Repair Install

Brink · Jun 11, 2012

macnab said:
Sorry to post this question if already posted, but 94 pages is a lot to go through!

Have Windows 7 Pro.
Clean installed from DVD without SP1.
Using Automatic Updates got SP1 when it came out.
Don't want to download 4.1GB file from Digital River (bandwith limits.)
Followed from Step 6.
Stops on Step 10 (compatibility) - Can't Upgrade 7 Pro to 7 Pro, should do clean install.

Hello Macnab,

If you have not already used the SP1 Disk Cleanup Tool, then you could also just uninstall SP1 and do step 4 instead with your "retail" Windows 7 without SP1 installation disc instead.

Hope this helps,
Shawn

macnab · Jun 12, 2012

Unfortunately I've done the SP1 cleanup. I had no priblems with it, the problems I have are new.

Looks like a clean install. An absolute pain as I have 85GB in my PROGS folder. I don't use Program Files so everything is there and the quality software will do a Repair, which will mostly be just doing the Registry entries. Still, I need a lot of it re-installed before I can even begin to work. And updates will take days and use up all my bandwidth, unless I only switch auto-update on between midnight and 8am, when my bandwidth is free.

Maybe I should create slipstrem install disks. But that eliminates ever doing a Repair Install again. But who knows if doiung a clean install and downloaded updates will allow me to do a Repair Install in the future.

A dilemma.

Brink · Jun 12, 2012

Have you considered downloading the Windows 7 w/SP1 ISO file from Digital Rivers during your free bandwidth time? This way you could do the repair install instead.

macnab · Jun 12, 2012

This would mean getting up at midnight to start it. Can be done.
And I presume you mean download the Win7 with SP1?

Just read your email properly and see it does say with SP1!!!

Brink · Jun 12, 2012

Yeah, I know, but it's that or a clean install.

gravity347 · Jun 13, 2012

Hi all,
Firstly, thanks for the tutorial. I found this page a while ago and bookmarked it as I do computer repair. More so as a hobby but in times of financial need, it can substitute as income.
I used this tutorial on one of my pcs and it worked flawless, just as described.
Unsure if someone already did this or even posted about it, but i decline to read 50+ pages of replies, if it has been then this will be a "Yes, it did work for me too" reply.

I wanted to transfer a drive between laptops without doing a clean install of the OS.
So after making an image of my drive I transferred the drive to destination laptop, booted and evidently, BSOD. OK, major conflict with hardware and existing drivers. Transfered drive back to source laptop and proceeded with this tutorial.
Upon the system needing to reboot, I turned of the source laptop at the post screen, transferred hard drive to destination laptop along with the install dvd and proceeded with the upgrade.
BOOM!
Smooth sailing....Updated drivers via updates among a few other small things.
Didnt lose any programs or settings and the OS is just as I left it from my old laptop, minus the said issues at the start of the tut!

Successful transfer of operating system between a HP DV2000 series laptop to HP ProBook.

Once again thanks for the knowledge and keep up the good work.

Brink · Jun 13, 2012

That's great news gravity347, and welcome to Seven Forums. Thank you for the feedback.

hiitsmescott · Jun 19, 2012

Night Hawk said:
hiitsmescott said:

Thanks for this tutorial, I've used it successfully in the past more than once. The problem I am having right now is that I've tried both the "with SP1" and "without SP1" fixes and neither works due to the fact that SP1 won't successfully install on my machine. If I try the "without SP1" repair but it says Win 7 Pro can't upgrade to Win 7 Pro. If I try the "with SP1" it says "To upgrade, you need to be running Windows 7 with Service Pack 1 installed. Close the installation, open Windows Update, and then check updates for Service Pack 1." Yet SP1 always fails to install on my system and isn't in my list of installed updates. Any ideas other than reinstall Windows?

Thanks.

Click to expand...

Are you seeing any particular error message when the SP1 install fails? You likely need to run the System Update Readiness Tool. What is the System Update Readiness Tool?

You will also need to disable any antivirus program in the msconfig utility's Startup and Services tabs both. When going into the Services tab first check off the "Hide all Microsoft services" box to avoid disabling any background services. But av and other security programs can interfere with the installation.

Sorry for the delay getting back to you, I'm working a lot of hours right now.
Here's the exact message I get even after trying all the steps you suggested.
"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)”. "

Brink said:
Hello Scott,

In addition to what Night Hawk posted....

I have updated the tutorial to include the new step 4 for this as well to help.

Since you do not have SP1 installed, then you might see if you can use the Windows 7 ISO without SP1 to create a bootable USB/DVD with to do a repair install with instead.

Download Windows 7 ISO (Official 32-bit and 64-bit Direct Download Links) « My Digital Life

Hope this helps,
Shawn

Thanks for the suggestions, I did try both with and without SP1 with no success. I also tried to do an uninstall of SP1, but of course it said it wasn't installed.

