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]

Sounds like it may just be a issue with that specific game itself. You might see if copying over the missing files may allow the game to install.

 

[cyberpax]

Problems after Repair install of windows 7 (x86)

I had some problems with my windows 7 after cloning my HD to a big new one HD,
Cloning was done with Acronis True Image Home 2011 14.0.0 Build 6868, all went ok...

But few days after I noticed that Windows update was no longer running ...
I also started to have problems with networking diagnostics problem I was allways geting a an
error code: 0x8E5E0247
ERROR Networkdiagnosticsweb

I decide to try sfc/scannow
but didn't work it find corruped files but was not able to fix them
tryied sfc/scannow few more times but still no fix

Finaly I decided to try an REPAIR installation of my windows 7 (x86)
Ok after a long time ... the repair seems to be ok but now I have major problems...
some of my Desktop files wont work anymore ... I noticed that the files are there but
every time I try to open them I get an error like
I don't have permission to get to file ...???

I allready tryied to repair things by copying files from the hidden protected system folders
C:\$INPLACE.~TR and C:\WINDOWS.~Q folders

but still no luck

what should I do ... ??? Any advise

Rightnow I just want to backup those files and will do fresh installation of windows 7
But system doesn't let me backup those files it seems theres some kind of problem with the user

permissions???

Please I would appreciate any advise...

it seems it's a problem regarding TAKE OWNERSHIP OF folder or files please can someone help


best regards yours
cyberpax

 

[Brink]

Hello Cyberpax, and welcome to Seven Forums.

As a test, you might see if creating another administrator account, and logging on to it may allow you to copy the files.

If not, then take ownership of them and set the files' permissions allow your user ac**** "Full Control" of them.

If it still will not let you, then you could use this below to copy your files before doing a clean install.

Use Ubuntu Live CD to Backup Files from Your Dead Windows Computer - How-To Geek

Hope this helps,
Shawn

 

[cyberpax]

many thx for fast reply

Yap
I created a new administrator account but had no success in copying the files still had blocked access ... Take_Ownership applied in the register but the system still does not let me copy the files ... I gave up ... but I grabbed my Hiren boot cd and used a file manager, and finally I was able to backup my files ...
right now I'm still trying to find windows 7 drivers for my laptop (ASUS M50SV) ... there is no support for it in the asus site...
After I found all the need drives I will do a fresh installation of windows7...

Many thx for your advise and fast reply

best regards
yours
cyberpax

 

[Brink]

You're most welcome. I hope it goes smoothly.

 

[NickFrancis]

empy compatibility report

Hi
Just thought I'd add something to this.

I've been trying to do a repair install this afternoon & it kept hanging on the compatibility report - it would come up blank and the only option was to close the install - couldn't get past it.

I did a bit of searching and it seems if there are special characters in your account name then this will cause that problem - rename your account and it should work fine.

 

[Brink]

Hello Nick,

Thank you for posting your findings.

 

[groucho7]

Very nice guide

Very nice guide. I have two suggestions. 1. Since you already have Windows 7 installed you may not need to run the Setup.exe file in compatibility mode. 2. Choosing automatic activation may save you time: if your Windows 7 has already been activated on your computer, it will activate itself again automatically and you will not have to bother to do so manually. Thanks.

 

[Brink]

Hello Groucho, and welcome to Seven Forums.

The purpose of using compatibility mode for the setup.exe has nothing to do with activation, or will even affect activation.

Instead it's only to trick Windows 7 into letting you do a repair install when you have Windows 7 with SP1 currently installed on your computer, but only have Windows 7 without SP1 installation media (ex: DVD/USB).

 

[Ex_Brit]

Shawn, I just tried this with my 4th OS (Disk1, partition 1) Windows 7 Ult SP1 Test rig as software is starting to refuse to install saying files are missing and I've checked for the usual culprits, malware etc. So I figured this would be a great idea. Well it got as far as expanding files 18% and said something about Windows would have to restart but it never did so I restarted it myself and chose 'Windows Setup' for the OS choice at boot...failure - couldn't continue for some reason. Maybe I was too impatient and should have waited for it to restart by itself. I vaguely remember that it usually restarts around 20% or 27% can't remember which.

