Solved Help needed - "System Reserved" issue

[Tom 77]

Just a thought; but will a System Repair Disk created on my Windows 7 Home Premium laptop, work on my Windows 7 Ultimate desktop?

 

[Tom 77]

Hi dg1261

Thank you so much for your very detailed reply! It is appreciated and I understand what I need to do.

Just couple of things before trying it out: I would like to have System Repair Disk (just in case) - if I create this on my Windows 7 Home Premium laptop will this work on my Windows 7 Ultimate desktop? And if things didn't work out swapping jack-x and jack-y, would swapping them back and reconnecting the 1TB drive reboot my computer?

(At least I have my laptop handy to get back into this forum should things not work out).

 

[dg1261]

I would like to have System Repair Disk (just in case) - if I create this on my Windows 7 Home Premium laptop will this work on my Windows 7 Ultimate desktop?

Yes, provided both systems are the same 32-bit vs. 64-bit. A 32-bit System Repair disc won't work on a 64-bit system, and vice versa. I think they both must be the same Service Pack level (e.g., SP1) as well.

And if things didn't work out swapping jack-x and jack-y, would swapping them back and reconnecting the 1TB drive reboot my computer?

As long as you don't run any "repair" utilities while the cables are swapped (including letting Windows attempt an "automated repair"), you aren't making any changes to the contents of the disks. That means if you switch everything back to the way it was before you started this task, it will be like nothing happened.

If you're the paranoid type, though, you may want to consider making a backup image of your system before embarking on this project. That way, you'll have a backup to revert to if things get too messy. I don't think your project is that risky, but nonetheless, tinkering around without a backup image is like a tightrope walker performing without a net.

 

[Tom 77]

Hi dg1261

Sorry for the late response, my broadband went down! (when it rains, eh?)

Again, many thanks for your advice and quick response.

Yes, provided both systems are the same 32-bit vs. 64-bit. A 32-bit System Repair disc won't work on a 64-bit system, and vice versa. I think they both must be the same Service Pack level (e.g., SP1) as well.

Both computers are 64-bit: Desktop Windows 7 Ultimate is "Version 6.1 (build 7601: service pack 1)".
Laptop Windows 7 Home Premium is "Version 6.1 (build 7600)", but no mention of a service pack that I can find. If I navigate to System (from Control Panel), where it would normally state a service pack , it just says "Get more features with a new edition of Windows 7". Is this going to be a problem? Or is there another way to find the service pack?

If you're the paranoid type, though, you may want to consider making a backup image of your system before embarking on this project. That way, you'll have a backup to revert to if things get too messy. I don't think your project is that risky, but nonetheless, tinkering around without a backup image is like a tightrope walker performing without a net.

I think that's very good advice, I will attempt to do a backup image this morning.

 

[dg1261]

Both computers are 64-bit: Desktop Windows 7 Ultimate is "Version 6.1 (build 7601: service pack 1)".
Laptop Windows 7 Home Premium is "Version 6.1 (build 7600)", but no mention of a service pack that I can find.

No, build 7600 is the original, pre-SP1 version of Win7. SP1 is build 7601.

I vaguely remember discussion threads where people had trouble using System Repair discs where the SP level was different, but I don't recall what the exact issues were. Maybe it will work, but I wouldn't be surprised if it doesn't, and I wouldn't trust it.

I think that's very good advice, I will attempt to do a backup image this morning.

If you already have a program you use and trust, go ahead and use that. Make sure you also have the external boot media (CD or USB stick) for whatever program you choose, and make sure you can boot from it.

If you don't already have a program you're familiar with, let me put in a plug for Macrium Reflect. One of its most useful features is its "Fix Windows Boot Problems" function, which takes the place of a Microsoft System Repair disc -- and is also much easier to use. I have screenshots of what it looks like in use on a tutorial I made for another project (see Steps 11-15).

(Note: the "Fix Windows Boot Problems" function is only available from the Macrium Reflect "Rescue" media, so make sure you've made that CD or USB stick, and test that you can boot from it.)

 

[Tom 77]

Hi dg1261

Thank you for your reply

I vaguely remember discussion threads where people had trouble using System Repair discs where the SP level was different, but I don't recall what the exact issues were. Maybe it will work, but I wouldn't be surprised if it doesn't, and I wouldn't trust it.

Thanks for the heads up. To my surprise, I have found a windows 7 recovery disc that I must have made at the beginning of the year (not that I can remember), probably when I Installed my SSD 1TB drive. So I hope I am now okay with this.

If you don't already have a program you're familiar with, let me put in a plug for Macrium Reflect. One of its most useful features is its "Fix Windows Boot Problems" function, which takes the place of a Microsoft System Repair disc -- and is also much easier to use. I have screenshots of what it looks like in use on a tutorial I made for another project (see Steps 11-15).

