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

 

[sduncan9]

Good evening Brink,
Thanks again for your help and the well written tutorial. Would you have a suggestion on finding instructions for a clean install in my situation? I am mostly worried about getting the right drivers installed.

Best Regards,

Stuart

"Technology is a wonderful thing, unfortunately it does not always perform the way we would like..."

 

[Brink]

Stuart,

Ain't that the truth.

Since you have Toshiba Satellite, the links below from Toshiba can help show you how to do a factory recovery to restore Windows 7 back to factory conditions if your recovery partition is still intact. Be sure to back up anything that you do not want to lose first though.

How to use the Toshiba HDD Recovery Utility

and

How to recover a Toshiba notebook with the HDD recovery procedure

 

[grsims20]

Hi Brink!
Thanks for writing such a thorough tutorial. I'm having an issue, however. I'm attempting a repair install on Windows 7 Home Premium from a Bootable USB with the ISO from the Dell website. After the installation process moved to the "Expanding Windows Files" stage, it reached 14% and then began to reboot, but it went to the desktop and said that the flash drive had to be closed before it could reboot (the message that you would normally get if you tried to shut down with a program running) with the option to cancel or force close. I didn't know what to do so I clicked force close. It rebooted and went back to the installation screen with the same stages. Now, it's still on the "Expanding Windows Files" stage and it's been stuck at 18% for over an hour. Do I have a reason to panic or should I just wait it out?

Thanks!
Greg

 

[grsims20]

Update: it got past that point and is now on the last step: "transferring files, settings, and programs" and has been stuck on 41% for over an hour. Hopefully, it'll break through this wall too.

 

[Brink]

Hello Greg, and welcome to Seven Forums.

As long as you have HDD activity, you should go ahead and wait and let it finish. A repair install could take a long time to finish. Doing a hard shut down like that could corrupt the installation and force you to start all over.

Please let us know how it went.

 

[grsims20]

Will do! It's creeping slowly, but surely. I'm going to let it do its thing and go to sleep and finish up in the morning. I panicked about nothing, I'm sure.

 

[Brink]

No worries. Hopefully it'll finish up for you without issue.

 

[grsims20]

Success! Running quite smoothly for now. Thanks BrinK!

 

[Brink]

You're welcome Greg. That's great news.

 

[santelm]

Can I use Win 7 repair install to get rid of Win 8?

Hi Brink,, I have recently installed Windows 8 (by download) and I really don't like it. In fact it's falling apart before my eyes. The last straw was it forced me to do a 'Refresh' which wiped all of my games and programmes! I use a mouse controlled PC and previously used Windows 7 64bit SP1.. I have in the past successfully used your instructions for a repair install of Windows 7 using my original Microsoft installation disk.... I wondered if I could do a repair install to go back to Windows 7 and if I did how could I ensure I retain my library of files/photos etc?.... What do you think?... regards Rob

 

[Brink]

Hello Santelm,

Sorry, but it will require a clean install of Windows 7 to go back to it.

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/1649-clean-install-windows-7-a.html

 

[shinyjanjan]

Hi shawn, does doing this will loss all the files located in Public Pictures, Public Documents and Public Music?

 

[McNano]

Hi,

I have one question. My current system install is Win7 Home Premium without SP1. Somehow the system is broken, because I can't install SP1 at all.

So, is it possible to make repair install from Win7 Home Premium SP1 -disk, while my system is not SP1? Or should I use Win7 Home Premium RTM -disk?

 

[Brink]

Hi shawn, does doing this will loss all the files located in Public Pictures, Public Documents and Public Music?

Hello Jan,

No, but I would always recommend to back up anything that you do not want to lose to be safe. You never know what may happen (ex: power outage) during the repair install that could cause you to lose everything.

 

[Brink]

Hi,

I have one question. My current system install is Win7 Home Premium without SP1. Somehow the system is broken, because I can't install SP1 at all.

So, is it possible to make repair install from Win7 Home Premium SP1 -disk, while my system is not SP1? Or should I use Win7 Home Premium RTM -disk?

