MR image restore problem

T J · 30 Dec 2021

My 21H1 Dell desktop (2012) is currently running great. Had MR image restore failures this past month, Nov 17 and Dec 22.

Nov 17 - restored a MR7 (free) recent full image; afterwards Dell would not boot correctly. Failed restore attempts had "BCD Update - no active partition copied." shown in boot CD window. After some different image restore attempts, did get a June 23 image to restore; then found out about the MR7 patch; applied patch; made a new boot CD.

Dec 22 - restored a MR8 (paid) recent full image; afterwards Dell would not boot correctly. Same as Nov 17, see photos below.
Dec 23 9:22 AM photo shows after recent Full image restore with MR8 boot CD. Photo shows 'BCD update - no active partition copied.' After reboot, Dell was dead.
Dec 23 10:33 AM photo shows after June 23 Full image restore with patched MR7 boot CD. After reboot, Dell was alive.

Anyone know why a boot CD would say 'BCD update - no active partition copied'? Has happened several times recently. (the current 3 partitions are what Dell installed NEW ~ Dec 2012 (Dell Utility, Recovery, and OS); no clean installs ever (W7 & W10); just image restores now and then; I did have to replace the original hard drive on June 5, 2021 due to hard drive failure, restored an MR7 image onto a new similar hard drive)
Thanks for any suggestions. I keep things simple as possible; full images, do minimal steps each time, no scheduling, check the verify image box when making an image.

Dec23-922am by T J, on Flickr

Dec23-1033am by T J, on Flickr

SIW2 · 30 Dec 2021

A macrium user might know different.

However the message seems to indicate an mbr partition was not copied from the image to the disk. Presumably it is therefore referring to an mbr style disk. In which case, it is important because an active flag is needed for bios to know where to hand control to as part of the boot process.

Not clear if your image contains an active partition. If you had only imaged the os, recov and utility partitions and not the separate unlettered active partition (if there was one ), that might be the issue.

If you are using mbr partition style and bios boot, it is easily fixed. You could just mark the restored windows partition active and use bcdboot command to create and populate the critical boot files on it.

For example if your restored windows partition shows as C from macrium winpe, open cmd prompt and type:

diskpart
(then press enter)
sel vol c
(then press enter)
act
(then press enter)
exi
(then press enter)
bcdboot c:\windows /s c: /f all
(then press enter)

( the /s and /f switches are just in case you booted macrium winpe in the wrong mode and/or have more than one potential system partition. So they might not be necessary but wont do any harm)

SIW2 · 30 Dec 2021

It is easier for other posters if you attach screenshots to your post instead of some external host.

To attach stuff, click Go Advanced button, then click the paperclip to browse to pics you want to attach

T J · 30 Dec 2021

Yes, this Dell is just like it was in 2012, MBR, same partitions. Did update W7 to W10 for free in 2016.
I always select all three partitions when making Full images. The Recovery is Active (maybe, I'm no expert).
I always select all three partitions when restoring Full images.
Here is photo I took during image restore on Dec 23 at 8:58 AM. Dell did not boot after this restore.

Dell did boot after the Dec 23 10:33 am photo (which was June 23 image).

I tried for about two hours to upload photos as you suggest, with no luck. I tried both clicking on the small icon in the upper taskbar; and also tried in advanced , then manage attachments, select file, upload file. While I do have 21 images in the manage attached files, I can't get any more files uploaded. I tried every method. gave up and used Flickr. I wasn't a math major, but did make an A in Linear Programming (math 8??) course, yet can't upload a photo,

.

Dec23-858am by T J, on Flickr

- - - Updated - - -

Seems strange that I can upload selected jpgs for posting on a fishing forum's website this evening using same system as here; but can't upload selected jpgs on this forum.

Bree · 30 Dec 2021

T J said:

Seems strange that I can upload selected jpgs for posting on a fishing forum's website this evening using same system as here; but can't upload selected jpgs on this forum.

Your file was probably too large. There is a file size limit on this forum for uploads, for a .jpg that is 2.0MB. See this tutorial for details.

How to Upload and Post Screenshots and Files at Ten Forums

T J · 31 Dec 2021

The images that didn't upload normally yesterday are very small.
My jpg upload attempt today worked for a 43.8 KB file (below).

For my recent MR problems; I may try AOMEI PA 8.0 to convert my Dell from MBR to GPT. I used AOMEI PA to convert my Dell from MBR to GPT ~ June 25 2021 for possible Windows 11 upgrade. Switched Dell back to MBR (with MR7 image) ~ Oct 2, 2021, due to all the W11 upgrade requirements. My Dell has no TPM and 2012 i3. Maybe I'll have less MR problems with GPT.

Bastet · 01 Jan 2022

Did you try the ‘Fix Boot Problems’ under Other Tasks after restore but before boot?

T J · 01 Jan 2022

I only did the 'fix boot problem' AFTER rebooting the desktop failed to start desktop. I'd restart rescue CD again and do the 'fix boot portion', even took photo below.

I did NOT do the 'fix boot problem' AFTER restore, and BEFORE initial reboot. <<<<<
Next time I will try this method <<<<<

I usually only restore images to get rid of some program I had to install; such as on Dec 22 when I was getting rid of C-MAP mapping program which was installed to update my C-Map Discover micro SD (lake maps).
thanks (I tried to upload this photo on this website, but it would not upload, so had to use Flickr)
Sometimes I would end up on the Blue screen, if I tried really hard.
As stated earlier, Dell is working great right now; I'll be on good behavior and not restore for awhile (due to the 3-4 hours for June 23 image to now >>W10 updates, fix McAfee subscription, uninstall MR7 free, reinstall MR8 (paid)).

fix-boot by T J, on Flickr

rebooted-PC by T J, on Flickr

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I'll mark this as solved.
Today I made 3 NEW Full images; one Full image with each of the three programs below. I imagine at least one of these programs will solve any problem that develops.
Thanks, and I will do things suggested in this thread.

Macrium Reflect 8; (MR7 used 2021)
Backup and Restore Windows 7; (used from 2012 to 2020)
Norton Ghost 15 (Cold Image, see below); (used from 2013 to 2020)