How to Use OEM Recovery Solution Maker Tools

Recovery Tools - 1.3.13 - Beta By AnarethoS

Friday, December 07 2012 / 7:40 PM

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Table of content

Table of content 1 Software presentation ............................................................................................................. 1

1.1 Purpose of this software ................................................................................................. 1

1.2 What it can do ................................................................................................................. 2

1.3 What it cannot do ............................................................................................................ 2

1.4 Functionalities ................................................................................................................. 3

1.4.1 Windows 7 ............................................................................................................... 3

1.4.2 Windows 8 ............................................................................................................... 4

2 Installation ............................................................................................................................... 5

2.1 Requirement .................................................................................................................... 5

2.2 Preparing the USB drive .................................................................................................. 6

2.3 Installing Windows .......................................................................................................... 6

2.4 Installing the recovery tools ............................................................................................ 6

2.5 Testing scenario ............................................................................................................... 7

2.5.1 Windows 7 ............................................................................................................... 7

2.5.2 Windows 8 ............................................................................................................... 7

3 Upgrading ................................................................................................................................ 8

4 Settings file explanation .......................................................................................................... 8

4.1 Windows 7 ....................................................................................................................... 8

4.2 Windows 8 ....................................................................................................................... 9

5 Splash Image (Logo) ............................................................................................................... 10

6 Translation ............................................................................................................................. 10

7 Frequently asked questions................................................................................................... 11

8 Technical support .................................................................................................................. 12

9 Change log ............................................................................................................................. 12

10 Credits and thanks ............................................................................................................. 13

11 Licensing ............................................................................................................................ 14

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1 Software presentation

1.1 Purpose of this software Computers, we use them every day. To check our mails, play games, do homework. We used

them so much that, sometime, we forget that they are like car and that they may broke,

suddenly, without warning, and this normally happen when you have something important to

do.

Now, your computer does not boot anymore. What can you do? Reinstall Windows? It will take

hours with the time required to reinstall all your drivers and required apps. And if you don't

know how to do it, you will have to bring it to the computer store. But, it may be closed or they

may have too much computer to repair and you will have to wait several days.

It would be easier to repair it automatically whit the press of a button or by connecting an USB

drive, no?

Well, that is exactly what I am offering you. A small software that can help you automatically

repair and reinstall your Windows installation. And as a bonus, it can do all that without deleting

your personal data. And if you can't wait to complete the recovery process, you can still access

your files off-line to copy them to an USB drive so you can continue working on another

computer.

But be warned! This solution is not made to do full system backup. Rather, it has been made to

allow you to bring back your Windows installation to the working state it was when the recovery

image was made. If you made it 6 month ago, you will have to reinstall everything that changed

since then. The only exception here is under Windows 8 that supports custom "Refresh" point,

which is a custom recovery point for your Windows installation.

Also, this recovery image must be done during a new installation of Windows. If Windows is

already installed on your computer, you won't be able to create the recovery image.

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1.2 What it can do This software will allows you to create a one-time image of a base installation of Windows 7 or

Windows 8 and copy this image to a hidden partition on the first drive of your computer. It, for

any reason, Windows cannot boot anymore or you just want to revert back to this image, you

will be able to use Windows Recovery Environment to completely reinstall Windows based on

this image. It is up to you to decide what this image will contain. Will it be only Windows with its

drivers, Windows with its drivers and all your personal applications? You decide. But chose

wisely as the image CANNOT BE upgraded later. It is not a backup. It is a recovery image.

1.3 What it cannot do Like I just said, this application creates a recovery image. Not a backup. So don’t use it to create

a recovery image with all your personal files. Use backup software for that.

Also, don’t waste your time personalising your settings. The Administrator account used during

the preparation of the recovery image will be deleted. Don’t waste your time.

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1.4 Functionalities

1.4.1 Windows 7

Under Windows 7, the recovery tools will give you the following options:

A central place from where you can access recovery options, including

o Recovery media creator

Can create an USB key to be used to restore the computer

o Launch recovery environment

Reboot the computer in the recovery environment

o Launch Windows backup

This will allows you to backup your personal files, programs and settings

The recovery environment, either booted from the recovery partition or the USB recovery media

will give you the following options:

Option to repair your computer

o Repair boot option

o Use system restore to go back to a snapshot made by Windows

System recovery

o Use a custom recovery image you may have created using the backup software

built into Windows

Reinstall Windows

o Move the previous installation and you personal file to the “Windows.Old”

folder and then reinstall Windows from the recovery image on the recovery

partition

DoubleCommander file browser

o Access your file off-line. Useful if your computer can not boot and you don’t

have time to repair it right now. This will allows you to copy your personal file to

an USB key to continue working on another computer.

o For security reason, the file browser will require you to authenticate with an

administrator account from the Windows installation

Please note that Windows 7, opposed to Windows 8, does not gives you the option to do a full

reinstall. Previous installation of Windows will be always moved to “Windows.Old” folder. If you

want to completely erase all data and trace of previous installation, you can either use a

recovery media created on the computer OR use the “FullRestore.cmd” script that can be found

in “C:\Windows”.

