Repair Install

How to Do a Repair Install to Fix Windows 7​

   Information

This will show you how to do a repair install (aka: in-place upgrade install) to fix your currently installed Windows 7 and preserve your user accounts, data, programs, and system drivers.

   Note

Do a Repair installation if:

• A System Restore did not help fix your Windows 7.
• There is no other easier option left that can fix your Windows 7.
• You DO NOT want to do a Clean reinstall of Windows 7.
• You DO want to preserve your user accounts, data, programs, and system drivers.

   Tip

ITEMS THAT WILL BE RESET TO DEFAULT OR AFFECTED:

• Sounds
• Services
• Visual Effects Settings
• Device Drivers - Be sure to have these handy to reinstall. They do not always remain after the repair (upgrade) install.
• You may lose the ability to sign on to MSN Messenger, to solve this problem have a look at this thread Unable to sign in to WLM.
• You may lose your custom themes due to not having permisions set on the old themes. Go to the hidden themes folder at C:/Users/(User-Name)/AppData/Local/Microsoft/Windows/Themes, then Take Ownership of the themes folder and you will now have all your themes back.
• It has been reported that you may also lose your Media Center gadget after doing the repair install.
• Windows Updates will need to be checked and reinstalled again.

   Warning

• You can only do a repair install with the same edition Windows 7 installation disc for the same edition of Windows 7 that you have installed.
• You cannot use a OEM Windows 7 "Factory" Restore/Recovery type of installation disc that came with or created from a store bought computer to do a repair install with. These can only be used do a clean install instead.
• You can do a repair install on a factory OEM installation with the latest official Windows 7 with SP1 ISO file here: Microsoft: Windows 7 Direct Download Links, and use Windows 7 USB-DVD Download Tool to create a bootable DVD or USB flash drive with the ISO to do the repair install from within Windows 7.
• You can use a retail OEM Windows 7 installation disc to do a repair install with.
• You can use a retail (full or upgrade) Windows 7 installation disc to do a repair install with.
• You cannot do a repair install with a System Repair Disc. A System Repair Disc is not a installation disc, and will only boot to the System Recovery Options screen.
• If you have a 32-bit (x86) Windows 7 currently installed, then you must use a 32-bit Windows 7 installation disc to be able to do a repair install with.
• If you have a 64-bit (x64) Windows 7 currently installed, then you must use a 64-bit Windows 7 installation disc to be able to do a repair install with.
• You can use a retail Windows 7 SP1 installation disc (ex: Technet (available), MSDN (available), or retail (when available)) to do a repair install with on a currently installed Windows 7 SP1.
• You can use a Windows 7 SP1 installation disc (ex: Technet (available), MSDN (available), or retail (when available)) to do a repair install with on a currently installed slipstream Windows 7 SP1.
• You cannot use a slipstream Windows 7 installation disc to do a repair install with on a currently installed Windows 7 SP1.
• You cannot use a slipstream Windows 7 installation disc to do a repair install with on a currently installed slipstream Windows 7 SP1.
• You can only do a repair install from within Windows 7.
• You cannot do a repair install at boot or in Safe Mode.
• You must be logged into Windows 7 in a administrator account to be able to do a repair install.
• You must have at least 8.87 GB + what is currently being used of free space (more if you have a larger installation) on the hard drive/partition Windows 7 is installed on to do a repair install.
• If you changed the default location of a user account's profile folder, then you will need to change it back to the default C:\Users location first.
• If you moved the default location of a user folder, then you will need to change it back to the default C:\Users\(user-name) location first.

Here's How:
NOTE: Be sure to back up anything that you do not want to lose first to be extra safe.1. Start Windows 7, and log on to an administrator account.

2. Disable any 3rd party firewall, antivirus, or other security program to avoid it from possibly preventing the repair in-place upgrade installation of Windows 7.

3. Do either step 4, step 5, or step 6 below depending if your retail Windows 7 installation ISO/DVD/USB has SP1 or not, and if your currently installed Windows 7 has SP1 installed or not.

4. Repair Installed Windows 7 SP1 using Windows 7 with SP1 ISO

   Note

If you do not have a Windows 7 with SP1 ISO, then you can download an official ISO with your retail product key from Microsoft at the link below.

:ar: Microsoft Software Recovery

You can also download the latest official Windows 7 SP1 Media Refresh (SP1 U) ISO file at the link below, but this link is not always available for download.

:ar: Microsoft: Windows 7 Direct Download Links

A) If you have not already, you will need to install a program like 7-Zip that supports extracting a ISO to a folder.

