Boot CD not recognizing any mouse or keyboard

[MitchSC]

I couldn't quite find a forum that was a good match for my question, so I went with General. Hope I'm in the right place.

Win 7 Home Premium 64 bit SP-1.

There is a cloning program that I use and really like called EZ Gig IV. It's made by Apricorn. I know there are a million free programs out there, and I've tried a lot of them, but this one is so simple, and really meets my needs. So.. would appreciate avoiding recommendations to change programs. Thanks.

They just updated their software version with some bug fixes and enhancements, and now their Boot CD no longer recognizes my USB keyboard or mouse. I've even tried swapping them with other brands. Oddly, it works fine on my wife's PC. Slightly different model computer, but same HP and OS.

Their last version of Boot CD worked fine. Also, their updated program works fine within Windows. It's just the updated Boot CD v4.3.5

EZ Gig allows free downloads of their Boot CD if 2 forms: 1) A bootable file (made once the program is running in Windows) 2) an ISO file. I've tried both with same issue. Here's the link: http://www.apricorn.com/products/software/ezgig.html

I spoke with their Tech Support and was told there is nothing that can be done. Perhaps true.

I have no experience in this area, but am hoping there is a way to use their ISO file and somehow combine it with a Windows 7 file that would provide the drivers, or whatever is missing, and make the thing see my keyboard and mouse. I've heard some things about Windows PE 4.0, but don't know if that's applicable.

Sorry for the long post. Thanks all...

 

[whs]

If you want to go with the WinPE option, here is one of the easier video tutorials.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sQGujsHcq6U

 

[MitchSC]

whs: Thanks so much for the info. I watched the video and was able to follow in thru about 1/2 way before it lost me. I have virtually no experience with command prompts or DOS, so even with the excellent step-by-step video, I'm not sure I can manage it.

3 Questions please:

1) Based on my issue of the program not recognizing my keyboard and mouse, is this something Windows PE would provide?

2) Would I be able to just download and use the EZ Gig ISO file in Windows PE?

3) Is there a utility that uses a wizard to accomplish the same thing as was done in the video?

I'm not sure what else to ask or do at this point.

Thanks so much...

 

[whs]

Yes to questions 1 and 2. As for Q3, I don't have a direct answer. Maybe one could trick a 'ready made' WinPE stick to add your program. E.g. with the free Macrium WinPE you have access to command prompt. We'd have to study how to use that for your purposes. Here is a Microsoft guidance on how to do that (maybe). But as the usual MS write-ups, you really have to read it very carefully.

http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/hh824972.aspx

This whole operation is probably best done in a virtual partition. If all fails, we can ask SIW2 (a member here). He plays with this stuff all the time. He is in the UK - so we'll have to consider the 5 hour difference between EST and GMT.

 

[MitchSC]

I'm psyched that 1 & 2 are a yes. That's fantastic!

I've been reading all morning about WinPE, and this is starting to feel beyond my capabilities. I was really hoping to find some sort of simplified wizard that I could download (more at my level). I actually saw one yesterday, but I'll be damned find it today. Very disappointed now that I know combining my ISO with WinPE would do the trick.

Last week I created a Macrium Reflect WinPE 4.0 CD to check it out. It was a piece of cake. But I was not aware that an ISO from another program could be added to the Macrium WinPE.

BTW: The Macrium WinPE 3.1 would not work with my USB 3.0 ports. Needed to be WinPE 4.0. Suggestion came from Macrium Tech Support.

Any additional (and simple) suggestions will be greatly appreciated...

One last thought. It seems crazy that EZ Gig would update their boot CD and not include all the drivers necessary to work on a standard HP Win 7 machine. As I mentioned, it works fine on my wife's (very similar) PC. That said, is it possible I had a bad burn when I created the CD, and it would still recognize my wife's keyboard and mouse?

 

[whs]

BTW: The Macrium WinPE 3.1 would not work with my USB 3.0 ports. Needed to be WinPE 4.0. Suggestion came from Macrium Tech Support.

That is correct. I learned that the hard way.

I have sent a PM to SIW2. Maybe he has an idea on how we can trick the WinPE of Macrium to accept additional programs. But since I have not seen him around for a little while, the answer may take some time.

 

[gregrocker]

If you have any WD or Seagate HD then you can use the free premium Acronis cloning/imaging app which works best of all.

Otherwise try Windows Backup Imaging which lacks flexibility but will reimage to the same or another HDD or SSD: Backup Complete Computer - Create an Image Backup

If that's not satisfactory try Paragon Hard Disk Manager free.

 

[MitchSC]

whs: Thanks so much for reaching out to SIW2 on my behalf. Very kind of you. I feel like I'm so close here, now I'm getting determined. Am also interested to learn more about the uses of WinPE. The youtube video you sent me was very good, and "almost" something I could follow. Will wait to hear back...

gregrocker: Thank you very much for the suggestions. As I mentioned in my original post, I'd really prefer not to change software. I've tried a bunch, and EZ Gig really meets all my needs, and... it's so, so EZ

 

[whs]

But maybe Greg has a point. You could always try another imaging program and see what happens. Paragon is a good program but it is a bit too complex for my taste, I prefer free Macrium because it is real easy, fast and very reliable. Would not hurt to make a trial run.

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/73828-imaging-free-macrium.html?ltr=I

And the .iso for the recovery disc you can download from my Skydrive. Just burn that to CD. That saves you a couple of hours downloading the WAIK which you need to produce that .iso.

https://skydrive.live.com/?cid=475a0a48ca6d4035&provision=1&ref=3&wa=wsignin1.0&sa=412485191#cid=475A0A48CA6D4035&id=475A0A48CA6D4035%211812

And if you don't feel like installing another program, just get the recovery CD. With that you can also make images apart from recovering from images.

 

[MitchSC]

I've already installed Macrium and burned their Boot CD to test drive it. It is simple, and I do like it. If I can't get EZ Gig going, Macrium was my 2nd choice. It also has the advantage of working with USB 3.0. A big plus.

I did run into a small issue of it not recognizing drives with their Boot CD, but managed to get that going.

 

[whs]

At least that works. But playing with the WAIK is fun too.

 

[MitchSC]

Do you think that I can learn the WinPE stuff if I set my mind to it? It really does sound interesting.

Just about everything I know about computers, I learned from the forums

 

[whs]

Mitch, you can do anything if you try hard enough. I never made a WinPE from scratch either. I have the WAIK in my virtual Windows 8.1. When I have some time, I will take a stab at it too. Maybe you are faster than me and can then teach me.

 

[MitchSC]

Lol