Solved Are Windows 7 Startup Repair Discs Machine-specific ?

[BuckSkin]

I have a whole host of Windows 7 machines; some are Home Premium and some are Pro; all are 64-bit.

I have a box full of Startup Repair discs, each and every one created in and labeled for a specific machine.

My question is (and, believe it or not, I Google Searched this to no avail) are these Startup Repair discs machine specific; or, are they all the same and a disc created in one machine no different than one created in another ?

Thanks for reading and all help is appreciated.

 

[torchwood]

Hi Buckskin,

the answer is yes and no - Confused

Basically you only need 1 W7 Service pack 1 ISO disk to repair the OS.

However, i suspect the multitude of disks you have are likely OEM specific
OEM's fill thier systems with "own brand" programs and feaures, - Bloatware, so in theory you need 1 for 1. In reality a lot of these are duplicates of MS features.
Im running an HP machine, but i used a generic ISO to clean install, and only had to pull 1 driver from the HP site.

A repair disc normally will not allow you to perform a clean install, whereas a standard W7 SP1 Iso can.


Roy

 

[BuckSkin]

Hi Buckskin,

the answer is yes and no - Confused



A repair disc normally will not allow you to perform a clean install, whereas a standard W7 SP1 Iso can.


Roy

Thanks.
Maybe I misnamed the disc I am meaning; I see where some sources refer to it as a System Repair disc.

I see it now in "System and Security > Back up your Computer > Create a System Repair Disc"

Are we both thinking of the same disc ?

 

[torchwood]

Hi Buckskin,

Ah..... different again

Thats basically a snapshot image of your system at a specified time.... MACHINE SPECIFIC
It doesn't have a great rep, but in regard to your question this tutorial fully explains it
System Repair Disc - Create

most here would opt for Macrium Free.


Roy

 

[SIW2]

A "system repair disc" is just winre.wim wrapped in an iso file.

Winre.wim comes as part of the installation media. It typically deploys to a hidden folder on the system partition during windows setup installation phase.

Winre.wim is the file that boots if you press F8 for recovery options.

If those are regular win7 installations of the same bit version, the "system repair discs" will be the same.



If the installation media is not the regular kind, but was created by an oem:

winre.wim might contain added drivers, or in some cases it also might contain the oem own "system recovery" program. E.G. Lenovo onekey, or whatever.

 

[BuckSkin]

If those are regular win7 installations of the same bit version, the "system repair discs" will be the same.

Thanks; I sort of figured the basic disc would be the same and one created from one machine could be used to fix a no start situation on another with the same basic O/S.

 

[TechnoMage2016]

In most cases, within five minutes of an install, that PC is like no other in the world.
If you have to do a recovery on that PC you'll need an exact copy of that C: partition. And not the image of some other PC.


I have only nine PC's, but I DO have an Image Backup of the HD on each PC.
And, on my main PC, that I use every day, that Backup Image File is never more than a week old.
I use Ghost, the same program I've used since 1997. (It simply doesn't care what the OS is. It just backs up what it sees, file by file, thus eliminating any fragmentation in the files. )



Good Luck Mate!

 

[BuckSkin]

In most cases, within five minutes of an install, that PC is like no other in the world.
If you have to do a recovery on that PC you'll need an exact copy of that C: partition. And not the image of some other PC.

Thanks; I agree with what you say, but my question was about System Repair disc, not system images and install discs.
Your reply does fit my question here:
https://www.sevenforums.com/backup-restore/423928-few-macrium-reflect-questions.html#post3474339

I just don't want anyone to get confused; I stay confused enough myself.

 

[Snick]

BuckSkin

Read your reference post before.
My experience, on an OEM install, Repair Disk, System Repair Disk, or Win7 ISO doesn't work for repair for various reasons.

I always recommend regular backups with, my choice AOMEI Backupper Standard Free or the more difficult to navigate GUI Macrium Reflect Free. Both free versions provided very similar functions.

Really enjoy all the questions/problems and the plethora of GREAT advise from Forum Members!

Knowledge is Power!

Snick