Desperate, need help in Eight Forums, please!

[SIW2]

Is it fixed? Or have you given up

Tried System Restore with message to select Windows installation which didn't come up

If there isnt an image backup

You could capture a shadow copy ( if there is one) into a .wim file
for example

Dism /Capture-Image /ImageFile:"O:\whatever.wim" /CaptureDir:\\?\GLOBALROOT\Device\HarddiskVolumeShadowCopy1\ /Name:anyname

the backslash is essential It is in red above so you dont miss it

then format the windows partition and apply the wim

I have done it several times

Many ways to identify the windows partition - a simple way is type notepad at winre/winpe cmd prompt
click notepad when it opens up
select file>save
then use the save dialog to browse around so you can see which partition has the usual folders
program files
program files(x86)
programdata
users
windows

 

[pewa]

Still got the same BSOD, dang!

I have Windows 8.1 Pro on my Asus ROG.
Maybe doing a fresh install will take care of the problem. I have the MCT for 8.1(UK), 8.1(US) 8.1 Pro(US). Before all that, back up all your drivers.
After you are all done installing the software that you need, make an image backup to your external disk. That is the best BSOD killer.

 

[tecknot]

Is it fixed? Or have you given up


If there isnt an image backup

You could capture a shadow copy ( if there is one) into a .wim file
for example

Dism /Capture-Image /ImageFile:"O:\whatever.wim" /CaptureDir:\\?\GLOBALROOT\Device\HarddiskVolumeShadowCopy1\ /Name:anyname

then format the windows partition and apply the wim

I have done it several times

Many ways to identify the windows partition - a simple way is type notepad at winre/winpe cmd prompt
click notepad when it opens up
select file>save
then use the save dialog to browse around so you can see which partition has the usual folders
program files
program files(x86)
programdata
users
windows

Hi S1W2,

I guess you can say I have given up and have resulted to do a clean install, but maybe this time I'll do Windows 10 (this laptop is not compatible with Windows 11).

Yeah, doing a .wim capture and apply might work out. I will give that I shot before I do a clean install. Thanks for the suggestion.

Kind regards,

tecknot

 

[tecknot]

I have Windows 8.1 Pro on my Asus ROG.
Maybe doing a fresh install will take care of the problem. I have the MCT for 8.1(UK), 8.1(US) 8.1 Pro(US). Before all that, back up all your drivers.
After you are all done installing the software that you need, make an image backup to your external disk. That is the best BSOD killer.

Thanks, pewa.

Yeah, that's the way I will do it. Gonna need an external disk for the backup though.

Kind regards,

tecknot

 

[SIW2]

If you havent got shadowcopyview in your boot media you can try from cmd prompt



In this example I have already determined the windows partition letter is E as seen from booted media.

type:

e:\windows\system32\vssadmin.exe list shadows




press enter




if there are several shadows pick the one you think is most suitable

 

[tecknot]

If you havent got shadowcopyview in your boot media you can try from cmd prompt

View attachment 159612

In this example I have already determined the windows is E as seen from booted media.

type:

e:\windows\system32\vssadmin.exe list shadows


View attachment 159613

press enter


View attachment 159614

Hi SIW2,

Wow, this is new to me. I will try this too.

Kind regards,

tecknot

 

[SIW2]

It relies on your installed windows vssadmin still being functional. It is unlikely to be borked, but you never know.

Otherwise you can just guess

try \\?\GLOBALROOT\Device\HarddiskVolumeShadowCopy1\

if dism says it doesnt exist then try \\?\GLOBALROOT\Device\HarddiskVolumeShadowCopy2\

etc

 

[tecknot]

It relies on your installed windows vssadmin still being functional. It is unlikely to be borked, but you never know.

Otherwise you can just guess

try \\?\GLOBALROOT\Device\HarddiskVolumeShadowCopy1\

if dism says it doesnt exist then try \\?\GLOBALROOT\Device\HarddiskVolumeShadowCopy2\

etc

It appears to have a shadow copy, so it looks promising. I am looking into using Shadow Copies now.

Kind regards,

tecknot

 

[SIW2]

copy the id as highlighted in my screenshot then paste it into the dism cmd. Dont forget to add the backslash

you will need somewhere with enough space to save the .wim It is typically about 1/3rd or less the size of the used space on the source

if you want the save it as D:\backup.wim

Dism /Capture-Image /ImageFile:"D:\backup.wim" /CaptureDir:\\?\GLOBALROOT\Device\HarddiskVolumeShadowCopy1\ /Name:anyname

I have done it a few times.

 

[tecknot]

copy the id as highlighted in my screenshot the paste it into the dism cmd

if you want the save it as D:\backup.wim

Dism /Capture-Image /ImageFile:"D:\backup.wim" /CaptureDir:\\?\GLOBALROOT\Device\HarddiskVolumeShadowCopy1\ /Name:anyname

Ah, I see. Thanks!

Kind regards,

tecknot

 

[SIW2]

The wim is file based so to restore from it

EITHER

1. format the windows partition you are going to restore it to

OR

2. Move the windows namespace folders into some new folder called whatever you want e.g. oldstuff before applying the wim. The partition needs to have enough space to do that.

