Repair Install For Vista

hypno · Dec 30, 2007

i have followed your guide as before in another post on system files, and was advised to do the repair install.
Unfortunatley i cannot do that either, i get to copying files (50%) and then it stops and i receive a message saying that there are corrupt files and to ensure the correct files are available before trying again. Error code: 0x80070241.

Now, if i can't repair off of the installation disc then i must have a serious problem which i would presume requires a clean install.

Forgive me for asking but what is the best way for doing a clean install with vista already installed?

Many Thanks

Sean

Brink · Dec 30, 2007

Hi Sean,

That error may be a sign that your Vista installation DVD or hard drive may be bad or corrupted. It means that the files were not able to copy to the hard drive.

Try booting from your Vista installation DVD and format the hard drive, then install Vista. If you have a Upgrade or Full version of Vista, this will show you how to do a clean install.

How to Do a Clean Install of Vista with a Upgrade Version

and

How to Do a Clean Install with a Full Version of Vista

Shawn

hypno · Dec 30, 2007

many thanks, it is a full version and only 3 weeks old a a brand new build so a clean install will be required. I have done some google work on that error code and it would seem that i am not alone, thousands have received that error whilst upgrading.

Many thanks

Brink · Dec 30, 2007

Your welcome Hypno,

I always found it best to do a clean install to avoid problems.

Have a happy New Years,
Shawn

z3r010 · Dec 30, 2007

Hypno, how much ram do you have in? as Vista x64 sometimes has problems installing with 4gig or more.

hypno · Dec 30, 2007

hi, i do indeed have 4 gb of ram, which was not a problem when i done the initial first install.

I'll take 2 gb out and give it another try.

hypno · Dec 31, 2007

Just an update, I removed 2 GB of RAM and manged to perform a repair install from within windows, took almost 4 hrs though, possibly would have been quicker to do a clean install and reload the software, I may still do a clean install as my system is very slow at the moment

z3r010 · Dec 31, 2007

Save the pain, just do a clean install now!!

jim817 · Mar 3, 2008

Why can't I use this if I'm dual-booting with XP?

Brink · Mar 3, 2008

Hi Jim,

Good question. I updated the tutorial to include why, but basically:

If XP is on the primary boot drive, then reinstalling Vista may take over the boot drive and cause XP to not startup anymore. If Vista is on the primary boot drive, then it should be ok to do.

Shawn

jim817 · Mar 3, 2008

How do I know which is in the primary boot drive?

I have three partitions- my data, Vista, and XP. And XP was installed first.

Brink · Mar 3, 2008

Jim,

It's usually the one with the OS you installed first. You can check to be sure in Disk Management. It will be the Disk that has boot listed in it. You can see how to open Disk Management here, and you will see a screenshot that may help see what I mean.

http://www.vistax64.com/tutorials/95398-disk-management-shrink-partition.html

Shawn

jim817 · Mar 3, 2008

Ok, so I opened up the disk manager. For Windows Vista under the Status column, it says Boot.

This means its the primary boot drive right? Even though I had XP installed first. Also, for my Windows XP volume, it says System, Active under the status column. I added a screenshot to show you what I mean.

And one last question. I'm doing this because when I run "sfc /scannow" command in the CMD window, it gives me an error saying that Windows found corrupt files but couldn't fix them. Even though nothing seems to be wrong with Vista, should I continue this Repair Install to fix that error message?

Thanks a lot for all the help with this.

Brink · Mar 3, 2008

Jim,

Since Vista is listed as the Boot drive, then it should be ok to run the repair install. Just be sure to select the same partition drive letter for Vista when installing. To be safe, I would backup anything you do not want to lose just in case something goes wrong.

Shawn

jim817 · Mar 4, 2008

Thanks, it worked perfectly, except for the long wait.

But no more errors in SFC. Thanks again.

Brink · Mar 4, 2008

Your welcome Jim. I wish it did not take so long to do either.

Shawn

whatispunk · Apr 20, 2008

I am fixing a computer for a friend and I don't have much experience with Vista. I am quite adept with XP however so don't hold back on the technical mumbo-jumbo.

Basicaly, I was having a problem installing SP1. I tried numerous things to fix it and nothing worked. I finally had to resort to a repair install.

Now, I know how stupid this is, but I didn't back up any of the user files. But the repair install is (purportedly) supposed to retain all of your user settings and files. Well, no. EVERYTHING IS GONE!!

All of the Documents and Desktop files from before are gone. I can still use the Start Search to find the files, but in their properties they show the file size as 0KB.

XP always made a backup up of the documents and settings/user folder, but I guess Vista does not.

I am currently running a data recovery program, so hopefully that will help, but why on Earth has this happened?? Does anyone know where my files might be secretly backed up?

Please help!! :sick:

Brink · Apr 21, 2008

Hi Whatispunk,

Welcome to Vista Forums. :party:

You might look to see if you have a C:\Window.old , C:\$INPLACE.~TR, or a C:\$WINDOWS.~Q folder to see if they may be in one of them. This is usually where Vista stores anything from a upgrade install.

Hope this helps,
Shawn

whatispunk · Apr 21, 2008

Thanks for the reply. I checked out those locations. Each of them had a folder for the user with the Documents and such in it. But it was only the folder structure. There were still no files.

Luckily my GetDataBack for NTFS is recovering everything as we speak. Now I just have to keep my fingers crossed for the integrity of the files.

You know, its funny. I have an MSDN subscription so I could install Vista Ultimate whenever I want, but its just things like this that makes me really really not want to.

Repair Install For Vista

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