Problem fixed with a clean reinstall of Windows 7
Thanks for the suggestions, but I can't try it now. I caved in and reinstalled Windows 7. I think it was more a problem with the fact that I was missing the microsoft.net framework and could not reinstall it. Somehow it was missing (along with a bunch of other things) from the Control Panel> Programs and Features> Windows Features. That window comes up blank and Windows 7 would block every attempt ad reinstalling the software. I looked at a bunch of other threads and tride a bunch of suggestions from the MS Knowlege base. Some were telling me to restore Windows 7. I tried from several restore points, but it wouldn't fix the problem. It was all a waste of time and told me that something was wrong with Windows 7 internally. Maybe Windows 7 did not install properly the first time. Who knows? But it's working and installed fine after the reinstalling.
Thanks for the suggestions, but I can't try it now. I caved in and reinstalled Windows 7. I think it was more a problem with the fact that I was missing the microsoft.net framework and could not reinstall it. Somehow it was missing (along with a bunch of other things) from the Control Panel> Programs and Features> Windows Features. That window comes up blank and Windows 7 would block every attempt ad reinstalling the software. I looked at a bunch of other threads and tride a bunch of suggestions from the MS Knowlege base. Some were telling me to restore Windows 7. I tried from several restore points, but it wouldn't fix the problem. It was all a waste of time and told me that something was wrong with Windows 7 internally. Maybe Windows 7 did not install properly the first time. Who knows? But it's working and installed fine after the reinstalling.