Win 7 Repair

hjonesMCT · 11 May 2011

Hi again,

Thanks for responding :) I want to point out again you don't actually need the install CD. Hit F8, select "Repair your computer", and see what happens. This will utilize Windows RE that is installed on your operating system partition. If it doesn't work, you will merely receive an error that says something like "This version of Windows is not compatible with Startup Repair." It won't blow up... but if it does, don't sue me

Also, I read all the posts here but can't recall--did you try finding a System Repair disc? Do you have access to another machine with Windows 7 SP1 that you can create a Repair disc on?

mach04 · 11 May 2011

Have a look on this guide maybe it help you.

System Recovery Options

System Recovery Options

gregrocker · 11 May 2011

You cannot use a pre-SP1 WIn7 installer to run a Repair Install on Win7-SP1, however this is not the same as Startup Repair.

Beginning with Vista, Windows automated the Repairs which need to be done when Win7 will not boot in Startup Repair, which is available on the DVD, Repair CD and on the F8 Advanced Boot Options if you have the 100mb System Reserved boot partition which enables it.

At the same time, the Repair Install was moved to the Win7 desktop and is actually an in-place Upgrade of the same OS version over itself. This keeps all programs, files and settings in place while it reinstalls the OS. You can think of this as a last resort before Clean Reinstalling. It will not always winnow out corrupt settings, however - importing settings is always a corruption path.

You can run Startup Repair with a WIn7 DVD or Repair CD for your bit-version which does not need to be SP1-specific. System Repair Disc - Create

However, to run a Repair Install if you have SP1, you'll need to find an installer with SP1 (not slipstreamed) or you'll have to uninstall SP1: uninstall Windows 7 Service Pack 1 (SP1)

You can unlock all versions in any Win7 retail installer by extracting the ISO using ImgBurn, then run the ei.cfg removal tool: Unlock any version eicfg removal tool

If forced to download the ISO remember to check the comments closely and run a HASH check against official TechNet Downloads HASH, or at least scan with Malwarebytes and your AV.

IrishLefty · 12 May 2011

Thanks for the input everyone, but Gregrocker's explaination pretty much told me to forget it. There is no reasonable way that I can run a "Windows Repair" unless I'm willing to go back in time and delete or change a bunch of files, which I am not able/willing to do. Anyway, thanks everybody, I appreciate what you all do for the rest of us. Next time I'll come up with a problem that's not so screwed up.

gregrocker · 12 May 2011

If you feel you need the Repair Install, you can find a Win7 installation DVD with SP1.

We are here if you need any further help.

python134r · 13 May 2011

I recently was ill, in the hospital and did something as innocuous as change admin accounts and passwords while under meds and lo and behold I cannot access my OS.

Normally this is no biggie, I usually have a number of backup options as well as repair options too but not this time. Remember, I am or was heavily medicated so now this turns into a major issue for me.

I thought "oh well I will do a repair like I used to with XP under the second repair option in setup or Use a live linux cd to burn some password repair proggie and that will be the end of it.......hahahah" For whatever reasons start up repair did not work. Also if you can access your computer its easy, if you cannot access its exponentially harder.

As I came to learn this was not to be, I aggravated myself to death and just did a new install, grabbed whatever was in the windows.old folder that I needed and learned a bit of a lesson.

Never attempt to do any sort of work while under the influence of strong pain medication and be prepared with a nice image of your OS however you have it organized for it will keep a simple thing simple.

Reading a bit further into this thread enlightened me about the ups and downs of repair installs with Windows 7, this is my first post I think, nice to be here and I am usually not this noobish but still recovering from almost 2 weeks in the hospital and issues of life.

Bare Foot Kid · 13 May 2011

Hello python134r, welcome to Seven Forums!

Perhaps you may care to bookmark this tutorial at the link below because Option Three may have been a help to create a new password so you could get back into Windows.

Password Reset Options in Windows 7

Win 7 Repair

Windows repair