Windows Help & Advice – May 2019

Basic

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May 2019 | |^71

1
Windows 10
Headtowww.microsoft.com/
software-download/windows10and
click‘Downloadtoolnow’.Once
downloaded,openMediaCreationTool.
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installationmedia’andfollowtheprompts
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2

Windows8.1

DownloadtheMediaCreation

Toolfromwww.microsoft.com/

software-download/windows8– input

yourlanguage,editionofWindows8.1

andPCarchitecture(32-bitor64-bit)and

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followthepromptstotheend.

3

Windows 7

Go to http://www.microsoft.com/

software-download/windows7 and

enter your product key – choose a

32-bit or 64-bit version as required.

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Download Tool (https://wudt.codeplex.

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then downloading and reinstalling
Service Pack 1, along with all of your
other updates.
Windows 10 users can also launch the
repair process directly from the Media
Creation Tool by choosing Upgrade
when prompted, but given the amount
of time it takes to download the files,
you might as well create your install
media instead – just in case the upgrade
install doesn’t work and you decide to
go down the path of a full-blown
destructive install.

Launch the repair process
The procedure from this point onwards
varies according to which version of
Windows that you have. If prompted to
download updates, do so to save time
post-install.
Windows 8.1 and 10 users will be
asked what they want to keep. Windows
8.1 users should find settings, personal
filesandapplicationsareselectedby
default(click‘Changesettings’if this
isn’tthecase),whileit’s‘Keeppersonal

filesandapps’inthecaseofWindows
10 (don’tworry,inthiscircumstance,
‘apps’alsoappliestoanydesktop
programsthatyouhaveinstalled).
Windows7 usersneedtopopintheir
installmedia,double-clicksetup.exe
andfollowtheregularreinstallprocess.
Whenprompted,click‘Goonlinetoget
thelatestupdatesforinstallation
(recommended)’todownloadpost-SP1
securityfixesnow,thenacceptthe
licenceagreementandchoose
Upgradewhenprompted.

Theupgradeprocesscantakeup

toanhouronwhicheverversionof

Windowsyou’rerepairing,evenonthe

fastestmachine,sobepatient.YourPC

willrebootseveraltimes.If you’re

reinstallingWindows7,you’llbe

promptedtoenteryourproductkey

again,sohaveit handy.

Windows8.1and 10 willrelaunchwith

thesamesetupwizardyou’dseewhen

upgradingfromanearlierversionof

Windows.It’sallverystraightforward,

butdon’tskipthroughtheExpress

settings(iftheyappear);makesureyou

reviewallsettingstolockdownprivacy.

If allgoeswell,youshouldfind

yourselfatthedesktop,readytoseeif

yourproblemhasbeenfixed– startby

seeingif thespecificissuethatyouwere

experiencingbeforehasbeensolved,

thenchecktoseethattherestof

Windowsstillworksasit should– if it’s

not,followtheadviceinthe‘Post-repair

steps’boxonthefacingpage.There’s

alsoa possibility– particularlywith

Windows7 – thattherepairinstallwill

resultina non-bootingPC.If this

happens,digouttherescuemediayou

createdusingMacriumReflectFree(see

page 51 ofissue 146 forhowtodothis)

anduseit torestorethedriveimageyou

tookbeforeembarkingontherepair.

Thenturnthepageformoreoptions.

Get the latest install media

“Start by seeing if the specific issue

has been solved, then check to see

that the rest of Windows still works”

Choose the Upgrade option when prompted to repair Windows 7.