Using Factory Image .WIM to restore the computer

P

pixok

Member
Hello
I have an HP Notebook laptop with Windows Vista recovery partition, i still have this partition but it can't boot when i press the F11 button, i think because i installed Ubunto .

I have tested lot of things, i tried to imagex the image HPFactory.wim located in a folder in the recovery partition, to avoid any bad surprises i have first tested this in virtualBox where i booted winpe and i followed instructions to apply the image to a partition and then i activated the boot by using bcdboot command like described here by Microsoft.
This solution worked for me but i just can boot my Vista in safe mode or by disabling improper drivers from loading but after this i noticed that windows Vista can't be validated and it ask me to enter a new valid key.

Now you know i did all this by using the WIM image (size=7Go) in VirtualBox and i don't feel that i can proceed to format my computer with few knoledges about installing Factory images.
I can't use my vista key located in the sticker because it's damaged and i can't read it all.
thank you for help !
 

My Computer

System One

pixok said:
Hello
I have an HP Notebook laptop with Windows Vista recovery partition, i still have this partition but it can't boot when i press the F11 button, i think because i installed Ubunto .

I have tested lot of things, i tried to imagex the image HPFactory.wim located in a folder in the recovery partition, to avoid any bad surprises i have first tested this in virtualBox where i booted winpe and i followed instructions to apply the image to a partition and then i activated the boot by using bcdboot command like described here by Microsoft.
This solution worked for me but i just can boot my Vista in safe mode or by disabling improper drivers from loading but after this i noticed that windows Vista can't be validated and it ask me to enter a new valid key.

Now you know i did all this by using the WIM image (size=7Go) in VirtualBox and i don't feel that i can proceed to format my computer with few knoledges about installing Factory images.
I can't use my vista key located in the sticker because it's damaged and i can't read it all.
thank you for help !
Click to expand...
The reason why you are having trouble is because the system image is made only for the computer that it came on. It won't work properly in Virtualbox or on any other pc. It will auto-validate if it is installed on your pc, not in Virtualbox.
 

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    HP Pavilion P7-1010
    CPU
    AMD Athlon X4 645 @3.1ghz
    Memory
    6GB DDR3 1066mhz
    Graphics card(s)
    Sapphire Radeon HD 5670
    Sound Card
    Realtek HD Audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    HP 2011x
    Screen Resolution
    1600x900
    Hard Drives
    1. 128gb Crucial M4 SSD 2. 1tb Seagate Barracuda 7200rpm 3. 1tb Western Digital Caviar Green 5400rpm
    PSU
    380W Seasonic S12 Bronze
    Case
    HP OEM
    Cooling
    Coolermaster Fan
    Mouse
    HP OEM
    Keyboard
    HP OEM
    Internet Speed
    4 megabits up, 20 megabits down
windude99 said:
The reason why you are having trouble is because the system image is made only for the computer that it came on. It won't work properly in Virtualbox or on any other pc. It will auto-validate if it is installed on your pc, not in Virtualbox.
Click to expand...
Thank you windude !
I think what you said is true but i don't know if i proceed like i described will give me enough chances to auto-validate Vista ? because i just used one file in the recovery partition to restore the image however there is lot of files i didn't use that are stored in recovery partition that i think are importants (boot.sdi ; bootfix.bin ; bcd ; hpfactory.mbr and other files).
 

My Computer

System One

Welcome
Windude is correct, but there may be another way to save space and yet have a back up in the event of a problem
Whenever you have too many system restore points utilizing valuable space, delete all but the most current. If you have a problem and that one point is not sufficient. Use the back up that you have made with Macrium Relfect and made on your external hard drive
Macrium Reflect FREE Edition - Information and download
An alternative solution is just reduce the amount of HD space used by the System Restore points.
http://www.vistax64.com/tutorials/76227-system-restore-disk-space.html
A current image of your hard drive is always good policy. It saved my neck once, too.
 

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    Dell XPS420
    Memory
    6 gig
    Graphics card(s)
    ATI Radeon HD3650 256 MB
    Sound Card
    Intergrated 7.1 Channel Audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Dell SP2009W 20 inch Flat Panel w Webcam
    Hard Drives
    640 gb
    Cooling
    Fan
    Mouse
    Dell USB 4 button optical
    Keyboard
    Dell USB
    Other Info
    DSL provided by ATT
richc46 said:
...Use the back up that you have made with Macrium Relfect and made on your external hard drive
Macrium Reflect FREE Edition - Information and download
....
A current image of your hard drive is always good policy. It saved my neck once, too.
Click to expand...
Hi richc
I have not created already any image of my partitions, so i think i can't sort it out doing this, what i need is to deploy the wim image to the c: partition and give it the files needed from recovery partition to auto-validate win vista.
 

My Computer

System One

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