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ugebFlag for United States of America

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Will a windows 7 repair install lose my applications?

Hi,

My windows 7 ultimate system is doing infinite reboots and I can't get it to stop.  I've tried everything recommended.  I thought it was a virus, but I think it's a corrupted registry or something like that.  It'll start to boot windows, get part way through, and reboot.  Endlessly.

If I do a repair install, will that:

1) overwrite my apps?  (will I have to reinstall and authenticate everything?)

2) repair my master boot record (if there are issues).

I know this isn't a hardware problem, and I tried Anvira and AVG rescue disks that found 1 item and cleared it.  Infinite boot still happens.

Ideas?

Thanks!
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JoseBarroso

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If a Windows Repair Install works properly, it will not overwrite your applications or data as noted above. However, you most definitely should back up first. That way, if the repair fails, you can proceed with reinstalling Windows knowing you can bring your data back.
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Would this be a MBR issue?  It launches Windows (always in safe mode, no matter which option is selected) but always reboots before it gets to the login screen or after.

I tried selecting no reboot on failure, but it still reboots.

There seems to be disagreement as to whether a repair install will overwrite apps. 1 vote for reinstalling, and 2 votes against.  I think I've had to reinstall in the past.  Does anyone know for certain?
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Also, I'm pretty experienced, but I'm no MS MVP.  I don't want to waste countless hours on this.  It's not the reinstalling that's as big a deal as the re-authenticating the freaking software.
A repair install will leave your data and applications intact. I think that was mentioned earlier and that is the way it works.

However, (big however), it can go wrong. That is why we suggested backing up also.

So try it. If it works, great.
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I got my info from the Microsoft site directly so that was why I indicated that a reinstall of windows will require reinstalling all apps and restoring data.  It is indicated on the link I provided.  But even if it did preserve those, I generally still plan for those steps.

I think reinstall and repair are two different things here, so that may be where the confusion is.  So I need to correct myself from my earlier post.

Startup Repair is done by booting with Windows 7 DVD, on the Install Windows screen, choose Next, then choose Repair your computer.  It will search for windows installations.  Then choose the option for Use recovery tools, then Next, then click Startup Repair.  This is the method that preserves apps and data, but like what was said earlier, don't take chances with data and back it up first.
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My install is an OEM version and contains no ability to do a repair install.  I downloaded a trial retail copy from

'http://www.heidoc.net/joomla/technology-science/microsoft/14-windows-7-direct-download-links'

and even it wouldn't allow me to do a repair install.

Is it possible to completely reinstall windows, and then do a system restore that I saved from my previous installation?
In this case no.  Back up what you have. You may need to put the drive in a carrier and back it up that way. Once you are sure of the backup, reinstall Windows and recover your data from the backup.
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McKnife
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>>  I know this isn't a hardware problem,  <<  can you tell me how you know this?
just to be sure
**i found the repair sytem often failing....so a fresh install is about all you can do then
McKnife is right. You cannot repair Windows when it crashes. Try to boot into safe mode by disabling some components like network.
And when did this start at all?
well - if a repair cannot repair a crashing windows - what's it's use then?
forgive me, but i think i misunderstand something here
nobus, there are two different things: startup repair and inplace-upgrade (aka "repair installation"). In another thread you did question the same and I answered you already.
[startup repair does not care for buggy services or drivers that keep the system from starting - you would need an inplace upgrade. The i.p.u can only be done from inside windows. On windows xp, we could do the inplace upgrade from the setup dvd, MS changed that behavior from vista on].
thanks, Mc Knife
i believed they were one and the same process - when you boot from the install DVD
(i believe it first does the startup repair - correct?)
With xp: boot setup, select "install", setup detects the currently installed xp and offers to press "r" for inplace-upgrade"=full repair. With vista/7/...: option is gone and can only be seen when the OS is booted. Booting the setup DVD of vista/7/... you only have the startup repair which doesn't do much.
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Repair install didn't work.  Nothing worked, so points to all.