Vista - Repair Install For Vista

Mpt087,

If I had to guess, I would say some form of corruption or even possibly the early stages of drive failure. Only a guess though.

After this encouraging info I gave the Repair Install a try after uninstalling SP1. However, after successfully navigating the compatibility check, I got the failure message: Upgrade was canceled (and no changes were saved). "Windows cannot copy files required for installation. Make sure all files required for installation are available and restart the installation." Error code 0x80070001

So, it looks as if I'll have to resort to the clean install. Oh, well. It was worth the try....

Sorry to hear that Paul. I hope the clean install goes smoothly for you.

Shawn

I have a question for anyone that can help me on this. In step 13 or 14 where it says that if some of your files went missing go to the cleanup and find them. You can copy them. Can anyone tell me how to do that? Thanks.

Do we lose all our data stored in My Pictures, My Documents and My Music after performing a repair install?

You should not. But you know what, anything can happen. I would say not. 99.9%sure. We are talking a repair, right?

Yes we are talking about repair install.
i m glad to hear that we do not lose any data.

Hi there,

I have come to a problem with my computer where it will not boot up anymore...
I have tried the Vista startup repair tool several times which does not work and comes up with the error "The partition table does not have a valid System Partition"

Now i have searched the internet and found numerous fixes but non work. I am now considering a repair install but as i have SP1 installed i am in the process of creating a new vista with SP1 slipstream DVD.

Now i could do this and it could all just fail so i am thinking of just doing a clean install but i have no idea what the product key is for my 32bit Vista ultimate is. i know with the repair install i do not need the key but in a clean install will i need it. is there anyway of getting the key from the machine without it booting up? or performing the clean install without entering the key?
I am not bothered about loosing files as all my documents are stored on a 2nd hard drive on my pc so it will not be affected.

Your quick reply is appriciated.

Thanks
Ash

Hello Ash,

If you have a OEM computer, then the product key number should be on a sticker on the bottom for a laptop, and on the back of the tower for a desktop.

If you have a retail Vista, then the product key number should be on a sticker included in your package, if you still have it.


If you do not have the above, then see if doing METHOD TWO in the link below may help. When you get to step 5 type active instead, and skip step 8. Afterwards see if it can start into Vista again for you.

Partition or Volume - Delete - Windows 7 Forums

Hope this helps,
Shawn

Hi Shawn,

I'm not sure if i will make much sense here but the pc that is not booting has been working for over a year now, and does not need activating, it just simply is not booting up today.
I have not yet installed a clean version of vista but am thinking of doing so.

I do not have the product key at all as i built the PC myself, and used a product key and have now lost it.

will the steps above help fix the issue i have or will that help in the event i reinstall vista?