Sometimes, computer faults just conspire against you.

In this case, a win 7 computer just suddenly started to display a blue screen:

Stop 0x000000f4 0000001 0000000003 fffffa8004e18600 fffffa8004e188e0 fffff800025d8510

Unfortunately, the customer had no Windows CD (PC was purchased from a local computer company, so the CD should have been included)

All my tests show no apparent hardware fault.

After trying everything I could to repair windows, including windows repair option and system restore, I  eventually decided to try the windows 7 repair option.

First I downloaded the Windows 7 SP1 ISO and created an original OEM disk.

I then go through the steps of booting from the DVD, selecting the “upgrade” option, until I get the error:

The Product key does not match current windows sku

I try altering the ISO image to match the Windows version that is installad (home premium), I also try making a “generic” iso, where I get prompted for the version of Windows that is to be installed…

But no amount of trying would get me past that error.

So after a frustrating time, I decide the best option is to do a fresh install, and then load all the backed-up data onto the fresh install.

Unfortunately, the customer only has Microsoft Office XP (which really shouldn’t be used with Windows 7), but I extract the product key (again, the CD had been lost) and then install it.

Compared to the XP repair install, the process for Windows 7 repair install seems more complicated and more prone to failure. Will Windows 8 be any better? That remains to be seen.