TeraByte Unlimited

Lenovo desktop. UEFI firmware operating in legacy mode. Two partitions, boot and Windows. Two different internal disks, used alternatively (only one connected at any time).

I have tried four restores of IFW images created in one disk, to the other disk. All the restores have been made to the internal disk, from an external USB disk. I have restored both full-disk images and separate images of the two partitions. In every case, the restores have finished successfully, but Windows has failed to boot after the restores. I only get a blinking “-“ at the top left corner of the screen.

I have restored to blank disks and also to disks with partitions in them.

I have used the default restore options, and also checked that “Update Boot Partition” is enabled. I have restored Windows 10 and 7 images.

It seems that IFW is not making the necessary corrections in the boot files. What could be the cause?

(Actually I have been able to boot, using another application after the restores, to correct the boot problems.)

http://www.terabyteunlimited.com/kb/article.php?id=176

Try changing the SATA port of the restored HD to the port the imaged HD was using.

I have never changed the SATA port. It´s SATA1.

The linked article seems to be old, pre-Windows 7, but anyway...

"These problems can result if the following conditions are true:

1. You are not using BootIt BM to boot the partition.
2. The "Use HD0 in BPB" setting was not enabled at the time of the copy/restore.
3. The destination drive was not HD0. "

1. True. I´m using IFW.
2. True. I didn´t enable that setting, if it exists.
3. True, I suppose. There´s no SATA0, only SATA1, SATA2... So maybe no HD0 either.

As for the suggested solutions, what are the specific procedures for Windows 7 and 10?

With Lenovo you need to use the "install standard mbr" option on restore.

Thanks, I´ll try that option at the next opportunity.

Fracso wrote:
> I have never changed the SATA port. It´s SATA1.
>
> The linked article seems to be old, pre-Windows 7, but anyway...
>
> "These problems can result if the following conditions are true:
>
> 1. You are not using BootIt BM to boot the partition.
> 2. The "Use HD0 in BPB" setting was not enabled at the time of
> the copy/restore.
> 3. The destination drive was not HD0. "
>
> 1. True. I´m using IFW.
> 2. True. I didn´t enable that setting, if it exists.
> 3. True, I suppose. There´s no SATA0, only SATA1, SATA2... So maybe no HD0
> either.
>
> As for the suggested solutions, what are the specific procedures for
> Windows 7 and 10?

The two items numbered 1 imply that you are booting the partition with IFW. That must be a mistake, I think.

You´re right, a mistake. Just booting normally, from the MBR, I supppose.

Update.

Same Lenovo ThinkCentre desktop, same disk.

Lenovo support replaced the mainboard by an "identical" one, entered in the firmware the same Lenovo identifications previously used.

Windows 10 booted normally but reported that it wasn´t activated (expected, the activation is tied to the mainboard).

It was necessary to go back to Windows 7 and re-upgrade to 10.

I restored a Windows 7 image with IFW 2.99, enabled the "Install standard MBR" option. The restore finished successfully, but Windows didn´t boot. This time no blinking cursor, but some messages, error codes and a request for the Windows 7 installation media (which I don´t have).

I used the same workaround outlined above (fixed boot problems with another program). Windows 7 booted correctly and reported that it was activated.

Acer replaced my mainboard and I had to reactivate Win 7.
I also had to reactivate when I updated my DVD player.
Mary


On 4/1/2016 7:36 AM, Fracso wrote:
> Update.
>
> Same Lenovo ThinkCentre desktop, same disk.
>
> Lenovo support replaced the mainboard by an "identical" one, entered in the firmware the same Lenovo identifications previously used.
>
> Windows 10 booted normally but reported that it wasn?t activated (expected, the activation is tied to the mainboard).
>
> It was necessary to go back to Windows 7 and re-upgrade to 10.
>
> I restored a Windows 7 image with IFW 2.99, enabled the "Install standard MBR" option. The restore finished successfully, but Windows didn?t boot. This time no blinking cursor, but some messages, error codes and a request for the Windows 7 installation media (which I don?t have).
>
> I used the same workaround outlined above (fixed boot problems with another program). Windows 7 booted correctly and reported that it was activated.
>
>

if you are only restoring the windows partition and you have a separate boot
partition, you need to use the "update boot partition" option for the bcd to
be updated. But that is only based on the bcd still points to the windows
partition when backed up, otherwise it won't change it. You would need to
use something like bcd edit in BootIt to adjust the entries. See
http://www.terabyteunlimited.com/kb/article.php?id=492

"Fracso" wrote in message news:11354@public.image...

Update.

Same Lenovo ThinkCentre desktop, same disk.

Lenovo support replaced the mainboard by an "identical" one, entered in the
firmware the same Lenovo identifications previously used.

Windows 10 booted normally but reported that it wasn?t activated (expected,
the activation is tied to the mainboard).

It was necessary to go back to Windows 7 and re-upgrade to 10.

I restored a Windows 7 image with IFW 2.99, enabled the "Install standard
MBR" option. The restore finished successfully, but Windows didn?t boot.
This time no blinking cursor, but some messages, error codes and a request
for the Windows 7 installation media (which I don?t have).

I used the same workaround outlined above (fixed boot problems with another
program). Windows 7 booted correctly and reported that it was activated.