Need to recover Windows 10 setup files?

Running Windows 10 Home (version 1803, build 17134.523) on my desktop HP. I also subscribe to Avast Internet Security and Avast Cleanup Premium. I think I did something with ACP that has screwed up Windows ability to install updates. Twice now, while trying to install the latest Windows update, the computer (Windows) threw out the error message that it couldn't install the update (after about 93% had been installed) and had to roll back the installation. What I think I did to cause this issue was to use ACP to stupidly delete the Windows Setup Files. Somehow I only paid attention to the Avast statement that I wouldn't need those files if I didn't intend to reinstall Windows...I never associated updating with "modifying Windows." I have already tried to restore using a restore point, but that didn't work. I'd like to be able to recover the Setup files so that I can continue to update Windows. However, I'd like to be able to do this without loosing any of my files and programs that are already on Windows. Do I have any recourse to get those files back? And if not, do you think a computer repair person could get those files back for me? Thanks.

dalchina said:

Hi, 'the latest Windows update' differs from PC to PC. Could I guess you might mean a feature update (upgrade) to build 1809?

You can check your Update History to see what's been happening. Please advise.

Was this offered by Windows Update? Or did you download ths iso file and upgrade manually?

If it is this upgrade, it is not uncommon for such upgrades to fail.

Otherwise, if you feel your exisiting Windows installation is damaged, you might like to be aware, for reference at least, of an in-place upgrade repair install which keeps all progs and data and most settings because it is just like upgrading, but uses an iso of the same build and base language as you have now.


Tutorial available.

It was an automatic update through Windows

This is the update that keeps failing (February 12, 2019—KB4487017 (OS Build 17134.590)

I do feel that existing Windows installation is damaged (Setup file removed by Avast Cleanup Premium...my bad). And yes, I am interested in "... in-place upgrade repair install which keeps all progs and data and most settings..." I just want to be sure that using the recommended repair that I also will still retain my pictures and emails/address book (Thunderbird) along with my programs in Program Files and Program Files (x86).

The tutorial is here: Repair Install Windows 10 with an In-place Upgrade | Tutorials

You will need the ISO for 1803 if you don't want the repair install to upgrade you to 1809 at the same time. If you don't have the install media for 1803 you can download it directly from Microsoft using Option Three in this tutorial.

Download Windows 10 ISO File | Tutorials

Currently Microsoft offer a choice of either the 1809 or 1803 ISOs when you use this method.

Bree said:

The tutorial is here: Repair Install Windows 10 with an In-place Upgrade | Tutorials

You will need the ISO for 1803 if you don't want the repair install to upgrade you to 1809 at the same time. If you don't have the install media for 1803 you can download it directly from Microsoft using Option Three in this tutorial.

Download Windows 10 ISO File | Tutorials

Currently Microsoft offer a choice of either the 1809 or 1803 ISOs when you use this method.

I would like to take the easiest approach to repairing my Windows 10. It is my understanding that I can download a media installation to a flash drive and then use the flash drive to fix my Windows lack of setup files. However, using this method, I believe, will also install 1809 and not 1803 (which I now have installed.) Is there any downside to installing 1809 rather than 1803 (like loss of programs)? Also, I have networked the desktop with a new Surface Pro 6 (Windows Home 64-bit v. 10.0.17134.556) and have made the SP6 just about a mirror image of the desktop...will loading 1809 on the desktop have any consequences when I use both computers in network?

For a repair install it makes no difference whether you use an ISO or a USB as you do not need to boot from the install media to perform a repair.

The process is identical with either, you just mount the ISO (or plug in the USB) then from within Windows find Setup.exe on the root of the drive and run it to begin the upgrade. Read the tutorial for more details, it covers the steps for using either a USB or an ISO.

There should be no loss of programs in upgrading to 1809. There should be no networking issues with the SP6 either. However, there's no real need to upgrade to 1809 as far as repairing your PC is concerned. As the ISO for 1803 is readily available from Microsoft there's no need to take any further risks. In your place I would use Option Three in the ISO download tutorial and use the 1803 ISO to repair the PC.

Bree said:

...The process is identical with either, you just mount the ISO (or plug in the USB)...
...As the ISO for 1803 is readily available from Microsoft there's no need to take any further risks. In your place I would use Option Three in the ISO download tutorial and use the 1803 ISO to repair the PC.

Hey Bree, thanks for your helping me. I usually can follow instructions/tutorials fairly well, but before I start one of these projects (as I don't do this too often, thus my expertise is limited) I need to be sure (as possible) that I'll be doing it right. So, the need for a few more questions.

I'd like to do the 1803 repair to play it safe as you suggest. However, after reading the ISO approach, I'm not sure just where the download goes. Is it loaded onto the PC I'm repairing or does go onto a disk first and then the disk is run by the PC? If a disk is used, what kind/size disk should I get (don't have any disks and haven't used them in years)? It does seem to me that the USB approach might be a little simpler, although upgrading to 1809 may have some risks.

flycaster said:

I'd like to do the 1803 repair to play it safe as you suggest. However, after reading the ISO approach, I'm not sure just where the download goes....

The ISO is a file that contains an image of a DVD. The PC you want to repair has to mount the ISO as a virtual drive so that it can see and run the files on it. To mount the ISO you just double-click on the .iso file in File Explorer. Once it is mounted it's exactly like using a usb, it appears as another drive that you explore just like you would if you had made a usb.

So the ISO can be anywhere that your PC can see it. The most convenient (and fastest) place would be in a folder on the PC you want to repair, but you could equally well have the ISO file in a share on your other PC, browse to the share using File Explorer on the PC to be repaired and mount it from across the network.

WOW, no need for flash drive or CD/DVD! Thanks for the rather concise explanation about ISO and how to use it to repair my PC. Seems like a no brainer: Download ISO to a folder in File Explorer via Edge>2X click the ISO file>setup.exe within ISO file>sit back and wait for 1803 to be repaired. I'm intending to start the the healing tomorrow and hope that I'm not missing anything. And, of course, thanks again to all who have been so helpful.