Repair Install For Vista

How To Perform a Repair Installation For Vista​

   Information

This will allow you to repair your Vista installation and keep all of your personal user account files, settings, and programs. You will be performing a Upgrade Install from within your currently running Vista.

You will have to use the exact same Vista installation media type that you currently have installed.

   Note

• You will not be able to do a upgrade install in Safe Mode.
• You must have Retail Full or Upgrade Vista installation DVD to do this. Some people have had problems with a Full version letting them do a upgrade install though.
• A OEM (retail version) Vista installation DVD that you buy at a store and does not come with the computer are usually the same as a regular retail (full or upgrade) Vista installation DVD, but have a OEM license (product key number) instead of a retail license (product key number).
• If you have a OEM Recovery Vista installation DVD that came preinstalled with your OEM brand computer instead, then it will most likely only be a clone of the hard drive with Vista allowing you to only do a clean install with it instead. These OEM computers often have a Recovery D:\ partition that does the same thing as the OEM Recovery Vista installation DVD.
• If you have a Anytime Upgrade Vista installation DVD, then you will not be able to do this.
• The Vista installation DVD that you use to do the repair (upgrade) install must be the same or newer version of Vista with the Windows Updates and SP level than what you currently have installed. If the DVD is a older version, then you cannot do a repair (upgrade) install with it.
• IF YOU HAVE THE VISTA SP1 INSTALLED:
  • This will not work if you have SP1 installed unless your Vista installation DVD includes the SP1, or you create a Vista SP1 slipstream installation DVD (See below). When the SP1 is installed, it will give Vista a newer version number than what is on the original Vista installation DVD.
  • You can only do a Upgrade install if the currently installed Vista is the same or older version than what is on the Vista installation DVD.
  • To create a Vista SP1 slipstream installation DVD to use to do a Repair (upgrade) install, see: How to Create a Vista SP1 Slipstream Installation DVD. Note that this does not always work to use for a Repair install.
  • Another option is to uninstall the Vista SP1, then run the Repair install and install the SP1 again afterwards. To uninstall the SP1, see: Microsoft Help and Support: How to uninstall Windows Vista SP1 as a troubleshooting step
• IF YOU HAVE THE VISTA SP2 INSTALLED:
  • This will not work if you have SP1 and SP2 installed unless your Vista installation DVD includes SP2.
  • To create a Vista SP2 slipstream installation DVD to use to do a Repair (upgrade) install, see: How to Slipstream Vista SP2. Note that this does not always work to use for a Repair install.
• Be sure to backup any important data you have, just in case something goes wrong during installation. You may need to reinstall some of your drivers. You do not want to do this if you are dual booting with XP and Vista was not installed as the primary boot drive. It can cause XP to not startup anymore.

   Tip

If you are have installation error problems, then see:

• Windows Help and Support: KB935806 Troubleshooting Stop error messages that may occur when you try to install Windows Vista
• Windows Help and Support: KB929777 Error message when you try to install Windows Vista on a computer that uses more than 3 GB of RAM: "STOP 0x0000000A"

   Warning

If you changed the default location of the Program Files or Programs Files (x86) folder, then you will need to change it back to the C: drive, and change any shortcuts that pointed to the other location to also point to the C: drive before doing a repair install.

ITEMS THAT WILL BE RESET TO DEFAULT:

• Computer Sound Event Scheme
• Vista Services
• Visual Effects Options
• Windows Mail - To Save and Restore your messages and settings, see the section: How to Backup and Reset Windows Mail
• Device Drivers - Be sure to have these handy to reinstall. They do not always remain after the repair (upgrade) install.

Here's How:

   Note

• If Vista is still not working properly afterwards, then a Clean Install would be recommended.
• You may need to reinstall some of your drivers after the Repair (upgrade) install.
• You will not be able to do a upgrade install in Safe Mode.

1. While logged in Vista as an administrator, insert the Vista installation DVD into the DVD drive, or connect a Vista installation USB thumb/key drive.

WARNING: Do not boot the computer and run the Vista installation DVD from boot. A upgrade install will not work this way.

   Note

If you do not have a Vista with SP1 installation DVD/USB, then you can download an official Vista with SP1 ISO file here: Microsoft: Vista 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.

2. Click on Install Now to start the upgrade. (See screenshot below)

NOTE: If AutoPlay does not load the Vista setup screen, then open your DVD drive in Computer and click on the Setup file.

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3. If you want Vista to check for updates during the installation, then click on that to select it. (See screenshot below)

NOTE: It will install faster if you select Do not get the latest updates for installation. You can install them later through Windows Update.

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4. Do not type in a product key. (See screenshot below)

WARNING: If you do type in the same activated product key that you already have installed, then you can end up in Reduced Functionality Mode.



