My windows 7 has issues

[LambeauLegs]

My windows 7is messed up. After doing one of the automatic downloads or updates it downloaded all the different updates but then when it got to processing all the downloads it always stops around 70% complete and will never finish. I have left is on for hours and even one over night to see if it would finish but it never does.

I held the power button down to shut it off and tried to restart and it tells me that changes could not be made and is reverting back to how it was before.

Since this has happened when I do a regular start of the computer it will not let me sign onto the internet on IE, Chrome, or Firefox. I click on the icon to go brousing and none of them will load.

The only way I can now get online is turning on the laptop and having it start up in safe mode.

Having to do everything in safe mode sucks

I do not have windows 7 disc to reinstall nor any back up discs saved from when I first bought this laptop.

Is there a way to fix this windows 7 or is it possible to load a different type of windows like 8or something.

I am not that big of a techie so any help would be appreciated.

 

[WizardHawk]

How long ago did this happen? If it was only a few days to a week or so ago you may be able to do a system restore to a date before that happened and recover your system. The process is pretty straight forward.

Otherwise you said this is a laptop and pretty much all laptops have recovery partitions on them. A few key clicks and your laptop is restored to the same state as when you first took it out of the box. You would lose all of your data and programs so backup everything before doing that, but it's almost assured that you have that as an option.

Just look up your make/model and 'recovery partition' and I'm sure they will give you the key combination to access it at boot up.

If you are still stuck or don't know how to move forward with backing up data or doing a system restore let us know.

 

[DJ]

Kansas Sooner is your man for the job.

 

[WizardHawk]

What's wrong with the rest of us. I mean I just did try to help the dude and now you say ignore it an ask KS?

Kansas Sooner is your man for the job.

 

[DJ]

I saw the post and didn't bother reading the comments, I just posted what I'd do.

 

[WizardHawk]

I saw the post and didn't bother reading the comments, I just posted what I'd do.

KS isn't the only tech on this site. I've got over 30 years in the business myself and currently I'm a sys admin / IT manager. We have other tech savvy people around here as well.

 

[handicappers]

 

[SteelersPride]

DJ dissing wizardhawk

 

[TxHeat]

KS isn't the only tech on this site. I've got over 30 years in the business myself and currently I'm a sys admin / IT manager. We have other tech savvy people around here as well.

ahh..good to know.

So let me ask you. I've started getting notifications about a free download for Windows 10. Any opinion on that new version of Windows? I've got 7 right now.

 

[redseat]

ahh..good to know.

So let me ask you. I've started getting notifications about a free download for Windows 10. Any opinion on that new version of Windows? I've got 7 right now.

same here.... It might be worth it but I have heard a lot of people saying not to download it initially (first installment) before the fixes are "fixed"

 

[TP76]

same here.... It might be worth it but I have heard a lot of people saying not to download it initially (first installment) before the fixes are "fixed"

It is free and you will be a beta tester for Microsoft to some extent. Depends on how mission critical your Windows 7 machine is, and if your prepared to do a fresh reinstall and downgrade back to Windows 7. Read the FAQ on Microsoft Upgrade. If you're not comfortable with possibly having to do a fresh install of windows 7, if things go south - don't do it.

I'd strongly recommend backing up your data before selecting the upgrade.

I decided I'm going to do it on my Windows 7 box just for the hell of it, it's not my main computer. I have my data backed up and if it's a bad roll out, I'll downgrade it back to it's original state (fresh install from the DVD - and endless updates)

For others who don't want to do a fresh install - you have 30 days to downgrade through their utilities:

How to: Rollback to a previous version of Windows from Windows 10 | Teching It Easy: with Windows

 

[redseat]

It is free and you will be a beta tester for Microsoft to some extent. Depends on how mission critical your Windows 7 machine is, and if your prepared to do a fresh reinstall and downgrade back to Windows 7. Read the FAQ on Microsoft Upgrade. If you're not comfortable with possibly having to do a fresh install of windows 7, if things go south - don't do it.

