Repair Install

abyrne · Feb 17, 2015

Posted a week ago with issues, since then I backed up my music, files and settings easily to an external HDD, and performed a clean install. It all worked fine, was so quick, and my old stuff was on the computer under 'windows.old' so the backup wasn't even that essential (although obviously advisable). One thing I forgot to do was download backups of my drivers, but I got those using another computer. Laptop is running like new again, device manager full again and everything sweet! Thanks for the great guidance!

Brink · Feb 17, 2015

Hello Abyrne,

I'm glad to hear that it went well. Thank you for posting back with your results.

Docfxit · Feb 20, 2015

I'm trying to do a repair install. After choosing Upgrade I get this screen:

View attachment 350298

When I follow the instructions I get the same screen again. How can I get out of this loop?

Thanks,

Docfxit

Brink · Feb 20, 2015

Hello Docfxit,

Are you doing this from inside Windows and not at boot?

Docfxit · Feb 20, 2015

I'm booting to a DVD.

Thanks for the quick reply.

Docfxit

Brink · Feb 20, 2015

Ah, that's why then. A repair install (aka: in-place upgrade) can only be done from within Windows.

Docfxit · Feb 20, 2015

I understand now.

Thanks,

Docfxit

Brink · Feb 20, 2015

Correct. Just like in step 5.

Docfxit · Feb 20, 2015

I'm getting an error during the upgrade saying:
The upgrade was canceled

Setup can't continue. Restart the computer and restart Setup

View attachment 350299

I have tried to install Windows Update. I get error Code 80073712
I have run CHKDSK /r /f With no problems showing
I have tried to run sfc /scannow In an elevated cmd window
I get an error saying:
Windows Resource Protection could not perform the requested operation

Do you have any ideas on what I can do to repair Win7 Pro 64bit?

Thank you,

Docfxit

Brink · Feb 20, 2015

It appears that you will need to do a clean install of Windows instead.

maxseven · Feb 20, 2015

You might try another DVD, or make a USB stick and try that.

I did this recently, trying a USB stick I'd made following the tutorial, and it didn't work (different stoppage than yours, but still...). When I tried a DVD instead, THAT worked! The opposite of what I might have expected, but I never (well rarely) argue with success.

osandakj · Mar 19, 2015

What if I didn't change user folder location back to default?

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.

I wanted to re install windows without losing installed programs. I got the bootable media as well. I still have a doubt that @Brink has mentioned to move user folders back to the default locations before installation in "Warning" section of the first post in this thread :sarc:

My C drive is almost full and my user folder alone is around is over 200 GB. Clearly I can't move all my user folders into the c:\users from D. Instead of moving it back into the proper place, am I still able to do a repair installation without getting into any troubles?

Please help!
Thanks in advance before.
Excuse my bad English, I'm not a native speaker.

osandakj · Mar 19, 2015

^^^ Solved

I just realize that a person have already asked this exact question before and Brink has answered it. I could have used the search before I made my earlier post

Anyway thank you very much sir.

Brink said:
web2 said:

Shawn,

At the beginning of your Repair Install process tutorial is a list of warnings. The last two are cautions about changed default locations for User Accounts. I can understand the need to have the Users' profile folder at the default location on the C: drive because that stuff is closely integrated with system and program operational information. In fact, I never move those files from C: for that reason.

But the rest of the files in the User Account folder are data, ideally separated from the operating system and application programs into another partition (dedicated to storing only data files) for lots of reasons. I'm talking about files such as Documents, Favorites, Contacts, Pictures, etc., etc.. What is the purpose of the warning on having those data files relocated from their default location on C:?

I agree that Windows will repair those user folders into their default location on C:, so those repaired folders will have to have their pointers restored to their non-default locations for access to their pre-repair data. But even if the repair process puts new files into those repaired folders, won't the location-moving process merely integrate the new files with those still located on the original data partition? [I guess I should try that, but you may already know the answer.]

