Hacking W7 OS to tweak F11 behavior

[iBenny]

Hi everybody,

I know I know ! it's forbidden to modify the kernel but... it depends what for.

In relation with my old HP G62 laptop, what I want to know is EXACTLY what does the boot F11 key do in the boot process. Next, I would like to tweak something (if it has to be the kernel, so be it) that instruct the F11 procedure where to find the RECOVERY partition when it is no more in the third place in the partition order of the HDD. I indeed moved the Recovery partition at EOD (end of disk) after having split the main Windows partition asunder that renders the boot F11 blind and inoperative. I guess the F11 procedure seeks the RECOVERY partition by it's place in the HDD partition order instead of it's drive letter or it's drive name (to be verified).

Thanks in advance for your involvment,

Best regards
iBenny

 

[iBenny]

Or maybe the fact that I mistakenly deleted my HP_TOOL partition have something to do with the boot F11 behavior ?

iBenny

 

[torchwood]

Hi Ibenny,

from 2014, see screenshot



Roy

 

[samuria]

F11 has nothing. To do with the kernel it acts before windows loads and is in the boot sector other software like acronis sets it to do it's recovery

 

[iBenny]

Hi Torchwood and Samurai

Which boot sector are we talking about ? The boot sector of the SYSTEM partition which boots the OS ? I presume. So, all there is to do is to find the starting sector of the displaced RECOVERY partition and tweak the SYSTEM partition boot sector !?

Best regards
iBenny

 

[samuria]

Are you running mbr or uefi and what files are in the recover parition ie does it look likee a bootable parition or does it have a ghost type image

 

[SIW2]

Hi iBenny,

I don't have a HP G62, however it is likely you just need to adjust the bcd entry to point at the recovery partition.

It can be done via commands, but will probabaly be easier for you to use Boyans program - visualbcd.

The current F11 entry will be a "custom action", you can find those with visualbcd - delete the existing F11 entry and create a new one pointing at the recovery partition. You could choose a different key/key combination for the new entry if you like.

Click New>CustomAction



Download Visual BCD

Download visualbcd 0.9.3.0 or 0.9.3.1

 

[iBenny]

WOW ! Thanks again SIW2... will try that and report within a week (maybe tomorrow).

Best regards
iBenny

 

[iBenny]

Qwick question : if I erase the partition letters of the RECOVERY and the HP_TOOLS partitions to take them out of the explorer, will they still work if invoked by F11 per instance (for the Recovery partition), or if a tool is called by a Start menu link ?

Regards
iBenny

 

[SIW2]

will they still work if invoked by F11 per instance

Yes. You can remove the letter after setting the bcd entry. F11 will still work.

It won't work for regular shortcuts.

 

[SIW2]

As an alternative, you can access something on an unlettered drive using a symbolic link.

Example:

There is a folder L:\sxs. L is disk0, partition8

Create a symbolic link

Command prompt:

mklink /d C:\MYSHORTCUT \\?\GLOBALROOT\device\harddisk0\partition8\SXS

You can then remove the drive letter L: and still use the link.

 

[iBenny]

Hi,

we have some problems here Huston...

First, the main folders in the RECOVERY partition turned pinkish and I can't get into them anymore but just have a ± warning message not to mess with it :

(english version 4U)

It does the same even in 'super administrator' mode...

Now, about Visual BCD, these are the items pertaining to the recovery function in the BCD :

Are all four entries relevant or should I delete three ?

Finally, the CustomActions window :

Are you sure they set key call for the Recovery function at bootup ? or to be called within windows ? The key to choose per instance lists many key combo except for... F11 !!!

The 'Action' selection box lists all four Windows Recovery Environment (WRE) pictured above so, if we want it to work, we have to modify one of them, I guess, to point to the new moved RECOVERY partition.

But if we pic one at random, or add a new one, if the new RECOVERY partition is F:\RECOVERY, which line of the elements of that entry should we tweak, and in which way ?

Best regards
iBenny

 

[SIW2]

1. First, I would add an entry pointing at the recovery partition (which you say is F)

Then go to custom actions and assign scancode to that entry.

2. The pictures you posted are for the winre file on your windows partition. For a normal windows installation, the F8 key is assigned to that.

 

[SIW2]

Many machines need the extended input element added to the bootmgr or the globalsettings object.

Command Prompt:

bcdedit.exe /SET {globalsettings} extendedinput 1

I don't know if that will make visualbcd offer settings higher than F10 - worth a try, it won't do any harm.

If not, then just use any other key from what visualbcd offers.

 

[SIW2]

Otherwise, if you desperately want to use F11 rather than F10, you can add the entry via command prompt. But to use F11 you will have to add the extended input element first.

 

[SIW2]

You may be getting the HP message because of the recovery partition ID.

You can change it to regular partition ID using DiskGenius ( trial version is the same as free version- the free functions work forever - license is only needed for the extra Pro functions)

All-in-one Solution for Data Recovery, Partition Manager and Data Backup - DiskGenius

Right click the recovery partition, select "modify partition parameters", select 07 NTFS in the dropdown, click OK, then click Save All button on the toolbar.

 

[iBenny]

It's already in 07 NTFS.

Just found something...

The RECOVERY partition is no more bootable ! Just found out by not being able to make it 'active'.

This became after having created that partition from the splitting of the mains OS partition. And also it is set as 'logical' partition.

Now, how to make this partition bootable (forgive me for not remembering) ? With a 'diskpart' command ? or something like 'bootsect /nt60 ALL /force /mbr' ?

Thanks
iBenny

 

[SIW2]

You can't (officially) make it active unless it is a Primary partition.

The simplest thing is to add a entry to the current bcd store which is on the currently Active partition.

That is what I thought you were doing.

It's already in 07 NTFS.

In that case, the annoyance is probably due to some HP software - commonly called bloatware or crapware.

 

[iBenny]

Otherwise, if you desperately want to use F11 rather than F10, you can add the entry via command prompt. But to use F11 you will have to add the extended input element first.

The 'extended' command did not add more options in Visual BCD ! and sticking to F11 is more to be consistent with HP paradigm than else. In principle, using another F is not a concern to me but... if I give back the laptop to its owner, and he comes back to me in couple of years, better than I stick to F11 for I will surely forget the other F I would set.

And, doing so via prompt command is fine with me. As long as you tell me the commands ; )

Regards
iBenny

 

[iBenny]

You can't (officially) make it active unless it is a Primary partition.

The simplest thing is to add a entry to the current bcd store which is on the currently Active partition.

That is what I thought you were doing.

In that case, the annoyance is probably due to some HP software - commonly called bloatware or crapware.

I am doing many things at the same time. Sorry for the delay. I tried last week to add an entry in the main SYSTEM BCD to that effect and I failed. Will show you these entry soon after we get the RECOVERY partition strait.

I can only use Three Primary partition for I have some more logical ones to take in account for. One more since an hour ago...

There is an annoying 0M partition at the front of the disk that I shouldn't delete for it will mess up the whole SYSTEM and MAIN partition... or... I could delete it without moving the other ones ! That could do the trick ! What do you think ? Doing so will free a Primary that I could assign to the RECOVERY partition !? yes ?

Regards
iBenny