I'd strongly recommend backing up your data before selecting the upgrade.

I decided I going to do it on my Windows 7 box just for the hell of it, it's not my main computer. I have my data backed up and if it's a bad roll out, I'll downgrade it back to it's original state (fresh install from the DVD - and endless updates)

For others who don't want to do a fresh install - you have 30 days to downgrade through their utilities:

How to: Rollback to a previous version of Windows from Windows 10 | Teching It Easy: with Windows

I have windows 8 but it came pre-installed with my laptop so if something does go south with 10 I wouldn't be able to get 8 back would I, since I don't have the disk? Granted my laptop doesn't have a cd rom drive, which sucks, only a USB

 

[TP76]

Do you have the product key on your laptop? Usually in the form of a sticker 25 numbers/letters. If so, you would probably have to see if you can download an image file from Microsoft - and create a boot USB flash stick. I'd call Microsoft support and see what your options are.

A USB boot stick will be good thing to have because hard drives do fail. Also, record your product key somewhere else, in case the sticker becomes unreadable.

 

[TP76]

The other option is, you probably have an install partition on your laptop and you may be able to make an image file from that (ISO) and create a boot stick off that. I use PowerISO as my utility of choice for these operations.

PowerISO - Create, Burn, Mount, Edit, Compress, Encrypt, Split, Extract ISO file, ISO/BIN converter, Virtual Drive

It's not free, but it's extremely useful. There may be other utilities out there in the wild that are free.

Edit: PowerISO does have a limited free/evaluation version.

 

[KansasSooner]

@LambeauLegs first thing to try is Microsoft's Fix It tool. It works most of the time. You should be able to run it in safe mode (won't swear to it) but if not then you can disable Windows automatic updates and that should allow you to go into a standard Windows boot, then re-enable Windows automatic updates and run the tool. It is found here: Troubleshoot problems with installing updates - Windows Help

 

[KansasSooner]

I'll downgrade it back to it's original state (fresh install from the DVD - and endless updates)

Fuck that, just make an image back up using either Acronis or Windows back up itself and reinstall. Then no endless updates (especially if you have 7 without SP 1 because you'll have to manually install SP 1 before doing updates otherwise things get really screwy doing updates).

 

[KansasSooner]

Otherwise you said this is a laptop and pretty much all laptops have recovery partitions on them.

True, but HP recovery partitions fail more than they work then HP wants you call them and sell you the disks for $35 or some such shit. There is a cheat around the fail that will force the recovery partition to reinstall Windows but HP won't tell you that.

 

[KansasSooner]

@redseat and @TxHeat you have until July 28th of next year to upgrade if you don't want to get in a hurry. Understand that with Windows 10 there will be rolling updates and if you finally do take the plunge to upgrade you will get the latest build of 10 and not the original release slated for next Wednesday.

 

[TP76]

Good tip - KS thanks. I think I'll make an ISO of the system when I get home (before the update hits). I do have a SP1 DVD though - I just don't fart around with Windows like I used to.

 

[LambeauLegs]

How long ago did this happen? If it was only a few days to a week or so ago you may be able to do a system restore to a date before that happened and recover your system. The process is pretty straight forward.

Otherwise you said this is a laptop and pretty much all laptops have recovery partitions on them. A few key clicks and your laptop is restored to the same state as when you first took it out of the box. You would lose all of your data and programs so backup everything before doing that, but it's almost assured that you have that as an option.

Just look up your make/model and 'recovery partition' and I'm sure they will give you the key combination to access it at boot up.

If you are still stuck or don't know how to move forward with backing up data or doing a system restore let us know.

It happened awhile ago have maybe been doing this for 3 or 4 weeks. I tried to go do a restore to a previous date but there was not a date far enough back. I thought on previous laptops that I could just type in a date I wanted to go restore the computer too but cant seem to find that option in this one. It is a cheap Acer about 2 years old

I did save everything I wanted so did a google on how to do a factory reset but some error popped up while doing that and it wouldnt do it. I only tried that one time and off the top of my head I dont remember what the error was