Looking to Reinstall Windows 7

[kman245]

Hello,

After installing/using Norton Power Eraser, my computer is no longer able to boot. I get the "Windows Failed to start" error. The only options are available are Start Windows normally or Launch start-up Repair. I'm guessing I should reinstall windows but I want to do this without deleting any files/data. I tried doing F8 to go into safe mode but that option isn't available. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

 

[will_chellam]

Hello,

After installing/using Norton Power Eraser, my computer is no longer able to boot. I get the "Windows Failed to start" error. The only options are available are Start Windows normally or Launch start-up Repair. I'm guessing I should reinstall windows but I want to do this without deleting any files/data. I tried doing F8 to go into safe mode but that option isn't available. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Personally, I would download something like Hiren's boot and rescue and grab a large USB/External HDD, boot from the CD and then copy as much of your data to the external device as you can.

I would then try the start-up repair option which essentially attempts to reinstall essential windows files but keep the existing data in place (this has various levels of success depending on what the problem is), at least if it all goes breasts vertical you'll have your data saved.

The other option is a backup (as mentioned above) and then a clean install, I'd do this if you were confident you'd managed to get all your data out.

 

[Chairman Ray]

I believe Windows 7 preserves all your old files. After reinstalling windows, all your old stuff should be in a folder called Windows.old.

 

[kman245]

Personally, I would download something like Hiren's boot and rescue and grab a large USB/External HDD, boot from the CD and then copy as much of your data to the external device as you can.

I would then try the start-up repair option which essentially attempts to reinstall essential windows files but keep the existing data in place (this has various levels of success depending on what the problem is), at least if it all goes breasts vertical you'll have your data saved.

The other option is a backup (as mentioned above) and then a clean install, I'd do this if you were confident you'd managed to get all your data out.

I attempted the start-up repair option a few times but it wasn't able to repair it.

 

[kman245]

Is anyone aware of a Repair Install for Windows 7?