Windows 7: Repair Install

Hello Pete,

Did you have a question?

If you like, you could download a new ISO from the location in the NOTE box under step 5 to create a bootable DVD/USB to use instead.

Hope this helps,
Shawn

Brink, absolutely great tutorial, thorough and detailed!



One question I have been meaning to ask (apologize if already discussed but this is a remarkably long thread) ...

Since we are dealing with a repair install (performed live within an already booted Windows 7) why is it necessary to take the ISO and "create a bootable DVD or USB flash drive"? Is this just so the Autoplay dialog is executed when the media is inserted?

Why can't the ISO just be extracted to a folder on a partition within the working Windows 7 computer and the user just manually run (for example): D:\Win7dvd\Setup.exe? This would certainly be the fastest method if it is possible.

Of course this assumes he is logged in as an ADMINISTRATOR with a clean boot without firewall and antivirus and so on as per your instructions.

Thanks!

Hello Exciter, and welcome to Seven Forums.

Yes you can do that with a ISO file. It's usually less problematic to use a bootable DVD/USB though, but I added this as step 4 to help.

Brink, thanks so much for the quick answer!

I was really wondering about that step with the creation of bootable USB or Optical media and why it ("bootable") was necessary.

So may I assume that either case: (1) extract the ISO to a folder, or (2) just copy the pressed DVD to a folder will have the same effect? It is just a matter of getting the SETUP structure in place on the HDD, correct?

Instinctively, the execution from a blazing fast HDD (which we entrust with Windows itself) seems more likely to succeed rather than modern budget optical and flashdrives. Is there any reason my instinct is misleading me?

Thanks again for the wonderful guide. You are probably aware that many threads at Microsoft actually link to here!

You're welcome.

It doesn't matter if it's an extracted ISO or copied DVD to the folder since they will both be the same afterwards.

Either method of executing the repair install is fine to use. It's just that I'm in the habbit of using a USB flash drive. That's all.

Please let us know how it went.

Hello everyone.

Can somebody tell me if is possible to use the repair procedure using the Digital River ISO (english version) and activate it with my code (OEM - italian version).

Is the result an english OS language (instead of italian)?


Thanks.

Hello Sardpl, and welcome to Seven Forums.

Sorry, but no. You'll need to have a Digital River ISO (Italian version) for it to work. Because Retail/OEM keys are version specific, it has to match the full version name i.e. both edition and language.

Hey Brink I got a problem.

My current operating system is windows 7 64 bit Professional.

My disc that I have is windows 7 64 bit Professional aswell (student edition)

What shall I do?

Do I uninstall SP1 first and then try or do I leave it how it is?

Hello Mangoh,

If you like, you could use the NOTE box under step 4 to download a Windows 7 w/SP1 ISO to use to create a bootable DVD/USB with to be able to do a repair install with.

Just a quick follow-up to my posts at #981 and #983.

Repair Install was successful when executed directly from a partition on the harddrive. The Windows 7 SP1 x64 ISO contents were extracted to a folder on the D: drive and after clean booting to the ADMINISTRATOR account ...

Start > Run > D:\Win7sp1\Setup.exe

Approximately 90 minutes for the unattended portion with several reboots.

The only deviation from the tutorial that I noticed was that C:\Windows.old was never encountered, however the other two, C:\$INPLACE.~TR and C:\WINDOWS.~Q were created as expected. Perhaps this is because the selected option was UPGRADE rather than CUSTOM?

Thanks again for the excellent tutorial Brink.