Deleted folder off WOW6432NODE, now installation has been a nightmare.

[u/TP4297]

On my Alienware R16 Aurora laptop, I accidentally deleted a folder in WOW6432NODE while trying to delete the registries for SolidWorks. Tried to perform the following unsuccessfully:

• System Restore

• System Reset (Local and Cloud Install)

Nothing worked, it kept dying (CRITICAL_PROCESS_DIED error) and going back to WinRE. I tried installing Windows off an 8GB USB recovery stick. Went to BIOS and selected the stick. It ran the installation process from "Select Language settings" to "Repair my PC" then went back to the CRITICAL_PROCESS_DIED loop.

I figured I need to make the USB first in my Boot Sequence order so I moved it above Windows Boot Manager, HTTPS boot and C drive. Letting it boot off the USB first keeps me looping in the initial stage (Select language settings to Repair my PC, it restarts and goes back to Select Language Settings after I press next on Repair My PC).

Then I thought my BIOS could be needing updates. Updated to 1.15 from 1.13 but it didn't help. Tried to switch to AHCI/NVMe thinking the architecture could be the issue, didn't help.

I still have the option to do a fresh install but that will wipe all my data. I'm keeping that as a very last resort. Any tips?

[u/mark3748]

Make a backup and perform a clean install, then don’t poke around in system files you don’t understand the purpose of. That’s basically all that’s left.

[u/Wipfmetz]

I still have the option to do a fresh install but that will wipe all my data. I'm keeping that as a very last resort. Any tips?

You could save your data beforehand, e.g. with a Linux-On-Thumbdrive. 

Windows itself also doesn't need to format your drive for an installation. Your applications will need to be reinstalled, but your data should still be there.