Repair Install

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    Repair Install

    Repair Install

    How to Do a Repair Install to Fix Windows 7
    Published by
    Designer Media Ltd


    How to Do a Repair Install to Fix Windows 7


       Information
    This will show you how to do a repair install (aka: in-place upgrade install) to fix your currently installed Windows 7 and preserve your user accounts, data, programs, and system drivers.
       Note
    Do a Repair installation if:
    • A System Restore did not help fix your Windows 7.
    • There is no other easier option left that can fix your Windows 7.
    • You DO NOT want to do a Clean reinstall of Windows 7.
    • You DO want to preserve your user accounts, data, programs, and system drivers.

       Tip
    ITEMS THAT WILL BE RESET TO DEFAULT OR AFFECTED:
    • Sounds
    • Services
    • Visual Effects Settings
    • Device Drivers - Be sure to have these handy to reinstall. They do not always remain after the repair (upgrade) install.
    • You may lose the ability to sign on to MSN Messenger, to solve this problem have a look at this thread Unable to sign in to WLM.
    • You may lose your custom themes due to not having permisions set on the old themes. Go to the hidden themes folder at C:/Users/(User-Name)/AppData/Local/Microsoft/Windows/Themes, then Take Ownership of the themes folder and you will now have all your themes back.
    • It has been reported that you may also lose your Media Center gadget after doing the repair install.
    • Windows Updates will need to be checked and reinstalled again.

       Warning

    • You can only do a repair install with the same edition Windows 7 installation disc for the same edition of Windows 7 that you have installed.
    • You cannot use a OEM Windows 7 "Factory" Restore/Recovery type of installation disc that came with or created from a store bought computer to do a repair install with. These can only be used do a clean install instead.
    • You can do a repair install on a factory OEM installation with the latest official Windows 7 with SP1 ISO file here: Microsoft: Windows 7 Direct Download Links, and use Windows 7 USB-DVD Download Tool to create a bootable DVD or USB flash drive with the ISO to do the repair install from within Windows 7.
    • You can use a retail OEM Windows 7 installation disc to do a repair install with.
    • You can use a retail (full or upgrade) Windows 7 installation disc to do a repair install with.
    • You cannot do a repair install with a System Repair Disc. A System Repair Disc is not a installation disc, and will only boot to the System Recovery Options screen.
    • If you have a 32-bit (x86) Windows 7 currently installed, then you must use a 32-bit Windows 7 installation disc to be able to do a repair install with.
    • If you have a 64-bit (x64) Windows 7 currently installed, then you must use a 64-bit Windows 7 installation disc to be able to do a repair install with.
    • You can use a retail Windows 7 SP1 installation disc (ex: Technet (available), MSDN (available), or retail (when available)) to do a repair install with on a currently installed Windows 7 SP1.
    • You can use a Windows 7 SP1 installation disc (ex: Technet (available), MSDN (available), or retail (when available)) to do a repair install with on a currently installed slipstream Windows 7 SP1.
    • You cannot use a slipstream Windows 7 installation disc to do a repair install with on a currently installed Windows 7 SP1.
    • You cannot use a slipstream Windows 7 installation disc to do a repair install with on a currently installed slipstream Windows 7 SP1.
    • You can only do a repair install from within Windows 7.
    • You cannot do a repair install at boot or in Safe Mode.
    • You must be logged into Windows 7 in a administrator account to be able to do a repair install.
    • You must have at least 8.87 GB + what is currently being used of free space (more if you have a larger installation) on the hard drive/partition Windows 7 is installed on to do a repair install.
    • If you changed the default location of a user account's profile folder, then you will need to change it back to the default C:\Users location first.
    • If you moved the default location of a user folder, then you will need to change it back to the default C:\Users\(user-name) location first.






    Here's How:
    NOTE: Be sure to back up anything that you do not want to lose first to be extra safe.
    1. Start Windows 7, and log on to an administrator account.

    2. Disable any 3rd party firewall, antivirus, or other security program to avoid it from possibly preventing the repair in-place upgrade installation of Windows 7.

    3. Do either step 4, step 5, or step 6 below depending if your retail Windows 7 installation ISO/DVD/USB has SP1 or not, and if your currently installed Windows 7 has SP1 installed or not.

