How to fix Startup repair Windows 7 without CD

Want to factory reset your Windows 7 computer, but don’t know how? Don’t worry. After reading this article, you’ll know exactly what to do it.

Try these methods:

There are 2 methods to reset your Windows 7 device. You don’t have to try them all. Just choose the method you need.

  1. Reset your computer from your recovery partition
  2. Reinstall your Windows 7 with/without CD

Restoring Windows computers to factory settings will remove all files and programs on your computer, so before you proceed, please back up your data.

If you’re trying to fix performance issues with your Windows 7 device – say, your computer constantly freezes, crashes, or it takes ages to respond, before you dive into anything deeper, you might want to try a professional Windows repair tool like Reimage.

Just let Reimage scan your PC environment, diagnose your system configuration, identify faulty system files, and repair them automatically. It gives you entirely fresh system components with just one click, so you don’t have to reinstall Windows and all your programs, and you don’t lose any personal data or settings. 

Method 1: Reset your computer from your recovery partition

Some computers may have a recovery partition that allows users to restore their system to default factory settings. Follow the instructions below to see how to do it:

1) On your keyboard, press the Windows logo key and E at the same time to open the File Explorer.

2) Right-click Computer, then select Manage.

How to fix Startup repair Windows 7 without CD

3) Click Storage, then Disk Management.

How to fix Startup repair Windows 7 without CD

4) Check if you have a recovery partition on your computer.

If you find the recovery partition, proceed with the instructions below. If you don’t have a recovery partition, skip to Method 2.

How to fix Startup repair Windows 7 without CD

5) Turn off your computer, then disconnect all peripherals from your computer (except for your monitor, keyboard, and mouse).

6) Press the power button to turn on your computer, then, before the Windows logo appears, repeatedly press the Recovery Key on your keyboard.

The Recovery key may vary depending on different computers. Here is how to access the recovery partition for the most popular brands:

Brand Command
Acer F10 or Alt + F10 or Ctrl + F
Advent F10
Asus F9
Dell Ctrl+F11
HP / Compaq F11
IBM – Lenovo F11
LG F11
MSI F3
Samsung F4
Sony Vaio F8 or10
Toshiba F8 or 0

If you can’t find the function key for your computer, consult your computer manufacturer’s website.

7) Follow the on-screen instructions to reset your computer.


Method 2: Reinstall Windows 7 on your PC

Another way to factory reset your computer is by reinstalling your Windows 7. To do this, the easiest way is using the installation disc which comes with your computer. If you have the disc, see how to reinstall Windows 7 using the installation disc. If you don’t have the disc, here’s how to reinstall Windows 7 with a USB/DVD recovery drive.

Option 1 – Reinstall Windows 7 using the installation disc

1) Turn off your computer and disconnect all peripherals from your computer (except for your monitor, keyboard, and mouse).

2) Turn on your computer.

3) On your keyboard, press the Windows logo key and type recovery. Then, select Recovery.

How to fix Startup repair Windows 7 without CD

4) Click Advanced recovery methods.

How to fix Startup repair Windows 7 without CD

5) Select Reinstall Windows.

How to fix Startup repair Windows 7 without CD

6) Click Yes.

How to fix Startup repair Windows 7 without CD

7) Click Back up now.

How to fix Startup repair Windows 7 without CD

8) After you back up your files, click Restart and follow the on-screen instructions to reset your computer to the factory settings.

How to fix Startup repair Windows 7 without CD

Option 2 – Reinstall Windows 7 with a USB/DVD recovery drive

If you don’t have an installation disc, you should create a USB/DVD recovery drive to reinstall your Windows. Follow the instructions below:

Update: According to Microsoft, they no longer offer Windows 7 ISO files for download. In this case, we recommend you using a modern version of Windows if your PC meets the requirements. Downloading a Windows 7 ISO from a third-party source is not recommended. Please proceed with extreme caution if you do so.

Step 1: Download the Windows 7 ISO files

1) Go to the Windows 7 Disc Image download page.

2) Enter your product key, then click Verify to download the Windows 7 ISO files.

How to fix Startup repair Windows 7 without CD
Step 2: Create your installation USB Drive

1) Go to the Windows USB/DVD Download Tool download page, and click Download.

