Repair Install

Brink said:

Unfortunately, a repair install would only work if the installation media you are using is at least the exact same version/build or newer than what you currently have installed.

OK. I've checked the registry, and my Windows 7 SP1 is build number 7601. So, are you saying that if I can locate a Windows 7 ISO file that is build number 7601 or later, it should work? I have no idea what the build number of the ISO file and product key I referred to earlier for $35.00 is, but I could ask them before I buy, IF the answer is that a build 7601 or later should work. I know I'm being stubborn--but there are things installed that I simply cannot replace by installing fresh and starting over. Since everything is running fine except for Windows Update, I can creep along for a while, simply running without updates. But eventually, I would either become increasingly vulnerable, or things would start to not work, or both.

Once again, thanks for your patience and help.

Brink said:

In theory yes, but there isn't an official Windows 7 ISO with that current build released.

OK. Understand. Would like your take on the following, which I found online. This set of instructions on making a Repair Install. It contains the following statement: "Many users have faced a failure notice during compatibility check, saying, "Your current version of Windows is more recent than the version you are trying to upgrade to." Windows cannot complete the upgrade." It goes on to say, "To prevent this message from appearing, open the Windows 7 DVD n Windows Explorer, and right-click setup.exe and choose Properties. Click the Compatibility tab on top. Click to check the Run this program in compatibility mode box and select Windows Vista (Service Pack 2) from the list. The original Windows Vista without any service packs, and any earlier version (XP, 2000, NT) do not support upgrading to Windows 7 (and upgrading is what we will be doing.)

It then says to double click the Setup.exe program to launch it.

If I understand what this is doing, it makes the setup program think that it is upgrading Windows Vista instead of Windows 7. Does this make sense to you?

The same article suggests as an alternative, uninstalling SP 1 from Windows 7, then running the Repair install. Do you think that this would work?

Brink said:

Yep, but it wouldn't be a repair install then.

It'll just cause more issues to try and uninstall updates until the installed Windows is the same as the installation media. It would be faster to do a clean install instead.

OK. I'd certainly be willing to go through a slower and more lengthy process if I could salvage my installed data and programs. Are you saying that if I uninstalled SP1, then used an ISO file of Widows 7 SP1, that it would NOT retain my installed programs?

I have a Toshiba Windows 7 OEM. If I do a repair install will it reinstall all the crapware that was on the computer when I bought it?

So I guess if a repair install will install all the bloatware anyways I might as well just reformat and reinstall?