Repair install blocked by Unsupported Directory

Nisko · 05 Jul 2017

I apologize - I believe I've confused my issue with my previous posts. However, I've also managed to clean things up a bit:

I'm trying to perform a "Repair Install" on my Windows 10 installation - which has the Anniversary update installed. I used the Windows 10 media creation tool to place my installation files on a flash drive. When attempting the repair installation, I am stopped by the following Microsoft message: "You can't keep Windows settings, personal files, and apps because your current version of Windows might be installed in an unsupported directory." This is supposed to be a "Repair Install" so I obviously don't want to lose anything. Below is the screenshot of my Disk Management as it is now. Can anyone help please?

Attachment 142572

dalchina · 05 Jul 2017

Hi, firstly, downloading an iso using that tool means you would be upgrading to the current build- the creator's build. The procedure for upgrading is the same as for an in-place repair. The outcome depends on the iso used. If you use an Anniversary build iso, you will revert to the base build of the Anniversary build.

So it depends what you want to achieve. As yo have Pro, you could choose to defer the upgrade (= for a few months).

This link is to a tool that allows you to choose the iso you want:
Download Microsoft Windows ISO Download Tool - MajorGeeks

Secondly, as you'll have realised, that message is misleading and unclear- it basically means something is not set up as Windows expects it to be.

It may occur (for example)
- because of a mismatch of the iso with your installed Win 10.
See
Fix:
- if you've changed the path to installed programs in the registry
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE/SOFTWARE/Microsoft/Windows/CurrentVersion
- if you've moved your user folder:
Want to update to windows 10 but have moved the users directory - Super User

In your case it would be worth checking the recovery partition is actually properly related to your OS.
Try restarting using
SHIFT + left click restart

Do you (eventually) see a full set of options from System Restore to Command Prompt?
(As here:
Boot to Advanced Startup Options in Windows 10 Windows 10 Installation Upgrade Tutorials
)

Again, referring to your previous thread
Problem doing a Repair Install - Windows 10 Forums
#3

Nisko · 05 Jul 2017

Thank you for replying. There are a lot of Windows 10 choices to download Please tell me the one I need. Also, before I try this again, I want to be sure I have the Anniversary Update (not the Creator's Update). How do I check this? Also, after the Anniversary update, I have whatever other smaller updates have occurred. Will this stop me doing a Repair Install because of the error message I'm receiving about an unsupported directory? Yes, I realize the message is misleading. I just need to fix whatever is wrong. Thank you.

dalchina · 05 Jul 2017

Hi, reiterate: please try this simple check:
In your case it would be worth checking the recovery partition is actually properly related to your OS.
Try restarting using
SHIFT + left click restart

Do you (eventually) see a full set of options from System Restore to Command Prompt?
(As here:
Boot to Advanced Startup Options in Windows 10 Windows 10 Installation Upgrade Tutorials
)

Nisko · 05 Jul 2017

How do I do: SHIFT + left click restart ? Does that take three hands? I'm serious - I don't know how to do what you recommend. Please explain.

NavyLCDR · 05 Jul 2017

Open the start menu, click on the power icon, then hold down the shift key while you left click (which is the standard click button on the mouse) on the restart option.

However, that is not a true test of the recovery partition being associated with your install of Windows 10 because the same advanced troubleshooting menu will open even if the recovery partition is not associated with your install.

The real test if the recovery partition is associated with your install of Windows 10 is to open a Command Prompt (Admin) or Powershell (Admin) and run:

reagentc /info

You get the Command Prompt (Admin) or Powershell (Admin) from the list that appears if you press the windows key and X at the same time. They are usually right next to each other on the keyboard, so you only need two fingers on one hand to do that

The response to reagentc /info should say the recovery environment is enabled and the WinRE path is set to the recovery partition.

fdegrove · 05 Jul 2017

Hi,

And why 416GB of unallocated space on that 1Tb SSD ??
When doing a repair install make sure to direct it to the correct partition too.

Cheers,

NavyLCDR · 05 Jul 2017

fdegrove said:

Hi,

And why 416GB of unallocated space on that 1Tb SSD ??
When doing a repair install make sure to direct it to the correct partition too.

Cheers,

The OP deleted a second installation of Windows 10 that was set up to dual boot thinking that might be part of the problem. You will also notice the OP has a System Reserved partition which is not being used to boot the computer from.

dalchina · 05 Jul 2017

Nisko said:

How do I do: SHIFT + left click restart ? Does that take three hands? I'm serious - I don't know how to do what you recommend. Please explain.

I chose this as the simplest practical non-technical test, being also supported by a tutorial. Sorry if that's too tricky.

NavyLCDR · 05 Jul 2017

@Nisko,

I would try this. Make a bootable USB flash drive of Kyhi's Recovery Tools:
Windows 10 Recovery Tools - Bootable Rescue Disk - Windows 10 Forums

Boot your computer from Kyhi's Recovery Tools and make the System Reserved Partition Active. The commands to run in the Command Prompt window should be:
diskpart
select disk 0
select part 1
active
exit
exit

Then run Macrium Reflect. Under the restore menu will be a utility to fix windows boot problems. Run that utility. That should make any corrections needed to the System Reserved partition which you just made the active partition. Then reboot the computer normally.