    4. Repair Installed Windows 7 SP1 using Windows 7 with SP1 ISO

       Note
    If you do not have a Windows 7 with SP1 ISO, then you can download an official ISO with your retail product key from Microsoft at the link below.

    Microsoft Software Recovery

    You can also download the latest official Windows 7 SP1 Media Refresh (SP1 U) ISO file at the link below, but this link is not always available for download.

    Microsoft: Windows 7 Direct Download Links

    A) If you have not already, you will need to install a program like 7-Zip that supports extracting a ISO to a folder.

    B) Using the program (ex: 7-Zip) from step 1, extract the Windows 7 SP1 ISO file to a folder on a partition or HDD other than the current Windows 7 partition. (see screenshot below)
    NOTE: For example with 7-Zip, right click on ISO, click on 7-Zip, Extract files, browse button, select where you want to extract to, and click on OK twice.
    Repair Install-7-zip.jpg
    C) While in Windows 7 SP1, open the folder that you extracted the ISO into, and run the setup.exe file.

    D) Go to step 7 below.
    5. Repair Installed Windows 7 SP1 using Windows 7 with SP1 DVD/USB

       Note
    If you do not have a Windows 7 with SP1 ISO, then you can download an official ISO with your retail product key from Microsoft at the link below.

    http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/software-recovery

    You can also download the latest official Windows 7 SP1 Media Refresh (SP1 U) ISO file at the link below, but this link is not always available for download.

    Microsoft: Windows 7 Direct Download Links

    Afterwards, you can use Windows 7 USB-DVD Download Tool to create a bootable DVD or USB flash drive with the ISO to do the repair install from within Windows 7 using this step.

    A) While in Windows 7 SP1, insert your retail Windows 7 SP1 installation DVD into the DVD drive, or connect your Windows 7 with SP1 installation USB thumb drive, and click on the Run setup.exe option in AutoPlay. (see screenshot below)
    NOTE: If the AutoPlay window does not open, then open the drive folder in Computer and run the setup.exe file.
    Repair Install-autoplay.jpg
    B) Go to Go to step 7 below.
    6. Repair Installed Windows 7 without SP1 using Windows 7 without SP1 DVD/USB

       Note
    If you do not have a Windows 7 without SP1 installation DVD/USB, then you can download the latest official Windows 7 Professional or Home Premium without SP1 ISO file here: Microsoft: Windows 7 Direct Download Links, and use Windows 7 USB-DVD Download Tool to create a bootable DVD or USB flash drive with the ISO to do the repair install from within Windows 7 using this step.

    It is preferred to have SP1 installed on your PC and to use step 4 or step 5 above to do a repair install with instead though.

    A) While in Windows 7 SP1 installed, insert your retail Windows 7 installation DVD into the DVD drive, or connect your Windows 7 installation USB thumb drive, and click on the Run setup.exe option in AutoPlay. (see screenshot below)
    NOTE: If the AutoPlay window does not open, then open the drive folder in Computer and run the setup.exe file.
    Repair Install-autoplay.jpg
    B) Go to Go to step 7 below.
    7. If prompted by UAC, then click on Yes.

    8. Click on the Install Now button to start the installation. (see screenshot below)
    Repair Install-step1.jpg
    9. If prompted, uncheck the I want to help make Windows installation better box (unless you would like to :) ), and click on the Go online to get the latest updates for installation option. (see screenshot below)
    Repair Install-step2.jpg
    A) Windows 7 will now check online for and install any available installation updates. (see screenshots below)
    Repair Install-step2a.jpg

    Repair Install-step2b.jpg
    10. Check the I accept the license terms box, and click on Next. (see screenshot below)
    Repair Install-step3.jpg
    11. Click on the Upgrade option. (see screenshot below)
    Repair Install-step4.jpg
    12. Windows will now check for any compatibility issues. If any are found like in the example below, click on the red X to cancel the repair install and close this "Install Windows" window, take care of any found issues (ex: uninstall any incompatible program), then restart the repair install process over again.
    Repair Install-compatibility-report.jpg
    13. The installation of Windows 7 will now begin. (see screenshot below)
    NOTE: During the installation process, your screen may flash and computer will restart a few times.
    Repair Install-step5.jpg
    14. After the final restart, you will see this screen for a moment. (see screenshot below)
    Repair Install-step6.jpg
    15. Type in your Windows 7 product key number. (see screenshot below step 16)

    16. Uncheck the Automatically activate Windows when I'm online box unchecked, then click on the Next button. (see screenshot below)
    NOTE: You can activate Windows 7 later after you make sure it is running properly. (see step 23 below)
    If you chose to automatically activate Windows online when you set up your computer, automatic activation begins trying to activate your copy of Windows three days after you log on for the first time.
    Repair Install-step7.jpg
    17. Click on Use recommended settings. (see screenshot below)

    You will always be able to change your Windows Update settings at anytime in Windows 7.

