W7 wont boot after ghost image restore on new harddisk

[mjb]

I have installed Windows 7 on a 1st PC, included driver and other software.

I use GHOST to copy partition image of 1st computer. Partition that have backup,

>> 100MB System Reserve Partition
>> Drive C

Then, use Ghost to restore the 2 partition image to 2nd PC's harddisk.

After task complete, reboot.

The 2nd PC was unable to detect any OS.

How to resolve this problems?

 

[Saltgrass]

Well, I am going to over look the fact your are trying to clone a Win 7 install, but did you try restoring to the original computer?

I have never been able to get Ghost to work correctly.

 

[gregrocker]

Boot into the Win7 DVD Repair console, click through to Recovery Tools and select Startup Repair to run up to 3 separate times, as it will attempt to repair and might rewrite the MBR to Win7.

 

[mjb]

hey, guys, I solved the problems. Thanks for your answer.

I get the clue from gregrocker, as you have mentioned the word MBR.
Then, I search through the internet and found something about MBR, refers to Master Boot Record.
I'm thinking that maybe the MBR is needed to copy as well.
Ghost itself is not enough, because Ghost will not copy the MBR.

I decided to make a try.

I used Hiren's Boot CD. Inside the Hiren's Boot CD, 2 software is available for completing the task.
MBRWizard, Ghost32
about Hiren's Boot CD included tools >> www.hiren.info./pages/bootcd
about MBRWizard >> MBRWizard! - The MBR Management Utility

Download Hiren's Boot CD iso and burn it into CD. >> Hiren's Boot CD 10.1 and All Other Versions - HTTP Download

Boot from Hiren's Boot CD and enter Mini Windows XP mode.
Browse for HBCD Menu, you'll the 2 software mentioned in this post.

Step 1, use MBRWizard to backup/copy the MBR on PC1
Step 2, use Ghost32 to backup/copy the 1st 100MB System Reserved Partition and 2nd Partition (Drive C)
Step 3, use Ghost32 to restore 100MB System Reserved from image to 2nd PC
Step 4, use MBRWizard to restore MBR to PC2
Step 5, use Ghost32 to restore 100MB System Reserved to 2nd PC 1st Partition again
Step 6, use Ghost32 to restore 2nd Partition image to PC2

Done.

If you wish to modify the partition, EASEUS Partition Master is 1 of the software that can do the task.

Thanks you and Good Luck.

 

[gregrocker]

Did you try booting the Win7 DVD Repair console to run Startup Repair 3 times?

Much easier way to rewrite the MBR to Win7.

 

[mjb]

to gregrocker,

yup, I've try that before and I knew that will work. It just that I didn't learn about the exist of MBR before until I read your post.

I going to restore Windows 7 in another 7 same computers. So I still have to keep using Ghost and MBRWizard which is much more faster in this case.

You have answered my question indirectly. Thanks for that.


Oh yes, by the way, we need EUSEUS Partition Master which is also available in Hiren's Boot CD to make the partition before Ghost can restore partition from GHO image files.

 

[gregrocker]

Use free Partition Wizard bootable CD which is more compatible with Win7.

 

[mjb]

Thanks dude, I'm downloading and will try it out after the download finish.

 

[gregrocker]

If you would like advice on how to use Partition Wizard on your project there, please post back a screenshot of full Disk Management drive map. Use Snipping tool in start menu, attaching file using paper clip in reply box.

We can give you the steps if you will tell us exactly what you want to accomplish.

 

[SIW2]

Easeus partition Master is a perfectly good partitioner - fully compatible with the Vista/7 partitioning rules ( recent versions, anyhow).

I have Easeus Partition Master Pro. Works very well.

 

[mjb]

If you would like advice on how to use Partition Wizard on your project there, please post back a screenshot of full Disk Management drive map. Use Snipping tool in start menu, attaching file using paper clip in reply box.

We can give you the steps if you will tell us exactly what you want to accomplish.

I'll post it into a new thread if I have any questions about Partition Wizard.
Thanks.

 

[C0o0L]

Dear mjb
I am interested to know this tools how to work if you can write full interodaction for these tools
actully i have missing understand for use MBRWizard to backup/copy the MBR on PC1
what is the command should be used to do this step and backup to flash then restore from flash in other pc
http://www.sevenforums.com/member.php?u=54722http://www.sevenforums.com/member.php?u=54722

 

[jimbo45]

Hi there
you probably forgot to copy the 100 MB hidden system partition too -- some W7 installations have this partition as well.