I returned those folders, reluctantly, to their default locations on C: prior to the repair proces and then moved them back after completing the repair process because I didn't want to louse up the repair process and lose my time investment in it. Now that my crisis is over, I'm preparing in case such recovery is again needed by myself or others around me, so I am reviewing the repair process for efficiency and risk management. So help me understand that last item in your warnings list. please.

By the way, I made a backup of my entire system prior to runing the repair process, just in case something went awry. Good insurance!! It's too soon to be able to tell if I lost any data in the repair process, but I can get it back if some was lost.

Thanks again for a very fine job!

Bill

Click to expand...

Hello Bill,

That's a smart decision to create a system image to be safe. You never know what monkey wrench may pop-up.

Anytime you move the location of either the user profile folder (user-name) or any of the user folders (Music, Pictures, etc...), you risk it not transferring over properly or not at all during the repair install and possibly causing a user profile error, or worse lost of data in the folders.

Instead of moving the locations of the folders, you might consider this below to be able to access the files from your libraries with the files actually located where you like instead. It's much easier to just include the folder again, than to try and fix a messed up moved user folder.

Create a new folder at any location you want.

Move any files you want from the user folders into the new folder.

Include the new folder into a library of your choice.

If you like, you can also set the new folder to be the default "save" to location for the library as well.

Brink · Mar 19, 2015

Glad to hear that you got it sorted osandakj.

iamc3k · Mar 31, 2015

I'm in the midst of trying a Repair Install due to a failed sfc/scannow. http://www.sevenforums.com/performance-maintenance/365242-sfc-scannow-error-xpssvcs-dll.html

Following this Tutorial, I've downloaded the Windows 7/64 SP1 ISO from Microsoft Software Recovery

However, I have an issue.

My computers have (mostly) OEM copies of W7 installed on them. I have the Product Keys (Thank you, Magical Jelly Bean!), but MS refuses to let me download an ISO with an OEM product key. The full retail key I have is, apparently, only good for that particular computer. (Obviously, each computer has a unique product key. Each one represents a purchase I made when I built them or bought them. I'd think MS would have SOME way to verify that I am a valid customer and not trying to steal anything. This is...frustrating. I have 5 W7 machines in the house. Yet, they'll give W10 away to pirated copies??? Grrr.)

I have disks...BUT, sorting which disk goes with which machine is a bit of a pain, and the USB is soooo much faster.

Is there a way to get an ISO which is not tied to a specific product key, so I can use it as a "universal" repair installer? (And type in my associated Product Key for that HARDWARE?)

Thanks,

Ken

PS From what I am reading, it seems that MS shut off the OEM option just a few weeks ago. Why!?!? Timing is everything...

Brink · Mar 31, 2015

Hello Key,

If they are all the same edition (ex: Home Edition), then you can download the ISO with your retail key, then install on each computer with their own key. Usually you could activate a retail copy with an OEM key.

iamc3k · Mar 31, 2015

^^^

Awesome! Yes, they're all the same W7/64 Home Premium.

Thanks,
Ken

Brink · Mar 31, 2015

You're most welcome.

iamc3k · Apr 1, 2015

Using the retail key to Repair install the OEM install has worked. (I used the retail key to download the ISO from MS. I used the appropriate OEM key to reinstall the OEM OS.)

There were MANY popup windows about the install being "illegitimate" or somesuch. I activated it, and they went away.

I'm in the midst of update hell... But, at least, the Repair Install seems to've worked.

My desktop background is black, I have not checked for bookmarks and favorites, or email settings. I'll do all that once the updates are done.

There is a persistent .NET 4.5 error message. After the updates, I'll check and upload if needed.

The whole purpose was to repair a sfc /scannow error pointing to xpssvcs.dll: I'll check that AFTER all this other stuff is done. (Long morning...)

Ken

Brink · Apr 1, 2015

Good news so far Ken. I hope the last few kinks get worked out.

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