Repair Install

Daler,

It sounds like it may be a retail "OEM" copy then. If the OEM installation disc doesn't have SP1 included with it, then you would need to uninstall SP1 from your current installation before you will be able to use it to do a repair install with if that was the same disc you used to install your current installation with. If you are not able to boot into Windows 7, you will still not be able to do a repair install though.

However, with that much trouble and risk, you might consider just biting the bullet and backing up anything that you do not want to lose, then do a clean install instead.

Hello Emptysorrows,

Yes, but I would recommend having the attached VHD file be on a different partition or drive than the Windows 7 partition.

You could also do so from a USB flash drive.

USB Windows 7 Installation Key Drive - Create

Hope this helps,
Shawn

Thank you Brink. But just to be sure, I should create a second partition (on the same drive) and place the VHD on the second partition. Then upgrade from that. Then extend the first partition into the second later. Is that what you mean?

Sorry. I meant to say: Can I mount the Windows 7 ISO I made from my installation DVD using DaemonTools and upgrade from the virtual DVD.

Since you have a ISO, it would be much easier to just burn the ISO to a USB flash drive at least 4GB in size, then run the repair installation from the USB drive.

For how, see the Part 2 section here: Windows 7 USB/DVD Download Tool.

Daler,

Sorry, but a slipstreamed installation disc can only be used to do a clean install with. It will not work to do a repair install with.

Hello pharish10,

I would always recommend to backup anything that you do not want to lose to be safe. :)

The yellow TIP box at the top of the tutorial will give you more details on what will be affected, but basically a repair install affects Windows 7 system files and sometimes drivers. Anything in the User folders will not be affected.

Hope this helps,
Shawn