Windows 7 computer problems, mainly updating issues

ih8stress

Been having problems with my Windows 7 64 home premium since I did a re-install. Have posted previously but thought a new thread was needed.

Basically I started afresh by doing a Dell Factory Image Restore which seemed to go okay and selected 'use recommended settings' for the updates. I later found out that this caused windows updates to hang, so after a day or two started all over again.

This time I managed to install SP1 and a few other updates, with about another 175 to do. I got error messages when trying to do some of them.
Having messed about with various things I decided to start all over again - aaarrrgghh!

So, I have reinstalled, and put on 3 important windows updates - one of which is SP1. I then tried to get the Rollover thingy for it from microsoft.com (advised to me on a previous thread) but I am unable to update my IE to get this.

I've tried getting it from this site (when it said my browser was not supported), and also from the IE on my desktop but they both came back with 'cannot display webpage' message. It seems to be version 8 that I have.

I managed to download IE 11 from microsoft.com but it has come back with 'Operating System is not supported. You need Windows 7 SP1 to install it'.

Checking on my installed updates it does not show the Windows 7 Service Pack 1 but I can see it in the update history?

Can someone PLEASE help me, before I chuck the darn thing through the window? All I want is an up-to-date working pc that I can just switch on and use.

NiftyDigits

Look here

You'll likely end up downloading and installing the unofficial image from the Google Drive link

You won't need a key. Just install from boot.

It's just an updated version of the disc that you already have.

http://www.dell.com/support/article/us/en/19/SLN130608

jshm2

There is an issue with some old factory reset partitions. They do not install the correct/required updates to the Windows update agent to download the correct updates.

Windows then "assumes" your Windows to be a pirate version and refuses the proper updates. DELL and others have the patch on some version of there machines.

But the other way to "fix" it is to download and use WSUS Offline update. This will update your Windows Agent and install the correct updates.as required.

ih8stress

Nifty Digits, Thank you for the above. My head is literally spinning from that first link. There is too much information for me to take it all in and I do not understand a lot of it.

Some questions that immediately come to mind are:

Do I need to create a bootable USB for the .iso or do I just download it onto my computer?

Do I have to do a Windows 7 reinstall (and lose the dell factory restore option in the process)?

I've only just learnt through this that there is a difference between doing a factory restore and a reinstall, I am a complete technophobe for anything like this

Incidentally, clicking on that last link just led me back to this page - I had to right click and open in a new tab to see it?

ih8stress

jshm2, thank you - have only just seen your reply and will check it out after tea - need to eat:eek:

Have seen the WSUS thing mentioned elseshere I think but can't find any link to it.

Food..............................

NiftyDigits

ih8stress wrote: »

Nifty Digits, Thank you for the above. My head is literally spinning from that first link. There is too much information for me to take it all in and I do not understand a lot of it.

Some questions that immediately come to mind are:

Do I need to create a bootable USB for the .iso or do I just download it onto my computer?

Do I have to do a Windows 7 reinstall (and lose the dell factory restore option in the process)?

I've only just learnt through this that there is a difference between doing a factory restore and a reinstall, I am a complete technophobe for anything like this

Incidentally, clicking on that last link just led me back to this page - I had to right click and open in a new tab to see it?

Most of the information in the link is superfluous. I just put it there in so that you would have access to the official page.

So in short, you need longer need the Restore Partition. It is old and outdated if it doesn't even include SP1.

You should download the image and either burn the image to disc using the Windows Image Burner or to a USB Flash drive using Rufus.

Don't panic, I'll guide you through each step once you have decided what you would like to do.
Downloading and creating the new image is the best way forward, as your restore partition sounds to be from early 2010. So already six years old. The new image is from April this year, so no messing around downloading updates for hours/days.

What's the Service Tag on the machine?

ih8stress

NiftyDigits, that is really kind of you - though I will probably need a lot of (virtual) hand holding through it

I probably bought it around 2010/11. The Service Tag is 2H8KP4J.

Burning the image to a dvd sounds the easiest and quickest option, so I will attempt that if possible. I did not even know there was a Windows Image Burner. Also I do not have an 16gb usb flash drive at the moment.

So, in the first instance I download the file from the Google Drive link you posted?

According to a quick google search, I then right click the ISO file, select Properties, Open With and select the Windows Disk Image Burner?

Many thanks in advance - I hope you have a lot of patience

NiftyDigits

It would be a 8GB USB Flash Drive that you needed, a DVD(unless it is a Dual Layer disc) won't do in this case as the file is 6.9GB.

Yes, you download the 64 bit version indicated and create a bootable Flash Drive using Rufus.

Then it's simply a matter of following the instructions in the link from; Reinstall Windows 7 using the Dell Operating System Installation Disc, with a couple of extra steps after disconnecting non-essential devices from your computer.
It's actually quite straightforward. There is not much that you can do wrong, if anything..

Once you have finished installing the operating system, then it's simply a matter of installing any missing Drivers.
You may already have a DVD for this and there may not actually be any missing Drivers.
But you can check by pressing and holding the Windows/Home key and whilst holding it down, the Pause Break key. Interface will appear. Then click on Device Manager

There you may note yellow exclamation marks that indicate that some Drivers are missing.
If there are some there, we move on to the next section within the link of; Install Dell drivers...

If you no longer have the Resource DVD, click through this link and subsequently on Browse all drivers for Inspiron 560
You can then proceed to download and install the Drivers in the order indicated on the list within the link.


Any questions, just ask.

Must less complicated than it may first appear.

NiftyDigits

To create the bootable Flash drive:

https://mobymemory.com/uk/toshiba-8gb-transmemory-usb-2-0-flash-drive-white.html

You'll simply download the image to a suitable machine, plug in the empty USB Flash Drive(Doesn't matter as to whether it is empty or not, but the process will erase everything previously on the drive) and then download and save Rufus from my link.

Run Rufus It should detect the USB flash drive, producing an interface much like this;



You may only need to choose the dropdown option of MBR partition scheme for BIOS or UEFI computers instead of GPT partition for UEFI computers
Everything else will set itself as you go along.

Click where indicated on the picture and change that to ISO image and then click on the icon to the right of that and navigate to where you downloaded the installation image.

Then you press Start

NiftyDigits

Instructions for installing from a bootable USB drive instead of a DVD

1. If you are booting to a USB device, connect the USB device to a USB connector.
2. Turn on (or restart) your computer.
3. When F2 = Setup, F12 = Boot Options appears on the screen, press the <F12> key. If you wait too long and the operating system logo appears, continue to wait until you see the Microsoft Windows desktop. Then shut down your computer and try again.The Boot Device Menu appears, listing all available boot devices.
4. Use the up- or down-arrow keys to select the current boot device and press <Enter>.For example, if you are booting to a USB memory key, highlight USB Flash Device and press <Enter>

ih8stress

Nifty Digits, thank you for the above. I think all that is a long way ahead yet unfortunately.
Tried to download the image last night. Started at 9pm and it was still going at 2am - around 4.6gb. I checked it about 6am and it was showing 0.0 but only IE appeared in my downloads?

Checking just now, it appears to have downloaded the image file 6.5gb.
I have gone back to your first link to carry out the CRC SHA check to see if it has all downloaded correctly BUT the page is only displaying about a third of the text vertically and I cannot see the link required to do this? (It's like the page has been sliced vertically?).

It is only on that webpage (so far), this site is fine?

I will try and sort out a flashdrive for the next step, if I get that far!