@AnarethoS Have finally gotten this setup, and have just a request/bug fix to make - I was using Windows 7 64bit and the issue i have is that after imaging and the first reboot where the recovery gui is supposed to appear, it didnt, it also doesnt using the F7 at boot. winpeshl.ini tries to launch recovery.exe, which fails. Manually running \recovery\recoveryamd64.exe works. Can you perhaps resolve this for other 64bit users, i dont whether its as simple as having the correct recovery executable written to winpeshl.ini during the install phase based on the pc's architecture %PROCESSOR_ARCHITECTURE% or whether you can do this via code in your autoit .exe at runtime... I also do not have a recovery menu option under F8 at boot, how do i fix this, i assume its a bcd thing, have never played with it, so id appreciate the help. Im a dinosaur, ahving worked on Windows XP PE (Bart PeBuilder) over at 911cd.net forums for many many years. Still resisting the urge to move to Windows 7 so i dont have much experience in the whole bcd store thing... Otherwise im very impressed, good work.
Hi, i just purchased recently and messed up a new dell laptop (hum ..) I'm wanted to recreate the "restore factory settings" behaviour in the F7 menu. Your tool seems to do exactly that (basic) or close (original). I read through the first 100 pages of this subject, and i'll admit i dropted after that, hope my answer is not in thoses last 30pages .. i haven't tryed basic yet, i'll give it a try tonight, only tryed original, installed waik on "tech coputer" and "isntalled" he recovery tools with waik on tech computer. Any way, i'm stuck at one stage, here is was i did: 1- deleted/recreated partitions (recovery (id27, 20go), system (300mo), windows. 2- reinstalled windows on windows partition with my dell EOM cd 3- rebooted in audit mode (ctrl+s**t+f3 at user creation) 4- installed drivers 5- run 'installx86' from my usb (with exported from tech comp with waik files) I'm stuck there, it asked to select the winRe.wim file, wich i don't seem to have, i went to c:/windows/system32/recovery, and nothing is in that folder (i displayed hidden and protected files) I tryed copying over the winRe.wim file from the $OEM$ folder on my dell cd, but doesn't seem to work. Where is that file ? Am i in the right place? Am i doing something wrong ? Is it because i'm using an 'OEM' cd from a computer manufacturer (Dell) ? Do you need to mount recovery partition for the tool to work ? Thanks !! Great tools and tutorials by the way, learned many things. Edit: I just tryed the basic version, and had no problem at all, it did exactly what i was after so many thanks !! i'm still considergin having a look at the original version if any one can with my winre.wim problem.
@stylemessiah Hum... looks like you use the wrong version of the installer (InstallX86) on your X64 installation. It is the installer that rename the RecoveryAMD64.exe to Recovery.exe during the installation process. Did the Recovery folder had both a RecoveryX86.exe and RecoveryAMD64.exe or only a RecoveryAMD64.exe and Recovery.exe file in it? Because I used both version alot and both works just fine....
@ryirs It is just weird that the Original version was unable to find the WinRE file while the Basic version found it as both use the file from the same location! Did you really installed Windows following all the steps in the documentation? Also, for the Partitioning/Audit mode I would recommend you to use the autoUnattend.Xml file that come with both version and copy it to the root of a Usb drive. Connect the Usb drive before starting Windows installation. It should automatically create partition/format and put the computer in Audit mode. Should help you with your problems.
@diskb0x For your image creation problem, I would reccomend to thest the whole product by activating the DEBUG mode (Debug=5) in the Settings.Ini file prior installation of the recovery tools. This will output ALL command and status to the command prompt. It should help you. As for your custom WinPe.Wim file.... simply rename it to winre.wim and select the browse option in the installer menu to select it. Should work. Please note that the processor architectire of the Windows installation should math the one of your WinPe file. good luck!