Should I try it again do you think?

Had to do some fiddling with boot menu entries in Easy BCD but it's back to normal now I guess except there are probably all kinds of temporary files hanging around somewhere.

The alternative is to format and reinstall it from scratch from within my Vista on C: (that way I preserve my drive letters in all my OS's).

 

[Brink]

Hello Peter,

It wouldn't hurt to give it another go to see if it may work. You might run a sfc /scannow command to see if it may help any as well.

If you have any temp files, you should be able to run Disk Cleanup as the same in step 19 to remove them.

 

[Ex_Brit]

Thanks, I'll give it another try. It's been so long since I installed 7, can you recall what point of the 'expanding files' it gets to before it reboots automatically? I think that's where I screwed up.

I'm just hoping it doesn't mess up my multi-boot.

Edit.. Answering my own question.. It is 18%.
It's going smoothly this time. Let us hope it finishes OK and doesn't leave me stranded in only one OS.
Posting this from my iPad2.
By the way, is Tapatalk the official app for this forum or did the popup try to sell me something useless?

 

[Ex_Brit]

Well it's proceeding in rather a bizarre fashion, deciding halfway through to switch to my second monitor, which happens to be my big flat screen TV....very strange. Then it switched back to allow me to enter my key and now both screens are dark...I guess patience is a virtue here.....something I lack most of the time, but I will try to persevere.

 

[Ex_Brit]

Well that was, if anything, a make-work project if ever there was one. All it got me was 60 or so updates to do and a zillion drivers to reinstall that no longer functioned. The software in question still wont install so have given up on that. (McAfee 2012 alpha consumer release which I am supposed to be testing).

I am not formatting and reinstalling Windows just for that.

 

[Brink]

Peter,

Well that stinks. I'm sorry that it wasn't able to help fix it.

 

[Ex_Brit]

Thanks Shawn, it's the fault of whomever designed that installer I fear. Hopefully on Monday someone will enlighten me as to what to do next. Apparently it's happened to a few others on staff but not all.

Here's me thinking my Windows was somehow corrupted. Ah well, I live and I learn this way...LOL.

Thanks.

 

[Voritlas]

Hi fun from Macedonia

I have 1 hard disk with 200 gb memory...The hard disk is split on 2 partitions(local disk): C: and D: ....my program files is in D: with my music,documents,films,pictures and i dont wanna loose this data...IT IS OK TO DO WINDOWS 7 REPAIR with this program files location ?! PLS help : (

 

[Brink]

Hello Voritlas, and welcome to Seven Forums.

You would need to move your user folders back to the Windows C: drive to have them still available after a repair install. If you do not, the folders will not be deleted on D: , but you would have to manually copy the data from the user folders on D: to C: afterwards. When finished, you could move them back from C: to D: again if you like.

Since Program Files is on D: instead of the default C: , you most likely will have to reinstall your programs again. Even if you change Program Files to be on D: again afterwards.

Either way, it's best to backup anything that you do not want to lose to be extra safe.

Hope this helps,
Shawn

 

[enzernine]

Possible Ammendment to the Tutorial

The tutorial worked great for me except one part. Step 5c, when I set compatibility to Windows Vista (Service Pack 2) I got the following error during the compatibility check:

Windows 7 Professional cannot be upgraded to Windows 7 Professional. You can choose to install a new copy of Windows 7 Professional instead, but this is different from an upgrade, and does not keep your files, settings, and programs. You’ll need to reinstall any programs using the original installation discs or files. To save your files before installing Windows, back them up to an external location such as a CD, DVD, or external hard drive. To install a new copy of Windows 7 Professional, click the Back button in the upper left-hand corner, and select “Custom (advanced)”.

So I went back and unchecked the box to run the program in compatibility mode and was able to proceed with the repair install.

I was working with Windows 7 Pro 32-bit. I didn't have the original OEM install disc, so I used a retail version to do the repair. (In case that has something to do with the above error.)

 

[Brink]

Hello Enzernine, and welcome to Seven Forums.

That was probably the issue with use a retail disc on a OEM installation. Was it a factory or retail OEM installation?

Did the retail installaton disc that you used have SP1 included?