Doing a 'Repair Install'

Over the years I have done severs 'Repair Installs' under Windows XP. Usually because of changing a mother board. I have seen several suggestions in this forum to others advising them to do a 'Repair Install' of Windows 7 to correct a problem. I didn't want to hijack the threads to ask exactly how you do that so I will start a new thread to find out how to do it. I have booted the RC CD several times to see if I could find a way but the closest I can come is to find a item to repair a problem that prevents your computer from starting or something like that. As I understand it, that option has more to do with solving boot manager problems that actually repairing any problem Windows 7 files.

So my question is, is that option equvalent to the Windows XP 'repair install' or 'In place upgrade'?

I would really appreciate knowing how to do it under Windows 7 for i feel it will come up one of these days.

Thank you very much.

Thank you very much, Airbot.

I had looked at the Tutorial you mentioned earlier and found the line about not being able to keep user accounts and other customizations. Seems like I remember under XP a 'repair install' did not destroy such things. But at my age who remembers! I do remember that I would loose any update to the OS and had to go get them. No big deal.

Also, the Tutorial implies being able to boot to the installed Windows 7 to run setup on he CD. This would probably not be the possibel in the case of a MB Change. I imagine one could simply boot the CD and get there.

I have pretty well adjusted to the different ways of doing things under 7 and am sure i will get used to this.

No way am I going to abandon 7 because of the difference. I have the RC on both my laptop and desktop and use it exlusively. i love it.

One other thing, the help from you and everyone else here on this forum is fantastic. The spirit of Alex Nichol lives on.


Thanks again.

jsquareg said:

So my question is, is that option equvalent to the Windows XP 'repair install'

Unfortunately no.

In Windows XP you could boot from the CD and do a repair install (handy when Windows can't boot, as when changing the motherboard).

In Windows 7 you can only do a repair install from within Windows. It doesn't work when booting from the DVD (according to information in the tutorial thread).

Thank you.

I was beginning to reach that conclusion. Nice to have it confirmed.

jsquareg said:

Thank you very much, Airbot.

I had looked at the Tutorial you mentioned earlier and found the line about not being able to keep user accounts and other customizations. Seems like I remember under XP a 'repair install' did not destroy such things. But at my age who remembers! I do remember that I would loose any update to the OS and had to go get them. No big deal.

Also, the Tutorial implies being able to boot to the installed Windows 7 to run setup on he CD. This would probably not be the possibel in the case of a MB Change. I imagine one could simply boot the CD and get there.

I have pretty well adjusted to the different ways of doing things under 7 and am sure i will get used to this.

No way am I going to abandon 7 because of the difference. I have the RC on both my laptop and desktop and use it exlusively. i love it.

One other thing, the help from you and everyone else here on this forum is fantastic. The spirit of Alex Nichol lives on.


Thanks again.

I also have done several motherboard changes under Windows XP and never had to do anything except let Windows find the new hardware and install the drivers for it. It would require several reboots in the process, but it always finished fine and stable. No repair install was required for me. Haven't had to do it on 7 yet, but would like to see how well it would handle it.

MacGyvr said:

I also have done several motherboard changes under Windows XP and never had to do anything except let Windows find the new hardware and install the drivers for it.

That doesn't always work unless you follow a specific procedure.

Often times Windows XP would BSOD when trying to load drivers that were installed for the previous hardware. Of course it depends on how different the hardware is too.

Sure there were ways around that. Such as uninstalling all of the drivers or switching computer type using the device manager before shutting down to change the motherboard. A repair install wasn't always necessary, but in many cases it would be easier.

sup3rsprt said:

MacGyvr said:

I also have done several motherboard changes under Windows XP and never had to do anything except let Windows find the new hardware and install the drivers for it.

That doesn't always work unless you follow a specific procedure.

Often times Windows XP would BSOD when trying to load drivers that were installed for the previous hardware. Of course it depends on how different the hardware is too.

Sure there were ways around that. Such as uninstalling all of the drivers or switching computer type using the device manager before shutting down to change the motherboard. A repair install wasn't always necessary, but in many cases it would be easier.

Never had an issue like that and never had to follow any special procedure. Install motherboard, turn on computer, watch the process happen.