    Repair Install-step8.jpg
    18. Select your time zone and set your time and date settings, then click on the Next button. (see screenshot below)
    Repair Install-step9.jpg
    19. Click on the option for your computer's location to select the correct network location type settings to be applied for that location. (see screenshot below)
    NOTE: It is best to select Public location for the best security.
    Repair Install-step10.jpg
    20. Windows 7 will now prepare your desktop to startup. (see screenshots below)
    Repair Install-step11a.jpg

    Repair Install-desktop.jpg
    21. If you used a DVD or USB to do the repair install with, then you can remove the DVD or USB when the repair install has successfully completed and you are logged in to Windows 7.

    22. Check to see if you are missing any user files. If you are, then you can copy them from the C:\Windows.old or the hidden protected operating system C:\$INPLACE.~TR and C:\WINDOWS.~Q backup folders. (see screenshot below)
    Repair Install-old_install.jpg
    23. If everything checks out in step 21, then you can run Disk Cleanup (step 5 at this link). You will need to click on the Clean up system files button first, and then could check the Files discarded by Windows upgrade, Previous Windows installations, and Windows upgrade log files boxes. (see screenshot below)
    NOTE: This will delete the C:\Windows.old, C:\$INPLACE.~TR and C:\WINDOWS.~Q folders from step 21 above.
    Repair Install-disk_cleanup.jpg
    24. Refresh your Windows Experience Index (WEI) score.

    25. When finished, activate Windows 7, and make sure that your 3rd party security programs (if applicable) are enabled again.
    That's it,
    Shawn





    Related Tutorials





  2. swarfega
    Posts : 4,925
    Windows 7 Professional 64-bit
       New #1

    Thanks for this tut, resolved a couple of issues I had. This process creates two folders: C:\$INPLACE.~TR and C:\$WINDOWS.~Q, can these be deleted?
      My Computer
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  4. Brink
    Posts : 72,526
    64-bit Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
    Thread Starter
       New #2

    Your welcome Swarfega,

    Yep, you can use Disk Cleanup to delete them in step 18.
      My Computer
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  5. swarfega
    Posts : 4,925
    Windows 7 Professional 64-bit
       New #3

    Just saved 4.80gb!
      My Computer
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  6. Brink
    Posts : 72,526
    64-bit Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
    Thread Starter
       New #4

    Not bad. :)
      My Computer
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  7. Airbot
    Posts : 18,404
    Windows 7 Ultimate x64 SP1
       New #5

    Just a note, the Files discarded by Windows upgrade box doesn't show up on the initial page in disk cleanup, unless you click Clean up system files first. Maybe this is already noticed when you use the (step 6 at link) but could still be kind of confusing for some.
      My Computer
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  8. Brink
    Posts : 72,526
    64-bit Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
    Thread Starter
       New #6

    Agreed Aaron. Updated to help make it more clear. :)

    Thank you.
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  10. Airbot
    Posts : 18,404
    Windows 7 Ultimate x64 SP1
       New #7

    Very nice tutorial by the way, I used it and it worked great, got 11.5 gb back after deleting the discards. :)
      My Computer
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  11. Mark
    Posts : 4,282
    Windows 7 Ultimate Vista Ultimate x64
       New #8

    Just need to add some info that will affect most users, when doing a Repair Install afterward you may loose the ability to sign on to MSN Messenger, to solve this problem have a look at this thread Unable to sign in to WLM

    Another thing you might find is you loose your custom themes and this is due to not having permisions set on the old themes, go to the themes folder in C:/Users/Your User Name/AppData/Local/Microsoft/Windows/Themes and use the Take Ownership shortcut in your context menu found here Take Ownership Shortcut on the themes folder and you will now have all your themes back.
      My Computer
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  12. Brink
    Posts : 72,526
    64-bit Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
    Thread Starter
       New #9

    Thank you Mr GRiM.

    Added. :)
      My Computer
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