Repair Install Problem Due To SP1

royw · 03 Jun 2011

I want to do a repair install of my Win 7 Pro 32 bit system, but when I tried to do so I was told the upgrade could not continue because my system is newer than the one on the Windows DVD. (Or words to that effect). I expected this because I installed SP1, and my DVD does not include it. The problem is that Installed Updates does not list SP1,neither does programs and features. The only reference I could find to it was in my SIW (System Information For Windows) program, which showed an ID for it which looks like a registry entry to me.
I haven't been able to get hold of a Win 7 disk with SP1,so does that mean my only option is to do a clean reinstall, or is there some other way to uninstall SP1?
Advice would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks and regards,Roy

Brink · 03 Jun 2011

Hello Roy,

Yes, that would be normal for a repair install with SP1 installed.

If you used the Windows 7 SP1 Disk Cleanup Tool, then you will not be able to uninstall the SP1, and would have to do a clean or custom install instead. If so, that would explain why SP1 is no longer listed in Programs and Features.

Hope this helps,
Shawn

Ztruker · 03 Jun 2011

You can slipstream SP1 with your existing Win 7 DVD using RT 7 Lite, sort of like nLite/vLite did for XP and Vista.

gregrocker · 03 Jun 2011

I would defnitely slipstream SP1 into the DVD ISO to do a clean reinstall, but it will not work for a Repair Install.
Slipstream Windows 7 SP1 into a Installation DVD or ISO File

mjf · 04 Jun 2011

Out of curiosity. Are you saying once SP1 is slipsteamed into the installation, Repair install will or will not then work?
If it doesn't work how doe one perform a repair install?

Bare Foot Kid · 04 Jun 2011

mjf said:

Out of curiosity. Are you saying once SP1 is slipsteamed into the installation, Repair install will or will not then work?
If it doesn't work how doe one perform a repair install?

That is correct, if the SP 1 is slip'd into a Windows 7 installation or the installation media the repair Install option will no longer work, the SP 1 must be uninstalled first.

Brink · 04 Jun 2011

Hello mjf,

Unfortunately, you cannot use a slipstreamed Windows 7 SP1 installation Disc to do a repair install with.

If you have Windows 7 SP1 installed, then you either must use a "retail" Windows 7 SP1 installation disc to be able to do a repair install, or uninstall SP1 to be able to use a retail Windows 7 installation disc to do a repair install with.

You can use a Windows 7 SP1 installation disc (ex: Technet (available), MSDN (available), or retail (when available)) to do a repair install with on a currently installed Windows 7 SP1.
You cannot use a slipstream Windows 7 installation disc to do a repair install with on a currently installed Windows 7 SP1.
You cannot use a slipstream Windows 7 installation disc to do a repair install with on a currently installed slipstream Windows 7 SP1.
You can use a Windows 7 SP1 installation disc (ex: Technet (available), MSDN (available), or retail (when available)) to do a repair install with on a currently installed slipstream Windows 7 SP1.

Ztruker · 04 Jun 2011

Any idea why a slipstreamed SP1 version of Win 7 can't be used for a Repair install? What prevents it from being used? Is it something RT7 Lite does that causes this problem?

mjf · 04 Jun 2011

Great answer Brink - I definitely get it now.
Curiosity for me at the moment - a real pain in the neck for some.

Brink · 04 Jun 2011

Ztruker said:

Any idea why a slipstreamed SP1 version of Win 7 can't be used for a Repair install? What prevents it from being used? Is it something RT7 Lite does that causes this problem?

Hello Rich,

I'm not sure of the exact reason why, but it's something to do with the slipstreaming process used by all slipstream programs that still has the current installation show as newer than the slipstreamed installation disc for some reason. Even if it's the same one that was used to install Windows 7 with.