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1.4.2 Windows 8

Under Windows 8, the recovery tools will give you the following options:

A central place from where you can access recovery options, including

o Recovery media creator

Can create an USB key to be used to restore the computer

o Launch recovery environment

Reboot the computer in the recovery environment

o Launch Windows backup (File History)

This will allows you to backup your personal files, programs and settings

o Create a custom recovery point

Allows to create a custom recovery point, delete it or create a new one

A recovery point will replace the recovery image when do you a

“Refresh” of your pc. A refresh reinstall Windows without deleting your

files

A custom image cannot be used to “Reset” the computer, which

completely delete all files

The recovery environment, either booted from the recovery partition or the USB recovery media

will give you the following options:

Option to repair your computer

o Repair boot option

o Use system restore to go back to a snapshot made by Windows

Refresh Windows

o Move the previous installation and you personal file to the “Windows.Old”

folder and then reinstall Windows from the recovery image on the recovery

partition

o If a custom recovery point was created, it will be used. Otherwise, it will use the

recovery image

Reset Windows

o Completely erase the computer and reinstall Windows

DoubleCommander file browser

o Access your file off-line. Useful if your computer can not boot and you don’t

have time to repair it right now. This will allows you to copy your personal file to

an USB key to continue working on another computer.

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2 Installation

2.1 Requirement This software will run only under Windows 7 or Windows 8. It does not work under Windows

Vista or Windows XP.

Any computer that can run Windows 7 or Windows 8 can use this software

Under MBT/BIOS computer, the partitions requirement is:

1. Recovery partition – Type 27 – Size 12gb

2. System partition – Active – Size 250mb

3. Windows partition

Under GPT/UEFI computer, the partitions requirement is:

1. Recovery partition – Size 12gb

2. System partition – EFI – Size 250mb

3. MSR partition – Size 128mb

4. Windows partition

This software comes with all settings for these scenarios. You can change/edit theses files, but

no support of any kind will be provided in that case.

For Windows 7, you will need to provide the “ImageX.exe” file, both for the 32bits (X86) and the

64bits (AMD64) version. Microsoft© does not allows the redistribution of these files. They can

be obtained from the Windows Automated Installation Package. Simply copy them in the right

place in the “ImageX” folder in the Windows 7 tools.

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2.2 Preparing the USB drive 1. From the “AutoUnattend” folder, under either the “GPT” or “MBR” folder, copy the

“AutoUnattend.xml” file to the root of an USB key

2. From the “Settings – Examples”, under either the “GPT” or “MBR” folder, copy all files to

the “Settings” folder

3. Run the “Update_Settings.cmd” script

4. Copy the configured package to the USB key or the installation CD

2.3 Installing Windows 1. Connect the USB key to the target computer and start Windows installation

2. Select to install Windows

3. If you are using a media with more than 1 operating system available, select the one you

want to install

4. Wait during the installation process

a. All data and partitions of the first drive will be deleted

b. Partitions will be automatically created

2.4 Installing the recovery tools 1. If you used the XML file, Windows will be in AUDIT mode

a. If you did a manual install, without the XML file, Windows will be in OOBE

i. If in OOBE, press CTRL+SHIFT+F3 to switch to AUDIT mode

ii. This won’t works under Windows 8, XML must be used

b. AUDIT mode is a special mode of Windows where you can install all your

applications, device drivers and updates to prepare the computer to the end

user

i. Personalization will be deleted (screen savers, keyboard, time zone,

etc.)

2. When everything is working as expected, you can then install the recovery tools to

create the recovery partition

a. You should copy the installation folder on the hard drive in case something goes

wrong and file access is lost to the USB drive

b. If copying the tools from a CD, remove the “read-only” attributes of the files on

the computer

c. You should create a full backup of the computer, using Ghost or similar

software, prior creating the recovery partition. If something goes wrong, you

will be able to recover your base installation without having to do it again

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2.5 Testing scenario Now that everything is installed, you must test everything. You don’t want to give something not

correctly working to your customers, don’t you?

Here are some tests that should be performed before giving the computer to the customer.