B) Using the program (ex: 7-Zip) from step 1, extract the Windows 7 SP1 ISO file to a folder on a partition or HDD other than the current Windows 7 partition. (see screenshot below)
NOTE: For example with 7-Zip, right click on ISO, click on 7-Zip, Extract files, browse button, select where you want to extract to, and click on OK twice.
C) While in Windows 7 SP1, open the folder that you extracted the ISO into, and run the setup.exe file.

D) Go to step 7 below.
5. Repair Installed Windows 7 SP1 using Windows 7 with SP1 DVD/USB

   Note

If you do not have a Windows 7 with SP1 ISO, then you can download an official ISO with your retail product key from Microsoft at the link below.

:ar: http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/software-recovery

You can also download the latest official Windows 7 SP1 Media Refresh (SP1 U) ISO file at the link below, but this link is not always available for download.

:ar: Microsoft: Windows 7 Direct Download Links

Afterwards, you can use Windows 7 USB-DVD Download Tool to create a bootable DVD or USB flash drive with the ISO to do the repair install from within Windows 7 using this step.

A) While in Windows 7 SP1, insert your retail Windows 7 SP1 installation DVD into the DVD drive, or connect your Windows 7 with SP1 installation USB thumb drive, and click on the Run setup.exe option in AutoPlay. (see screenshot below)
NOTE: If the AutoPlay window does not open, then open the drive folder in Computer and run the setup.exe file.
B) Go to Go to step 7 below.
6. Repair Installed Windows 7 without SP1 using Windows 7 without SP1 DVD/USB

   Note

If you do not have a Windows 7 without SP1 installation DVD/USB, then you can download the latest official Windows 7 Professional or Home Premium without SP1 ISO file here: Microsoft: Windows 7 Direct Download Links, and use Windows 7 USB-DVD Download Tool to create a bootable DVD or USB flash drive with the ISO to do the repair install from within Windows 7 using this step.

It is preferred to have SP1 installed on your PC and to use step 4 or step 5 above to do a repair install with instead though.

A) While in Windows 7 SP1 installed, insert your retail Windows 7 installation DVD into the DVD drive, or connect your Windows 7 installation USB thumb drive, and click on the Run setup.exe option in AutoPlay. (see screenshot below)
NOTE: If the AutoPlay window does not open, then open the drive folder in Computer and run the setup.exe file.
B) Go to Go to step 7 below.
7. If prompted by UAC, then click on Yes.

8. Click on the Install Now button to start the installation. (see screenshot below)
9. If prompted, uncheck the I want to help make Windows installation better box (unless you would like to ), and click on the Go online to get the latest updates for installation option. (see screenshot below)
A) Windows 7 will now check online for and install any available installation updates. (see screenshots below)



10. Check the I accept the license terms box, and click on Next. (see screenshot below)
11. Click on the Upgrade option. (see screenshot below)
12. Windows will now check for any compatibility issues. If any are found like in the example below, click on the red X to cancel the repair install and close this "Install Windows" window, take care of any found issues (ex: uninstall any incompatible program), then restart the repair install process over again.
13. The installation of Windows 7 will now begin. (see screenshot below)
NOTE: During the installation process, your screen may flash and computer will restart a few times.
14. After the final restart, you will see this screen for a moment. (see screenshot below)
15. Type in your Windows 7 product key number. (see screenshot below step 16)

16. Uncheck the Automatically activate Windows when I'm online box unchecked, then click on the Next button. (see screenshot below)
NOTE: You can activate Windows 7 later after you make sure it is running properly. (see step 23 below)
If you chose to automatically activate Windows online when you set up your computer, automatic activation begins trying to activate your copy of Windows three days after you log on for the first time.
17. Click on Use recommended settings. (see screenshot below)

:note: You will always be able to change your Windows Update settings at anytime in Windows 7.


18. Select your time zone and set your time and date settings, then click on the Next button. (see screenshot below)
19. Click on the option for your computer's location to select the correct network location type settings to be applied for that location. (see screenshot below)
NOTE: It is best to select Public location for the best security.
20. Windows 7 will now prepare your desktop to startup. (see screenshots below)



21. If you used a DVD or USB to do the repair install with, then you can remove the DVD or USB when the repair install has successfully completed and you are logged in to Windows 7.