Hello McNano, and welcome to Seven Forums.

No. You wouldn't be able to use a Windows 7 HP w/SP1 installation disc to do a repair install with since you do not have SP1 installed yet. You'll need to use a Windows 7 Home Premium RTM disk without SP1 to do so instead.

I hope it helps with your SP1 issue.

 

[Zoandar]

I would like to know what impact this type of repair upgrade will have on installed program activations?

Several of my programs are of the type in which the program vendor limits the number of activations allowed, and monitors that number via the net. For example, MS Flight Simulator X. In order to not exceed the allowable number of (re-installation) activations (a number usually not disclosed to the program purchaser) I typically have to UN-install each of those programs while internet access is available, so each will reduce its activation counter by 1 with the vendor.

In situations where the PC has a sudden death, and the programs can't be deactivated before a wipe and rebuild, the vendors may refuse to allow the program to be reinstalled by its legitimate purchaser because they have "exceeded the allowed number of activations". I've had this happen to me before I knew anything about these limits placed on program activations, forcing me to purchase a program a second time. Some vendors are sympathetic by phone, but some are not.

So, I'd like to avoid all that, but I would prefer not to have to uninstall all my programs. If I have to do that, I might as well just wipe and do a full clean installation. This tutorial is a handy shortcut, if it will work without losing program activations. Has anyone run into this problem using the tutorial?

 

[Brink]

Hello Zoandar,

It shouldn't affect it, but there's no guarantee since it really depends on how the program goes about it's activation.

 

[Zoandar]

Thanks, Brink.

I am debating whether to just reformat drive C and start over. I just did that in September and things worked OK. But adding a second SSD (in addition to the boot drive) and my forgetting when reconnecting the SSD drives, that the boot SSD had to be on SATA1, sent me down a long path of grief when the BIOS tossed its boot drive sequence and started looking at several other drives in the PC, as well as network boot (which I don't use).

After remedying all that with moving the boot drive cables back where they belonged on SATA1, and running the BootRec utility to fix the boot files, the PC is OK now, except that my external eSATA enclosed bluray burner is no longer seen as a bluray drive in Win7 Home Premium x 64. It shows up as a CD Drive in Device Mgr., and I've burned 3 DVD-DL coasters trying to use the drive since then.

I hooked the bluray drive back up by eSATA to my Windows XP rig and burned 5 DVD-DL discs without errors. So something is still wrong in the Win7 PC. The only SATA drivers provided with my Asus P7P55D board are for RAID, which I don't use. I installed them thinking it might help. Now I can't remove them. So this is why I was thinking of the Repair/Upgrade procedure, to hopefully sort out any messed up system files.

But I guess the only guaranteed path of safety at this point would be to uninstall all those activation-monitored apps and do a full clean installation again. A few of my programs are legacy versions, like FSX and Paperport, neither of which have much in the line of decent support if I exceed their activation counters. Nuance would probably just tell me I needed to spend $100 to upgrade to their latest Paperport (which I have tried, but hated, because they stripped away all the tools I use the most).

If you have any other suggestions how to fix this bluray issue I'd love to hear them. I tried Device Mgr. Update Driver on it and Windows just says it already has the best match for a driver (still showing it as a CD drive). Oddly, if I dig into the properties of the CD Drive listing it does show being a Pioneer BDR-206 there. Rather confusing that Win7 knows this and yet has decided to stop listing bluray drive in the main Device Mgr. listing. It used to show as bluray before I started this adventure.

Thanks again.

 

[Brink]

You're welcome. A repair install wouldn't have gotten rid of the driver.

 

[stevieray]

Hey Zoandar.

I had the same issue a few years ago on an XP machine. I had to unplug the dvd and then remove the drivers in device manager (not just update them) and also delete the upper and lower filters in the registry. When I plugged the drive back in, it worked fine. It wasn't really too hard... but I cannot remember all of the steps after so many years.

You could try and post your problem in the Hardware and Devices section, or perhaps the Drivers section, of the forum. I'm sure someone there will know just what to do.