5. Leave the Automatically activate Windows when I'm online box unchecked.



6. Click on Next.

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7. Click on the No button for the Do you want to enter your product key now? prompt. (See screenshot below)

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8. Select which edition of Vista you have. (See screenshot below)



9. Check the I have selected the edition of Windows that I purchased box and click on Next. (See screenshot below)

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10. Click on the Upgrade option. (See screenshot below)

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11. Follow any instructions left until Vista is through installing and has rebooted to the final welcome screen on the Vista desktop.



12. Remove the Vista installation DVD.



13. Check to see if any files are missing. If so look in the bolded files shown in step 14 below to see if they are in there. You can then just copy them back.



14. Run Disk Cleanup.

A) If listed, check Files discarded by Windows upgrade. (See screenshot below)​

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NOTE: These will be the leftover upgrade files, C:\Windows.old, C:\$INPLACE.~TR and C:\$WINDOWS.~Q, that did not get copied over. If any personal username files are missing, it would be in these folders.​

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B) Click on OK to delete it.​

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15. Now all you need to do is to activate Vista.

A) Right click on Computer (Start Menu) and click on Properties, or open the Control Panel (Classic View) and click on the System icon.​

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B) Scroll down a bit and click on: Activate Windows Now. (See screenshot below)​

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That's it,
Shawn

Related Tutorials

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• How to Do a Clean Install of Vista with a Upgrade Version
• How to Do a Clean Install with a Full Version of Vista
• How to Repair and Verify the Integrity of Vista System Files with System File Checker
• How to Extract Files from the Vista Installation DVD
• How to Use the Memory Diagnostics Tool in Vista
• How to Do a Startup Repair in Vista
• How to Reset a User Account Password in Vista
• How to Generate a System Health Report in Vista
• How to Troubleshoot the Computer with Reliability Monitor in Vista
• How to Run Check Disk at Startup in Vista
• How to Do a System Restore in Vista
• How to Use the DirectX Diagnostic Tool in Vista
• How to Fix a Crashing Internet Explorer in Vista
• How to Get Out of Reduced Functionality Mode in Vista
• How to Restore Previous Versions of a File and Folder in Vista
• How to Start Vista in Safe Mode
• Cannot Rename or Move a File or Folder in Vista Fix
• How to Create a Vista Recovery Disc
• How to Create a Vista SP1 Slipstream Installation DVD
• How to Slipstream Vista SP2
• How to Restore Missing Default Start Menu Shortcuts in Vista
• How to Restore TrustedInstaller as Owner of a File in Vista
• How to Do a Custom Installation of Vista

 

[Spencerr]

Unfortunately I'm not able to boot into safe mode at all. It freezes at crcdisk.sys. I've deleted the files in the system32 folder that often causes this problem, and nothing helps. I've tried almost everything, and I'm almost desperate.

Thanks,
Spencer

 

[Brink]

Have you already tried, if you are able, to do a System Restore (Method Two) at boot using a restore point dated before this problem?

 

[Spencerr]

No save points, unfortunately. I've always been used to the XP auto-backup system. I'll have to plug in my computer to another hard drive when I get back from work. I'll let you know how it goes.

Thanks for all your help so far!
Spencer

 

[Brink]

You're welcome Spencer. Please let us know how it is going.

Shawn

 

[junior653]

i have a msdn copy that i use for testing and had an upgrade give me 0x0000007b, which is the hdd controller... how can i do a repair install?

 

[Brink]

Hello Junior, and welcome to Vista Forums.

You might see if you can install or reinstall the motherboard chipset drivers to see if it can fix the HDD controller issue.

Hope this helps,
Shawn

 

[sygnus21]

Hello,

When I get to step 10 in the tutorial, the "Upgrade" option is grayed out. I have Vista Ultimate 32bit SP1 installed, and I am using the SP1 Slipstream installation DVD I created, also using these tutorials. Windows tells me that the upgrade options is disabled because I have to select a version of Windows that is newer than the one I am already using. Shouldn't my using the SP1 Slipstream DVD have prevented this? How else can I repair (not re-install) my SP1 installation? Thanks for the advice.

Hi Shawn,

Thanks for the quick reply! I have the full retail version of Vista (the initial release, not SP1). I upgraded to SP1 when it was first released. After creating the Slipstream SP1 DVD, I ran setup.exe from within Vista, not from boot.

That's what I was afraid of. I have been noticing that the Full versions have not been allowing the Upgrade option. Only the Upgrade versions are allowing you the choice of both options.

Go figure. You think that it would be the other way around.

It looks like you may have to do a clean install instead.

