• We’re currently investigating an issue related to the forum theme and styling that is impacting page layout and visual formatting. The problem has been identified, and we are actively working on a resolution. There is no impact to user data or functionality, this is strictly a front-end display issue. We’ll post an update once the fix has been deployed. Thanks for your patience while we get this sorted.

Can you do a Windows 7 reinstall "in place"?

Carson Dyle

Carson Dyle

Diamond Member
I have an old netbook on which I run Windows 7 Professional, 32-bit. I think it originally came with XP, but I replaced the hard drive with an SSD a couple years ago and installed Windows 7. Anyway... A problem I began having is that this netbook can no longer connect to other computers on the network. No idea what I did, but I must have screwed something up in the security or wifi network settings.

I've tried everything I can think of to make it work, but haven't had any luck. I'm ready to just reinstall Windows and start over. Can Windows be reinstalled in place, resetting all of the configuration options? I realize I'd have to reinstall programs, but at least it would keep data and folders intact.
 
Short answer, no. Reinstallation in-place while keeping user data was only added with 8.1, I think.

You'll have to move your data to some sort of external drive while you reinstall. Bu if it's from/to an SSD, it shouldn't be too much of a hassle.

External SSDs are very handy for this kind of situation.
 
A couple hours ago I bit the bullet and began a fresh install of Windows 7. The good news is that it can see all of the computers and shares on the network and vice versa. The bad news is that installing 125 critical updates on this old computer looks like it will take at least 6 hours.
 
Carson Dyle said:
I have an old netbook on which I run Windows 7 Professional, 32-bit. I think it originally came with XP, but I replaced the hard drive with an SSD a couple years ago and installed Windows 7. Anyway... A problem I began having is that this netbook can no longer connect to other computers on the network. No idea what I did, but I must have screwed something up in the security or wifi network settings.

I've tried everything I can think of to make it work, but haven't had any luck. I'm ready to just reinstall Windows and start over. Can Windows be reinstalled in place, resetting all of the configuration options? I realize I'd have to reinstall programs, but at least it would keep data and folders intact.
Click to expand...
yes, you can do an in place refresh of win 7:

https://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/3413-repair-install.html
 
Insert_Nickname said:
That's very interesting. From what I can gather it essentially does an in place upgrade from 7 to 7. I didn't think it was possible to do that within the same version of Windows.

As a final resort, this could come in very handy, so thank you very much.
Click to expand...
no problem. I have done it myself back in the day. The down side is if your system won't boot you can't do this.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

TRENDING THREADS

Back
Top