Resolved Repair install stops because of nonexistent software

My PC is in desperate condition. I'm writing this in Safe Mode. It won't boot normally into Windows 7 (Home Premium 64-bit). It keeps stalling right after the desktop appears and then a message says it has to reboot, which it does after about a minute, automatically. I can't access the sfc command in elevated mode (it keeps saying that it "can't continue "), and Windows Update just does not respond at all. I've been forced to do a full image backup of my crippled PC with Macrium Reflect, in Safe Mode, because my Acronis TrueImage Home 2010 won't run at all in Windows, and when I do get it to run from the rescue disc it will not recognize the image backups that were made with it.

I've repeatedly tried to do a repair (upgrade) install using the official Microsoft install disc (includes Service Pack 1) and when it gets done checking for compatibility it says that it can't proceed because there's a Microtek scanner installed, which is NOT true. I do have one, but I've unplugged it, uninstalled the software, then reinstalled it, then uninstalled it repeatedly using both Windows uninstall and Revo Uninstaller, then I've gone through all the files on the drive, deleting leftovers. But it still shows up and prevents the repair install.

It seems to me that my only option now is to do a clean install of Windows and then to try to salvage what files and documents I can from the Macrium backup.

Before I do that I'd like to ask if anyone has any better ideas of how I should proceed, to try to minimize my losses. Thank you.

Frank D

 

Update
I used Regedit to find and delete all references (about 100) to the Microtek scanner, but the Windows upgrade install still says it's installed and will not proceed. Any ideas on how to get past this roadblock?

Frank D

 

P.S. I did a clean boot and disabled all non-MS services, but the same problem (must reboot) still appears. Yet I can run Windows with no problem in Safe Mode. Any suggestions? Thank you.

Frank D

 

One idea:

1. Install Windows on a new hard drive.
   
   
2. Attach your old drive and copy your stuff over to the new drive.
   
   
3. Clear off the old drive and use it for regular backups to help you avoid this kind of problem.

 

SpywareDr and Evan Omo,

Thank you both for your replies. You're right, I didn't want to hear that. However, I'm gradually being forced to that option.

SpywareDr, curiosity question: is there any reason for needing a new hard drive? Once I've backed up the current contents of the drive to my external USB drive (which I've already done) wouldn't the existing HD be OK to do a fresh reinstall of Windows?

I'd really love to have two identical internal hard drives, with one being a clone of the other, but my current machine is an all-in-one, and there's only room for one HD.

Frank D

 

Update:

Just to let you know: I've completed the clean install and am in the process of restoring my programs, documents, files, music, pictures, etc. Thankfully, they're all recoverable from my backup. It's like your house burned down and you have to rebuild it. Some things can be replaced, but it's not the same. Yes, Windows runs fast and smoothly, but a lot of my former programs (free-for-today only, GiveawayOfTheDay) won't run because they've lost their registrations.

Frank D

 

Real good to hear: 1) Your computer is no longer in desperate condition running only in Safe mode, 2) You had a backup of your stuff, and 3) Windows is running fast and smoothly.

 

Thanks again, Doc and Evan!

Considering the alternatives, I'm very happy about the way things turned out, minus the loss of my freebies and giveaways. Now that I've been through it, the things I would recommend doing before a clean install, if at all possible, are running a full backup and a Windows Easy Transfer. I did the full backup but forgot about the WET. It would have saved me over a day's work and possibly (?) the loss of access to my freebies. (If only I could do it over again!)

Frank D

 

Reading FrankD first Post, Frank mentions Acronis TrueImage 2010 backup not working properly. I too, have the Acronis TI 2012 edition installed (or did), but it refused to make any backups, simply froze the computer. I carried out a complete removal of Acronis TI 2012, and all references, however the second reinstallation repeatably refered to entries of the first instal that I believed had been removed.

 

BobbyScot,

Just for info: I used Acronis TrueImage Home 2010 Nonstop Backup for over two years, and during that time I successfully restored my PC three times, so I was a a very happy user. However, just about a week or so ago the Nonstop Backup stopped and refused to work anymore, and I couldn't even do a standard backup with it. I tried to reinstall it and it wouldn't do that either. I asked for help in the Acronis forum, but got none other than something like "Yeah, it does that sometimes." I even tried to access the existing backups using the ATIH rescue disc, and it didn't recognize the backups either. So I discovered when I needed them most, all my nonstop backups and even the full backup that I made when I first got it were no good, and I had no backups at all. In my estimation, Acronis TIH (to be kind) is not a robust piece of software -- and I would advise everyone against using it. The only thing that saved me in this case, to a large extent, was to download the free Macrium Reflect software and do a full backup with it. This, plus the "Windows.old" folder is what helped me recover from the disaster I just had.

Frank D

 

Evan,

It's been said that experience is the best teacher. To that I would add: "... and the most expensive."

Frank

 

FrankD, sorry to hear of your misfortunes, your troubles experienced with Acronis, is identical to mine in every detail. I paid £57 for Acronis TrueImage Home 2012, as I was stupid enough to have purchased the CD copy as a standby. I am unable to reach Acronis, as it requires an Email plus password and unless you have registered your copy at the very start, chance of support is a gigantic zero. Chance of a refund, another gigantic Zero. To other Forum members who read this Thread, do not follow FrankD and I with this very expensive and unfortunate mistake, keep well clear of Acronis.

 

Very good advice!

Frank