Repair Install

Hello Vish,

The only thing I can think of is that you may have pressed Enter three times real quick by mistake somehow (sticky key??) when accepting the license terms. Once to accept license terms, second for custom install, and third to select the drive to install to.

Did you have a "C:\Windows.old" folder and still have your settings and program after it was finished?

I didn't continue with the installation & cancelled right after it showed "Installing Windows" instead of "Upgrading Windows". I don't think I've pressed enter/clicked next three times. I tried the process again but somehow it ends up expanding files in "Installing Windows" window.

Do you think the ISO file I selected for upgrading my current installation would have caused something like this? Instead of media refresh ISO should I try with Windows 7 Ultimate x64 SP1 [old] X17-24395?

Hey Brink. Brand new to the forum, but I read this tutorial as well as some of the posts and questions and it has been very helpful. I will begin using it to repair my Windows 7. Thanks in advance for the help. Quick question first, and I apologize if it has already been asked. My retail disk is Windows 7, but of course I have installed SP1 in a recent update. Do I need to download and create a DVD/USB with SP1 on it, or can I just repair with my installation disk and reinstall SP1 after the fact? Thanks again!

Thanks Brink. I'll do that and let you know how it goes.

So... I created my install DVD (had to use a different machine because the "affected" one doesn't have a DVD burner). Ran setup.exe and got the UAC. Clicked yes. Screens dimmed for a few minutes as if something was about to start running. Nothing ever ran, screens came back bright after a few minutes. I can't run SFC/ SCANNOW because I can't start an elevated command prompt (get same behavior as above). Any ideas?

Can the repair install be done without booting in to regular Windows? Running OEM install of Win7 Pro SP1 64-Bit. I have the appropriate ISO burned to DVD.

A recent Windows Update has me in a state where I put in my password, get my background desktop color, but never get more than a cursor on a solid color background.

I can get in to safe mode and boot from disc, but repair doesn't run in either of those modes.

I've tried startup repair, system restore, and uninstalling the recent updates from safe mode, none worked which is why I'm trying the repair install.

Any way to run the repair install without being able to log in to Windows (without safe mode)?

Brink said:

I'm sorry, but no. A repair install can only be done from within Windows since it's an in-place upgrade install.

Thanks. Looks like there's a clean install in my future. I have all my data backed up, but not a system image.