i tested by delete the c: drive partition, the recovery environment won't start correct. booting from usb drive (which required an usb keyboard) and run the recover didn't work either. It said something about locked device and won't restore either. trying to create a partition now.
If you so called crash win 8 or win 7 for that matter to the point where it corrupts boot as well then you wont be able to enter recovery mode without the usb media that you created. In other words if you cant even get to your function key to enter recovery mode then you will have to use usb media. As far as asking for usb keyboard I have never faced that issue. Never faced the locked device either so after the holidays maybe AnarethoS can anwser that when he gets back after the 6th. By the way the recovery mode doesnt kick in by itself....u must hit your choosen function key during boot to enter it but in your case I dont think you will be able to enter it for you probably corrupted the boot area. You will have to use your usb media you created in order to get to recovery mode. Plus on win8 it only does refresh/reset not a total restore of partitions and such but that is a win 8 issue not the recovery software....another reason I will never upgrade to win8...I will wait for the next OS which is being made now since win8 didnt go over well with the public.
thanks for the reply. I forgot to mention, this is for a tablet type of device. Not needing an usb keyboard to do recovery is kinda important for my users. i checked online and it seems that MS does not want you to be able to enter recovery mode without specifically requesting it in Windows environment and reboot or that systems is forced to enter. either way, this is not as good as the Win7 recovery. The win7 recovery tool made by AnarethoS was very reliable. One of my guys was stuck remotely with 200 virus infected w7 tablet and he wouldn't be ready for the next day without the F7 straight to recovery.
I havent messed with tabs yet but I see your issue. I read that tabs should have a reset/refresh button on them and I dont think the recovery software here can access that button but of course I could be wrong. You really need to talk with AnarethoS to find out details....he will be back after the 6th of Jan and I am sure he can answer your question.....might not be the answer you want but still a answer. lol
If you want to kepp the basic image and not createing a completly new installation/image, my tools won't be of any help. You will ned specilized software like the one from Acronis. You can also simply create your recovery medi for your computer...
I got mized result with the Recovery Media under Windows 8. Since I only have VmWare for testing right now, I won't be of any help. But be sure that the drive is not locked using bitlocker. Also, try to delete all partition manually using diskpart and restore from the USB key. Finaly, if you installed under UEFI/GPT mode, be sure to boot from the USB key in the same mode (not MBR/BIOS), otherwise the restore won't work.
Sorr if I took time to answer... holydays for everyone! If I understand what you want, you would like to keep the actual recovery tools/options of your Sony (which come with Home Premium) with a Windows 7 Ultimate os? Sory, can't help! My tools are for creating a brand new setup, not use an existing one. you can always try to "upgrade" to Ultimate using the Anytime Upgrade option with a generic Windows 7 Ultimate OEM:SLP Key.
To frece reboot in recovery option, computer must reboot twice in maximum of 30 seconds to trigger the recovery option.
Some of you seems to have problem recovering Windows 8 from USB media with a "locked device" error. If this is your case, check that you are booting from your recovery medi in the good mode (UEFI/MBR). If you installed Windows 8 under UEFI mode but are booting from recovery media in MBR mode (or vice-versa), it won't works.
Just know only the ordinary Windows command to help solving your problem... 1. Backup Sony's original thing by running step by step using command to check the setting is... ReAgentC.exe /Info 1.1 Looking for "Recovery Environment:" which will tell you the folder where is current WinRE located. Copy WinRE.wim in this folder to save place. Say..."X:\Sony\winre.wim". This is just in case. 1.2 Looking for "Setup Files:" which will tell you the folder where is current Sony's Image to reset your computer located. Copy Install.wim in this folder to save place. Say..."X:\Sony\Install.wim" 1.3 Looking at "Boot Key Scan Code:" which will tell you the code of "Sony's Private Function Key" for the tool. Keep in mind for your information or else. For example, F7 is 0x8500. 2. You may now clean install Windows 7 Ultimate or whichever edition of Windows 7 and using AnarethoS's tool. 3. When you want to change back to use Sony's Image... 3.1 Disable current running WinRE in Windows 7 Ultimate using command... ReAgentC.exe /Disable 3.2 Select Sony's Install.wim to use... ReAgentC.exe /setosimage /path X:\Sony 3.3 Enable current running WinRE in Windows 7 Ultimate using command... ReAgentC.exe /Enable 4. Check if there any mistaken using command... ReAgentC.exe /Info 4.1 "Windows RE Enabled:" must be "1". 4.2 "Setup enabled:" must be "1". 4.3 "Setup Files:" must show "\\?\GLOBALROOT\device\harddisk...\partition...\Sony". 5. Reboot to Recovery Environment and go to advanced tool. There should an option down below called "Reinstall". Pressing this option will use "Sony's Image" to replace the Windows 7 Ultimate. Hope this help.
