I need to do a repair install but the version of Windows installed is OEM and the only media I have is Retail. I know there's tutorials on converting XP but can't find anything for Windows 7. Thanks.

Just use the disk and enter the OEM key... That is all there is to it with Vista and 7

It is impossible to do a repair install with any version of windows other than windows XP. actually it is sort of possible but you need the exact version of windows that was originally installed which makes it impossible. You also need to revert all changes to the OS that were made from then to now such as the service packs and specific updates. So even though it is sort of possible under some rare circumstances it would be a kind of silly to try as its to much work at the end of the day.

You should know as well there is only that OEM versions are actually retail. There are only two official versions of consumer level windows 7 in north america which are Windows 7 RTM x86 and Windows 7 RTM x64. Both include all versions of windows 7 basic, home, pro, ultimate. You can manipulate the installer is various ways to install any version you please or simply recreate an all-in-one disk. (they did this as XP was a mess with all the different types and versions)

*You can in-fact legally download from microsoft distribution source; which is digital river; any version of windows or office available to avoid infection via torrents
although these links are not officially listed by Microsoft people have taking note of the link locations and compiled lists of the download links and personally I use this site here:


As I explained in the first paragraph it being impossible I should mention how simple it is to reinstall and restore to its previous state because all the relevant information that makes their computer unique in located in their user profile. Its all pretty simple as all you need to do is make a backup from a second computer and make sure you get the user profile contents, APPDATA folder contents, and PROGRAM DATA folder contents then but re install windows with your RTM disk. Once install update drivers and update windows all the way. now copy over user file contents and program data contents. look through the appdata folder and copy everything that is not on the new installation and additionally look in the [appdata\local\microsoft] and [appdata\roaming\microsoft] folders for anything pertaining to the mail provider they used and copy their contents for all their email messages and account settings. At this point after all the content is back in place just go back to the [appdata\local\microsoft] folder to see what programs they had installed so that you can re install them. Once their programs are re installed all the settings they had will be there as if they never lost them including favorites, and contacts, ect...

Thanks guys, I was able to download a non SP1 Win 7 Pro ISO and completed the repair install beautifully. Thanks. I didn't realize that Retail and OEM ISOs can be interchanged.

Sweet, thank for the info. Time to update my library.

Its not that they are interchangeable but that they are in fact identical because there is no such thing as OEM anymore. The OEM pertains to the license key and how they activate.

I got a question for you. Did you just put the disk in while in windows and click upgrade? if you did then I would verify that your windows is still genuine because its likely the SLMGR was reset, losing the information about the OEM certificate embedded into the bios. Let me know

According to the research I did in order to Repair Install Windows 7 you need to start the install from inside Windows. Choose the "Upgrade" rather than clean install.

Yea I though so. Consider yourself lucky lol. this usually never works or fails during the process if certain updates were installed and about 99% of the time if SP1 was installed. What kinda makes me curious is that your procedure worked with an RTM disk to an OEM installation. This has confirmed a couple things for me and might have to put on my testing hat again to see if this applies to all OEMs or just certain types as they use a special OPK installation method specifically designed for their company.

BTW your OEM licence has probably been deactivated which means you will have to use the licence key off the COA sticker. I always prefer not to use the COA as it can serve value down the road. If you want to reactivate the OEM licence then you will need to do a search for the [*.XRM-MS] certificate, where * usually is represented by the manufacturers name. once you have located it then copy paste it to c:\ and open CMD with admin rights and type in SLMGR -ipk c:\*.XRM-MS then press enter (the * is replaced with the correct name of the file). Then go to start menu, right click on COMPUTER and click properties. Enter the original 25 digit OEM licence key and activate. You can now use the COA sticker licence for another computer that did not come with windows 7 using the appropriate media I posted above.

James -

I have been checking out those download links.

What is:

Windows 7 Professional N x86 SP1 U (media refresh)

What is the "U", and I suppose "media refresh" means they put the media software back in?

I am guessing that "SP1 U" stands for Service Pack 1 Update...


Like MSoft to make it confusing.

they are country codes. Because some countries privacy laws and such are different the os has been slightly changed to respect those regions. for north america we use any version with no additional letters, I know that some places in europe use N and maybe U for some places in asia.

* i also want to reiterate that all those links are ligit. I is not an offence of any sort to download them and use them accordingly. they are hosted by microsoft offical distrobution center which is 3rd party called digital river. I know it sounds strange but at the end of the day its like this because the software services no purpose in revenue for microsoft as thats what the COA key is for.