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

 

[Trevor G]

Repair Install fails on HP laptop

I am getting unrecoverable errors running sfc /scannow, so I figure something is bad... and hence, would like to run this to attempt to rectify ails my system. I D/L'd the Win7/64 Media upgrade file, unzipped onto my local C drive, and ran from there.

First attempt still reported some issues, but it allowed me to proceed anyway. And after many hours, it failed. I then reran the uninstall of the offending program (ATI program Manager), and after rebooting a couple times, got the install happening again - I felt sure this time it would work. Off to bed while it runs...

Dang. It still failed, reverted to my old system, and just left a message on login that the version was incompatible.

OK - my system is Win7/64 Home Premium SP1 ... running on an HP DV7 Pavillion laptop, (which I rebuilt only about 6 months ago). I am running the W7/64 HP Media update iso... so have no idea why it is complaining. I have watched this thing for hours - it gets to the last step (about that point I am falling asleep - at about 6AM in the morning)

Any advice appreciated... otherwise it looks like it's another full restore.

 

[Brink]

Hello Trevor, and welcome to Seven Forums.

Unfortunately, when a repair install keeps failing, you usually would need to do a clean install instead. Most likely the media version you are using is no longer current due to a recent Windows Update.

Before do a clean install, did you see if doing a system restore using a restore point dated before this issue started may help?

 

[Trevor G]

This saga began a couple days back - I noticed I had heaps of ntfs errors in event log. Hmmm - run chkdsk. Which complained, and advised me to go to a restore point. Fine. Run system restore... which says it encountered problems, and advised me to run chkdsk. !@#$

Digging around, I found the article re sfc - which barfed after a short time.

Current status is, somehow I managed to get chkdsk to run, it now completes OK.
When I examine the mess of output in the CBS log from sfc, I see the last entry has this in it:

d:\win7sp1_gdr\base\wcp\sil\merged\ntu\ntsystem.cpp(2057): Error STATUS_OBJECT_NAME_NOT_FOUND originated in function Windows::Rtl::SystemImplementation:irectFileSystemProvider::SysCreateFile expression: (null)

d:\ ??? That path is where my factory restore stuff lives !!! What I fear is that running the full factory reset again may still leave me with an impaired system. It shouldn't, of course - but I am loathe to go down that path (takes about a week to get my world restored) - specially if it doesn't fix the problems (of which there are a few on my system - but that's another story)

Last time I tried using a restore point - it failed as said. Will try again... now that chkdsk is happier than it was originally.

Thanks for a super-quick reply!!

 

[Monumental]

I'm running Windows 7 Home Premium x64 with SP1. I have a retail OEM Windows 7 Home Premium x64 without SP1 installation disk. So I downloaded the Windows 7 Home Premium x64 SP1 U- X17-58997.iso from your link above. I followed the instructions in Step 4 and used 7zip to extract the files to another drive on the computer and then ran setup.exe. The license agreement at Step 10 says Windows 7 Home Premium SP 1. At step 12 the only compatibility issues I receive relate to some Android/Samsung drivers. Step 13 nearly completes but I don't get to step 14. Instead I'm rebooted to my Admin account login and there's a message saying this version of Windows isn't compatible.

Anyone see where I'm going wrong?

 

[Brink]

Hello Monumental,

It could be a recent Windows Update that made your currently installed Windows no longer compatible with the current ISO available. Usually when you are not able to do a repair install, you're left with having to do a clean install instead.

I'm not sure what issue you may be having that lead you to want to do a repair install, but have you already tried doing a system restore using a restore point dated before the issue to see if it may help?

 

[Monumental]

Hello Monumental,

It could be a recent Windows Update that made your currently installed Windows no longer compatible with the current ISO available. Usually when you are not able to do a repair install, you're left with having to do a clean install instead.

I'm not sure what issue you may be having that lead you to want to do a repair install, but have you already tried doing a system restore using a restore point dated before the issue to see if it may help?

I was crashing at boot and went through hell just trying to get it to boot. I tried System Restore about 20 times before it finally worked. sfc /scannow is still showing a couple corrupted files. I went through all the steps short of manually removing and reinstalling those files and gregrocker suggested a repair install.

I guess I could try the manual option.

 

[Brink]

The manual method may help, but they'll need to be for the same version you currently have installed, or they may still show up in SFC.

 

[Evie]

The tutorial says to disable any 3rd party firewalls. What about the Windows firewall? Is it okay to leave that enabled during the repair install?

 

[Brink]

Hello Evie,

The Windows Firewall will not affect a repair install, so no worries.

 

[ENunn]

I wanted to repair Windows, but I have 7 GB of data on my hard disk.

 

[Brink]

I wanted to repair Windows, but I have 7 GB of data on my hard disk.

Hello ENunn, and welcome to Seven Forums.

If you like, you could use the tutorial below to see if you may be able to free up enough space on the hard drive to be able to do a repair install.

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/129976-hard-disk-space-free-up-recover.html

 

[looked]

I wanted to repair Windows, but I have 7 GB of data on my hard disk.

Run any Linux, Bart PE DVDs, copy your data to a safe place like external drive or usb key and then you can try any fix on the primary partition without worrying for your stuff.
Five Best System Rescue Discs

 

[looked]

If you like, you could use the tutorial below to see if you may be able to free up enough space on the hard drive to be able to do a repair install.
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/129976-hard-disk-space-free-up-recover.html

You are too fast with your keyboard!

By the way, my suggestion is valid IF the user isn't able to start Windows, just in case.

 

[ENunn]

If you like, you could use the tutorial below to see if you may be able to free up enough space on the hard drive to be able to do a repair install.
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/129976-hard-disk-space-free-up-recover.html

You are too fast with your keyboard!

By the way, my suggestion is valid IF the user isn't able to start Windows, just in case.

Yeah, my laptop won't boot into Windows, for some reason. Something must've deleted a boot folder. I'll try what you said.

 

[Evie]

The Windows Firewall will not affect a repair install, so no worries.

Thanks for a quick reply. Also, I forgot ask, the tutorial mentions that one "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", does this mean the free space needed is: 8.87 GB + what ever space Windows and my installed programs use on the HD, or that the free space needed is: 8.87 GB + absolutely everything I have on my HD (including all my personal, non program files)?

 

[Brink]

That's "8.87 + everything on the C: drive" since a copy is made in the Windows.old folder during the repair install to have available in the new installation.

 

[Ant86]

Thanks very much for the info. Tried a reinstall repair but can't install the upgrade installation.
Says I have to remove the installation DVD and restart windows and then reinsert the installation DVD.
Problem is I can't restart windows to do this

 

[Brink]

Yeah, a repair install cannot be done at boot. It must be done from within Windows.

 

[Ant86]

So if I just do the customs install ,all data is lost ?

 

[Brink]

Your files would be copied to a Windows.old folder as a backup when doing a custom install, but you might as well back them up yourself and do a clean install for a better installation.