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

 

[ICIT2LOL]

Hey John,

Sure, he could do that as well as long as it's for the same edition of Windows 7.

Yep that's what I meant it just seemed to be getting harder to do with the existing media.

 

[CrzySLAM]

I don't know anyone with another copy of Windows 7 Professional. We just want to get this computer to download files with Chrome and so fourth. It's rarely used, the PC has been in use the most over the last 30 days compared the previous 7 months. It does except the WoW updates that are posted every Tuesday. We want to get this fixed the easiest way possible, and some of these guides seem a little more advanced then what we are use to. We do have the back up ISOs, we just don't know how to use them properly. Can someone help/link to us an easy guide (with screen shots) on using these ISOs, if there is no alternative.

 

[Brink]

This below would probably be about as easy as possible. Please let us know if you have any questions.

http://www.sevenforums.com/3110719-post1896.html

 

[ICIT2LOL]

Yep Shawn I think either way including that tool in Gregs tutorial would be handy.

For CzySlam - Ei.cfg Removal Utility Lets You Use Any Product Key With Your Windows 7 Disc it doesn't matter what version the disk says mate read through this.

 

[atomheart411]

I'm hoping somebody can help me here. I was trying to do a in-place upgrade using my original 7x64 sp1 disk. Set it up, it started running. I knew it was going to take hours so I went out to run some errands. Came back a little over an hour later and the computer is on but no screen. I thought it might be between tasks or something so I let it be. Checked it about a half hour later and still dark, yet also running. I tried to put it into sleep via the power button , as previously configured. Nothing. After a few hours of this I finally turned off the power supply. Powered back up I and I heard the disk start up but then stop. Still dark. Tried several iterations of power down and power up, disk in, disk out. Tried every display output, even pulled out the old VGA monitor. Nada.
Has anyone here had an experience like this?

 

[Docfxit]

I am trying to do a repair install. I successfully got to step 15 Enter the product key. The keyboard and the mouse don't work.

I'm working with Win7 Ultimate 32bit. Lenovo Laptop W550s.

Do you have any ideas how I can get past this screen?

Thank you,

Docfxit

 

[Ex_Brit]

I'm hoping somebody can help me here. I was trying to do a in-place upgrade using my original 7x64 sp1 disk. Set it up, it started running. I knew it was going to take hours so I went out to run some errands. Came back a little over an hour later and the computer is on but no screen. I thought it might be between tasks or something so I let it be. Checked it about a half hour later and still dark, yet also running. I tried to put it into sleep via the power button , as previously configured. Nothing. After a few hours of this I finally turned off the power supply. Powered back up I and I heard the disk start up but then stop. Still dark. Tried several iterations of power down and power up, disk in, disk out. Tried every display output, even pulled out the old VGA monitor. Nada.
Has anyone here had an experience like this?

I experienced the same thing but in my case it had decided to pick my TV as my main screen. It was off at the time but when I turned it on and switched inputs, there was my desktop. Make sure no extra monitors etc. are attached to the graphics card.

 

[atomheart411]

I only had the one monitor plugged in. Reading some other forums it sounds like a driver issue perhaps. Something reverted to a previous configuration. But without any screen whatsoever I can't do any kind of recovery. I'm pretty well resigned to taking it back to the shop I had build it and they can try another graphics card or something. I dunno.

 

[Ex_Brit]

Can't do anything in Safe Mode?

 

[jjsjjs]

I did the whole thing, and took almost a whole day.
Still i have the same problem.

All browser and email can access internet but other programs not.
I created a few programs with livecode.
They post to a php file on a website and normally get the information back from the database.
But now it does not work anymore.

So that's why i tried this tutorial.
Even disabling firewall or Microsoft Essentials does not help.
On the same home network on an other pc it does work, so it is not my router.

but no luck, any suggestions? (i don't understand wireshark at all so that's not helping me to see where it is going wrong)

Thanks for any suggestion.

 

[Brink]

Hello jjsjjs,

I'm afraid that it looks like you may need to clean install instead.

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

 

[jjsjjs]

Hi Brink thank you for your reply

oh oh that's what i'm afraid of too...
I noticed that outgoing POST to the php script is working ok as i checked the database with phpmyadmin and saw that what i had send was written in it.
So conclusion is there is something other than the firewall blocking incoming data.

Any suggestion on that before i do a clean install ?

Thanks very much.

 

[Brink]

I'm not aware of anything else.

 

[jjsjjs]

Ok thank you so far. i appreciate it !

 

[Docfxit]

I ran a repair install from the hard drive after copying all files out of an ISO. It is currently asking for a Key. The keyboard and the mouse don't work. This is a Laptop Lenovo W550s I have tried:

1. Plugging in an external USB keyboard and re-booted.
2. Plugging in an external USB mouse and re-booted.
3. Booted from a CD with Win 7 (The same version that is installed)
I get to the Compatibility Report and it says: "The computer started using the Windows installation disk. Remove the installation disk and restart the upgrade."

The Keyboard and the mouse work just fine to start the install.
If I boot from a USB bootable CD the keyboard and mouse work just fine.

How can I get the repair install to recognize the keyboard?

Thank you,

Docfxit

 

[Brink]

Hello Docfxit,

If you have selected to do an upgrade from within Windows 7 and not at boot, it shouldn't be asking for a product key if the Windows is currently activated, and if the installation media is the same edition, version, and language you currently have installed.

 

[Docfxit]

Thanks for the reply...

This installation has Windows is currently activated, and I believe the installation media is the exact same edition, version, and language I currently have installed. I believe there is a file in the setup folder that shows exactly what is being installed. How can I find that file?

Thanks,

Docfxit

 

[Brink]

You could check the Windows setup logs to see if anything stands out.

https://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/Dd744583(v=WS.10).aspx

 

[Docfxit]

I found a way to determine what version of the OS is being installed from the ISO file.

dism /Get-WimInfo /WimFile:E:\sources\install.wim /index:1

My results show:
Index : 1
Name : Windows 7 STARTER
Description : Windows 7 STARTER
Size : 8,072,604,598 bytes
Architecture : x86
Hal : acpiapic
Version : 6.1.7601
ServicePack Build : 17514
ServicePack Level : 1
Edition : Starter
Installation : Client
ProductType : WinNT
ProductSuite : Terminal Server
System Root : WINDOWS
Directories : 9105
Files : 46887
Created : 11/20/2010 - 3:26:11 PM
Modified : 11/20/2010 - 6:16:15 PM
Languages :
en-US (Default)

The operation completed successfully.

I'm surprised to see Windows 7 STARTER
I expected to see Windows 7 Ultimate

I have attached the setuperr.log file.
I'm wondering if one problem might be the R: drive. In windows normal operation I have a ram drive that is created for my temp files. The error log shows the R: drive failed.

Thanks,
Docfxit

 

[Brink]

Does it show "Windows Starter" in System as well? If so, then the installation media will need to be the same.

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/68265-system-shortcut-create.html

It wouldn't hurt to not use the RAM drive for your temp files during the repair install to see if it may help.