Repair Install

Unfortunately I've done the SP1 cleanup. I had no priblems with it, the problems I have are new.

Looks like a clean install. An absolute pain as I have 85GB in my PROGS folder. I don't use Program Files so everything is there and the quality software will do a Repair, which will mostly be just doing the Registry entries. Still, I need a lot of it re-installed before I can even begin to work. And updates will take days and use up all my bandwidth, unless I only switch auto-update on between midnight and 8am, when my bandwidth is free.

Maybe I should create slipstrem install disks. But that eliminates ever doing a Repair Install again. But who knows if doiung a clean install and downloaded updates will allow me to do a Repair Install in the future.

A dilemma.

This would mean getting up at midnight to start it. Can be done.
And I presume you mean download the Win7 with SP1?

Just read your email properly and see it does say with SP1!!!

Hi all,
Firstly, thanks for the tutorial. I found this page a while ago and bookmarked it as I do computer repair. More so as a hobby but in times of financial need, it can substitute as income.
I used this tutorial on one of my pcs and it worked flawless, just as described.
Unsure if someone already did this or even posted about it, but i decline to read 50+ pages of replies, if it has been then this will be a "Yes, it did work for me too" reply.

I wanted to transfer a drive between laptops without doing a clean install of the OS.
So after making an image of my drive I transferred the drive to destination laptop, booted and evidently, BSOD. OK, major conflict with hardware and existing drivers. Transfered drive back to source laptop and proceeded with this tutorial.
Upon the system needing to reboot, I turned of the source laptop at the post screen, transferred hard drive to destination laptop along with the install dvd and proceeded with the upgrade.
BOOM!
Smooth sailing....Updated drivers via updates among a few other small things.
Didnt lose any programs or settings and the OS is just as I left it from my old laptop, minus the said issues at the start of the tut!

Successful transfer of operating system between a HP DV2000 series laptop to HP ProBook.

Once again thanks for the knowledge and keep up the good work.

Night Hawk said:

hiitsmescott said:

Thanks for this tutorial, I've used it successfully in the past more than once. The problem I am having right now is that I've tried both the "with SP1" and "without SP1" fixes and neither works due to the fact that SP1 won't successfully install on my machine. If I try the "without SP1" repair but it says Win 7 Pro can't upgrade to Win 7 Pro. If I try the "with SP1" it says "To upgrade, you need to be running Windows 7 with Service Pack 1 installed. Close the installation, open Windows Update, and then check updates for Service Pack 1." Yet SP1 always fails to install on my system and isn't in my list of installed updates. Any ideas other than reinstall Windows?

Thanks.

Are you seeing any particular error message when the SP1 install fails? You likely need to run the System Update Readiness Tool. What is the System Update Readiness Tool?

You will also need to disable any antivirus program in the msconfig utility's Startup and Services tabs both. When going into the Services tab first check off the "Hide all Microsoft services" box to avoid disabling any background services. But av and other security programs can interfere with the installation.

Sorry for the delay getting back to you, I'm working a lot of hours right now.
Here's the exact message I get even after trying all the steps you suggested.
"Windows 7 Professional cannot be upgraded to Windows 7 Professional. You can choose to install a new copy of Windows 7 Professional instead, but this is different from an upgrade, and does not keep your files, settings, and programs. You’ll need to reinstall any programs using the original installation discs or files. To save your files before installing Windows, back them up to an external location such as a CD, DVD, or external hard drive. To install a new copy of Windows 7 Professional, click the Back button in the upper left-hand corner, and select “Custom (advanced)”. "

Brink said:

Hello Scott,

In addition to what Night Hawk posted....

I have updated the tutorial to include the new step 4 for this as well to help. :)

Since you do not have SP1 installed, then you might see if you can use the Windows 7 ISO without SP1 to create a bootable USB/DVD with to do a repair install with instead.

Download Windows 7 ISO (Official 32-bit and 64-bit Direct Download Links) « My Digital Life

Hope this helps,
Shawn

Thanks for the suggestions, I did try both with and without SP1 with no success. I also tried to do an uninstall of SP1, but of course it said it wasn't installed.


My system was originally a Vista machine. My Win 7 always gets corrupted even though I know of others who upgraded this same model with no problems. I've tried installing on hard drive, ssd, with retail disk, with download and yet it always gets corrupted. Any idea what else could be causing the problems? Perhaps a cable or something in the mobo?

Info for others:

Had Pro x86.
Installed SP1 when it came out.
Ran clean-up when I was happy.
Downloaded Win7 Pro SP1 x86 from Digital River and created disk.
Ran Repair Install.

Everything seems to be fine except:
Had to repair .NET 4 (reported success).
No Windows.old folder.
Said Product ID has expired. Online activation would not work. Selected re-enter Product Key from Computer - Properties - Activate options, which worked.

Don't know if problem solved as Windows Explorer crashes only happened occasionally.

Incidentally, used disk space is now less than it was.