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

 

[mie333]

how should i do if i lost my serial number for my cd?

 

[Brink]

Hello Mie,

If your current installation is activated, then you could use the free programs in the tutorial below to see what your product key number is from within Windows 7.

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/153626-product-key-number-windows-7-find-see.html

Hope this helps,
Shawn

 

[Jhoot]

Problem at Step 8 Version Conflict

When I click on the UPGRADE option this message appears: " Your current version of Windows is more recent than the version you are trying to upgrade to Windows cannot complete the upgrade". The disc is "Reinstallation DVD" and came with the DELL computer with the OS already installed. Suggestions please I would like to repair witout losing data,apps,etc.

 

[marsmimar]

It sounds like you have a "recovery" type disc provided by Dell. From the Warning box on the first page of the tutorial:

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.

 

[BlackDinomite]

What if you have no disk? My Computer came with Win 7 already on it.

 

[marsmimar]

What if you have no disk? My Computer came with Win 7 already on it.

If you want to do a repair install you could borrow a disc from a friend as long as the disc is exactly the same as what's installed on your computer. The same version (Home Premium, Pro, etc) and the same bitness (32-bit or 64-bit.) Or you could find an authorized website that has officially released versions of Windows 7 as authorized by Microsoft. These websites offer ISO versions of Windows 7 that would have to be downloaded and then burned to a DVD to create the install media.

Or, to start out with a completely fresh version of Windows 7, your computer might have a hidden recovery partition that would allow you to return the computer to factory specs (the same as it was the day your brought it home from the store.) You would then reinstall everything else and once everything was set up to your liking you could create a system image on an external hard drive and update that system image maybe once a week. If anything ever happened to your machine you could use the image and be up and running in about 30 minutes or less. Your machine would be restored exactly as it was the day you made the last system image.

 

[jswitzer42]

Fix for using a Slipstreamed SP1 DVD

I have found that you can do a repair/install using a slipstreamed DVD. The only thing that is required is to change the properties of setup.exe identified in Step 3 to run in Vista SP2 Compatability Mode. This must be done prior to running the setup.exe prog. This does work...I have done it.

John Switzer

 

[aburnier]

Hello, I am trying to run a windows repair install, and the installation stops working at step 9 right after it finishes copying windows files.

I already posted this issue once before, but here is the exact error message that comes up:
"Setup cannot continue. Restart the computer and restart setup. When prompted, try getting the latest updates"

I have done this several times, and each time it comes up with the same error message. What do I do? Any thoughts?

 

[Brink]

Hello Aburnier,

Double check the items listed in the warning box at the top of the tutorial to see if any of them may apply in this case.

It appears that you might not be able to do a repair install.

 

[kuremento]

hi there,
my dell 1555 studio laptop recently got this error "windows explorer has stopped working" looping problem. my friend have recommend me to do a repair install but whenever i choose the upgrade version. it doesn't let me coz it says that i have a more up to date version on. is there a way that i could go about doing this?

thanks in advance

 

[Brink]

hi there,
my dell 1555 studio laptop recently got this error "windows explorer has stopped working" looping problem. my friend have recommend me to do a repair install but whenever i choose the upgrade version. it doesn't let me coz it says that i have a more up to date version on. is there a way that i could go about doing this?

thanks in advance

Hello Kuremento, and welcome to Seven Forums.

Unfortunately there's no way around this for a repair install. The red warning box at the top of the tutorial can give you more details on what will and will not work for a repair install.

You should go ahead and create a new thread about your "windows explorer has stopped working" looping problem in the Crashes and Debugging forum area though to see if we may be able to help with it.

 

[KRS03]

initializing COM error

Using a proper DVD of the OS (Win 7 Pro, SP1 32-bit) I am trying to resolve my issue of the inability to update Windows. I have been conversing/email with uSoft for some time to no avail. The prospect of doing a repair/install has come up with instructions from them matching ones here. BUT, I receive an error "Windows encountered an internal error while initializing COM", just after the files are loaded off of the disk.

I have run SFC and have fixed some errors in the past, and my disk was failing but I made a backup and installed a new one with a Windows recovery. This may be moot as I had been able to perform Windows updates after my new drive installation.

Is there any way to fix this error, or to search out any other system errors causing this problem?

 

[Brink]

Hello KRS03, and welcome to Seven Forums.

You might run the Windows 7 Upgrade Advisor to see if it may be able to find if you may have any issues with upgrading, and correct any issues found before continuing.

Hope this helps,
Shawn

 

[KRS03]

Hello KRS03, and welcome to Seven Forums.

You might run the Windows 7 Upgrade Advisor to see if it may be able to find if you may have any issues with upgrading, and correct any issues found before continuing.

Hope this helps,
Shawn

Thanks Shawn. Yes I've checked this and am compatible as far as system is concerned. Even software it says may be an issue are not, as I'm running Win 7 effectively for everything. Of course a 64-bit upgrade needs a custom installation.

I really can't find anything about the "internal error while initializing COM" issue.

 

[Brink]

KRS03,

Ah, that's the problem then. You can only do a clean install from 32-bit to 64-bit. You will not be able to upgrade from 32-bit to 64-bit.

 

[KRS03]

KRS03,

Ah, that's the problem then. You can only do a clean install from 32-bit to 64-bit. You will not be able to upgrade from 32-bit to 64-bit.

Shawn, You may have misunderstood, I don't want the 64-bit upgrade. I only want to repair/install the current 32-bit system. I only mentioned that as the one thing not compatible when checking with UpgradeAdvisor as you suggested.

Any clues as to the internal error while initializing COM? It happens just after "Setup is copying temporary files..." during setup, using the Win 7 Pro SP1, x86 disk.

 

[Brink]

KRS03,

Sorry, yes I did misunderstand you about that.

If you have "Google Desktop" installed, uninstall it and restart the computer to see if it will do the repair install afterwards.

I would also recommend that you uninstall all running security programs until the repair install is finished. These can interfere with a repair install. Sometimes even when disabled. For example: Ad-Aware, Kaspersky, Spybot, etc....

 

[KRS03]

KRS03,

Sorry, yes I did misunderstand you about that.

If you have "Google Desktop" installed, uninstall it and restart the computer to see if it will do the repair install afterwards.

I would also recommend that you uninstall all running security programs until the repair install is finished. These can interfere with a repair install. Sometimes even when disabled. For example: Ad-Aware, Kaspersky, Spybot, etc....

OK, worth a try. I had no idea I needed to actually uninstall these, as disabling seemed the natural thing to do. My update issue has already guided me to the "Google Desktop" issue, and no I don't have that installed (nor Win-Eyes). I've done dozens of things to get to the root of the update problem and this is my last straw.

 

[Thoru]

Hi, I tried this and it worked once before, but now it is telling me that the version I am running is newer than the version I am trying to upgrade to, how do I fix this?

 

[Brink]

Hello Thoru, and welcome to Seven Forums.

It's most likely due to you having SP1 installed, and your installation disc doesn't have SP1 included. If this is so, then uninstalling SP1 may allow you to do the repair install afterwards. Please check the items in red WARNING box at the top of the tutorial to see if anything else may apply.

Hope this helps for now,
Shawn