ok I see some issues that were done.....hope I can explain all of them...lol when you installed updates in audit mode looks as if you didnt use the sysprep tool to reboot but instead hit reboot now which sysprep didnt seal. will always cause issues. always use the sysprep tool to reboot into audit mode again to finish installations of apps, drivers, etc. its a must! always make sure where you put the folder can be written too.....right click and remove any read only and hit apply to remove the attrib for folder. now from admin cmd prompt run the update settings.cmd file after moving the settings files to proper location. now when in audit mode you must always use the sysprep tool to do ur reboots or errors will happen every time. once everything is setup the way u want it now run the install.cmd file as admin by right clicking it and run as admin. let it do its thing. reboot and finish oobe to get to desktop to test everything. remember some apps wont install correctly from audit mode if current user settings are used for in audit mode the current user hasnt been setup. u can use a setupcomplete.cmd file for reg entries to be entered on current user part of registry. if everything works then restore using the freshly made recovery image and then give to customer. I use this and the multi oem activation by searchengine which makes a great win7 install dvd. Thanks goes out to both creators for they did a Great job!
Thanks i will try it again. how can i create a setupcomplete.cmd file? i just realized VLC is not installed, i thought i installed it in OOBE mode. any help would be appreciated.
vlc installs in audit mode....added that app myself on my lappy so I know it works....if ya change any settings then those wont hold. open notepad add reg entires and save as setupcomplete.cmd but make sure to select all files in drop down or it will save as txt file instead of cmd. u must know something about cmd scripting. example: ping allows a pause if ya will so the reg entry can be entered. If you have alot of reg entries then I would use regedit /s to install a reg file with all entries in it. hope this helps some.
first off nice little app thanks very much. ok tested this and works great only problem i have is when i install software that i want preinstalled after a reeboot everything reverts back to trial software where i have to enter my licence info again is there a way around having to enter all my serial numbers to reactivate my software every time i reinstall as i may not have this information while i am out working. being a dj this is a must in case of system problems i need a quick reinstall all products need to have already been activated so i can carry on with my set without any further problems i do not carry any software reg info with me at any time also i had to change autounattend.xml file and add these lines off code to install windows 8 as i was getting error saying windows cannot read the <productkey> setting from the unattend answer file <UserData> <AcceptEula>true</AcceptEula> <ProductKey> <Key>*****-*****-*****-*****-*****</Key> <WillShowUI>OnError</WillShowUI> </ProductKey> </UserData>
"Read" my 2 posts above...lol sorry about double post but I have issues posting from time to time with ie9....will use ff from now on...grrr. lol this project isnt for newbee's.....I recommend reading some info about syspreping so u can have some basic knowledge before using this project.
Hi guys, has anyone downloaded and update windows while in OOBE mode. and then tried to reboot windows by clicking ok in the little OOBE window(box)? after i download and apply my updates and clicked ok in the OOBE window(box), i get a message that says sysprep cannot continue the operation because windows is pending a restart or something of that nature. after doing everything and capturing the image and getting the message to hit any key to continue. when windows reboot it keeps getting stuck and ask for a reboot to continue. but when i don't install the updates, and not rebooting the pc to apply the updates, everything works flawlessly (with all applications installed) and also in Windows 8, when i hit F7 and get to the repair screen, how can i do a full restore. the only added option is the file browser which opens up doublecommander. ( in windows 7 there is another selection that loads the recovery application, but i don't see that option in windows 8) help please.
You didnt choose from the drop down menu using sysprep tool to reboot in "Audit Mode" then click ok. Updates didnt install correctly because instead of you goin into audit mode you rebooted into oobe to complete windows setup. Win 8 doesnt do full distructive restore so to speak......it only does refresh. Difference between win 8 and win 7.