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

 

[Brink]

You're most welcome Odin. Thank you for the kind words.

 

[ally]

Hi Brink, firstly thanks for all the great advice you offer on this forum, i have found it invaluable. I attempted an in place upgrade in windows 7 ultimate x64, my system has been unstable for a while. i have to wait about 10-20 minutes for the network to be found and until then pretty much everything hangs. including the fact i hav to restart explorer.exe to see the desktop.

so i put win 7 on flash drive and set about doing the upgrade, only warning i get is re itunes and ide controller. so i went ahead all seemed to be fine but then unattended, it rebooted and it lists as 1. windows setup 2 windows 7
i can still get into the original win 7 but when i try to continue with the setup it comes up with an error cannot find winload.exe.

i have manually copied this file to the sources folder but it is still not seeing it. i need to either know how to copy it to the windows setup or preferably, if i can delete the setup files and attempt the upgrade from scratch again, currently it tells me i have to restart and finish the current upgrade and won't let me attempt a new one. Please help! much appreciated thanks,

thought about removing it from the boot list but worried the files are still there so it will still error. i have tried to repair the install itself to no avail.

Ally

 

[Brink]

Hello Ally, and welcome to Seven Forums.

I would recommend to backup anything that you do not want to lose, and do a clean install instead then. A clean install would be less likely to have issues afterwards.

 

[ally]

lol i cannot admit defeat! trying again 90% files gathered fingers crossed ;P

 

[Brink]

LOL, ok. Fingers crossed for you.

 

[ally]

nope it fell over 18% in expanding windows files. and now it won't let me attempt another install because it is saying the system needs to be restarted to finish making changes, which it has been. Is there a way to remove all traces of a failed upgrade attempt so i can try another one?

 

[emptysorrows]

For anyone curious, if you are going to do a repair install via virtual DVD drive (such as Daemon tools) or even upgrade from Se7en Basic to Ultimate, it will work fine (tested on x64 and x86). The only drawback is that you will have to place your wanted files from Windows.old in an area outside of the user folders and delete every Windows.old registry file. For some reason, the User folders located in C:\Users\UserName\ are shortcuts of the Windows.old User path. Attempting to create new folders just replicates the error. After every windows.old registry file is deleted, it is safe to place the files in their respective folders.

 

[Brink]

nope it fell over 18% in expanding windows files. and now it won't let me attempt another install because it is saying the system needs to be restarted to finish making changes, which it has been. Is there a way to remove all traces of a failed upgrade attempt so i can try another one?

Sorry to hear that. I think it may be time for a clean install. Restart the computer again to see if it may pick up to allow you to do so.

 

[hg2051]

...if W7 doesn't fully start?

What can I do if W7 doesn't fully start?
How repair install from a command line?

 

[Brink]

Hello HG2051, and welcome to Seven Forums.

I'm sorry, but you will not be able to do a repair install unless it's done from within Windows 7.

I would recommend to create a new thread in the General Discussion forum area with as many details as possible about your Windows 7 not fully starting. We will be able to give you more specific help there for this instead.

 

[casadiego]

With 51 pages of threads I have not read them all. I have a several computers running win7. However the one giving me problems is a Home Premium x64 with only a manufacturers restore disk available. Can I use the disk from any other version of win 7 as long as it is a x64 version. I tried a Pro retail x64 upgrade version, but it told me that I could not "upgrade" the currently installed version and could only do a new install. I also have an x64 ultimate oem dvd. Will that work or do I have to go buy a copy of Home Premium in order to do a repair. It would be worth the money just to not have to reinstall all the software etc. There are a number of things wrong with computer necessitating a repair install - can't remove ie9 beta, no installed updates showing in control panel, can't install other updates. I have tried many things and have come down to this option as the best. I am a retired support tech and have repaired many copies of xp and vista, but not 7 - yet.

 

[Brink]

Hello Casadiego, and welcome to Seven Forums.

I'm sorry, but with a factory OEM installation, you would only be able to do a factory recovery/restore for a clean install. You would only be able to do so if it you installed with either a retail full/upgrade copy of Windows 7, or a retail OEM copy of Windows 7 using that same installation disc to do the repair install with. Repair installs for Windows 7 are the same as with Vista.

 

[casadiego]

Thanks for that info. I think what I will do is use a new harddisk and start the restore process, then when everything looks good (to my wife - its her machine) I will convert to that hard disk or just clone it on top of the old hard disk. This way I can start the process and just keep switching disks until I'm done. That gives me time so that I do not have to have it all done in one shot. I can give her another machine to use for email, but she has embroidery software on hers that she uses all the time so I can't take it away for a couple of days.

 

[Brink]

You're welcome. I hope it goes smoothly.

 

[aburnier]

Problem with Windows 7 Repair Install

Hi, I am having a problem with Windows Repair Install and was wondering if anyone could help me.

Everything goes smoothly until step 9. Right after it finishes Copying Window Files, an error message pops up which tells me to restart my computer, download updates when prompted to, and then restart the Windows Setup.

I have restarted, but at no point am I asked to check for updates. I have tried twice now, and the error message keeps popping up, preventing me from completing the repair.

Also, it mentions that several programs may be affected by the windows repair and "recommends" that I uninstall them first. One such program is called ATI Catalyst Install Manager (which I cannot uninstall). Since it said "recommend", I assume that this step is optional, but could this be what is causing the problem?

Please help!

 

[Brink]

Hello Aburnier, and welcome to Seven Forums.

It could be. Are you able to uninstall the ATI driver from within Programs and Features in the Control Panel?

 

[aburnier]

Windows 7 Repair Install

Thank you for the quick response,

I am unable to locate the ATI driver within control Panel. Something tells me that these drivers/programs aren't the problem, though...

I have checked many forums and as far as I can tell I am the only person with this issue so I am at a loss what to do.

I should mention though, that I am attempting a windows repair in order to install Microsoft Visual C++ 2005 Redistributable which is a prerequisite for most graphics software. Whenever I try to install it, I get an error 1935 report:

"Error 1935.An error occurred during the installation of assembly
"Microsoft.VC80.ATL,type="win32",version="8.0.50727.42",publicKeyToken="1fc9b3b9a1e18e3b" ,processorArchitecture="x86" Please refer to Help and Support for more information"

I have tried many solution methods such as the Microsoft fixits, etc. Someone on a forum mentioned that they ran a Windows 7 repair install and that fixed the problem, so this is my last-ditch effort.

Reformatting (the alternative to the repair install) is currently out of the question since I have lots of software installed that would be painstaking if not impossible to retrieve if lost.

Let me know what you think

 

[Brink]

As a test, you might create a new administrator account, and see if everything runs and works ok while logged in it instead. If so, you may be able to avoid a clean install.

 

[aburnier]

I created a new admin account and the error still occurred when I tried to instal Visual C++

 

[Brink]

In that case, I would recommend to create a new thread in the Software forum area to see if we may be able to get the Visual C++ issue sorted for you to hopefully avoid reinstall Windows 7.