22. Check to see if you are missing any user files. If you are, then you can copy them from the C:\Windows.old or the hidden protected operating system C:\$INPLACE.~TR and C:\WINDOWS.~Q backup folders. (see screenshot below)
23. If everything checks out in step 21, then you can run Disk Cleanup (step 5 at this link). You will need to click on the Clean up system files button first, and then could check the Files discarded by Windows upgrade, Previous Windows installations, and Windows upgrade log files boxes. (see screenshot below)
NOTE: This will delete the C:\Windows.old, C:\$INPLACE.~TR and C:\WINDOWS.~Q folders from step 21 above.
24. Refresh your Windows Experience Index (WEI) score.

25. When finished, activate Windows 7, and make sure that your 3rd party security programs (if applicable) are enabled again.
That's it,
Shawn

Related Tutorials

---

• How to Do an Upgrade Installation with Windows 7
• How to Do a Clean Installation with Windows 7
• How to Do a Clean Install with a Upgrade Windows 7 Version
• How to Activate Windows 7 Online
• How to Run a Startup Repair in Windows 7
• How to Do a System Restore in Windows 7
• How to Repair Windows 7 System Files with System File Checker
• How to Extract Files from the Windows 7 Installation DVD
• How to Boot to the Advanced Boot Options in Windows 7
• How to Boot to the System Recovery Options in Windows 7
• How to Create a Windows 7 System Repair Disc
• How to Run Disk Check in Windows 7
• How to Create a Windows 7 Installation USB Key
• How to Install Windows 7 FAST without a DVD or USB Device
• How to Do a Custom Installation of Windows 7
• How to Create a System Recovery Shortcut in Windows 7
• How to Slipstream Windows 7 SP1 to Create a Installation DVD or ISO File
• Fix "The User Profile Service failed the logon. User profile cannot be loaded." Error in Windows 7

 

[stoliosoda]

Brink - I am hoping you can help me out here. My laptop is in an unbootable state - it is BSODing and my system restore restore points have disappeared. My backups of those restore points are too old to be of much use.

I can't tell from your instructions (which are excellent btw) whether or not the "Upgrade Repair" can be run if your machine isn't bootable. In other words, let's assume that I get a fresh copy Windows 7 installed on a another disk or partition on the machine with the problem OS. Can I direct the upgrade repair to repair the OS that's broken? I went through the process but there's no point where it asks you which OS you want to upgrade - I think it simply assumes that it's the one you're running.

Any help MOST appreciated - I am really trying to avoid a total system wipe here.

FYI, I have a raw copy backup of the entire drive prior to anything we do so dont be afraid to try something daring.

Thank you!!!

 

[Brink]

Hello Stoliosoda, and welcome to Seven Forums.

Sorry, but you would only be able to do a repair install by doing the install from within your started currently installed Windows 7. You can't do a repair install at boot.

Since it is a BSOD issue, you might post all the details about it in the Crashes and Debugging forum location as a new thread. We have some excellent BSOD folks here that may be able to get a solution for you.

 

[wolwol]

Hi All,
Firstly thanks for such a fantastic forum, this has been a very useful tool for my reference and advice.
I hope to have a simple question - the initial instructions for this 'Repair topic' stated that I could use any 'newer' version of windows to complete a windows repair.

My scenario is this: I have a Windows 7 Home Prem laptop, is it possible to use a Windows 7 Enterprise disc to preform the repair.
The reason I ask is that I get a few requests from friends wanting help and didn't want to keep multiple versions of install discs. As potentially Ultimate or Enterprise would cover the lot.

Thanks for any assistance.

 

[Brink]

Hello Wolwol, and welcome to Seven Forums.

Unfortunately, you will not be able to. In your scenario, you will need to have a Windows 7 Home Premium installation DVD to use to do a repair install with.

 

[Faroth]

I'm trying to do a repair install to fix some damaged system files. Unfortunately it fails while the installer is copying files stating that there isn't enough space left on the system volume for temporary files (error code 0x80070490). On C: there is 398GB out of 465GB free and there is space left on the other drives as well (the lowest free amount is 18GB).

 

[Brink]

Hello Faroth,

You will need to free up some more space on your Windows 7 drive/partition. If you have any files, say music, pictures, videos, etc...., that you could temporarily move to another drive/partition to free up enough space to finish the repair install, then just copy them back afterwards.

Hope this helps some,
Shawn

 

[Faroth]

Cleared out some stuff increasing the free space from 398GB to 420GB (and yes, this is the partition I have Windows installed on) but it made no difference, still the same message. Besides, I don't see how this would have helped since the installer only wanted around 830MB.

 

[Brink]

You might also check to see how much of that free space is allocated to system protection. This will tie up your free space and will not be usable space for the installation. If it's to much, you can reduce it down for now, and increase it back later.

