Problem with Repair Install of Windows 7

Hello there,
I'm attempting to do a repair install of my OS.
One day I turned on my PC and the HAL.DLL file was missing. I re-loaded this file from the Windows disc using the safe mode repair CMD. This fixed that issues; however now when I start Windows it's telling me that my copy is not genuine and furthermore in the Windows Property tabs there's no section to re-enter my product Key or Re-activate my copy.

After wasting over 5 hours on the phone with Microsoft support (not even kidding) the support agent advised me to do an "Upgrade" install to replace all the system files. Then afterwards I should be able to re-activate my copy of Windows 7.

The installation goes fine up until the very last step where is indicates that it's moving files, programs and settings. When it gets to this section the following error message pops up:

"Some or more windows components could not be installed. Please exit the installation and restart"

Any help? I'm dying here.

Hey, welcome to the forum!

If you can save/copy your data to another disc or someplace safe, you should do a new "clean install" even if you only have the Upgrade Version.

Yours is the classic case of why upgrade = death.

Post back if you are willing and we'll find you the links on how. Try to save your data first.

Hey Yodap,
Thanks. Do you basically mean I should just to a format of the drive and re-install the system? I was hoping to avoid that. I'm actually a film maker/Audio Engineer and although I don't have any data on this drive I have more software and plugins than one can imagine. It's such a pain in the a$$ to re-install everything and get it all configured and functioning again. Although I fear you are right and this may be my only option.

Yeah, that would be my advice. Certainly you should wait around for more input from others but that's my story and I'm sticking to it.

Post some computer specs for us, and what flavor of W7 you have. That might help.

It's Windows 7 Ultimate 64-bit it's an OEM/Builders copy if that makes a difference.
Asus Rampage III Extreme Mobo
i7 X58 Chipset (was running it overclocked but clocked it back before install)
24GB DDR3 1333mhz OCZ (Was overclocked again, but clocked back before install)
EVGA GTX 480 Card x 2

In Control Panel\System at the very bottom is an option to Change Product Key which you might try to see if you can get rid of the not genuine.

But the truth is I agree also believe your system will be much more stable with a install to a freshly formatted drive rather than over an upgrade. You might try using WET (Windows Easy Transfer) to back up your userids and settings and then restore them after the fresh OS install but you will need to reinstall all your software.

Thanks Trainable Man,

However as noted in my initial post. The system menu does not give me the option to change the product key. I just get "Not Available" in both fields at the bottom. According to Windows support this happens when a system file is changed to prevent hacking of the OS to prevent piracy. I think a fresh install may be my only option here

Not sure you got enough hardware there to run W7 properly.






Hah, just kidding!

I honestly was considering for a second that I maybe had too much and just broke it.

Have your tried typing "Activate" in the Start Orb's search window and going from there?

If not, do a clean fresh install. You'll be fine. Just be sure you have the latest up-to-date drivers for the motherboard, etc.

24 GB of RAM is an overkill by about a factor of 3 to 4.... why do you need all that RAM? Just Curious.