Sorry,
Shawn

Hi Shawn,

I'm having the same problem as above. I just wanted you to know it's not only the full versions that suffers, but also the retail upgrade version as well. I have the retail version of Vista Ultimate (upgrade - pre-SP1) installed.

I get the upgrade option with the original disc, but the slipstreamed SP1 version doesn't give me the "upgrade" option. That's strange.

Yes...the install is done from within windows (put disc in, click "install"). It simply refuses to offer the upgrade option.

I too have had many updates to the OS since the release of SP1, maybe that's the problem?

Any new insights to this dilema?

Thanks.

 

[Brink]

Hello Sygnus,

Thank you for posting back your results. Sorry, but I have not come up with any solid ideas yet. It is to random to tell. It will work fine for some, but not others for the same type of Vista installation DVD.

 

[sygnus21]

That does indeed sound strange. Maybe something to do with shrinking the DVD? All I did was remove the languages.

 

[papadi]

Re: Repair not available when in safe mode

Hi!
It is mentioned that if starting Vista is not possible to try in safe mode. I tried that but when in safe mode the upgrade option is not available. A note bellow says exactly this: Upgrade is not possible when in safe mode.
Any ideas?

 

[Brink]

Hello Papadi,

What type of Vista installation disk do you have?

 

[papadi]

Hello Papadi,

What type of Vista installation disk do you have?

Vista with SP 1 English MSDN Version

 

[Brink]

I just double checked, and you are correct. You cannot do a upgrade install from within Safe Mode.

If you are unable to do this from within Vista, then have you already tried a System Restore (Method Two) at boot using a restore point dated before your problem to see if it could fix it?

 

[alwayswonder]

Even after preparing a SP1 slipstream disc, Setup disables the Upgrade option and tells me to run setup from the existing installation. That is impossible because the existing install will not boot and Startup Repair is unsuccessful.

How, with Vista do I perform an "inplace reinstall" like I have done many times with Windows XP and earlier versions?

Thanks

 

[Brink]

Hello Alwayswonder, and welcome to Vista Forums.

I'm sorry, but you can only do a repair (upgrade) install from within the current running Vista.

I will post more in your original thread here:

http://www.vistax64.com/vista-installation-setup/202492-place-repair-install.html

Shawn

 

[PaulTree]

I thought the Repair Install might be the answer to my problems - apparently some Vista files are corrupted leading to such problems as inability to install programs (except in a stripped startup with only windows installer running). Anyway, I stepped through all of the instructions for creating an SP1 slipstream installation DVD, but when I attempted to step through the Repair Install tutorial, I never got to steps 4 - 9. My install jumped from step 3 to step 10, and the corresponding window has the Upgrade option grayed out with the message, "Upgrade has been disabled. The upgrade cannot be started. To upgrade, cancel the installation and then choose to upgrade to a version of Windows that is more recent than the version you are currently running."

I'm running Vista Ultimate 32 Bit. The OEM Vista disk I have (and used to create the slipstream) is from Dell, and is labeled, "Operating System. Already Installed on Your Computer. Reinstallation DVD. Windows Vista Ultimate 32 Bit." Is there any way past this glitch that would let me do a Repair Install? Or am I stuck with a clean re-install and all that such a step entails for my already installed programs, etc.?

Thanks, PaulTree

 

[Brink]

Hi Paul, and welcome to Vista Forums.

With most OEM Vista types you will only have the option of a clean reinstall.

Sorry,
Shawn

 

[samarthrox]

Hi Shawn
Thanks for the great write up. I was having troubles installing drivers on my vista sp1 and everytime I got the error "The system cannot find the file specified" so I decided to follow your instructions to repair. I have a dell laptop and as with one of the last few posters I was supplied with this disc:
"Operating System (Already installed on your computer) Reinstallation DVD: Windows Vista Home Premium 32-bit. This DVD is not for reinstallation of programs and drivers. For distribution only with a New Dell PC."
So I believe this was not a recovery disc but a full vista install disc.

The uprade feature was greyed out since this was a pre-SP1 disc. I succesfully followed your great SP1 slipstream writeup. Even then the upgrade feature was greyed out. Then I uninstalled Service pack 1. I was skeptical since last time i tried to uninstall SP1 it failed making my PC unbootable and had to system restore to my messed up SP1 state again. But this time it worked. Also my driver installation problems were solved by removing SP1. But I wanted to give SP1 another shot. So I tried the slipstream DVD again and voilà, the upgrade option was available.

The install has started. Hope everything goes well.

Regards

Samarth

 

[Brink]

You're welcome Samarth.

I hope it all goes smoothly for you as well.

 

[PaulTree]

Samarth - Do I understand that you first uninstalled SP1 and then used your slipstream DVD (with SP1 incorporated) to start the repair install with the upgrade option?
Thanks - PaulTree