How to fix Startup repair Windows 7 without CD

2) Select Windows7-USB-DVD-Download-Tool-Installer-en-US.exe, then click Next.

How to fix Startup repair Windows 7 without CD

3) Open the downloaded file to install Windows7 USB/DVD Download Tool.

4) Run the Windows7 USB/DVD Download Tool. Then, click Browse to locate the Windows 7 ISO file that you have downloaded and click Next to continue. 

How to fix Startup repair Windows 7 without CD

5) Click USB device if you’re using a USB drive.

How to fix Startup repair Windows 7 without CD

6) Select the USB flash drive you want to use, then click Begin copying

How to fix Startup repair Windows 7 without CD

7) Exit the download tool when the process finishes. 

Step 3: Install Windows 7 via USB/DVD

1) Turn off your computer and disconnect all peripherals (except for your monitor, keyboard, and mouse).

2) Plug your USB flash drive into a USB port on your computer. Or insert the CD into the drive.

3) Turn on your computer. Then, before the Windows logo appears, repeatedly press the function key on your keyboard to enter Boot Menu.

The function key to enter Boot Menu may vary depending on different computers. Here is how to access the Boot Menu for the most popular brands:

If you can’t find the function key for your computer, consult your computer manufacturer’s website.

Brand Command
Acer Esc or F9 or F12
Asus Esc or F8
Dell F12
HP Esc or F9
Lenovo F12
Samsung Esc
Sony Vaio F11
Toshiba F12

4) Select the Boot tab using the arrow keys on your keyboard, then select Boot Device Priority and press the Enter key.

This process may vary depending on different types of computers.

How to fix Startup repair Windows 7 without CD

5) Select the 1st Boot Device and set the Boot Device to your USB.

How to fix Startup repair Windows 7 without CD

6) Press the F10 key on your keyboard and follow the on-screen instructions to reinstall your Windows 7 computer.

Bonus Tips: Repair System Files with Reimage

If some Windows functions aren’t working or your computer crashes, it could be that one or more of your system files are broken or corrupted. In this case, you’ll need Reimage to scan Windows and restore your files.  

Reimage specializes in Windows repair. It scans your system file and replaces corrupted or missing files automatically. This is like a clean Windows reinstallation with one click, and you won’t lose any programs, settings, or data.

1) Download and install Reimage.

2) Open Reimage and run a free scan on your PC.

3) Wait for Reimage to scan your PC. This may take a few minutes and you’ll get a detailed report of your PC status after this.

How to fix Startup repair Windows 7 without CD

4) You can review a summary of the issues detected after the scan is finished. Click START REPAIR to start the repair process. This requires the full version – which comes with a 60-day Money-Back Guarantee.

How to fix Startup repair Windows 7 without CD

Hopefully, this article helped. Please feel free to leave a comment below if you have any suggestions and questions.

How do I fix Windows 7 failed to boot without disk?

How can I repair Windows 7 Professional without a disc?.
Try Repairing The Windows 7 Installation..
1a. ... .
1b. ... .
Choose your language and click Next..
Click Repair Your Computer and then select the operating system you want to repair..
Click on the Startup Repair link from list of recovery tools in System Recovery Options..

How do I fix startup repair without a disk?

Launch the Windows 10 Advanced Startup Options menu by pressing F11. Go to Troubleshoot > Advanced options > Startup Repair. Wait for a few minutes, and Windows 10 will fix the startup problem.

How do I fix Windows 7 startup repair failed?

6 Fixes for "Startup Repair cannot repair this computer automatically" in Windows 10/8/7.
Method 1. Remove Peripheral Devices. ... .
Method 2. Run Bootrec.exe. ... .
Method 3. Run CHKDSK. ... .
Method 4. Run Windows System File Checker Tool. ... .
Method 5. Perform System Restore. ... .
Method 6. Repair Startup Error Without System Backup..

How do I restore Windows 7 without a disk?

Step 1: Click Start, then select Control Panel and click on System and Security. Step 2: Select Backup and Restore displayed on the new page. Step 3: After selecting backup and restore window, click on the Recover system settings or your computer.