Repair Install

[Ghostrider]

So you *are* suggesting I can turn my current original Win7 Pro DVD into
a coaster, then!!

Daniel

No, he is not. The original Windows 7 Pro DVD is still required for the
re-install. Windows7 Pro SP1 is the current service pack and it can be
downloaded in 2 ways. Win7 SP1 is added after the re-install from the
original DVD. Turn it into a coaster, then you need to get replacement
media.

The two downloaded formats from Microsoft are (a) ISO, approx. 2 GB,
for both 32-bit and 64-bit. One generates a Win7-SP1 DVD from this file
Alternately, there are executable (b) Win7-SP1 files for both 32-bit
(~550 MB) or 64-bit (~925 MB.

Of course, Windows 7 update files can also be installed via Internet
from Windows Update. This includes around 105-110 files plus 5 or 6
re-starts to complete. The amount of time needed to accomplish this
depends on the download speed.

GR

 

[Ghostrider]

No, he is not. The original Windows 7 Pro DVD is still required for the
re-install. Windows7 Pro SP1 is the current service pack and it can be
downloaded in 2 ways. Win7 SP1 is added after the re-install from the
original DVD. Turn it into a coaster, then you need to get replacement
media.

The two downloaded formats from Microsoft are (a) ISO, approx. 2 GB,
for both 32-bit and 64-bit. One generates a Win7-SP1 DVD from this file
Alternately, there are executable (b) Win7-SP1 files for both 32-bit
(~550 MB) or 64-bit (~925 MB.

Of course, Windows 7 update files can also be installed via Internet
from Windows Update. This includes around 105-110 files plus 5 or 6
re-starts to complete. The amount of time needed to accomplish this
depends on the download speed.

GR

Forgot to add that the download from msft.digitalrivercontent.net/win
is to make the DVD for Windows 7-SP1. The genuine license activation
key, as with other Microsoft offerings, is probably product-specific.
It is, therefore, unlikely for an original Windows 7 (i.e., pre-SP1)
key would result in either a successful activation or re-activation.

GR

 

[Mellowed]

I downloaded sp1 for my win7 version and then integrated it with the
original copy, so that next time I have to do a repair or re install, I
have sp1 and updates installed at the same time.

How did you do that??

BTW, on my Laptop the original OS copy was the Toshiba OEM. I upgraded
that to Win8 (mistake) I went back to Win7 using the downloaded ISO and
it worked. What didn't work was I had NO drivers!! Went to the Toshiba
web site and they had 6 pages to download! Ended up going to the
Recovery disks that I recorded when new. Then upgrading to current.

I said the above because I think a new SP1 ISO would work regardless of
the age of the original as long as you have your original product key,
and a MB disk with drivers.

 

[Bob H]

How did you do that??

BTW, on my Laptop the original OS copy was the Toshiba OEM. I upgraded
that to Win8 (mistake) I went back to Win7 using the downloaded ISO and
it worked. What didn't work was I had NO drivers!! Went to the Toshiba
web site and they had 6 pages to download! Ended up going to the
Recovery disks that I recorded when new. Then upgrading to current.

I said the above because I think a new SP1 ISO would work regardless of
the age of the original as long as you have your original product key,
and a MB disk with drivers.

I forgot to mention that I also integrated as many of drivers as I knew
and would need to complete the installation.
That took the size of the iso to over 6Gb and had to burn it on a dual
layer dvd.

 

[Gene E. Bloch]

Forgot to add that the download from msft.digitalrivercontent.net/win
is to make the DVD for Windows 7-SP1. The genuine license activation
key, as with other Microsoft offerings, is probably product-specific.
It is, therefore, unlikely for an original Windows 7 (i.e., pre-SP1)
key would result in either a successful activation or re-activation.

I have never had my Windows key change when I installed SP1 (or SP2,
etc, in older systems), so I don't know what you mean by that.

SP1 is an update, not a new product...

Since I might be misinterpreting what you meant, feel free to clarify.

If you think I'm being a dummy, that's OK, just don't tell anyone

 

[Paul]

How did you do that??

BTW, on my Laptop the original OS copy was the Toshiba OEM. I upgraded
that to Win8 (mistake) I went back to Win7 using the downloaded ISO and
it worked. What didn't work was I had NO drivers!! Went to the Toshiba
web site and they had 6 pages to download! Ended up going to the
Recovery disks that I recorded when new. Then upgrading to current.

I said the above because I think a new SP1 ISO would work regardless of
the age of the original as long as you have your original product key,
and a MB disk with drivers.

Are you sure one of your Toshiba recovery discs, isn't the "driver disc" ?

