WINDOWS 10 OS messed up after extending system recovery partition

hello

its going to be a long post I apologize but I need help so sharing as much details as I can.

running DUAL OS machine (PC desktop) with Ubuntu and windows 10 PRO on a 480Gb SSD

I was having issues to update from 1809 to 1903 because of an error code leading to not enough space on system recovery partition.

To cut long story short, I did extend this partitioon within Windows over 500Mb as I saw it recommended in a imilar update error case and my OS went from bad to worse after that.
Could not boot in Windows anymore since

1. tried bootrepair in Ubuntu didnt fix it
2. tried bootrec in CMD didnt fix it

I never did a image backup of my system since I had some Windows Programs installed on another 2TB sata drive connected to my MB and the backup function in windows was asking me to capture the SSD Windows system plus the entire 2Tb hard disk so i never bothered doing it

I did backup my Libraries though but the last update I recall was from last year so I am potentially losing a lot of personal files if I cant find a fix to this issue

I have managed what i thought would be a progress, creating an USB boot disk that allowed me to boot in repair mode and run CHKDISK but after that it looked like all my Windows install was wiped away.I recall that no disks errors were found but tahst about it.

I am writing this post from inside UBUNTU, the snapshots showing whats left in my Windows partition and the system recovery partition as well which doesn't seem empty but that doesn't help me to boot in Windows properly either.Or at least I didn't find a way to do so.


I had an USB disk with a Windows10 image used on my company laptop but when I tried to use it, the image restore function says that my PC hardware is not compatible, as I expected anyway


where should I start from here in the hope for fixing this mess I created?

thanks so much

Olivier

Kyhi's rescue disk includes (amongst many other utilities) Macrium Reflect. That has a 'Fix Windows Boot Problems' tool (though that may upset your dual boot, I've not tried it on a dual boot machine).

the backup function in windows was asking me to capture the SSD Windows system plus the entire 2Tb hard disk so i never bothered doing it

Macrium Reflect Free has no such restrictions. Anyway, the image backup built in to Windows has been a deprecated feature for more than two years. Even MS say don't use it.

Microsoft said:

System Image Backup (SIB) Solution
We recommend that users use full-disk backup solutions from other vendors.

Features removed or Deprecated in Windows 10 Fall Creators Update

hello

thanks for your reply

a I am in UBUNTU right now and can see the disk and access its data. a disk check shows no error

another partition I had set on the SSD for Program and Games look 100% intact (called SSD partition6 in the snapshot)

all my other sata disks are for photo/video editing and Games, they are no RAID implemented

b I would use a data recovery software like Kyhi's- yes, need to understand how it works though

what I am trying to understand is what happened after I ran CHKDISK. the SSD partition2 where Windows10 sits sued to be 80% full, now I can see thats its less than 10%. and when I access the partition in Ubuntu after mounting it, it looks like there is now zero WNDOWS system files or Programs I had installed.

But there are still 9Gb of data that I cant access from Ubuntu.There is this Found.000 folder that is meant to be the result of CHKDISK but again, not accessible from within Ubuntu so I am hoping my personal data are in there but righht now I have no idea how to do that with Kyhi's-

c Sure I will run a clean install but I need to try recover my personal data firts

d what Programs were o nthis sata disk,yes there will be registry entries and folders/files in the drive where sit my Windows OS but I would say its nott he most important now.In the future when I run program from another drive location than teh OS,I will figure out better how to backup a system restore for sure

nolive721 said:

hello

its going to be a long post I apologize but I need help so sharing as much details as I can.

running DUAL OS machine (PC desktop) with Ubuntu and windows 10 PRO on a 480Gb SSD

I was having issues to update from 1809 to 1903 because of an error code leading to not enough space on system recovery partition.

Usually Windows creates new recovery partitions as needed.

Was the error message we couldn't update the system reserved partition?

If so, that often can be troubleshooted with a normally functioning operating system.

With the dual boot you are familiar with Ubuntu.
A Ubuntu flash drive can be used to backup any important Windows files.
Create a bootable USB stick on Windows | Ubuntu tutorials


Windows problems often can be fixed by a reset save files or reset save files equivalent with a windows 10 iso (reinstall drivers and applications)

Kyhi boot rescue uses Microsoft Windows Enterprise and has many useful software.
As dalchina commented it is similar to using Windows.
It can be used to view windows folders and files, open disk management, run mini tool partition wizard,etc.

Your disk is UEFI-GPT so the boot loaders (windows and Liinux) are on the Fat32 partition.
From the Linux disk manager it reports a bad sector, not usual on SSD's. Did you clone a HDD into the SSD?
How did you expand the Recovery partition?
Was your installation encrypted?

dalchina said:

I guess you've never used a live boot disk.
Download the iso
Set up boot priority to boot from the disk.
Create a bootable disk from it. Best use a Windows PC to do that. You could use the instructions here:
Create Bootable USB Flash Drive to Install Windows 10
- using the iso you have downloaded.

When you boot from that disk, you will boot to a Win 10 desktop.
See the screenshot - the URL is in the document I linked above:
Windows 10 Recovery Tools - Bootable Rescue Disk

That document shows there are many programs available.
(Explorer window screenshot).

You can run any of those you like as needed, and any other portable program you can download of course.



You'll be running Win 10. So you can use file explorer.

you are right.I am more familiar with Ubuntu, its straight forward with the OS on USB drive and menu to boot into the Live session and run whatever I want from there

Sorry if that sounds dumb but I still havent figured out how to do that with Windows

I have my USB boot disk with 1703 setup on it using Option2 in this method you linked (with rufus)
Download the iso (I am using 1703 OS version)
Set up boot priority to boot from the disk.(done)
Create a bootable disk from it. Best use a Windows PC to do that. You could use the instructions here:
Create Bootable USB Flash Drive to Install Windows 10
- using the iso you have downloaded.(done with rufus)


so I can enter the troubleshoot blue screen but how do I actually start a Live Windows session?
are you talking about the Kyhi’s Rescue Disk iso that I should use on this USB drive to boot into this Windows live session, and forget alltogether about the OS iso I am currently using to boot into repair mode?

thanks

Olivier

Windows 10 iso > open Windows Recovery Environment (RE) or Windows advanced troubleshooting menu > options are
startup repair
system restore
command prompt > multiple troubleshooting commands
perform custom install (save files, reinstall drivers and applications

Kyhi Boot rescue opens windows interface.
It may take 5 - 10 minutes to load.
Many software programs are preinstalled and can be seen on the desktop.
Can backup files as needed, etc.
Has Macrium software > can run boot repair, make image, etc.

Ubuntu you are familiar with and can be used to backup important files, test hardware, etc.

thanks

starting to get clearer now

i have managed to fix the Access denied with the Windows advanced troubleshooting environment (command prompt) by using the USB boot disk but with windows 1703 on it rather than 1903 I was using for my initial repair trial

I could run these 3 commands

• bootrec.exe /FixMBR
• bootrec.exe /FixBoot
• bootrec.exe /RebuildBCD

But still not chance to boot into my Windows OS and I am still getting the Total identified Windows installations 0 so worrying that my Windows installation was just wiped out when I ran the CHDISK few days ago

I will give the Kihy boot rescue a try later this week to see if I can access my Libraries folders at least (they are not visible at all in Ubuntu session after mounting the Windows OS partition, that really worries me)

I am also considering to unplug the SSD from my main machine having trouble here and plug it on another Windows PC to see if I can access the Windows libraries folders, if that makes sense? (might be redundant with what Kihy boot rescue is about)