2.5.1 Windows 7

Boot the computer and complete OOBE process. Then test the following:

Entering Recovery Environment by using the Recovery Tools inside Windows

Entering Recovery Environment by using the F7 key

Reinstalling Windows from the Recovery Environment

o Retest previous component to be sure they still works

Creating a recovery media and recovering Windows from it

o Retest previous component to be sure they still works

Test the “FullRestore.cmd” script

o Retest previous component to be sure they still works

If all test are OK, restore the computer one last time by using the “FullRestore.cmd”

script and give the computer to the customer

2.5.2 Windows 8

Boot the computer and complete OOBE process. Then test the following:

Entering Recovery Environment by using the Recovery Tools inside Windows

Reinstalling Windows from the Recovery Environment (Reset and Refresh)

o Retest previous component to be sure they still works

Creating a recovery media and recovering Windows from it (Reset only)

o Retest previous component to be sure they still works

If all test are OK, restore the computer one last time by using the “Reset” option or the

recovery media and give the computer to the customer

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3 Upgrading Starting at version 1.3.6, an update script is available to upgrade the recovery tools to the latest

version.

The local recovery tools, the one in the recovery image and tools of the recovery environment

will be upgraded.

You should make a new recovery media after upgrading; otherwise using a previous recovery

media will roll-back the changes made.

4 Settings file explanation This software requires lots of settings files to work correctly. You must be very careful if you do

any modification to them.

4.1 Windows 7 ResetPartitions.txt

o This is the script used by the recovery media (USB) to repartition the hard disk

o It must match the settings of the SettingsRE.txt and AutoUnattend.Xml file

Settings.ini

o This is the file that include all language strings for the recovery tools

SettingsRE.txt

o This is the file used by CMD script to load the partitions, format them, etc.

o It must match the settings of the ResetPartitions.txt and AutoUnattend.Xml file

o WINLOAD parameter

Must be equal to “Winload.efi” on UEFI computer

Must be qeual to “Winload.exe” on BIOS computer

o BOOTFS parameter

Must be equal to “FAT32” on UEFI computer

Must be equal to “NTFS” on BIOS computer

Sysprep.xml

o File used to prepare Windows for capture

o Used to keep drivers and not delete them

Logo.jpg

o Splash image

o Image off by default

o Time can be set in Settings.ini

o File required even if logo disabled

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4.2 Windows 8 ResetPartitions.txt

o This is the script used by the recovery media (USB) to repartition the hard disk

o It must match the settings of the SettingsRE.txt, ResetConfig.xml and

AutoUnattend.Xml file

o Must NOT include “Select Disk” or “Clean” commands

ResetConfig.xml

o Used to tell recovery image location (partition number, etc.) in the recovery

environment

o Used to tell the name of the “ResetPartitions.txt” file

o It must match the settings of the SettingsRE.txt, ResetPartitions.txt and

AutoUnattend.Xml file

Settings.ini

o This is the file that include all language strings for the recovery tools

SettingsRE.txt

o This is the file used by CMD script to load the partitions, format them, etc.

o It must match the settings of the ResetPartitions.txt, ResetConfig.xml and

AutoUnattend.Xml file

o WINLOAD parameter

Must be equal to “Winload.efi” on UEFI computer

Must be qeual to “Winload.exe” on BIOS computer

o BOOTFS parameter

Must be equal to “FAT32” on UEFI computer

Must be equal to “NTFS” on BIOS computer

Sysprep.xml

o File used to prepare Windows for capture

o Used to keep drivers and not delete them

WinRE.xml

o Used to rename the DoubleCommander file browser to “Off-Line file browser”

Logo.jpg

o Splash image

o Image off by default

o Time can be set in Settings.ini

o File required even if logo disabled

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5 Splash Image (Logo) Starting in version 1.3.10, there is now a splash image for the recovery tools inside Windows.

This splash image does not apply to the recovery tools when booting on the recovery media or

the recovery partition.

The image must be placed in the following folder for Windows 7

“Windows 7 Recovery Tools\Installer\Files\Windows\System32\RecoveryTools”

The image must be placed in the following folder for Windows 8

“Windows 8 Recovery Tools\Installer\Files\Windows\System32\RecoveryTools”

Once the file copied, you must edit “Settings.ini” file to enable it and change the following

parameters:

Parameter Description Default Value

LogoFile Filename of the logo. Must be JPG or BMP.

Logo.jpg

LogoWidth Width of the logo 400

LogoHeight Height of the logo 200

LogoTime Time, in seconds, to display the logo.

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6 Translation All the language strings are saved in the “Settings.ini” file. Windows will automatically detect the

current language and tries to load it from the file. If the current language is absent the software

will rollback to English as the default language.

When booting on the recovery media for Windows 7, the end-user will have to select the

language he wants to use.

Starting in 1.3.10, you can use a semi-colon (“;”) as a carriage return to split a line on multiple

lines.

