Repair Install


  1. Posts : 71,959
    64-bit Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
    Thread Starter
       #2120

      My Computer


  2. Posts : 1
    Windows 7 Home Prem OA 64 bit
       #2121

    Hello, I have an ASUS laptop, model number: K53E. I have Windows Home Prem OA and it appears to be an OEM version.

    The Windows update on my laptop is not updating. When I try and do it manually I end up with an error that says "Windows could not search for new updates," with an error code 800f081f. My searching eventually led me to a thread here that suggested (another user) to do a repair install, with a link to this thread.

    In attempting to download an ISO file for the repair install, I have to enter my key on the Windows site and it tells me I need to go the the manufacturer of the laptop. Apparently my laptop did not come with a recovery DVD, its on a hidden recovery partition. Is there any way to make a bootable flash drive ISO out of the recovery partition or am I stuck with doing a clean install/recovery?

    If I can't do a repair install, can I do the free Windows 8 or 10 upgrade if I want to keep all my files/programs or will the error preventing Windows update also prevent the upgrade? I'm not particularly hellbent on keeping 7.

    Thanks so much for any help!
      My Computer


  3. Posts : 71,959
    64-bit Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
    Thread Starter
       #2122

    Hello jerm, and welcome to Seven Forums. :)

    Unfortunately, you will not be able to do a repair install with OEM installation media. Only with retail installation media that is the same version as what you currently have installed.

    Technically, the free upgrade to Windows 10 Home from Windows 7 Home is no longer officially available. However, many have reported still being able to upgrade for free to Windows 10.

    If you like, you could try it by downloading the latest Windows 10 Home ISO file, and do an upgrade install using the ISO file. If prompted for a product key, enter your Windows 7 key to see if it will be accepted.

    Download Windows 10 ISO File Installation Upgrade Tutorials

    Upgrade to Windows 10 Installation Upgrade Tutorials

    I would recommend to back up anything that you do not want to lose to be safe.
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  4. Posts : 137
    Windows 7 Ultimate 64-bit SP1
       #2123

    Hello. Thank you for providing this tutorial. That helped me a lot, and the computer seems to be functioning normally again.

    I was going to try the convenience update thing after doing a repair install, but the automatic update thing went right into action following the repair install.

    Is there an installation option that will result in automatic Windows updates being switched off when the installation of Windows 7 completes? Would you just select "Ask me later" in step 17 of this tutorial, or does the installation option in step 17 pertain to more than how Windows Update will be set to function at the conclusion of the repair install?

    Also, this is a suggestion. When I got to step 12, compatibility check, the only thing listed was iTunes, so I guess that's still a thing, but anyway the tutorial instructions say "12. Windows will now check for any compatibility issues. If any are found like in the example below, take care of them first then restart the repair install process over again." And the onscreen instructions the installation provides say to "Cancel the upgrade..." and uninstall the program[s] listed. I didn't know if that meant click the red X to cancel the repair install or if I should click Next because that would be telling it to do what should be done next, like cancel the installation of Windows 7. Do you know what I mean? So maybe it would help to just mention in the tutorial to click the red X to cancel the repair install.
      My Computer


  5. Posts : 71,959
    64-bit Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
    Thread Starter
       #2124

    Hello Efdy, :)

    Step 17 would indeed be for Windows Update after the installation has finished. You can always change your Windows Update settings though.

    Good point for step 12. I've updated it to help make it more clear.
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  6. Posts : 137
    Windows 7 Ultimate 64-bit SP1
       #2125

    Hello. Thank you for making a reply. Thank you again for helping me. Thank you for Seven Forums. I hope you will have a good week.
      My Computer


  7. Posts : 137
    Windows 7 Ultimate 64-bit SP1
       #2126

    Thank you.


    It's been a few months since the repair install. That Windows>Logs>CBS folder was increasing in size by GB per day--I have no idea why, really; it kept doing that even after errors were fixed with help from Snick and others--but it doesn't do that anymore. I still don't know how to use a computer very well, but at least this one works so much better again, and the older one is better off after Snick helped me resolve a bunch of errors on that one related to using Avast, I guess. I got the Malwarebytes premium for both PCs for real-time protection and bought that Macrium license for multiple PCs and set that up as best as I could figure out how to do. Maybe I will be all right until Windows 7 is no longer supported, or whatever. I hope I didn't just jinx myself somehow.

    Thank you to the administrators for SevenForums and to everyone who takes time to offer help here. Sorry if I put this in the wrong place or if it was stupid to post it.
      My Computer


  8. Posts : 71,959
    64-bit Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
    Thread Starter
       #2127

    I'm glad it was able to help @Efdy.
      My Computer


  9. Posts : 26
    Windows 7 Ultimate x64
       #2128

    Hi everybody and Brink,

    I have been recommended to perform a Repair Install in this thread because of an audio issue.

    Even I hoped for a much less invasive solution (still hoping!), nevertheless the Repair Install could be the choice of last resort.

    My system is Windows 7 x64 SP1 Ultimate and according to the System control panel the serial number contains an 'OEM'.
    At the same time, using Speccy I found the 25 number long #.
    However I own a MSDN original ISO file (Win 7 x64 SP1 Ultimate) that could be burned as a DVD.

    But I am not sure how to interpret the 'Warning' at page 1 of this thread.

    I am referring to this excerpt:
    "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."

    1) So.. will I able to use my ISO/DVD for the Repair Install of my current Windows 7?

    Other issue:

    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.

    The C:\ free space currently is 33 GB with the Windows folder using 27.5 GB.
    C:\program files is 3.5 GB and C:\ program files (x86) is 15 GB.
    C:\Users is 198 GB because of larges files on desktop.

    2) How much space do I need to free up, please?

    Thank you!
    Last edited by entib; 20 Aug 2018 at 05:37.
      My Computer


  10. Posts : 71,959
    64-bit Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
    Thread Starter
       #2129

    Hello entib,

    That part of the warning is just to let you know that you can use a retail ISO to repair install an OEM installation since you can't use OEM factory recovery media to repair install.

    That should be enough free space for the repair install. If not for some reason, the repair install will just fail at some point, and automatically revert back to where you were before doing it. I would recommend to go ahead and free up as much space as possible to be extra safe to help avoid wasting time if it fails.

    Hard Disk Space - Free Up and Recover
      My Computer


 

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