On my Acer laptop, three DVDs are the recovery image, and the fourth DVD
is termed the "driver DVD" and is supposed to have drivers on it. You could
combine a digitalriver ISO9660 download DVD installation, plus the driver DVD,
to build a working system. I think that's why they made me burn a driver DVD.

Paul

 

[Mellowed]

Are you sure one of your Toshiba recovery discs, isn't the "driver disc" ?

On my Acer laptop, three DVDs are the recovery image, and the fourth DVD
is termed the "driver DVD" and is supposed to have drivers on it. You could
combine a digitalriver ISO9660 download DVD installation, plus the
driver DVD,
to build a working system. I think that's why they made me burn a driver
DVD.

Paul

The Toshiba recovery disks (5 of them) have everything. That is why I
had to install them even though my Win7 downloaded ISO disk loaded and
installed OK. It was easier to just go back to the initial
configuration with Toshiba than to go with the Win7 SP1 ISO. Initially
I thought I was being clever by getting past all of the Toshiba garbage
preloaded on the HD. After the driver problem the garbage looked real
good. All is well now. I just ignore all of the Toshiba stuff listed
under 'Programs'.

I now keep a Disk Image handy. I also have the image for Win8 just in
case Murphy strikes again.

 

[Zaidy036]

I now keep a Disk Image handy. I also have the image for Win8 just in
case Murphy strikes again.

Use the free "DriverBackup! from http://drvback.sourceforge.net/

 

[charlie]

I have never had my Windows key change when I installed SP1 (or SP2,
etc, in older systems), so I don't know what you mean by that.

SP1 is an update, not a new product...

Since I might be misinterpreting what you meant, feel free to clarify.

If you think I'm being a dummy, that's OK, just don't tell anyone

A few years ago, I ended up having to call Microsoft over a similar XP
problem. The original XP pro downloaded disk did not work, due to the SP
updates. The downloaded SP image would not work with the original key
for whatever reason. So, they just issued a new key that worked.
(Both versions were downloaded from the same Microsoft web site.)

So far, no similar issues with win 7.

 

[Ghostrider]

I have never had my Windows key change when I installed SP1 (or SP2,
etc, in older systems), so I don't know what you mean by that.

SP1 is an update, not a new product...

Since I might be misinterpreting what you meant, feel free to clarify.

If you think I'm being a dummy, that's OK, just don't tell anyone

I also got confused. There is just SP1 for Windows 7 as an ISO file
for both the 32-bit and 64-bit installations. This ISO file is ~2 GB.
And this file can be downloaded from the Microsoft Download Center.

Ken1943 gave a link that went to msft.digitalrivercontent.net/win.
The complete media for Windows 7 SP1 (32-bit or 64-bit) installations
can be downloaded as a large ISO file (~3.24 GB for 64-bit) from here.
It is not the SP1 update compilation but can be burned as a DVD that
is a complete version Windows 7 Pro-SP1. Hence, a [matching] Genuine
Product Key is/will be required for activation.

With Windows 7, note it was possible to buy just the Genuine Product
Key alone, without media, at a slightly lower price.


GR

 

[Gene E. Bloch]

A few years ago, I ended up having to call Microsoft over a similar XP
problem. The original XP pro downloaded disk did not work, due to the SP
updates. The downloaded SP image would not work with the original key
for whatever reason. So, they just issued a new key that worked.
(Both versions were downloaded from the same Microsoft web site.)

So far, no similar issues with win 7.

OK, that is interesting and new to me...and thanks for not saying that I
was being a dummy

 

[Gene E. Bloch]

I have never had my Windows key change when I installed SP1 (or SP2,
etc, in older systems), so I don't know what you mean by that.

SP1 is an update, not a new product...

Since I might be misinterpreting what you meant, feel free to clarify.

If you think I'm being a dummy, that's OK, just don't tell anyone

I also got confused. There is just SP1 for Windows 7 as an ISO file
for both the 32-bit and 64-bit installations. This ISO file is ~2 GB.
And this file can be downloaded from the Microsoft Download Center.

Ken1943 gave a link that went to msft.digitalrivercontent.net/win.
The complete media for Windows 7 SP1 (32-bit or 64-bit) installations
can be downloaded as a large ISO file (~3.24 GB for 64-bit) from here.
It is not the SP1 update compilation but can be burned as a DVD that
is a complete version Windows 7 Pro-SP1. Hence, a [matching] Genuine
Product Key is/will be required for activation.

With Windows 7, note it was possible to buy just the Genuine Product
Key alone, without media, at a slightly lower price.

GR

The advantage of all that is you can pick the method that works best for
you.

The disadvantage is that there's no way to figure out which method will
work best for you

 

[Ken1943]

I have never had my Windows key change when I installed SP1 (or SP2,
etc, in older systems), so I don't know what you mean by that.

SP1 is an update, not a new product...