You need to copy this partition as well when you "Ghost" the disk.

The computer will then boot although it will in some cases halt during the boot process. Just insert the W7 install disk -- repaiir system and all is OK again -- you won't have lost any programs or anything.


The 100MB partition can cause a lot of grief when "imaging" or cloning the OS.

I ensure that I don't hav ethis parition by installing W7 on a disk which only has ONE partition -- even if it's a 2TB disk -- then after installation I use GPARTED to reduce the W7 partition down to say 40 GB and create new partitions.

Once you've got a SINGLE OS partition with no 100MB system partition you can GHOST / IMAGE the OS without any further problems.

Cheers
jimbo

 

[gregrocker]

If you use Partition Wizard to copy over a Partition, then select Rebuild MBR on Disk tab after copy operation is complete.

Make sure Win7 partition is marked active first, especially if you abandon the 100mb System Reserved partition.

You may still need to boot the Win7 DVD Repair console or Repair CD, click through to Recovery Tools list to run Startup Repair up to 3 separate times with reboots to repair or rewrite the MBR to Win7.

 

[C0o0L]

Dear gregrocker
Please find the commands to backup MBR from PC1 from Hiren Boot CD
[FONT=&quot]MBRWiz /save=F:\savedMBR F: is flash driver[/FONT]


then i go to PC2
[FONT=&quot]MBRWiz /Restore=F:\savedMBR[/FONT]




is it correct commands?
[FONT=&quot][/FONT][FONT=&quot][/FONT]

 

[gregrocker]

I do not use Hirens for Windows 7, so maybe someone else can help with those.

 

[SIW2]

Looking at mbrfix website, it doesn't seem to have been updated recently, however, you will find it easier to use this:

View attachment mbrwiz.zip

D/l it, rt click it>properties>unblock>apply>ok.

Extract the mbrwiz.cmd file and put it in the same directory (folder ) as mbrfix.exe.

Rt click the mbrwiz.cmd and run as admin.

Dear gregrocker
Please find the commands to backup MBR from PC1 from Hiren Boot CD
[FONT=&quot]MBRWiz /save=F:\savedMBR F: is flash driver[/FONT]


then i go to PC2
[FONT=&quot]MBRWiz /Restore=F:\savedMBR[/FONT]




is it correct commands?
[FONT=&quot][/FONT][FONT=&quot][/FONT]

 

[whs]

Ghost itself is not enough, because Ghost will not copy the MBR.

Just as clarification: Ghost does copy the MBR. But you have to use the Ghost "Copy" function. That essentially produces a clone (versus an image).

 

[C0o0L]

i found the solution

ghost 15 fix the issues

 

[mjb]

Dear gregrocker
Please find the commands to backup MBR from PC1 from Hiren Boot CD
[FONT=&quot]MBRWiz /save=F:\savedMBR F: is flash driver[/FONT]

then i go to PC2
[FONT=&quot]MBRWiz /Restore=F:\savedMBR[/FONT]

is it correct commands?

perhaps you have missed the file extension .dat
it is savedMBR.dat not savedMBR

the command should be something like this:
MBRWiz /save=F:\savedMBR.dat
MBRWiz /restore=F:\savedMBR.dat

for guide and example of MBRWiz command, you may refer here:
MBRWizard! - Examples


Dear gregrocker:

I have just learn about Windows 7 repair disk. Are you referring to this disk?
If yes, then I've misunderstood you in the previous post. I thought you were refering to the Windows 7 installation DVD, as the DVD do included a repair console. I don't prefer to use the installation DVD to run the repair console, this is because the DVD takes a lot of time to boot and load.

However, with Windows 7 repair disk will take less time to boot.

I've found a more convenience way to clone a system. yes, it is by using Windows 7 backup and restore feature. The steps are simply, if compare to Hiren's Boot CD's MBRWiz, Ghost32 and Easeus Partition. Windows 7 Repair Disk's restore feature will do all the job automatically >> Rebuild MBR, Repartition Harddisk and resotre the image.

3 simple steps:
Step 1: Create Windows 7 Repair Disk
Step 2: On PC1, use Windows 7 built-in Backup feature to backup the whole system into an image and store in external harddisk.
Step 3: On PC2, Boot from Windows 7 Repair Disk, restore the system from external Harddisk.

Tutorials available here:
Backup: Backup Complete Computer - Create an Image Backup
Restore: System Image Recovery

for more guides:
Tutorial quick reference list for Installing Windows 7


thanks, and good luck