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/335-system-protection-change-disk-space-usage.html

 

[Faroth]

System protection is set to 2% (10.00 GB) so that shouldn't be any problem. Is it possible that the installer has some problem with me running Truecrypt and having 3 drives with encrypted partitions? I know some diagnostic programs at least don't work well with that, I have however tried the installer both with and without the volumes mounted.

 

[Brink]

I'm not sure if that would matter since they are on separate HDDs.

Do you have Windows Virtual PC installed with/or any VHD files on your C: drive? These would also allocate free space as well for the VHD file.

 

[Faroth]

No, no Virtual PC (or any similar program) installed at this time. I'll try unplugging all the HD's except for the system one later today just in case it does have something to do with the encrypted drives or it just confuses the installer to have five disks connected. I'll make a post here about the results afterward.

**Update**
After disconnecting the other discs Windows wouldn't even boot up and after several tries with different discs connected I found out that the Windows installer somehow created a hidden partition of 100MB that it set as system. So the repair install tried to copy 830MB to that drive, no wonder it failed. Found some instructions on how to make C into the system partition so now I've finally managed to do the repair.

 

[habibi]

I have to say that this tutorial helped me improved my Windows 7 Ultimate performance. After 6 months, I have a couple of problems:
1. boot up is very slow. After I entered my password, Windows hanged at the Welcome screen for about 10 second, then blank for another 10 second before showing the desktop
2. I cannot Sleep anymore. Every time I sleep, the screen goes blank, HDD stopped, but the power box is still running. And because of that I cannot wake it up and have to reset.

After I run this Repair Install, both problems are fixed. Horray!

I wonder.. what is the the reasons? Is it a driver restore? Is it a deletion of some malware or virus? If so, will the virus return or it is dormant, somewhere in the HDD?

 

[Brink]

Hello Habibi, and welcome to Seven Forums.

Not sure why, but you can scan your system with the free programs MSE and Malwarebytes to help be safe.

Hope this helps,
Shawn

 

[habibi]

Hello Shawn, thanks for the welcome. Wouldn't have found this useful site if it weren't for Google. You guys did a damn good job!

P.S. Love it that it is Tapatalk enabled for quick access from the iPhone.

 

[Brink]

Thank you Habibi.

 

[jm76]

>>You can only do a repair install from within Windows 7, you cannot do a repair install at boot or in Safe Mode.
>>You will not be able to do a repair upgrade install in Safe Mode.

This is stupid. If I cannot boot I cannot fix the machine. Why was the wX repair install function not included in 7? What rationale can be identified that would result in this approach to not helping users repair an installation without having to install AGAIN all programs, import email, configure settings,...? XP could do this. Seven cannot????

I had to replace a dead video card. And now 7 will not boot. And cannot be repaired without booting. Catch 22? Catch 77?

I cannot understand this deliberate "by design" non-user usefullness.

J

 

[myzr7]

J Welcome to SevenForums
Have you tried booting into safe mode and installing your new video card driver?
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/69585-safe-mode.html

 

[jm76]

Thank you for you response.

I apologize for not being more specific: Cannot boot. Cannot repair. Cannot restore, same driver,...

And so on.

What I need is an XP style boot-with-disk-repair.

Or: how do I uninstall/disable the current driver?

J

 

[Brink]

Hello J, and welcome to Seven Forums.

If the computer will not do anything at all when you turn it on, then double check to make sure that you have the new graphics card seated properly all the way down in the motherboard's slot. Next, make sure that you have any extra power connections (ex: 6-pin PCI-E) that may be needed made to the graphics card. Finally, check your BIOS settings to make sure that you have the correct PCI-E graphics card slot selected to use.

If you do have something displaying (ex: error message), then please let us know what is says exactly.

 

[jm76]

Startup Repair cannot repair this computer automatically:

Problem signature:
•Problem Event Name: StartupRepair Offline
•Problem Signature 01: 6.1.7600.16385
•Problem Signature 02: 6.1.7600.16385
•Problem Signature 03: unknown
•Problem Signature 04: 21200751
•Problem Signature 05: AutoFailover
•Problem Signature 06: 13 (and sometimes 5)
•Problem Signature 07: BadDriver
•OS Version: 6.1.7600.2.0.0.256.1
•Locale ID: 1033

NO booting to windows.

No repair from hd or DVD.

So, how can I identify the bad driver?

How can I uninstall/disable the driver?

Why is that 7 does not work as well as X when fixing these things?

J