Configuration' and scroll down to Redo MBR
Run that and your Grub bootloader will be reinstated
In the windows.old folder, you only needed to keep the users folder and inside that, only the folder containing the current named user - the rest is junk and takes up most of the room
Something to remember next time you're in that situation
|
|
|
Post by mikkh on Mar 14, 2015 0:27:24 GMT
|
|
|
Post by alexham36 on Mar 14, 2015 20:35:46 GMT
Thank you very much Mikkh, Jojo and vikingken for advice and morale boosting. I have recovered Win 7 completely and I am running it in 17GB of space on a 50GB partition. I have recovered access to Linux Minime by redoing the MBR as Mikkh instructed. I have installed applications, where I had a choice, onto another partition. I updated Internet Explorer to V.11, but I was not happy with it, so I installed Chrome as well. Mikkh was right in that this "installation" of Win 7 is considerably faster that the one I lost. I only realized how much rubbish the old installation had when I was trying to recover my applications. I must tell you that most of the work in terms of time was downloading over 100 updates and re-installing drivers and software to power my peripheral devices - printer; scanner (2) and camera. I have become more appreciative of Linux and the comparative ease in running peripherals in that OS.
So, panic over for now and thank you again,
Best regards,
Alex
|
|
|
Post by jojo on Mar 14, 2015 21:48:10 GMT
Linux is great and could be the system of choice. Sadly, it isn't compatible with so much commercial software and there are too many pitfalls for the unwary with scant support.
It could be so much better and probably attract huge support from commercial vendors if it would spend a bit more time thinking about its user friendliness and a little less on why it is, (according to it) so brilliant.
I notice that a major game supplier, Steam, is planning of introducing a Linux OS version of its software. If they take care of some of the bare wires and loose joints, (so to speak), they could be onto a winner.
|
|