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7 Frequently asked questions

1. My computer crash after the image capture

a. Can be due to a driver error. Try to isolate the driver in question and install it

using SetupComplete/FirstLogon script

b. Be sure to have the computer unplugged from the network while installing the

recovery tools

c. Disable your anti-virus when installing the recovery tools

2. Can I upgrade my recovery image?

a. Windows 7: No

b. Windows 8: Not exactly. You can create a custom recovery point using the

recovery tools

3. In your previous software (Legacy – 2.1.1), there was an option to create DVD recovery

media. Will you give this option back in a future release?

a. No, since Windows 8 will brings users to buy tablets or hybrid computer that

don’t have any DVD drive in them

4. I already have a working installation of Windows. Can I use your tools to create a

recovery partition now?

a. No. You can only create a recovery image and partition during a fresh

installation of Windows 7 or 8.

b. Under Windows 8, you can always create a custom “Refresh” image of your

computer by using the RECIMG command line tool.

i. This application may also help you in this situation

5. On Microsoft white-papers, they recommend using a separate partition for the recovery

tools and the image, and having the image as the last partition. Why are you not

following their recommendations?

a. When the recovery image is AFTER the Windows partition, the recovery media

creator tools gives the user the option to delete the image partition, which is

not a good idea for the following reasons

i. Is the created media become corrupt, and the image partition is

deleted, the end user won’t be able to create a new recovery media

ii. The size of the recovery image is small compared to today hard-disk

space

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8 Technical support Technical support is provided free of charge on the “My Digital Life” forums.

Update to this software can be found on my personal web page.

9 Change log 1.3.13

o Modification to capture and reinstallation script to prevent “phantom”

recovery drive under Windows

o Added : Full system recovery option in Recovery Environment under Windows

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o Added : Access to basic repair tools in Recovery Environment under Windows 7

1.3.12

o Windows 8: Now using a FirstLogon script since SetupComplete was not

working with OEM key. The script is configured to run by using the Sysprep.xml

file.

o Minor translation error in English fixed

1.3.11

o Fixed bug with the path of the splash screen image

o Fixed bug in Windows 7 recovery. Not more variable errors.

1.3.10

o Added line-splitting in settings.ini. See translation section

o Added auto-reboot at the end of the recovery process for Windows 7

o Added support for splash image under Windows (not recovery media)

1.3.9

o Added : Spanish, Hebrew and Arabic in Windows 7 tools

o Added : Hebrew in Windows 8 tools

o Modified recovery media creator script under Windows 7 to make the boot

drive “Active”.

1.3.8

o Fixed a bug in the “Update” script relating to SetupComplete script

Updates from 1.3.X to 1.3.7 will lose the ability to rename the off-line

file browser in Windows 8

Updates from 1.3.X to 1.3.7 will lose the ability to dismount

automatically the recovery partition in Windows 7 / 8

Clean install of 1.3.7 will not have the problem

Updating to 1.3.8 should fix that

1.3.7

o Added a script (both in Windows 7 and Windows 8) to dismount the recovery

partition from Windows at the end of OOBE

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1.3.6

o Added update tools for Windows 7 and 8

You can upgrade from 1.2.0 and 1.3.X

You must recreate the recovery media after upgrade

You must configure the settings file to match your configuration

1.3.5

o Removed ImageX from the package, as required by Microsoft© EULA

o New set of icons for the menus, which are not made by Microsoft©

1.3.4

o Fixed a bug with the “SetupComplete.Cmd” script under Windows 8 to identify

the File Browser

o Updated the file browser to latest version

o Added instruction guide (this guide)

1.3.3

o Fixed Windows 8 recovery media. No more error about missing partitions

1.3.2

o Modified installation script so Recovery partition is now hidden in Windows 7

1.3.1

o Added some checkups (Winre.Wim file exist, etc.)

1.3.0

o Initial release of this version which include Windows 8 support

10 Credits and thanks

Thanks to the “My Digital Life” forums community. Without you guys, this software won’t have

been made possible.

Also, thanks to my entire beta tester.

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11 Licensing All scripts, either the one made for command line (CMD) or in AutoIT, where made by

me, Anarethos. These files can be freely distributed and modified. Just give me credits.

The file browser (DoubleCommander) included with this software is a SourceForge

project and more info can be found by clicking here.

The Hard Drive icon used in the software was found on Internet. Source unknown. If you

are the owner of this icon, please contact me (support forum) so I may remove it from

this software or gives you credits for your works.

Icons used in this software seem to be licensed for redistribution. The icons package is

under the “Source” folder.

If you are a computer manufacturer/store/seller, you can use my tool without any

compensation. But, I would really appreciate if you can send me a message telling me

that you are using my software. Also, please give me credits on your web site or

instruction manual.