Basic Bootable partition/Recovery mode?

[ahmedilyas]

Hi. I am using WS2008 however the procedure is the same as Win7.

What I want to do, is have the ability to install, on a partition, a bootable partition where it will allow me to install Windows from a directory which contains the entire contents of the DVD/ISO which is on location on another HDD (on the same computer)

how is it possible to do this? Basically this is for a server that exists "out there" and have no access to it. I manage it myself etc... and I know this is possible to do, but has been such a long time since Ive done it.

What is it that I need to install on the computer to allow me to go into some mode (recovery mode maybe) so I can run setup?

Thanks

 

[theog]

You can take a look this tutorial:
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/58455-recovery-partition-create.html

 

[ahmedilyas]

Thanks

that didnt work for me and the guide uses a very outdated version of the tool.

Ive got my recovery partition. Ive copied the contents of the DVD over to that drive.

This is what the scenario should be:

to be able to have a way of booting to the recovery partition so it can install Windows.

So lets say C:\ has been wiped clean. I need to do a fresh install. I would not be at the server / computer at all. I want to be able to some how boot the computer to that recovery partition to install Windows. Even if it is some form of WinPE as bootable on the HDD so then I can run setup (without physical media) then great.

any ideas?

 

[gregrocker]

The modern way to do this is to store a Win7 backup image externally (in case of HD failure) then boot the DVD to reimage it onto partition in 20 minutes. System Image Recovery

There is already an onboard WinRe in most cases via F8 Advanced Boot Options.

 

[ahmedilyas]

yes I know its common practice but i think you are misunderstanding and never read the question carefully

for a server/computer that HAS NO PHYSICAL ACCESS TO THE DVD.... I need a way to be able to restore/reinstall Windows from a HDD that contains the ISO image. This is a remote server I am referring to where I manage the server myself.

lets re-write the question clearly:

How can I install Windows or run setup, from the HDD directly, that has no access to DVD nor is it possible to connect an external drive to it.

Lets say C:\ fails or i format it or whatever.
I have KVM IP. I want to be able to use either a small ISO which I can direct via KVM IP to use and boot the system from which will in turn allow me to install windows from another physical HDD which is on the server

OR

Allow me to access that partition to run setup.

 

[SIW2]

The best way to do that is to use imagex to apply the image - forget windows setup.exe for this.

If you are going to boot winpe3 or winpe4 from a partition on your HD you need to put a copy of Imagex in the wim. ( It is even easier if you pop Gimagex in there GImageX - AutoItScript )

As long as you can see the install.wim from your booted winpe - you can apply one of the images from it to any drive you can see from there.

You need to hit it with bcdboot afterwards .

That's all.

Pretty easy.

I always install windows that way.

 

[ahmedilyas]

Thanks

no, I wont have any physical access to the server. so USB, external drive, external DVD is not an option.

SIW2: what is imagex? how does it work? any detailed instructions? of course, I would need to at some point make the recovery drive bootable so it can boot from it so I can install Windows.

just to be clear, its not about imaging the drive/system but installing from scratch

 

[gregrocker]

The installer ISO is an image which is applied to your System. Making your own image after installation and setup is just a more advanced customized version of applying the image.

Remember that as long as you have WinRE on F8 Advanced Boot Options you can reimage from an image you've stored on a partition.

My teacher SIW2 will take it from here.

 

[ahmedilyas]

Thanks.
I am an advanced user - I am a software dev so I know things like what an image is and have done some IT support before.

What im looking for here is a partition which I can boot up into so I can install Windows.
So if my main bootable drive C:\ is wiped clean with no bootsector, then I should have my other drive as bootable so I can some how boot into WinPE or something else to allow me to run setup, which would be located on the same partition or somewhere else within the system

 

[gregrocker]

Check this out: http://www.sevenforums.com/installa...dia-less-recovery-installation-partition.html

I understand you might not want it on a dual-boot timeout using EasyBCD, however setting timeout to 3-4 seconds is hardly noticeable but adequate when you are booting in for the purpose of reinstalling.

SIW2 can show you how to make the partition bootable using a hotkey or other method.

 

[ahmedilyas]

thanks ill take a look at that

im absolutely fine with having it as a dual boot option, just as long as I can boot to the other HDD which contains the setup files.

 

[gregrocker]

Actually if it's on another HD you should be able to boot it by simply changing the BIOS Boot Order to that HD, or at least have that as a backup method if Dual Boot fails.

 

[ahmedilyas]

yup exactly. I can easily switch the boot order but as long as I have some form of a bootsector on the other HDD, and I can boot into the environment to run setup from the HDD and boot into the environment which should also be on the HDD, then all is good

 

[ahmedilyas]

Looking forward to the response

 

[gregrocker]

You might want to PM SIW2 as he is not around as much lately.

 

[ahmedilyas]

Thanks!

just done.

 

[ahmedilyas]

well in the meantime, ive had no luck.

I've got Disk 1 partition 0 which has the contents of the Windows DVD
now I want an option on Disk 1 where I can boot to it or it will auto run setup.exe
Disk 0 will already have a Windows installation all working.

But in case of an issue or something, I want to be able to boot to Disk 1 to kick start the installation.

 

[gregrocker]

Follow the steps in Creating a Media-less Recovery / Installation Partition to make the install partition bootable with EasyBCD then reboot to see if it presents a menu. You can set timeout to 3-5 seconds.

 

[ahmedilyas]

Thanks. before getting your kind response I managed to do it some how but not sure how.
I set Disk 1 as an active partition and of course when I reboot, I couldn't boot into the OS anymore (silly me)
I then switched the disk boot order in the BIOS, then it magically seemed to boot from the recovery partition and was able to install Windows.
I now get the option for the main OS and Windows Setup (EMS Enabled)

 

[gregrocker]

Boot into Windows Setup to see if it will cue up to reinstall Windows correctly. Then you can bail out and reboot into Win7 to make sure both entries work correctly.