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

 

[maxseven]

Max,

Don't have a WSUS server to test with.

If you got the "Install Now" screen, then there's a very good chance that it's good.

Thanks; dumb questions both maybe.

Disc seems good--I'm ready for anything now. Thanks for the support here!

 

[Brink]

You're most welcome Max. See my signature about questions.

 

[ubose]

Will Repair Install help if computer is infected?

My Windows 7 64-bit Home computer was infected and would not let me do a System Restore, which I tried as a fix. I was able to launch Windows and do usual stuff like word-process and browse the internet. But I was seeing strange popups from Malwarebytes and the newly installed Comodo security program. I think I got infected when I clicked on a Comodo titled popup soon after installing the security program. Thinking that malfunctioning security programs are a big problem, I did a clean install of my computer and it took me many hours to get back to the way it was with all my data and most of the programs. Would a Repair Install been a quicker solution? Thanks.

 

[Brink]

Hello ubose,

I'm sorry but no. A repair install would not help with a virus infection.

I would recommend to do a clean install again.

 

[texhnologic]

Sorry if this has been asked before, but how long does it take to do the "upgrade"? 2-3 hours?

 

[Brink]

Hello Texhnologic,

It will greatly vary per system based on it's speed and performance, but yeah I would plan to give yourself at least that long to have time to do the repair install and make any needed setup adjustments afterwards.

 

[TDPsGM]

On the first post:
6. Repair Installed Windows 7 without SP1 using Windows 7 without SP1 DVD/USB

In the Notes box you say:
It is preferred to have SP1 installed and use step 4 or 5 above to do a repair install instead.

==============

"It is preferred to have SP1 installed . . ." ===> are you referring to the computer os or the install .iso???

My situation:
We have been trying to install our SP1 using windows updates and we have tried everything. This is the only thing left for us to try now.

To be clear: on a machine that has Windows 7 without SP1, we must do the repair using an install disk that DOES NOT have SP1 included in the .iso file. Is that correct?

If that is correct, can I take the Windows 7 install iso, and extract the files to my D: drive using 7-zip and run the set up files from there? You said I could do that with the install disk that HAS sp1 but it was not clear as to whether or not I could do that with the non-SP1 .iso files.

Thanks for the help.

 

[Kaktussoft]

On the first post:
6. Repair Installed Windows 7 without SP1 using Windows 7 without SP1 DVD/USB

In the Notes box you say:
It is preferred to have SP1 installed and use step 4 or 5 above to do a repair install instead.

==============

"It is preferred to have SP1 installed . . ." ===> are you referring to the computer os or the install .iso???

My situation:
We have been trying to install our SP1 using windows updates and we have tried everything. This is the only thing left for us to try now.

To be clear: on a machine that has Windows 7 without SP1, we must do the repair using an install disk that DOES NOT have SP1 included in the .iso file. Is that correct?

If that is correct, can I take the Windows 7 install iso, and extract the files to my D: drive using 7-zip and run the set up files from there? You said I could do that with the install disk that HAS sp1 but it was not clear as to whether or not I could do that with the non-SP1 .iso files.

Thanks for the help.

On machine with win7 WITHOUT SP1: Use win7 install ISO with SP1 included (prefered). Or use win7 install ISO without SP1 included.

Why extract the files?

 

[Brink]

Hello TDPsGM,

In addition, yes, you could extract either ISO (with or without SP1 included) to D: if you like, then run the setup.exe file to start the repair installation.

 

[TDPsGM]

On machine with win7 WITHOUT SP1: Use win7 install ISO with SP1 included (prefered). Or use win7 install ISO without SP1 included.

Ok, use the *.iso with SP1 included.
Could that post be edited so others may not have an issue with it?

Why extract the files?

Why not?
I don't have to waste a dvd and I don't happen to have an extra USB laying around and I have a ton of room on my D: drive.
Seems logical. Am I missing something?

Thanks for the reply by the way.

 

[TDPsGM]

Hello TDPsGM,

In addition, yes, you could extract either ISO (with or without SP1 included) to D: if you like, then run the setup.exe file to start the repair installation.

Thanks Brink!

 

[Brink]

No need to edit the tutorial.

If you have Windows 7 without SP1 installed on the computer, then you could use either ISO (with or without SP1) to do the repair install with. It's just preferred to use the ISO version with the latest included in it.

 

[TDPsGM]

No need to edit the tutorial.

If you have Windows 7 without SP1 installed on the computer, then you could use either ISO (with or without SP1) to do the repair install with. It's just preferred to use the ISO version with the latest included in it.

What you said here is very clear. The first post wasn't which is why I ended up asking the question and suggested the edit as the next person to come along will have to sift through 144 pages to find your last post.

I am just trying to help make this thread even more useful by suggesting a 'tweak' to the original post that would save another user what I had to deal with.
You respond VERY quickly - Thank you. But if you are not around . . . .

It was just a thought. I was just trying to give back a little, and I think it would be of value to simply add the above quote.

Thanks again, and wish me luck. Hopefully this solves the problem for me.

 

[Brink]

I hope it goes smoothly for you.

 

[TDPsGM]

Hi Brink. FYI it didn't like the iso with SP1.
It told me to stop, do a windows update and install sp1 before trying this again. Ironically that was the whole reason I was doing this (sp1 would repeatedly try to install and fail).
Now using the ISO without and so far seems to be running ok.

 

[Brink]

Thank you for posting back.

 

[Nightdash]

Just confirming, this will not erase any of my files documents etc correct?

 

[Brink]

Hello Nightdash,

Not normally, but I would always recommend to back up anything that you do not want to lose to be safe. If you lost power while doing a repair install, you could lose everything.

 

[Nightdash]

Oh ok, I always have my laptop plugged in just incase, thanks for the tutorial I hope it works and fixes my OS.

 

[Brink]

You're welcome. I hope it helps as well.