(Note: the "Fix Windows Boot Problems" function is only available from the Macrium Reflect "Rescue" media, so make sure you've made that CD or USB stick, and test that you can boot from it.)

I wish I had read your reply before starting to create my system image. I have Macrium Reflect installed on my desktop, I didn't know it could be used for creating an system image backup, I was using it for cloning drives. This morning I had thought about cloning my Windows 7 drive as a backup precaution, but I don't have a clean drive to clone it to.

At the moment I am creating a system image using Windows 7's own built-in "Backup and Restore" method. It's taking ages - just over halfway there (I don't think I should stop it now). I am creating the image on an external Seagate 1TB, which has quite a few other files already on it.

I will look at your tutorials whilst it is going through the process.

 

[dg1261]

At the moment I am creating a system image using Windows 7's own built-in "Backup and Restore" method. It's taking ages - just over halfway there (I don't think I should stop it now). I am creating the image on an external Seagate 1TB.

I don't consider Windows Backup and Restore to be reliable at all. I'd kill it and do a Macrium image instead.

Since you already have Macrium installed, you can use it to create backup images on your external drive. Note you only need to image the Win7 OS partition and the two System Reserved partitions. Since the Win10 OS partition doesn't work, it would be pointless to image that.

Also go into the Macrium menus and find the function to create Rescue media. Create a bootable CD or USB stick, then test it to make sure you can boot from it when the need arises.

 

[Tom 77]

I don't consider Windows Backup and Restore to be reliable at all. I'd kill it and do a Macrium image instead.

Many thanks for this advice. I have just ordered another internal 500GB SATA drive on Amazon (coming tomorrow), and I have also ordered a SATA to USB 3 cable to connect it externally (I will eventually connect it internally, but for the time being I don't want to turn the computer off).

The system image I am doing at the moment is nearly finished - which will give me some indication of how much disc space I need, but I will take your advice and do a Macrium image on the new drive (my 1TB Seagate external hasn't much space on it - which may explain why the system image I am trying to create in Windows 7 is running so slow). I will also create a bootable Rescue CD in Macro.

I haven't read through all your tutorial yet, but many thanks again.

 

[ian50]

dg1261


Thank you, very informative. Particularly:


(Note: the "Fix Windows Boot Problems" function is only available from the Macrium Reflect "Rescue" media, so make sure you've made that CD or USB stick, and test that you can boot from it.)


I hadn't realised that option was available in the Macrium Rescue menu. A good addition to the recovery arsenal.

 

[dg1261]

Thank you, very informative. Particularly [the "Fix Windows Boot Problems" function]
I hadn't realised that option was available in the Macrium Rescue menu. A good addition to the recovery arsenal.

If you want to see that function in action and a cursory explanation of what it's fixing, I have screen clips sprinkled around in a number of places throughout my video, "Creating a Multi-Boot System with Macrium Reflect 7". The video is ostensibly about Windows multibooting (so you can tune out during those sections, or skip ahead to about 18:15 in the video) but a key element of that project was how handily the "Fix Windows Boot Problems" fixed things. Even if you're not into multibooting, the explanations of the issues may give you a better handle on what some of the potential pitfalls are in even a single-boot system, and how the Macrium function can help fix them.

 

[Tom 77]

If you don't already have a program you're familiar with, let me put in a plug for Macrium Reflect. One of its most useful features is its "Fix Windows Boot Problems" function, which takes the place of a Microsoft System Repair disc -- and is also much easier to use. I have screenshots of what it looks like in use on a tutorial I made for another project (see Steps 11-15).

(Note: the "Fix Windows Boot Problems" function is only available from the Macrium Reflect "Rescue" media, so make sure you've made that CD or USB stick, and test that you can boot from it.)

Hi dg1261

While I am waiting for my new Hard Drive to arrive, I thought I would create a "rescue" CD using Macrium. Using your tutorial steps 11-15. On step 11 you state "WARNING: To avoid errors, it is advisable to first disconnect any additional hard disks so the boot/system disk is the only one connected."

At present, I have two internal drive running: Drive C: running Windows 7, and Drive E: the SSD 1TB which used to run Windows 10. So I have a bit of a Catch 22 situation: I am trying to create a rescue disc to help with any reboot issues I may have when I turn off the computer, but I can only turn off the computer to disconnect Drive E: Can you suggest anything to overcome this dilemma?

 

[dg1261]

I thought I would create a "rescue" CD using Macrium. Using your tutorial steps 11-15. On step 11 you state "WARNING: To avoid errors, it is advisable to first disconnect any additional hard disks so the boot/system disk is the only one connected."

I think you're misunderstanding. My tutorial that you're referencing is about using the Rescue media, not how to create it.

