I think I will just copy files to an external drive and then do a clean install.
OK.....let us know how it goes:
http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/installing-reinstalling-windows#1TC=windows-7However, did a google on the message and take a look.
The computer started using the Windows Installation Media. Remove the installation media and restart your computer so that Windows starts normally.http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/69360-63-unable-boot-perform-upgrade-install....you are right......sees the O/S and wants you to boot into Normal Desktop mode......
....however in:
http://www.pcadvisor.co.uk/how-to/software/3316288/how-repair-corrupt-windows-7-installation/#ixzz2rQyPLJuIThe poster says "
Boot off of the CD tell it you want to do a custom install you will get the repair option just after that".
Not sure about that but if you are going to do a clean install........once you save off all your data.....you can see if the above is true.....I don't think it is.
In XP you could do Repair Install from the O/S disc....and I've have done a W7 Repair Install but now recall it was from the Desktop.
Reading more in some of the How-To links "
Note that you must perform the in-place upgrade process from within Windows; if your PC can't fully boot to the Windows desktop, this repair guide is not for you" So, what you are seeing is way it works, bummer.
However, I don't think you did a SFC successfully after re-reading thru this thread ?
I ask because normally
within Windows you'd just open up an administrator mode command prompt, and then type in sfc /scannow to scan your system files, and either repair or replace anything that's broken—but when you're booting off an O/S installation disc it's not quite as simple. Instead, you'll need to boot off the install disc, choose the "Repair your computer" option, choose your installation drive, open up a command prompt, and then type in a more detailed SFC command. Since you have the O/S disc you can try this SFC repair effort thru the command prompt booting from the O/S disc (see attached pic of process).
sfc /scannow /offbootdir=[DRIVELETTER]:\ /offwindir=[DRIVELETTER]:\windowsYou may need to adjust the drive letter depending on where your system is installed—you'll probably notice that the drive letter is different during the repair process than normal, so make sure to pay attention on the screen where you choose the installation to repair (see attached pic for example, under "location"). Windows will attempt to find and repair any errors in your system files. If the scan finds errors, you may need to repeat the steps in this guide until it finds no more errors. To restart your computer, enter the exit command, then click the Restart button. When you're ready to try booting into Windows again, remove the install disc and restart one final time.
Links I pulled from:
http://www.maximumpc.com/article/how-tos/how_repair_faulty_windows_installation_without_reformattinghttp://www.winhelponline.com/blog/run-sfc-offline-windows-7-vista/http://lifehacker.com/5597854/use-system-file-checker-to-repair-your-unbootable-windows-pc
