I never realized you could only do a Repair Install from a booted Windows 7 system. This is so dumb it leaves me almost (note I say almost) speechless.
It would seem obvious that a Repair Install should also be supported from booted media to fix problems that prevent a system from booting.
Why would MS implement something like this?
I have no idea although I don't like it myself. If you can boot it up then you most likely don't need a repair install.
The definition I've always associated with a Repair Install is an install that overlays the existing install. Now it's called an upgrade but the meaning is the same.
You don't answer the question though. Why is it only allowed from a booted OS? Why can't an upgrade be done from a DVD boot?
A "repair install" is the same as a "in-place upgrade install". Since it's "in-place", it can only be done from within the started OS.
Vista introduced Startup Repair with multiple sequential tests and fixes to provide a diagnostic repair for unbootable Windows.
This replaced the bootable Repair Install making it now only available from within Windows.
So, actual repairs replaced an Upgrade install when Windows won't boot.
Last edited by gregrocker; 08 Jan 2011 at 00:08.
I know what is. What I don't understand is why this has been limited to being done from a booted system? Why do you have to have a running system to do a Upgrade-in-place? Seems like an artificial barrier MS created but I don't understand why.
Probably never will but thought I'd ask. I'm also surprised someone has not come up with a way to do this yet.
It's more than a system file replacement. It needs to be an in-place Upgrade to merge back program registry keys, test each and then move on.
In order to achieve this, it needs to address issues with user input up front on the desktop so we can remedy any major ones before continuiing. In addition it offers to connect to the internet to provide newer drivers and updates which must also be done from Windows or you get a very rough and tenuous connection.
I think enough of these requirements made it necesary to be done from the deskstop, while Startup Repair went in the direction of starting unbootable Windows - instead of reinstalling via an in-place Upgrade which needs to be more attended.
I will inquire more about this as it interests me as well.
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