To create your Rescue media, use the function on Macrium's top menu bar, "Other Tasks", "Create Rescue Media". It will walk you through the steps. The wizard will offer a number of options, but you don't need to add anything special, so just accept the defaults.

Once you've created your Rescue CD or USB stick, put it in and reboot to test that you know how to boot from it.

After you've confirmed you can boot from it, when you decide to actually use it you will want to have only your intended boot disk connected to limit the chances of confusing yourself. This is the part I cover in my tutorials, which start from the assumption that you've already created and test-booted your Rescue media. You don't need to disconnect other drives until you're actually going to use the "Fix Windows Boot Problems" function.


Edit: I just reviewed the "Create Rescue Media" wizard, and the first default does need to be changed. Under "Select Device", do NOT choose "Windows Boot Menu". You want external media, so choose ISO and use that to burn your external media.

For safety, you want something to boot from when the Windows Boot Menu is trashed or missing, so do not choose that option. Use the wizard to create an ISO file, then use a utility like Rufus to put that ISO on a USB stick. Do not just copy the ISO to USB because that won't make the USB stick bootable. Use a tool like Rufus.

 

[Snick]

Tom 77
To boot from CD/DVD or USB one time, you have to enter Boot Device Menu
Start your computer and in approximately 1 second intervals press <F9> you can select your Macrium Rescue Media. If that screen doesn't display try again. Yes it's Microsoft and finicky. Faster or Slower key press, it doesn't work!
It will be displayed as CD or DVD or USB drive, my PNY USB displays as pny



Snick

 

[Tom 77]

I think you're misunderstanding. My tutorial that you're referencing is about using the Rescue media, not how to create it.

Hi dg1261

Thank you for clarifying! And also for your clear instructions.

The software I have on my desktop to put an ISO on USB/DVD is the Microsoft "Windows 7 USB/DVD Download Tool". Not sure why, but when I've tried to use Rufus in the past to create a Windows 10 recovery USB/DVD from an ISO, my bios didn't want to know - when I tried to boot from it, I kept getting some sort of Rufus warning message that I could understand or couldn't get rid of. The Microsoft tool seemed to work without any issues.

My 500GB Hard Drive arrived today, ready for me to do a Macrium image, but it didn't arrive with the SATA to USB 3 connector cable, which was annoying. I'm hoping this will arrive tomorrow.

It's getting a bit late here in the UK but I will create the disc tomorrow and hopefully do a Macrium image backup as well.

 

[SIW2]

dg1261

Had a quick look at your video. It is nicely explained and useful for many people, I expect.

I am curious what these win 7 "missing efi files" might be. Creating a Multi-Boot System with Macrium Reflect 7 - YouTube

 

[Tom 77]

Tom 77
To boot from CD/DVD or USB one time, you have to enter Boot Device Menu
Start your computer and in approximately 1 second intervals press <F9> you can select your Macrium Rescue Media. If that screen doesn't display try again. Yes it's Microsoft and finicky. Faster or Slower key press, it doesn't work!
It will be displayed as CD or DVD or USB drive, my PNY USB displays as pny

Hi Snick

Thanks for this. Don't ask me why, but for some reason, I have to press the <F8> key (normally reserved to boot the PC in safety mode) in order to switch between my drives on boot up (I have 2 HD drives and a DVD drive). Something weird happened when I installed the second SSD drive (it used to be the <F10> key to select drive, which now does nothing).

 

[SIW2]

Just a thought; but will a System Repair Disk created on my Windows 7 Home Premium laptop, work on my Windows 7 Ultimate desktop?

Yes, with standard installation media, winre.wim is the same. Therefore the repair disc is the same. Some oem preinstalls have customized winre.wim

 

[SIW2]

I think 500gb is a bit small . It will fill up in no time. If you are looking for a cheap and reliable mechanical disk, I have found the WD WD10EZEX 1 TB to be good. £35 or a bit less. You might even want something bigger, but they tend to be the 5400rpm disks.

 

[SIW2]

Your difficulty creating the windows recovery disc ( using the built in recdisc.exe ) is likely because the bcd recovery sequence hasn't been setup properly.

You can borrow my boot media 17514x64v24.iso

It could be burnt to cd/dvd, but is better used on bootable usb because it contains extra programs that are intended to be run from usb.

The iso can be extracted to usb using this: View attachment Usb7ice.zip

 

[Tom 77]

Yes, with standard installation media, winre.wim is the same. Therefore the repair disc is the same. Some oem preinstalls have customized winre.wim

Thanks, SIW2. I will be doing a Macrium image backup and rescue CD, but it is very handy to know this information.

The Western Digital 500GB HD drive is just a quick means to an end really - it was only £17 so not extortionate. But thanks for the tip on the WD WD10EZEX 1 TB, I may just get it anyway, as it is a very good price.