Repair Install

You're most welcome Larry. I'm happy to hear that you are back up and running fine again. :)

Hello Stevie,

A repair install is basically just an inplace upgrade install using the same edition of Windows 7 that's currently installed instead of the usual higher edition. Since this is technically an upgrade, it replaces all system files with default copies, leaves your user accounts and installed programs intact, and dumps a copy of your current installation in the C:\Windows.old folder as a backup in the new installation. Any discarded files that cannot be used in the new installation may also be dumped into a C:\$INPLACE.~TR and/or C:\WINDOWS.~Q folder in the new installation.

Hope this helps,
Shawn

Hello Max,

I'm not sure how it will work with XP. I would recommend to backup anything that you do not want to lose in case it all goes south though.

Thanks for this great tutorial. My PC is a little sluggish and I was thinking if reinstalling W7 over an existing installation is possible (i remember doing it for XP a couple of times) and this tut answered my questions and then some.

Now, just need to find some time to do it (I still have some mid-term exams to go through).

Again, thanks!

You're welcome Alex. To be extra safe though, backup anything that you do not want to lose before doing it. :)

Of course, After some unfortunate dealings with an old HDD, I`m always backing up my important stuff.