My system was originally a Vista machine. My Win 7 always gets corrupted even though I know of others who upgraded this same model with no problems. I've tried installing on hard drive, ssd, with retail disk, with download and yet it always gets corrupted. Any idea what else could be causing the problems? Perhaps a cable or something in the mobo?

Brink · Jun 19, 2012

Hello Scott,

It may be time to consider a clean install.

macnab · Jun 20, 2012

Info for others:

Had Pro x86.
Installed SP1 when it came out.
Ran clean-up when I was happy.
Downloaded Win7 Pro SP1 x86 from Digital River and created disk.
Ran Repair Install.

Everything seems to be fine except:
Had to repair .NET 4 (reported success).
No Windows.old folder.
Said Product ID has expired. Online activation would not work. Selected re-enter Product Key from Computer - Properties - Activate options, which worked.

Don't know if problem solved as Windows Explorer crashes only happened occasionally.

Incidentally, used disk space is now less than it was.

quantumer · Jun 22, 2012

i have a Window 7 Ultimate 32 bit and 64 bit in a single DVD. As window update stealthy updated window, i'm now using W 7 U SP1 x64. I could not repair install cause it say this

Code:

	 The following issues are preventing Windows from upgrading. Cancel the upgrade, complete each task, and then restart the upgrade to continue.

Your current version of Windows is more recent than the version you are trying to upgrade to. Windows cannot complete the upgrade.


You can’t upgrade 64-bit Windows to a 32-bit version of Windows. To upgrade, obtain a 64-bit version of the installation disc, or go online to see how to install Windows 7 and keep your files and settings.


32-bit Windows cannot be upgraded to a 64-bit version of Windows. To upgrade, obtain a 32-bit version of the Windows installation disc.

Any helps please.

Ex_Brit · Jun 22, 2012

There should be 2 DVD's, one 32-bit and one 64-bit. They are never combined on one DVD, unless you obtained it from some unknown source.

Also to repair an OS the media would have to at least include the same service pack as the installed OS, i.e. SP1.

web2 · Jun 27, 2012

Stuck in Step 9

At step 9 I was greeted with a message to the effect, "Cannot upgrade Windows 7 Professional to Windows 7 Professional." The only alternative offered was a clean installation -- exactly what I'd prefer NOT to do.

I have a system configuration fault, and I'd rather try to fix it with a repair installation than having to reload the computer from scratch. The fault is obscure and doesn't seem to be a problem in general -- except there is a printer whose driver cannot work in its presence.

Has the repair installation process changed since this tutorial was posted back in 2009? If so, how may I find the latest version which WILL allow a repair installation from the Windows 7 Professional DVD?

Thanks for any help you may be able to provide.

Brink · Jun 27, 2012

Hello Web, and welcome to Seven Forums.

Do you have SP1 installed, and does your Windows 7 installation disc have SP1 included?

Did you use step 4, 5, or 6?

web2 · Jun 27, 2012

Thanks for your quick response!! I was busy reading all the previous posts to see if my question had already been addressed. I was on page 20 when I decided to check in here again. Nice surprise!!

Yes, I have SP1 installed, but my DVD was made well before SP1 came out. So I used Step 6. The SP1 installation files don't appear in the Disk Cleanup dialog box, so I'm confident I removed them long (years) ago -- disallowing option 2. I figured option 1 wasn't any more efficient than simply proceeding with Step 6 as written.

If my question has already been addressed, just point me to the answer and I'll take it from there.

Thanks!!

Brink · Jun 27, 2012

Web,

In that case, you might give step 5 a try using a downloaded ISO file from the note box under step 5 to create a bootable installation disc w/SP1 to use.

web2 · Jun 27, 2012

Hhmmm. Will my current license key work with the new bootable DVD? Or will I have to purchase a new license?

Digital River says that Windows will work for 30 days before the license is required. Are you saying that my installation will be working well before the 30 days is up, so I won't need to worry about re-licensing (for big bucks)?

Should I stop reading the earlier posts, searching for my question as posed by others?

Brink · Jun 27, 2012

Your current product key number on the COA sticker will work to activate it. You will not need to purchase anything else.

When you buy Windows 7, you are actually buying the key number for that edition. You can use any installation media for the same edition to activate with that key. It doesn't have to be the same installation disc that came in the retail package. This way if you should happen to lose your installation disc, you will still be able to install Windows 7 with your key number.

web2 · Jun 27, 2012

Okay. Thanks for the insight into licensing.

Like you, I'm in Texas and it's late. I'll get some shut-eye and tackle this again in the morning. G'night.

Brink · Jun 27, 2012

I don't blame you. I'm fixing to head off myself for some shut-eye. Goodnight.

Repair Install

Administrator

My Computer

New member

My Computer

Administrator

My Computer

New member

My Computer

Administrator

My Computer

New member

My Computer

Administrator

My Computer

New member

My Computer

Administrator

My Computer

New member

My Computer

New member

My Computer

Older But No Wiser

My Computer

New member

My Computer

Administrator

My Computer

New member

My Computer

Administrator

My Computer

New member

My Computer

Administrator

My Computer

New member

My Computer

Administrator

My Computer