How to Perform a Repair Install on Windows 10

If your Windows 10 installation is exhibiting unusual behavior, such as built-in apps not working or launching, you can perform a repair upgrade to fix the problem. A repair upgrade is the process of installing Windows 10 over the existing installation on your hard disk, using your installation USB, DVD media, or ISO file. This process can repair broken operating system files while preserving your personal files, settings, and installed applications.

Requirements for a Repair Install

Before you begin, ensure that you have the following requirements in place:

At least 8.87 GB the current space used by Windows 10 of free space available on the Windows drive.
The installation media (USB, DVD, or ISO) must be the same edition and same or newer build as your currently installed Windows 10.
The installation media must be the same base language (system default language) as your currently installed Windows 10.
If you have a 32-bit Windows 10, you must use a 32-bit installation media. If you have a 64-bit Windows 10, you must use a 64-bit installation media.

Methods for Performing a Repair Install

There are several ways to perform a repair install on Windows 10. Let’s explore the different methods:

Method 1: Repair Install Windows 10 Using an ISO File

To start the repair install using an ISO file, follow these steps:

Download the Windows 10 ISO file from Microsoft’s website and save it to your desired location.
Open File Explorer and navigate to the folder where you saved the ISO file.
Double-click the ISO file to mount it in Explorer.
Double-click the setup.exe application on the mounted drive.
Press “Yes” at the UAC warning message and click “Next” to install Windows 10.
Accept the license terms and wait for Windows to check for updates.
At the “Ready to Install” screen, ensure that the “Keep personal files and App” option is selected and click “Install” to begin the repair upgrade.
Method 2: Repair Install Windows 10 via Media Creation Tool

To perform a repair install using the Media Creation Tool, follow these steps:

Download the Media Creation Tool from Microsoft’s website and save it to your desktop.
Run the MediaCreationTool2004.exe file.
Click “Accept” for the applicable notices and license terms.
Select “Upgrade this PC now” and click “Next”.
Windows 10 will now start downloading and preparing for the repair install.
Method 3: Repair Install Windows 10 with USB Installation Media

To perform a repair install using a USB installation media, follow these steps:

Download the Windows 10 ISO file from Microsoft’s website.
Create a bootable USB drive using the ISO file. You can use a tool like Rufus for this.
Boot your computer from the USB drive and select “Repair your computer” when prompted.
In the Advanced Recovery options, select “Troubleshoot” and then “Startup Repair”.
Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the repair install process.

Regardless of the method you choose, the repair install process will preserve your personal files, settings, and installed applications, while replacing any corrupted or damaged system files. This can be a powerful tool for resolving various Windows 10 issues without the need for a full reinstallation.