Startup Repair restores Windows 7 replacing important files operating system, which may be damaged or missing. Startup Repair is a simple diagnostic and repair tool that is used when Windows 7 won’t start properly and you can’t use safe mode .
As of January 2020, Microsoft no longer supports Windows 7. We recommend upgrade to Windows 10, to continue receiving security updates and technical support.
The Windows 7 Recovery Tool is available from the Windows 7 DVD, so you must have a physical copy of the operating system in order for it to work. If you don’t, you can always create a Windows 7 system recovery disc .
Not using Windows 7? Every modern Windows operating system has a similar process for restoring operating system files .
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Boot from Windows 7 DVD
Windows 7 Startup Repair — Step 1.
To start the recovery process Windows 7 downloads you need boot from Windows 7 DVD .
- Follow pressing any key to boot from CD or DVD… message like the one shown in the screenshot above.
- Press any key to force boot your computer from the Windows 7 DVD.
- If you don’t press a key, your computer will try download operating system installed on your hard drive . If this happens, just restart your computer and try booting from the Windows 7 DVD again.
If you want Startup Repair to work properly, before continuing necessary delete everything flash drives or others USB storage devices such as external HDs from a computer. Due to the fact that some computers report space on drives connected via USB, Windows 7 Startup Repair may incorrectly report that it found no problems, when in fact there may be a problem.
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Wait for Windows 7 to download files
Windows 7 Startup Repair — Step 2.
No user intervention is required here. Just wait for the Windows 7 installation process to download files to prepare for any task you might want to do.
In our case, this is Startup Repair, but there are many tasks that can be performed using the Windows 7 DVD.
At this point, no changes are made to your computer. Windows 7 only «downloads files» temporarily.
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Choose your Windows 7 installation language and other options
Windows 7 Startup Repair — Step 3.
Select language to install , time and currency format as well as keyboard or input method, which you want to use in Windows 7.
Click Further .
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Click Repair your computer
Windows 7 Startup Repair — Step 4.
Click » Repair your computer» in the lower left corner window » Installing Windows» .
This will launch Windows 7 System Recovery Options, which contains several useful diagnostic and recovery tools, one of which is Startup Repair.
Don’t click Install now . If you already have Windows 7 installed, this option is used to perform clean install of Windows 7 or side by side installation of Windows 7.
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Wait for System Restore Options to find Windows 7 on your computer
Windows 7 Startup Repair — Step 5.
System Recovery Options, a toolkit containing Startup Repair, will now search your hard drive(s) for any installations of Windows 7.
You don’t have to do anything here but wait. This Windows installation search should not take more than a few minutes.
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Select your Windows 7 installation
Windows 7 Startup Repair — Step 6.
Select the Windows 7 installation for which you want to perform a Startup Repair.
Click Further .
Don’t worry if the drive letter is in column » Location» does not match the drive letter where Windows 7 is installed on your PC. Drive letters are somewhat dynamic, especially when using diagnostic tools such as System Recovery Options.
For example, as you can see above, this Windows 7 installation is listed as being on disk D: when it actually disk C: when Windows 7 is running.
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Select Startup Repair Recovery Tool
Windows 7 Startup Repair — Step 7.
Click Boot recovery in the list of recovery tools under System Recovery Options.
As you can see, in the parameters recovery systems Windows 7 has several other diagnostic and recovery tools available, including system restore, recovery system image, Windows memory diagnostics and command line .
However, in this guide, we only restore operating system files using the Startup Repair tool.
