Repair Install Windows 10 with an In-place Upgrade  

Brink said:

Hello bru,
It's a precaution to make sure that Windows is updated to only the same build and version currently installed. Otherwise, it may affect what you will be able to keep.
You can always check for updates in Windows Update after the repair install has finished though.

Thanks Brink. I am attempting the repair to fix a problem with WU. Would that change the selection?

There were TF threads reporting problems with 20H2 in place upgrade repairs.

Please report your results

Ztruker said:

I saw the other thread about 20H2 Repair Install not working but I thought it was because the OP was using a different CU level. That's why I thought using UUP Dump to get the correct level would resolve the problem, but it didn't, same problem.

The ISO I got from UUP Dump has the following attributes:

Code:

C:\Users\ztruk>dism /Get-WimInfo /WimFile:I:\sources\install.wim /index:1

Deployment Image Servicing and Management tool
Version: 10.0.19041.572

Details for image : I:\sources\install.wim

Index : 1
Name : Windows 10 Pro
Description : Windows 10 Pro
Size : 18,067,796,602 bytes
WIM Bootable : No
Architecture : x64
Hal : <undefined>
Version : 10.0.19042
ServicePack Build : 610
ServicePack Level : 0
Edition : Professional
Installation : Client
ProductType : WinNT
ProductSuite : Terminal Server
System Root : WINDOWS
Directories : 25912
Files : 107271
Created : 11/7/2020 - 3:14:57 PM
Modified : 11/7/2020 - 3:22:33 PM
Languages :
        en-US (Default)

That matches what is currently installed on my system:



So Repair Install is broken in 20H2, period.

Repair install works if you do the registry modification if using 20H2 - you know about that mod?

Ztruker said:

... I thought using UUP Dump to get the correct level would resolve the problem, but it didn't, same problem....

....So Repair Install is broken in 20H2, period.

What is broken is that attempting a repair install with 20H2 media incorrectly determines that you are attempting to perform a downgrade. You can never keep files and apps when downgrading (eg. from 2004 to 1903).

Where this mistake arises is in the registry of the installed 20H2 OS. Changing a couple of values in the registry corrects this and allows an in-place repair to keep files and apps.

Bree said:

...I am happy to confirm that using the same 20H2 ISO as I tested before (and would only keep 'nothing'), I can now keep personal files and apps.

Known and Resolved issues for Windows 10 version 20H2 - post #159

Ztruker said:

Wolfymbassador said in his next post after your @Bree that ownership changed back to TrustedInstaller after the Repair Install so I'm going to go ahead and leave it as Administrators and see what happens...

Yes, in a subsequent post OldNayGuy also confirmed that the repair install returns ownership to TrustedInstaller.