Must I start from scratch through Bootcamps and repartition if I need to reinstall Windows 7?

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Must I start from scratch through Bootcamps and repartition if I need to reinstall Windows 7?

The Windows 7 side of my late 2009 iMac had been working great until Wednesday, when it shut down program by program on its own. It would not restart, only provide the blinking cursor on the Black Death screen. Here is what I tried and which did not work.

control alt delete
reboot through Windows install disk
Upgrade Windows
repair disk
recovery points (several)
reinstall clean copy (several times)
started with Boot Camp Assistant to install

Two key questions:

What will happen if I run Boot Camp Assistant as if from scratch?
Are there any instructuctions that deviate from the 2009 Boot Camp set up guide I downloaded from Apple? I will be running Windows 7 ultimate and am still on Snow Leopard.

(I have much work to do before class tomorrow.) 😟

iMac, Mac OS X (10.6.4)

Posted on Jul 7, 2013 9:12 AM

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Answer 1

Best reply

dalstott

Level 4

2,639 points

Jul 8, 2013 9:16 AM in response to momto3young

Use Boot Camp Assistant to remove the present BC partition. Then start Win 7 installation from the begining as you did previously. Don't use Disk Utility to remove the BC partition as it can really screw things up.

http://manuals.info.apple.com/en_US/Boot_Camp_Install-Setup_10.6.pdf

http://www.macworld.com/article/1156195/delete_boot_camp.html

http://www.simplehelp.net/2009/01/26/how-to-delete-a-boot-camp-partition/

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Answer 2

momto3young Author

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Jul 8, 2013 5:32 PM in response to dalstott

Okay, it is partitioned. Windows is installed. I got the message from you a little late, but it was helpful.

NOW I can't connect to the internet on the PC side (I have an Airport and it used to work). There is an undiagnosable error as the network is detected but I can't connect. I suspect a driver issue as the hardware works. I used the download for Win 7 through the MBRFAT on a thumb drive with the drivers. Not sure where my problem lays nor where to find the solution.

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Answer 3

Csound1

Level 9

59,973 points

Jul 8, 2013 5:37 PM in response to momto3young

Windows has a network troubleshooting wizard, have you tried that?

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Answer 4

momto3young Author

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Jul 8, 2013 5:47 PM in response to Csound1

Yes, I tried that right away.

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Answer 5

Csound1

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Jul 9, 2013 7:13 AM in response to momto3young

momto3young wrote:

Yes, I tried that right away.

And?

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Answer 6

momto3young Author

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Jul 9, 2013 7:21 AM in response to Csound1

Sorry, frustration is making me short. I meant that the network wizard was the first thing I tried before coming back to the forums. No, it did not work, and it said that the reason was undiagnosed.

The drivers that I downloaded through Apple and saved according to instructions on a Mbrfat formatted USB are either not loading or are incorrect. I have done this twice to double check. I tried the cable connection directly to the computer and got connection briefly, but it went away. Even if this worked, the whole house is routed through the Airport.

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Answer 7

Csound1

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Jul 9, 2013 7:25 AM in response to momto3young

Have you looked in Windows Device manager or are you speculating that it is the drivers that are incorrect or not loaded?

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Answer 8

momto3young Author

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Jul 9, 2013 8:03 AM in response to Csound1

In the device manager, which I also triple checked, the wifi, iSight, and another driver (co-something) are caution signed, will not reloaded or update when deleted and researched. The correct drives are not found, not even manually with a search.

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