Dell pc, windows recovery image and restore issues

Kyhi · 06 Feb 2017

I am left wondering if the Images are being applied...

Boot.wim = Recovery\WindowsRE\winRe.wim
Install*.swm = windows OSImage
Restpartitions - is a script use by diskpart to format and create the partitions
Resetconfig - tells winre - where the images are and where to appy them

lepa71 · 06 Feb 2017

I'm running restore. I guess we will see. Thank you again. I will let you know.

lepa71 · 07 Feb 2017

Didn't work. Got stuck again

NavyLCDR · 07 Feb 2017

On the most troublesome Windows 10 installs this is what I do. Copy the Windows 10 installation ISO file itself to an external storage location, such as USB flash drive formatted as NTFS, or an external hard drive. I create a second bootable USB flash drive by creating a FAT32 partition on it and making that partition active. Then I extract Kyhi's recovery tools ISO files to the new USB flash drive:
Windows 10 Recovery Tools - Bootable Rescue Disk

By extract I mean mount the ISO file and copy over all the files and folders from the mounted ISO file.

Then I boot the computer from Kyhi's recovery drive. I use AEOMI Partition assistant to erase the computer's HDD or SSD. Make sure the SSD/HDD is initialized as GPT (for UEFI) or MBR (for legacy BIOS). Create a 5 GB NTFS partition at the end of the disk. Copy the ISO file from the USB flash drive I stored it on to the 5GB NTFS partition I created on the HDD or SSD. Then I mount the ISO file from the HDD/SSD. Remove all USB flash drives. From the mounted ISO file I run setup.exe and let it go. I make sure and do NOT connect the computer to the internet until after Windows install is finished and I have created a local user account on the computer.

lepa71 · 07 Feb 2017

I will try it.

Can you explain the logic here?

I make sure and do NOT connect the computer to the internet until after Windows install is finished and I have created a local user account on the computer.

lepa71 · 07 Feb 2017

Does AEOMI Partition assistant already included in Kyhi's ISO?

NavyLCDR · 07 Feb 2017

lepa71 said:

I will try it.

Can you explain the logic here?

Windows 10 installation will sometimes stall as it tries to download drivers/updates from the internet. The goal is to get Windows 10 installed and a user logged in. Then you can look at device manager and see what hardware needs drivers and connect to the internet to get drivers/updates.

lepa71 said:

Does AEOMI Partition assistant already included in Kyhi's ISO?

Yes. Be advised, this wipes out the recovery partition. You can delete all partitions except for the recovery partition and create the 5GB NTFS partition next to it. Then install Windows 10 to the remaining unallocated space.

When doing the install, you want to select the custom install option, highlight the unallocated space and click next to let Windows set up the partitions that it wants.

lepa71 · 07 Feb 2017

This would be installed on brand new drive. No recovery partition to worry about.

Kyhi · 08 Feb 2017

With the files you have already >> you can manually Apply them and Re-Install the OS...
Like stated above try the Bootable Rescue Disk...
After the failed install - you can see what has happened...

Use Diskpart and repartition the Disk using the ResetPartitions.Txt

Code:

rem == Partition drive ==
diskpart /s [Path]\ResetPartitions.txt

rem == Copy the image to the recovery partition ==
md R:\RecoveryImage
copy Install*.swm(s) to R:\RecoveryImage\

rem == Apply the image to the Windows partition ==
Dism /apply-image /imagefile:R:\RecoveryImage\install.swm /swmfile:R:\RecoveryImage\install*.swm /index:1 /applydir:W:\

rem == Copy boot files to the System partition ==
W:\Windows\System32\bcdboot W:\Windows

:rem == Copy the Windows RE image to the Windows RE Tools partition ==
md T:\Recovery\WindowsRE
xcopy /h W:\Windows\System32\Recovery\Winre.wim T:\Recovery\WindowsRE\

:rem == Register the location of the recovery tools ==
W:\Windows\System32\Reagentc /Setreimage /Path T:\Recovery\WindowsRE /Target W:\Windows

:rem == Register the location of the push-button reset recovery image. ===
W:\Windows\System32\Reagentc /Setosimage /Path R:\RecoveryImage /Target W:\Windows /Index 1

Edit:
Just went back a Page and found your ISSUE....
Your Resetpartition.txt does not have a Recovery Image Partition...
And your ResetConfig.xml does not point to the Image File Location....
Thus the Install*.swm is not being applied to the Disk via the USB Recovery Media....

Thus you have to Manually Apply the Image

You will need to edit the location of the Install*.swm in the > Dism /appy-image < command to point to the proper location..

Like I said before Windows 10 Recovery Rebuilds itself from the installed OS - That is why the recovery usb works on old drive.... (OS present)

You have the OS Image File - that needs to be applied to W: - but the Recovery Media does not Know it is on the USB..

Although I would also create a recovery image partition (Since you have the OEM OS Image file)

Code:

rem == ResetPartitions.txt ==
convert gpt

rem == 1. System partition =========================
create partition efi size=100
format quick fs=fat32 label="System"
assign letter="S"

rem == 2. Microsoft Reserved (MSR) partition =======
create partition msr size=16

rem == 3. Windows partition ========================
rem == a. Create the Windows partition ==========
create partition primary
shrink minimum=8450
format quick fs=ntfs
assign letter="W"

rem == 4. Windows RE tools partition ===============
create partition primary size=450
format quick fs=ntfs label="Windows RE tools"
assign letter="T"
set id="de94bba4-06d1-4d40-a16a-bfd50179d6ac"
gpt attributes=0x8000000000000001

rem === 4. Recovery Image Partition ======================
create partition primary
format quick fs=ntfs label="OEM Image"
assign letter="R"
set id="de94bba4-06d1-4d40-a16a-bfd50179d6ac"
gpt attributes=0x8000000000000001

list volume
exit

Kyhi · 08 Feb 2017

Although, so far nothing explains why you can not Clean Install the OS from Windows 10 Setup Media to a Clean Drive