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]

Jools,

It looks like you will not be able to do a repair install.

 

[ksims]

Retail Upgrade repair install

I have to admit, I'm stumped by the issue I have.
My 7 Pro x64 install became hosed, and unbootable, and the startup repair fails each time, whether I run from disk or from install media. I've tried booting to the upgrade disc, but, it will not allow me to perform an in place upgrade, to repair the boot files,unless I boot into Windows and run the upgrade from within; which I can't do anyway.
Is it possible to use my original upgrade disc to perform a repair and if so, what am I missing here?
Thanks for the help

 

[ajfudge]

ksims,

It seems to me that your hard disk is failing. If I may, I recommend that you buy a new hard disk. And hopefully you have made a OS backup/clone that you can recover/transfer to your new hard disk. That would save you the trouble of having to re-install or repair install Windows and other programs.

AFAIK, you won't be able to perform a repair install with an upgrade disk. But I believe brink have a more reliable insight on that.

 

[Brink]

I have to admit, I'm stumped by the issue I have.
My 7 Pro x64 install became hosed, and unbootable, and the startup repair fails each time, whether I run from disk or from install media. I've tried booting to the upgrade disc, but, it will not allow me to perform an in place upgrade, to repair the boot files,unless I boot into Windows and run the upgrade from within; which I can't do anyway.
Is it possible to use my original upgrade disc to perform a repair and if so, what am I missing here?
Thanks for the help

Hello ksims,

Sorry, but you can only do a repair install from within Windows 7 since it's a inplace upgrade install to the same edition installed.

Before running off to get a new HDD, what brand is your current one? I'll look up the program from the manufacturer and post back with a link that you can use to test the HDD at boot with and see if it's actually dead or dying or not first.

 

[maeve1941]

Thanks for this information, it sounds like the sort of thing I will have to check with my son who knows more than I do. I will try it out when I can get a chance. Thanks again.

 

[Brink]

You're welcome Maeve. Please let us know if you have any questions.

 

[ben946210]

I noticed it says you need to use the disc that has been installed. The disc that came with my computer was originally Home Premium and was upgraded to Professional. How do I do this since I don't have a Professional installation disc?

 

[Brink]

Hello Ben,

What did you use to upgrade to Windows 7 Pro with?

 

[HairyScot]

Will a repair install fix issues with the BCD?

http://www.sevenforums.com/performa...ll-not-recover-original-dvd-used-install.html

 

[Brink]

Hello Jim,

Not always. You might post your BCD issue in a new thread to see if we may be able to help fix it first instead.

 

[HairyScot]

Hello Jim,

Not always. You might post your BCD issue in a new thread to see if we may be able to help fix it first instead.

Already have.

It's here :- http://www.sevenforums.com/performa...ll-not-recover-original-dvd-used-install.html


Decided to give Repair Install a try using Option 5 but after I select Upgrade I get:-

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)”.


Guess I'll need to wait for a solution to my BCD problem.

 

[ben946210]

@Brink Sorry for the delay, I used an upgrade key to upgrade to Pro. My friend has a copy of Pro if that will work.. Also, I don't fully understand. Do I have to re-install all of my programs? Won't they be moved to the windows.old folder making them unusable?

 

[stevieray]

@Brink Sorry for the delay, I used an upgrade key to upgrade to Pro. My friend has a copy of Pro if that will work.. Also, I don't fully understand. Do I have to re-install all of my programs? Won't they be moved to the windows.old folder making them unusable?

Your friend's copy of Pro will work, or you could just download an .iso of the correct version (x86 or x64, w/ or w/o sp1) burn it to a disc, and use that. Either way will work. And you shouldn't have to reinstall any of your programs after a Repair Install.

 

[NormanLaw]

I'm part way through the repair install. I'm at the point where the installer finished copying Windows files and is gathering Files, Settings and Programs.

It has been running for about 3 hours and is at 50% complete. My PC has 4 physical disk drives configured as two striped RAID arrays. Disk C: has the OS and program files and D: has my data. I have configured Windows so that "My Documents" are on the D: (Data) drive. I'm beginning to suspect that the RI is copying "My Documents" to it's temporarary storage area so that it can restore them at the end of the repair. If that's the case then I may have a problem soon.

My C: drive is about 900GB (0.9 TB) and has about 200 GB in use (just OS and programs). My D: drive is a similar size but only has about 200 GB free. If the RI is doing what I suspect I may well run out of disk space on C: soon.

Can anyone confirm that this may be what is happening and whether I can run RI without copying data that's on a different disk?

If it does fail, will it roll back to it's pre-RI state and allow me to temporarily point "My Documents" back at the C: drive?

 

[Brink]

Hello Norman,

3 hours is a bit of time for a RI. What percentage complete are you sitting at now since it's been 4 hours later?

If the RI fails, then it will normally give you an error and roll back to the pre-RI state. With your "My Documents" locatedd on another drive, it may not be included in the RI. If so, you should still be able to copy it's contents back into to the new one.

 

[NormanLaw]

Thanks for replying.

The "Gathering Files, Settings and Programs" step finished about 45 minutes ago (after 8.5 hours). It then started expanding files and re-booted at 18%. When it restarted the expanding files took another 45 minutes nand it has now finished "Installing features and updates" and is "Transferring files, settings and programs" as I type. It remains to be seen whether it takes a similar amount of time to copy everything back.

At least I didn't run out of disk space. I'll report back later. It's just reported it's 35% completed so maybe it wont take as long.

 

[Brink]

Wow, I sure hope not.

 

[NormanLaw]

OK, it's just re-booted and preparing computer for first use so not as bad this time. Total time for RI 9.5 hours.

Just off for some grub so will complete it a bit later. Will report back fully later or tomorrow. (It's 18:30 UK time).

Thanks for your support and interest.

 

[NormanLaw]

Another 7 hours of installing updates and SP1 but all done now. There were over 100 updates and that was before SP1 was given as an option. When I tried to download them all and install them as a batch the process failed and rolled back. The system doesn't show which one(s) caused the failure so I resorted to installing them in small batches. This has worked.

Just done a final cleanup and now backing up C: to my D: drive.

I'll investigate some imaging options when that's done. I thought I'd use the tut on Slipstreaming Win7 SP1 onto a USB disk (in case I have to go through this again) but the RT7 Lite (beta 2.6.0 64 bit) program won't run so that needs further investigation.

Thanks again.

 

[Brink]

That's great news Norman. Thank you for posting back.