E machine with windows 7 Home Premium 64 bit.

In all likelihood, the hard drive on your old Windows 7 machine is failing and that either was the main cause of the problem or at least related.  So, you need to replace that hard drive as part of that re-install.

I have 120 or so win7 client machines I look after.  A lot of them are senior citizens so I understand you.

If you will tell me where you live (i.e. Canada, USA), I will see if I can find a listing on Amazon for you for the hard drive you need.  Please provide me with some more info.

1. Laptop or Desktop
2. Age of computer
3. make/model
4. What processor is installed
5. Operating system installed (e.g. Windows 7)
6. 32 or 64 bit? (Right-click on Computer, choose Properties)
7. Service Pack 1 (SP1) installed? Same place as 5 above.
8. Capacity of disk drive, how much is in use?  Pie chart shown in Computer
9. Model number of hard drive (click Disk in Device Manager)
10. If Windows has ever been re-installed since it was new, when was that?
11. Age of hard drive if not the original
12. How much memory is installed? (Right-click on Computer, choose Properties)
13. Please list ALL installed programs.....
14. What security software is installed?
15. Is your internet service wireless or wired?

Dreaded black screen= I turn on my computer and all I saw was black. Nothing opened. No cursor. I ordered and received a repair and recovery CD. I installed that. It looked like it was making the repair but now the computer locks up when the windows icon appears. I followed something on You Tube and with those directions I was able to open the screen to the command prompt. I was able to then punch in the command from the You Tube but the computer did not ask the same questions that I saw on the video and I got lost. I know it is difficult when I use the wrong terminology but thought I would throw it out there.

Yes they would not be on the new hard drive, but you can re-install them on the new hard drive.  If I am right (the hard drive is failing), you have already lost them.

Thank you but installing a new hard drive won't help. I use my Dell desktop and the only reason I do not use it exclusively is I wanted to save some of the programs that I had installed on my old E machine. Replacing the hard drive would mean I lose the old programs.

I don't understand what you mean by a locked black screen.

1. If it is password locked, we can't help you other than to say reinstall the operating system.
2. When you say it is a black screen do you mean it turns black and remains that way after the original splash screen logo etc. appears when you first turn it on, or it is permanently black?

Here are the repair options in Windows 7:

What are the system recovery options in Windows 7?

The System Recovery Options menu contains several tools, such as Start-up Repair, that can help you recover Windows from a serious error. This set of tools is on your computer's hard disk and on the Windows installation disc.

Note

You can also create a system repair disc that contains the System Recovery Options menu. For more information, see Create a system repair disc.

If you use a Tablet PC or other computer with a touchscreen, you might need to connect a keyboard and mouse in order to use Start-up Repair and the other tools in the System Recovery Options menu.

@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@

Often a Start-up Repair, etc. disk will work where the built-in Repair Software won't

Make your own System Repair Disk from the information in this Tutorial or from the prior information:

"How to Create a Windows 7 System Repair Disc"

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/2083-system-repair-disc-create.html

"This will show you how to create a Windows 7 system repair disc to be able to use to boot to **system recovery options** to help recover your Windows 7 installation if you don't have a Windows installation disc, can't find your Windows installation disc, or can't access the recovery options provided by your computer manufacturer.

A system repair disc is not able to install Windows 7.

   Note

If you are unable to boot your Windows 7 to create a Windows 7 System Repair Disc, then you could create it on another computer to use on your computer."

_____________________________________

Then use that Disk for the System Recovery Options:

"System Recovery Options"

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/668-system-recovery-options.html

"How to Run a Startup Repair in Windows 7"

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/681-startup-repair.html

@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@

But if you do not have access to another Windows 7 machine with the same "bit" version use this method to make a disk, from which you can also use the Startup repair options:

You can use this for preinstalled OEM or Retail Licenses. This is on a first come, first served monthly basis.

Download the correct ISO file and make your own disk and use the Product Key that is on the COA Sticker.

https://www.heidoc.net/joomla/technology-science/microsoft/67-microsoft-windows-and-office-iso-download-tool

Download: Windows ISO Downloader.exe

And here are instructions on how to burn ISO images to disk:

http://www.snapfiles.com/get/ISORecorder.html

You change the Boot Order in the BIOS to be able to boot from your installation media:

How to Boot Your Computer From a Disc or USB Drive

@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@

These are your Repair choices:

You should now click on the Repair your computer option to start entering the Windows 7 Recovery Environment.

Which leads to these options, including Startup Repair, etc..

Cheers.