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| Vista Tutorial - Repair Install For Vista Repair Install For Vista
How To Perform a Repair Installation For Vista
Published by Brink
08-27-2007
| | 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. |  | 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 the 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
- 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: |  | WARNING | | ITEMS THAT WILL BE RESET TO DEFAULT: |  | RELATED LINKS: 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. Insert the Vista DVD into the DVD drive while your current Vista is running. WARNING: Do not boot the computer and run the Vista installation DVD from boot. A upgrade install will not work this way. 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. 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. 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. See: How to Get Out of Reduced Functionality Mode in Vista 5. Leave the Automatically activate Windows when I'm online box unchecked. 6. Click on Next. 7. Click on the No button for the Do you want to enter your product key now? prompt. (See screenshot below) 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) 10. Click on the Upgrade option. (See screenshot below) 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. NOTE: For how, see: How to Use Disk Cleanup in VistaA) If listed, check Files discarded by Windows upgrade. (See screenshot below) 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.
B) Click on OK to delete it. 
15. Now all you need to do is to activate Vista. NOTE: For how, see: How to Activate Vista Normally and by Phone ActivationA) Right click on Computer (Start Menu) and click on Properties, or open the Control Panel (Classic View) and click on the System icon.
B) Scroll down a bit and click on: Activate Windows Now. (See screenshot below) 
That's it,
Shawn |  Published by | | | Administrator Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Texas, USA
Posts: 23,732
Rep Power: 150 | |
 Tutorial Tools | | |
 Applies to | | All Vista Versions | | 64 Bit & 32 Bit | |
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12-30-2007
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| | Member
Rep Power: 12
 | Re: Repair Install For Vista 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 | My System Specs | | OS vista home premium x64
12-30-2007
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| | Administrator Vista x64 Ultimate SP2 Texas, USA | Re: Repair Install For Vista 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 | My System Specs | | System Manufacturer/Model Number Custom OS Vista x64 Ultimate SP2 CPU Core2 Quad Q9450 2.66GHz 12MB Motherboard Gigabyte X48-DQ6 Memory 8 GB (4x2) DDR2 PC2-8500 1066 MHz Patriot Extreme Graphics Card BFG GeForce 9600 GT OC 512MB Sound Card Realtek HD Audio ALC889A Integrated Chip Monitor(s) Displays 28" Hanns-G HG281DJB and 17" eMachines E17T4 Screen Resolution 28" 1920x1200 and 17" 1280x1024 Keyboard Microsoft Wireless Multimedia Keyboard 1.1 Mouse Microsoft Standard Wireless Optical Mouse PSU Antec NeoPower 500 Watt Case Tagan El-Diablo Full Tower Cooling 250 mm Front, 360 mm Side, stock CPU, 120 mm SiLenX Rear Hard Drives 64GB Patriot SSD (v2)
750GB Samsung HDD HD753LJ SATA 32MB Internet Speed 3382 kb/s Download and 312 kb/s Upload Other Info Creative WebCam Instant
12-30-2007
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| | Member
Rep Power: 12
 | Re: Repair Install For Vista 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 | My System Specs | | OS vista home premium x64
12-30-2007
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| | Administrator Vista x64 Ultimate SP2 Texas, USA | Re: Repair Install For Vista Your welcome Hypno,
I always found it best to do a clean install to avoid problems.
Have a happy New Years,
Shawn | My System Specs | | System Manufacturer/Model Number Custom OS Vista x64 Ultimate SP2 CPU Core2 Quad Q9450 2.66GHz 12MB Motherboard Gigabyte X48-DQ6 Memory 8 GB (4x2) DDR2 PC2-8500 1066 MHz Patriot Extreme Graphics Card BFG GeForce 9600 GT OC 512MB Sound Card Realtek HD Audio ALC889A Integrated Chip Monitor(s) Displays 28" Hanns-G HG281DJB and 17" eMachines E17T4 Screen Resolution 28" 1920x1200 and 17" 1280x1024 Keyboard Microsoft Wireless Multimedia Keyboard 1.1 Mouse Microsoft Standard Wireless Optical Mouse PSU Antec NeoPower 500 Watt Case Tagan El-Diablo Full Tower Cooling 250 mm Front, 360 mm Side, stock CPU, 120 mm SiLenX Rear Hard Drives 64GB Patriot SSD (v2)
750GB Samsung HDD HD753LJ SATA 32MB Internet Speed 3382 kb/s Download and 312 kb/s Upload Other Info Creative WebCam Instant
12-30-2007
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| | I’m a PC Windows 7 Ultimate x64 Beta Manchester, UK | Re: Repair Install For Vista Hypno, how much ram do you have in? as Vista x64 sometimes has problems installing with 4gig or more. | My System Specs | | OS Windows 7 Ultimate x64 Beta CPU Intel i7 965 Extreme Edition Motherboard Asus Rampage II Extreme Memory 12GB Corsair Dominator DDR3, PC3-12800 (1600) Graphics Card 2x 896MB XFX GTX 260 Black Sound Card SupremeFX X-Fi Monitor(s) Displays 3x28" HannsG WS Screen Resolution 3x 1920x1200 Keyboard Microsoft Natural Ergonomic 4000 Mouse Logitech Mx Revolution PSU 1200W Gigabyte ODIN Pro V2 PSU Case Thermaltake Tai Chi Cooling Stock Intel Hard Drives 1x 120GB OCZ Core Series V2 SSD HDD
2x 750GB Samsung SATA2 - 7200 - 32MB Internet Speed 50meg Cable Other Info APC 1500 Smart UPS
TechnoTrend 3200 DVB-S2 + diablo cam
HP CP1515n Color Laser
12-30-2007
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| | Member
Rep Power: 12
 | Re: Repair Install For Vista 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. | My System Specs | | OS vista home premium x64
12-31-2007
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| | Member
Rep Power: 12
 | Re: Repair Install For Vista 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 | My System Specs | | OS vista home premium x64
12-31-2007
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| | I’m a PC Windows 7 Ultimate x64 Beta Manchester, UK | Re: Repair Install For Vista Save the pain, just do a clean install now!! | My System Specs | | OS Windows 7 Ultimate x64 Beta CPU Intel i7 965 Extreme Edition Motherboard Asus Rampage II Extreme Memory 12GB Corsair Dominator DDR3, PC3-12800 (1600) Graphics Card 2x 896MB XFX GTX 260 Black Sound Card SupremeFX X-Fi Monitor(s) Displays 3x28" HannsG WS Screen Resolution 3x 1920x1200 Keyboard Microsoft Natural Ergonomic 4000 Mouse Logitech Mx Revolution PSU 1200W Gigabyte ODIN Pro V2 PSU Case Thermaltake Tai Chi Cooling Stock Intel Hard Drives 1x 120GB OCZ Core Series V2 SSD HDD
2x 750GB Samsung SATA2 - 7200 - 32MB Internet Speed 50meg Cable Other Info APC 1500 Smart UPS
TechnoTrend 3200 DVB-S2 + diablo cam
HP CP1515n Color Laser
03-03-2008
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| | Member Wnidows Vista Premium/ XP
Rep Power: 14
 | Re: Repair Install For Vista Why can't I use this if I'm dual-booting with XP? | My System Specs | | OS Wnidows Vista Premium/ XP | Tutorial Tools | | | | Display Modes | Linear Mode | Vista Forums is an independent web site and has not been authorized, sponsored, or otherwise approved by Microsoft Corporation. "Windows Vista", the Start Orb, and related materials are trademarks of Microsoft Corp. © Designer Media Ltd Tutorial powered by GARS 2.1.8m ©2005-2006
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