Is 'Upgrade install even meant to function as a repair install at all?

[IndustrialOne]

Is this what the future has come to? When I have a fatal problem with my OS I have to start all over again? XP repair install is way better than this.

 

[marsmimar]

In Windows 7, a repair install is also known as an "in-place upgrade install". This tutorial explains how to perform a repair install and also shows how to obtain a legal installation disk if one is needed.

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/3413-repair-install.html

I've successfully repaired several Windows 7 machines and in each case it took less than 90 minutes. After completing the process it will be necessary to reinstall Windows Updates. That could take another 90 minutes or more depending on how many updates are available.

Some folks prefer doing a clean install just to get rid of the factory bloatware and start off with a wiped hard drive. One of the Forum experts prepared a tutorial on how to clean reinstall a factory OEM machine.

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/219487-clean-reinstall-factory-oem-windows-7-a.html

And the basic clean install tutorial.

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/1649-clean-install-windows-7-a.html

Hope this helps.

 

[Kari]

Nothing to add to Marsimar's detailed post above, except the fact that your screenshot clearly shows this being a plain and simple user error. You have booted your PC from Windows install media.

Available install options:

• Booting from Windows install media > only custom install possible.
• Launching the Windows installation from desktop of existing Windows installation > both upgrade and cutom install options available.

Kari

 

[IndustrialOne]

Launching the Windows installation from desktop of existing Windows installation > both upgrade and cutom install options available.
</ul>Kari

But I can't get to the desktop, the second screen in the screenshot I posted is what happens on boot.

 

[gregrocker]

Launching the Windows installation from desktop of existing Windows installation > both upgrade and cutom install options available.
</ul>Kari

But I can't get to the desktop, the second screen in the screenshot I posted is what happens on boot.

Then you don't need a Repair Install, you need Startup Repair .

Report back the results.

If it isn't sufficient here is everything that can be done for Troubleshooting Windows 7 Failure to Start

 

[IndustrialOne]

Startup Recovery said there was no system partition but it didn't fix this problem so I loaded up a liveCD and mounted the partition. To be fair, XP repair install doesn't help you here either.

This is all a test for my impending migration to 7 since support for XP will be over soon.

I guess the real test would be if 'upgrade install' will successfully upgrade my XP machine, which leads me to ask if XP to 7 upgrade is possible or if I would have to first do XP to Vista then Vista to 7?

 

[gregrocker]

Do a Clean Install to leave years of XP baggage behind.

 

[IndustrialOne]

But I wanna keep all my baggage and user settings. I'll be damned if I'm gonna reinstall and reconfigure everything all over again.

 

[Kari]

I guess the real test would be if 'upgrade install' will successfully upgrade my XP machine, which leads me to ask if XP to 7 upgrade is possible or if I would have to first do XP to Vista then Vista to 7?

Do a Clean Install to leave years of XP baggage behind.

But I wanna keep all my baggage and user settings. I'll be damned if I'm gonna reinstall and reconfigure everything all over again.

Assuming you only use valid, licensed software with proper install media and product codes, and considering the time needed and pros and cons in in-place upgrading, there's no rational reason to even think an in-place upgrade from XP to Seven. In this I fully agree with Gregs's wise advice.

Don't get me wrong, I have been known to be a hardcore in-place upgrade advocate. But times and Windows have changed.

Clean install is the recommended way to go. Even I as a former in-place advocate have changed my approach. I still maintain that a properly prepared and done in-place upgrade has its benefits in certain scenarios, one being if an important piece of software is impossible to reinstall after upgrade, for instance if the product key is missing and the company has disappeared since so there's no way to get help. Personally I would not do an in-place upgrade anymore.

That being said, if you decide to go against advice given (clean install), here's something for you to read:

• http://www.sevenforums.com/installation-setup/44793-simple-guide-successful-place-upgrade.html
• http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/131041-upgrade-install-xp-windows-7-a.html

Kari