Have Windows 7 Ultimate (legit copy) and have been running for over 1 year. Today I clicked to do Updates, which I have done many times over the year. Now on booting, it only proceeds as far as the Welcome screen and hangs.

Try this:

Safe Mode or Startup Repair

BTW, did these updates include any device drivers? Could be the source of your problem.

Try this:

Safe Mode or Startup Repair

BTW, did these updates include any device drivers? Could be the source of your problem.

Sorry.. I am amiss.

Have tried Safe Mode and also used Installation dis for Startup Repairs, etc.

You are probably right about device drivers... Unfortunately, I did not check the Updates.

You can do a system restore (if enabled) to try and get back to where you were. Then selective allow updates a few at a time to see what point a failure occurs.

You can do a system restore (if enabled) to try and get back to where you were. Then selective allow updates a few at a time to see what point a failure occurs.

Again amiss... Yes, System Restore was enabled. And I tried that but there was no change, which was surprising.

I done all the obvious things.

Considering cloning C: .. Reinstalling Windows and then replacing the clone with the exception of Windows.

Considering cloning C: .. Reinstalling Windows and then replacing the clone with the exception of Windows.

That wont work. But running the Windows 7 install DVD will give you the option of repairing the existing installation without erasing the drive.

I would not count on this to retain your data or your programme installations, but it might. So back up all your data first and ensure that you have the installation disks etc for your programmes.

You can do a system restore (if enabled) to try and get back to where you were. Then selective allow updates a few at a time to see what point a failure occurs.

Yes, sometimes you get a corrupt installation and doing a restore, then re-installing the updates fixes the problem.

Considering cloning C: .. Reinstalling Windows and then replacing the clone with the exception of Windows.

That wont work. But running the Windows 7 install DVD will give you the option of repairing the existing installation without erasing the drive.

I would not count on this to retain your data or your programme installations, but it might. So back up all your data first and ensure that you have the installation disks etc for your programmes.

How can he back up his data if he can't get to his desktop?

How can he back up his data if he can't get to his desktop?

Simple...

Use a Linux Live CD.

How can he back up his data if he can't get to his desktop?

Simple...

Use a Linux Live CD.

Also Acronis Trueimage home though not free ($29.99). Acronis allows you to make a bootable CD/DVD or USB flash drive. I had an old flash drive, 4GB, and boot from it.

Thanks for all advice to date...

I actually have a clone made about 4 weeks ago when I upgraded to a larger drive.

Now come to part 2 of my tale...

Have attempted to install Win 7 but installation get as far as the first reboot and I get message to start DVD. This I know is not normal on the installation as reboot normally goes into further installing. This happened several times, so I finally click to start DVD... and it went to begin the whole installation process again. And again.

Also Acronis Trueimage home though not free ($29.99). Acronis allows you to make a bootable CD/DVD or USB flash drive. I had an old flash drive, 4GB, and boot from it.

^ That's an excellent product, definitely worth $29.99.

There's also BartPE, UBCD4Win, MSDaRT (Windows PE). Unfortunately, MSDaRT isn't free and is only available to volume-licensed customers and Technet subscribers. As you can see, the choices aren't limited; one should always have a Live CD handy.

My preference is also the Linux LiveCD (actually a Live USB stick in my case). Not least because it is free and has never yet in any way altered a drive that I have used it on.

Have attempted to install Win 7 but installation get as far as the first reboot and I get message to start DVD. This I know is not normal .....

Depending on your BIOS boot settings this may indeed be normal.

What will generally happen is that on the first reboot you will get the BIOS prompt to "push a key to boot from DVD" (or similar). If you ignore this then the BIOS should move to the next boot drive in sequence, which will probably be the hard drive, and the installation will continue.

If this isnt working for you then I would check that the boot sequence in the BIOS is indeed:

CD/DVD

1st hard drive

If it still doesnt work then I would try formatting/re-partitioning the drive before reinstalling Windows. Always assuming that you have backed up your data.