Windows 10 [20Hx]1Fresh install - Asus x299a - Base drivers missing

@mfx

Quickie screenshot directions.

1. Use the PrtSc key to take a screenshot.
2. Open an image editor like "Paint", and click Paste > Paste.
3. Click on Select > Rectangular Select and drag a box around what you want to show.
4. Click on Crop.
5. Click on File > Save as > PNG picture and save it to somewhere like your desktop.
6. Now, in your Ten Forums post, click on the Insert Image icon.



7. Then click on.. From Computer > Browse (to where you saved the screenshot) > Upload File(s).



8. You will then see something like this. That's your "posted" image.




If you're getting the picture from a phone... save that picture to your desktop, then go to step 6.







As for your virtual Windows.. I really don't know. It could be something done during install, or it could be something related to Macrium's viBoot.
Macrium viBoot - Knowledgebase 8.0 - Macrium Reflect Knowledgebase

mfx said:

The only issue I have now which is likely either something Ive done during the hard drive prep I noted at the start or Macrium has (or now leaves as updated to v8) leaves a virtual drive. But this is not something Ive seen before...
Im loading and running good from the top option and not had the balls (dispair) to try option 2, I know I have the back up so could restore but time atm.
Any ideas and how/can I get rid of it. Doesn't seem an issue however not something Id normally expect to see so would like to squash it.

Curious. I don't know how you ended up with the second 'Windows 10' boot option, but I do know how to get rid of it.

First it would be interesting to see what it is set to boot up. It may well be a leftover that doesn't point to anything that now exists, or it may just be a duplicate of the first entry. Open a Command Prompt (Admin) and type BCDEDIT. This will list all the boot options, {current} being the one you have just booted from. The 'device', 'os device' and 'systemroot' entries for each Windows Boot Loader tells you what each is set up to boot from.

You can delete a boot loader with BCDEDIT, but it is easier to click Start and type 'System Configuration' and run that. On the Boot tab any entry apart from the one you are currently booted from can be selected then deleted. The one you have just booted from is marked as 'Current OS' (and should be 'Default OS' too, if not make it the default).

mfx said:

... On searching for a file I can see one is held in the following location which seems to be the same directory duplicated.

\\?\C:\ProgramData\Application Data\Application Data\Application Data\Application Data\Application Data\Application Data\Application Data\Application Data\Application Data\Application Data\Application Data\Application Data\Application Data\Application Data

'C:\ProgramData\Application Data' is not a folder, rather it is a Junction point, an NTFS symbolic link that redirects to a folder. This one redirects to 'C:\ProgramData', so in following it you can end up apparently in an infinite loop. These Junction points are there to provide backward compatibility with older XP-era software, in XP there was no ProgramData folder, its function was performed by a real folder called 'Application Data'.




For more on Junction points see: NTFS links - Wikipedia

....When I copy the file location I can see it appears to exist

What do you use to copy? If it's RoboCopy, then unless told otherwise it will copy a Junction point as a physical folder, leading to this infinite nesting. I long ago fell foul of this myself....

Bree said:

...I wrote my own .bat file using Robocopy that does full or incremental backups of my user folder to an external or network drive of my choice. I very soon learned the perils of Robocopy and symbolic links...
The dangers of robocopy and symbolic links

The switch I had to use for Robocopy is:
/XJD :: eXclude Junction points for Directories.

Exclude folder form Symbolic link ? - post #3

mfx said:

So Im guessing my question should be why is this showing in the search but no in file folder browser.

Turning on 'show hidden files' is not sufficient to see the 'Application Data' junction in Explorer, it's a system file and you need to turn off 'Hide protected operating system files' as well. Once visible, you'll find several other junctions there too.

mfx said:

@Bree 3rd attempt at posting a response and not sure if you got my email ... Anyway further manual search shows it to appear expunged. Reran the core programs and all seem fine "phew"; Large thank you Bree for your time.

Yes, I did see the Visitor Message you left, but I was waiting for you to sort out your posting issues and reply here (don't know why you couldn't post, but you made it in the end ).

Glad I could help you understand and resolve your symbolic link issues.