Blank W7 Features, Strange CD Solution

[jefboyardee]

When I clicked "turn Windows features on or off," I got an empty box. Internet people suggested I insert the Win7 install CD while it's running, clicking Install Now, then clicking Upgrade. I did that, then the process itself, the subsequent updates and fixing my stuff took almost all day.

The process actually worked, the Features box is full again. But I'm curious what actually happened. Best I can tell, the upgrade just rearranged the dishes in order and made the OS like it was three years ago, causing the need for two hundred upgrades I'd already done before.

... so what have I accomplished, other than killing a day?

 

[jefboyardee]

With a couple days past, my relic does seem to be behaving better, which make me more curious about what happened in there.

 

[jefboyardee]

I'll ask one more time:

When you insert the W7 install disk while W7 is running, choose install, then choose upgrade, it takes several hours to perform the operation, just like it says it would – what is it doing?