 

[tecknot]

The wim is file based so to restore from it

EITHER

1. format the windows partition you are going to restore it to

OR

2. Move the windows namespace folders into some new folder called whatever you want e.g. oldstuff before applying the wim. The partition needs to have enough space to do that.

Gotcha.

Kind regards,

tecknot

 

[FreeBooter]

You are very welcome!

 

[Thorenzz]

Try to see if this works.



Windows 10 Installation Media:

1. Insert the Media (DVD/USB) in your PC and restart.
2. Boot from the media.
3. Select Repair Your Computer.

Select Troubleshoot.

1. Choose Command Prompt from the menu:

Type in the command:

Diskpart

Type in the command:

List disk (Note which disk is your Boot drive number mine is 0)

Type in the command:

Sel disk 0

Type in the command:

List vol (Note which volume is the EFI partition mine is 4)

Type in the command:

Sel vol 4

Type in the command:

assign letter=V:

Type in the command:

Exit

Type in the command:

V:

After you have assigned a drive letter Using Diskpart You can format the EFI partition:

Example: if you assigned a letter V to the partition the command would be:
Ater that run command:

bcdboot C:\windows /s V: /f UEFI

And restart. Not sure if it it will work on win. 8.1 but if its up to date i think it should work.

 

[tecknot]

Try to see if this works.



Windows 10 Installation Media:

1. Insert the Media (DVD/USB) in your PC and restart.
2. Boot from the media.
3. Select Repair Your Computer.

Select Troubleshoot.

1. Choose Command Prompt from the menu:

Type in the command:

Diskpart

Type in the command:

List disk (Note which disk is your Boot drive number mine is 0)

Type in the command:

Sel disk 0

Type in the command:

List vol (Note which volume is the EFI partition mine is 4)

Type in the command:

Sel vol 4

Type in the command:

assign letter=V:

Type in the command:

Exit

Type in the command:

V:

After you have assigned a drive letter Using Diskpart You can format the EFI partition:

Example: if you assigned a letter V to the partition the command would be:
Ater that run command:

bcdboot C:\windows /s V: /f UEFI

And restart. Not sure if it it will work on win. 8.1 but if its up to date i think it should work.

Thanks, Thorenzz, I have tried this a few times but still got the BSOD.

Kind regards,

tecknot

 

[XxXxX]

have you considered trying a live Linux distro bootable from a USB stick
this will give you full access to the Windows EFI partition via the Linux file manager

note >> the live Linux distro operates from USB and does not install anything to your computer

you can then see what files are in the EFI/boot FAT32 partition
you can also copy and paste a new boot file to the EFI/boot FAT32 partition from another system

its worth looking at as everything else seems to have failed
best of luck Steve ..

 

[tecknot]

have you considered trying a live Linux distro bootable from a USB stick
this will give you full access to the Windows EFI partition via the Linux file manager

note >> the live Linux distro operates from USB and does not install anything to your computer

you can then see what files are in the EFI/boot FAT32 partition
you can also copy and paste a new boot file to the EFI/boot FAT32 partition from another system

its worth looking at as everything else seems to have failed
best of luck Steve ..

Thanks for the suggestions, Steve. I am unfamiliar with Linux and just as much with the EFI partition/files. I wouldn't know what to look for; however, I have not considered pasting in another EFI partition into my system. Sounds like it could work.

I don't have access to the laptop at this time, but I will try it in due course.

Kind regards,

tecknot

 

[XxXxX]

Thanks for the suggestions, Steve. I am unfamiliar with Linux and just as much with the EFI partition/files. I wouldn't know what to look for; however, I have not considered pasting in another EFI partition into my system. Sounds like it could work.

I don't have access to the laptop at this time, but I will try it in due course.

Kind regards,

tecknot

using the Linux file manager in a live linux distro is nearly the same as the Windows file manager
copy from one drive/partition/folder to another drive/partition/folder
its just done in a live Linux environment while having full access to the whole system
up to and including the EFI/boot partition.

the Linux live session will see/read/write any USB stick that you plugin to the system
while the live session is up and running so you can copy and paste any of the required files
in the EFI/boot partition there is only one folder which you can then copy over.

as your system already has an EFI/boot partition and the drive is already set to GPT
i beleive a Windows 10 EFI/boot file/folder copied from a Windows 10 system
then pasted into the EFI/boot partition of the Windows 8 system should work.

unless you can get a copy of a Windows 8 EFI/boot file which seems unlikely.

i have done this with a Windows 11 24H2 EFI/boot file/folder copied to another Windows 11 24H2 EFI/boot partition
IE. mine. when i managed to FUBAR my own EFI/boot partition and it worked.

best of luck Steve ..

 

[tecknot]

Hi Steve (@XxXxX),

That sounds doable. I wouldn't have thought of using a Windows 10 EFI partition. I was thinking of doing a clean install of 8.1 on another disk drive. That would call for another disk, of course. However, per your suggestion, I guess I can get a copy of an EFI off of another PC with Windows 10 which I do have.

I am excited.

Kind regards,

tecknot