Hi Anarethos, Thanks Once more coz i have sucessfuly used the orignal version of this tool to create my own recovery partition on new sony vaio purchased last week. However i need some help, i would like to use the vaio assist button to boot into recovery partition rather than using F7, bcoz after using this tool the assist button has become useless which was orignally ment to boot into recovery partition. I just wanted to know if it is possible by changing some settings in your tool before installing it so that recovery partion could be activated with vaio assist key. Thanks for all your efforts.:
I used the 64 bit installer..... The recovery folder has recovery.exe, recoveryx86.exe AND recoveryamd64.exe in it Ive tried changing the winpeshl.ini to just run recoveryamd64.exe but i even though i mounted (rw) and edited the \winPe\WinPe.wim (and committed it) its still giving the winpeshl.ini no valid exe error when rebooting into the recovery environment, if i do type winpeshl.ini it shows the change i made..... So what I should do if I understand you, is reverse the change I made to winpeshl.initial and instead rename recoveryamd64.executive to recovery... Also it fails to reboot into recovery mode when i choose this option in windows in the recovery tool.... I'd just like to fix it and have it working 100% At the moment im having to F7 and when i get the winpeshl.ini no valid exe error comes up i just cd to the recovery folder and run recoveryamd64.exe manually...not ideal update: I tried renaming recoveryamd64.exe to recovery.exe: 1) i F7'd into recovery mode 2) using the imagex 64 exe i mounted the WinPe.wim 3) renamed reocveryamd64.exe to recovery 4) umounted and committed the wim file But when i reboot and F7, it still comes up with the error, its not recognising the renaming, its like i havent done it Is recovery.exe called from somewhere else, because changing the winpe.eim file makes no difference... Please help, its the only thing that doesnt work
DUDE - u ROCK i installed this last night and man it works great, now i have a custom alienware windows 7 install, all my themes, mouse cursors, sound scheme, apps all installed imaged in less than 10 minutes... U ARE ONE CLEVER MAN
@stylemessiah Normally, you should have only 2 file, not theree. Did you install the recovery tools from a CD or a read-only location? That could be the source of the problem. Normally, modyfing the WIM file should works. Are-you sure the WinPeShl.ini is not read-only? Maybe it does not save your change.... ???
Just to let you know, I am working on my Basic version to add UEFI/GPT support to it. Nearly completed!
I installed the recovery tools from USB key, defintely not read only Modifying the wim file does nothing, i can either modify the winpeshl.ini or rename the recoveryamd64.exe to recovery.exe while the wim is mounted rw, but on the next boot its like its made no difference at all. I can "type winpe.shl" (after modifying it in mounted rw) for example, and it will show x:\recovery\recoveryamd64.exe, but it wont actually run that, it just comes up with no valid executable or whatever. I am still having to type x:\recovery\recoveryamd64.exe (the identical path in the winpeshl.ini) to get it to work. Is there any way of fixing this? Can i run the install script again without hosing or sysprepping the system?
To reinstall the recovery environment, you will have to delete the WinRe file from the Recovery partition and relaunch the installer. Don't select any Sysprep option and uncheck the capture now. Should works. If the installer complain about a missing WIM file, point to the backup file in c:\windows\system32\recovery\backup folder to find it. To edit the WIM file, do it from Windows, not from WinRE directly. Also, there is 2 wim file on the computer. One in the Recovery folder and the other one in the WinPE (of WinRE I don't remember) folder. Modyfy both!
hi a much needed software solution for a problem I am facing and I am trying it out right now. I am a bit confused about the WAIK requirement and how it fits into the work flow. The work step: 1) set up system, using win 7 dvd (to parition and then install) 2) after installation, enter the audit mode to do all updates, driver and software 3) then install recovery tool (where WAIK comes in) 4) sysprep (C:\Windows\System32\Sysprep\SYSPREP.EXE /OOBE /QUIT) 5) boot into recovery tool and stuff it into the recovery partition. Am I on the right track?
@lomana16 On the "Technician" computer (so, not the one being imaged), install WAIK. Then, start the Recovery tools software (the DL exe file that request the password). When the warning message about missing file is shown, point to the WAIK installation folder in Program Files. You soukd get a message telling you that all files where found and copied. Copy the Install folder of the recovery tool on the target computer and launch the recovery partition process (once Windows installed and in audit mode!) For the Sysprep command, you don't have to do it, my software take care of it for you.
Got it. Trying it now. I guess for this extra "dance" with WAIK stuff, we have Microsoft to thank for that.