Since I might be misinterpreting what you meant, feel free to clarify.

If you think I'm being a dummy, that's OK, just don't tell anyone

I also got confused. There is just SP1 for Windows 7 as an ISO file
for both the 32-bit and 64-bit installations. This ISO file is ~2 GB.
And this file can be downloaded from the Microsoft Download Center.

Ken1943 gave a link that went to msft.digitalrivercontent.net/win.
The complete media for Windows 7 SP1 (32-bit or 64-bit) installations
can be downloaded as a large ISO file (~3.24 GB for 64-bit) from here.
It is not the SP1 update compilation but can be burned as a DVD that
is a complete version Windows 7 Pro-SP1. Hence, a [matching] Genuine
Product Key is/will be required for activation.

With Windows 7, note it was possible to buy just the Genuine Product
Key alone, without media, at a slightly lower price.


GR

I have always downloaded a service pack and installed it.
Windows update may only update what it 'sees' to update and may
miss something. Think I saw that from Win 98 days.

Could be wrong, but better safe than sorry.


KenW

 

[Mellowed]

Use the free "DriverBackup! from http://drvback.sourceforge.net/

Thanks Zaidy. I downloaded the pgm and I'll try to understand just what
it does.

 

[...winston]

"Bob H" wrote in message I downloaded sp1 for my win7 version and then integrated it with the
original copy, so that next time I have to do a repair or re install, I
have sp1 and updates installed at the same time.
Hi Bob,
That does provide some benefits.

That only gets you so much..

If you downloaded the full version Windows 7 SP1 iso and created the Win7 SP1 install DVD then you can use that to reinstall
Windows.

If you need to do a repair install you can use the created full version Win7 SP1 installation DVD

If you integrated SP1 with your original Win7 RTM (slipstreamed) you can use that to reinstall Windows. But.....
<qp>
- 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.
</qp>

 

[Daniel47]

It's quicker.

Quicker to d/l a couple of Gb or more full SP1 installation than just
getting the updates?? I wouldn't have thought so!!

Daniel

 

[Daniel47]

This guy just wants an argument and not good advise.


KenW

No, Ken, I'm not looking for an argument, just common sense. Cannot see
the sense in throwing away a perfectively good DVD, just so I can
download the same (if updated) stuff.

Why not just use the original DVD and then get the required updates?
Several Gb d/l (which would exceed monthly limit) verses maybe a Gb d/l
(which does not exceed monthly limit)!!

Daniel

 

[Wolf K]

Quicker to d/l a couple of Gb or more full SP1 installation than just
getting the updates?? I wouldn't have thought so!!

Daniel

Well, I've not had to do this on W7, but with previous versions of
Windows it sure seemed quicker to d/l the latest SP'ed version and
install the few updates than clean install the original and then update.
Sure was easier, maybe that made it seem quicker. One clean install of
XP took about 30 minutes for the install, and over 2 hours for the
updates. Never again.

Granted, the total times may not differ much, but updates sure seem to
take longer. Especially if
they require restarts, which IME has always been the case when updating
an original install.

Anyhow, it's a good idea to have the latest *.iso handy, just in case.

YMMV. Have a good day.

 

[Daniel47]

Well, I've not had to do this on W7, but with previous versions of
Windows it sure seemed quicker to d/l the latest SP'ed version and
install the few updates than clean install the original and then update.
Sure was easier, maybe that made it seem quicker. One clean install of
XP took about 30 minutes for the install, and over 2 hours for the
updates. Never again.

Granted, the total times may not differ much, but updates sure seem to
take longer. Especially if
they require restarts, which IME has always been the case when updating
an original install.

Anyhow, it's a good idea to have the latest *.iso handy, just in case.

YMMV. Have a good day.

Wolf, what do you mean by "quicker to d/l the latest SP'ed version"??

In the discussion here, when posters mentioned Win7 SP1, I was thinking
they meant a complete version of Win7 that included all the SP1 updates,
so a couple of Gb or more of download. But then, after reading more of
the replies here, I'm starting to think that they mean just the SP1
file, which would probably be smaller than going the "individual updates
from original Win7" route.

If this second way is what's meant, it would be more economical, except
that by doing the individual updates route, I can select which, if any,
of the monthly update files I want to download/apply, on a file by file
basis!

Daniel

 

[Mellowed]

No, Ken, I'm not looking for an argument, just common sense. Cannot see
the sense in throwing away a perfectively good DVD, just so I can
download the same (if updated) stuff.

Why not just use the original DVD and then get the required updates?
Several Gb d/l (which would exceed monthly limit) verses maybe a Gb d/l
(which does not exceed monthly limit)!!

Daniel

Well I guess that if you are saddled with a monthly limit, in your case,
updates would make sense.