OEM Recovery Partition Creator for Windows

Discussion in 'MDL Projects and Applications' started by AnarethoS, Sep 11, 2010.

  1. AnarethoS

    AnarethoS MDL Expert

    Jul 31, 2009
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    Officially, not. I was not able to try it as I don't have any TPM devince in any of my computer and I prefer TrueCrypt anyway.
    But you may try to enable the "TrueCrypt" option inside the Settings.Ini file.
    This will disable the option to repair Windows (only full reinstall).
    Also, you may have to do a "Boot Repair - MBR".

    Try at your own risk.
     
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  2. Jarmez

    Jarmez MDL Novice

    Jun 28, 2011
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    Hi,

    Thanks for your quick response, another query that i have is can this be used to be distributed through WDS at all?
     
  3. Phixer

    Phixer MDL Novice

    Sep 30, 2010
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    tcntad:
    So you would like to have the autounattend.xml in your recoverypartition/disc?
    Well its not necessary as it already has all that info, it will format your windowspartition and reinstall it for you.

    Atleast im 99% sure of this^^
    *********************************
    You are 100% correct, I just failed to ask the correct question...
    As stated in the instuctions if you use GENERIC selection you can use it for multi-computers BUT later on it states " Please note that if you change your hard-disk, you won’t be able to restore from an USB key or DVD unless you recreate the required partition layout."
    There lies the problem. There is no easy way to do this unless an autounattend.xml type script to format 3 partitions is available in the backup before it starts recovery. Am I making sense ?:confused:
    Thank you again for your always fast and accurate responses. :worthy:
     
  4. tcntad

    tcntad MDL Guru

    Oct 26, 2009
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    If you change harddrive, you need to create the 3 partitions before recovering/reinstalling.
    You could probably add an xml file to it, if not use a w7 dvd/usb and the xml file or do it manually.
     
  5. AnarethoS

    AnarethoS MDL Expert

    Jul 31, 2009
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    It depends what you mean to use the tool with WDS.
    Are you asking
    - If the created recovery image can be used to do a full install of Windows on identical computer?
    - If the create recovery image + recovery tools and partition can be copied on many identical computer
    - If you can automate the creation of the recovery image and partition when installing W7 using WDS?
     
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  6. AnarethoS

    AnarethoS MDL Expert

    Jul 31, 2009
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    If you leave the "WipeUSBDVD" settings at "1" in the Settings.Ini file, all partition will be recreated during the restore process. Putting it at 0 will only format existing partition without recreating them. Change this setting only when you want more than threee partition on the computer.
     
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  7. Jarmez

    Jarmez MDL Novice

    Jun 28, 2011
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    Hi,

    Sorry about the clarity of my question, i mean "If you can automate the creation of the recovery image and partition when installing W7 using WDS?"

    Many Thanks.
     
  8. AnarethoS

    AnarethoS MDL Expert

    Jul 31, 2009
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    I am using WDS only to boot my LiteTouch WIM image from MDT.
    In MDT, I was not able to find a way to force the computer to be in AuditMode after installation, so I copy automatically a script taht reboot the computer in AuditMode after the installation. Then, I simply launch the Recovery Tools installation.

    As for using WDS only, I think you could use an AutoUnattend.xml file to automatically partition the HDD and leave the computer in Audit mode. One the installation would be completed, you just have to install the Recovery Tools.

    The Recovery Tools does not allow silent\unattended install.
     
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  9. surajsuresh86

    surajsuresh86 MDL Novice

    Jan 9, 2010
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    hi
    if their is any hardware upgrade like wile creating the recovery disk their was only 2gb of ram and if i upgrade to 4gb of ram and use the recoverydisk to
    reinstall windows will it install properly from the recovery image please help my bro crashed his pc by accidently formating the c drive so now if i use the already created recovery dvds will it work:(
     
  10. AnarethoS

    AnarethoS MDL Expert

    Jul 31, 2009
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    changing basic hardware, like memory, hard-disk or even network card shoud not create any problem.

    Problem may arrise if you change the motherboard, the video card and so on.
     
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  11. Phosphor94

    Phosphor94 MDL Novice

    Aug 19, 2011
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    First of all, well done on this amazing program, I have been looking for something like this for ages!

    I was wondering if it is at all possible to be prompted to press a hot key to start the recovery tool.

    Like after the BIOS and before Windows 7 loads it has "Press F* to start the Recovery Tool"

    Is this possible or have you thought about a feature such as this?

    Thanks!
     
  12. FreeStyler

    FreeStyler MDL Guru

    Jun 23, 2007
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    Did you try [F7] ? :D
     
  13. AnarethoS

    AnarethoS MDL Expert

    Jul 31, 2009
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    Doing that whould require creating a modified bootloader and to know assembler, whic I don't.

    The only solution will to let a few seconds to allow the user to select what to boot : Windows 7 or Recovery tools.
    Version 1.0 of my tolls was working like that, but I removed this option and won't add it again, since it was ugly.
     
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  14. neps4u

    neps4u MDL Novice

    Apr 21, 2010
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    @AnarethoS - How can i make an image with lots of application. and make windows bootable 7 dvd ???
    thnkx in advance.
     
  15. tcntad

    tcntad MDL Guru

    Oct 26, 2009
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    That is exactly what this software does.. read my read me.pdf and it will tell you exactly. You have the option to make a generic dvd if you want.
     
  16. neps4u

    neps4u MDL Novice

    Apr 21, 2010
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    Thanx tcntad... yes i read your pdf. And i used many times in my customers laptop and desktop. if i create a generic image and install on regular pc its clean the hard drive and create single partition ( partition not a problem i shrink the partition and recreate them as i like) but What i wanna know that " How can i make windows 7 dvd with all application and i install like a regular windows 7 dvd...
     
  17. tcntad

    tcntad MDL Guru

    Oct 26, 2009
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    Thats what the generic option does:)

    Otherwise just follow the steps in the beginning until audit mode, install apps etc, finish system preperation tool, reboot to windows 7 setup again or whereever you have imagex and run "imagex /capture <window driveletter> <place to save file> "Name of index" " optionally add /compress maximum after capture
     
  18. AnarethoS

    AnarethoS MDL Expert

    Jul 31, 2009
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    I am not sure to understand what you want. "Install like a regular Windows 7 Dvd". You want a Windows 7 dvd that will let you choose which version of Windows to install with all the softwares or you want a dvd for a specific version of Windows with all softwares already installed?
     
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  19. tcntad

    tcntad MDL Guru

    Oct 26, 2009
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    I think he'd go for the second.. to have a specific version with preinstalled apps. Then sysprep is the best way, like your tool.
    But if he wants a regular dvd with option to install any version he wants, i suggest he uses setupcomplete.cmd.
     
  20. neps4u

    neps4u MDL Novice

    Apr 21, 2010
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    tcnad is tight !! ok tell me how can i convert .swm file to a wim file ???? so i replace this wim to windows 7 dvd wim file ?