[Win7] Components hive corrupt/ empty

[speedbooster]

Hi,
I have been unable to install most softwares, specially Microsoft's on my E6520 for quite a while with 0x80073712 etc errors. ALHAMDOLILLAH i have made a bootable win 7 usb from Dell recovery tools. I am planning to do a repair install but the problem is that Computer properties show Service Pack 1. And repair install cannot be performed with SP1 installed. To remove it, I need to remove KB976932 from installed updates. But the screen shows no updates installed.

Also, looking for a solution, I came to this thread and I have the same problem, C:\Windows\System32\config\COMPONENTS is 256KB.

I am looking for some way to make the current windows 7 installation SP1 free, so I can in-place/ repair install windows 7 to refresh the windows files. The PC is terribly damaged I can sense.

SFCFix tool suggested "Components hive may be damaged".

 

[speedbooster]

I couldn't find the edit button for the post above so writing a new one. To make it in compliance with post instructions, sfc /scannow failed and SFCFix returned:

SFCFix version 3.0.2.1 by niemiro.
Start time: 2020-03-26 00:17:10.775
Microsoft Windows 7 Service Pack 1 - amd64
Not using a script file.




AutoAnalysis::
WARNING: Failed to check store directories with return code 1 and error code ERROR_FILE_NOT_FOUND. COMPONENTS hive may be corrupt.


WARNING: Components hive failed size test and may be corrupt.




SUMMARY: Some corruptions could not be fixed automatically. Seek advice from helper or sysnative.com.
   CBS & SFC total detected corruption count:     0
   CBS & SFC total unimportant corruption count:  0
   CBS & SFC total fixed corruption count:        0
   SURT total detected corruption count:          1
   SURT total unimportant corruption count:       0
   SURT total fixed corruption count:             0
AutoAnalysis:: directive completed successfully.




Successfully processed all directives.
SFCFix version 3.0.2.1 by niemiro has completed.
Currently storing 0 datablocks.
Finish time: 2020-03-26 00:20:06.436
----------------------EOF-----------------------

 

[Sysnative Windows Update]

Unfortunately, if you do not have the appropriate Windows ISO to perform the installation, your only option is to perform a Clean Installation of Windows, I would recommend Windows 10.

 

[speedbooster]

Hi, thank you for replying. Please define 'appropriate'. Do you mean a disk to update SP1?

I do have Windows 7 ISO (actually bootable USB) I made from DELL tools. It seems to be just like a bootable Windows ISO from Microsoft. The tools said could only make the bootable media once.

The only obstacle to repair/ in-place install is that the Windows was updated to SP1 and repair install only works with non-SP Windows 7. Since the COMPONENTS hive and Windows Update is corrupt, there is no way to undo the SP1. Is there any trick to make the Windows/ system think its simple Windows 7 and not SP1 upgraded? May be delete some update files or replace with old ones, edit/ remove registry values etc? A visible confirmation of which would be that the "Service Pack 1" text is also removed from Computer > Properties

 

[Sysnative Windows Update]

No, not with your components being as damaged.