Snack

All routine in MBR has only purpose - set keys to pointing on partition bootloader - which wake up bootmgr with options read from local BCD (three different ones - for C:, for D: and for DVD) I got wiped BCD along with MBR for many times on C: and in every cause, using Vista Restore CD and WUAfix (modified), make restored normal boot process with all those keys and menues working well. As I see you are stoped on BCD from D:. If objects in BCD is incorrect you will not be able to boot looking errors (MS only knows) even Blue Screen. 1. Look for sure if present signature RECOVERY in bootsector D: 2. Edit WUAfix script (find and replace "windows" with "program files") 3. I there in SMINST folder somewhat like mbr.dll or mbrinst.exe? 4. If mbrinst.exe present instead of mbr.dll (my PC) then edit WUAfix the same way as in p.2

1. Do you have this file in D:\boot directory? If not > copy and paste this script to elevated command prompt 2. Check disk D: for errors 3. Do you have C:\windows\SMINST directory with mbr.dll there? (Where Softhink keep files) 4. Is there HPRM-BCDFix.cmd C:\HP\recovery\bin? If not > upload it from post #140 along with WAUfix.bat

Tripredacus Take a look on sector 8 in MBR from HP at offset 0x1000 is there a SOFTHINK label with all PC configuration?

Found one more solution (not completed yet) I think at this point left only users with completely destroyed HP recovery system So you can (must) clear all traces that was made by various (illegal from HP devlopers point of view) software to PC. Function key F11 from boot menu. to restore it working First step: download and burn Vista repair CD Boot from this media and do Startup Repair --> and you get clear BCD file along with restored to standart MBR 0 sector. Check if bootsector D: have a RECOVERY marker (Post #115) Further steps: To be able to boot into recovery WinRE with F11 try this workaround: Unzip this command set to C\HP\RECOVERY\BIN Cmd.rarCopy to this folder file cmd.exe from c:\windows\system32 (to simplify execution) note: Scripts need some redactions to be pointed to SMINST directory (replace location) and MBRins file (may be renamed) see post #149 * run WAUfix_new.bat from the set --> it will repair F11 & F8 function in MBR and fix system BCD * run cmd.exe * copy and paste to cmd window this script (to be sure the file boot.sdi is present on D:\boot) Reboot and press F11 --> you should see Softhink restore menu. If not Caution: this BCD from my Pavilion Recovery partition!!! Restore it from bak if this tip doesn't working!!! Unzip to the same folder: Working_D.rar * copy and paste to cmd window this script Following this at last I felt into SoftThinks Recovery menu. Solution: Now I succesfully restored my HP from discs created in posts #115 #125

One more thing to do Copy boot\boot.sdi from the Windows Vista installation DVD (C:\WINDOWS\Boot\DVD\PCAT) to d:\boot directory (By default this folder is hidden in Windows Explorer)

Hi ahmad2080! All you have to do is just copy this file to USB drive and post it. To put it in place need to reboot from disc with WinPE environment, renaming existent one to bcd.old. Because this file is a part of Registry and couln't be modified instead of regedit or special soft posted above. note: Those programs can't open a standalone file. Only make backup and some cosmetic changes that not siutable for "chosen" HP users. I'm not sure but if you rename a BCD file to xxx.bcd and then try to restore backup with VistabootPRO from this one would it be a solution?? edit: It seems like EasyBCD has this ability only for viewing and editing but not for import as current. Another way is open regedit from cmd and export/import NKLM\BCD section into a .reg file to/from USB drive. Warning: Editing BCD is a dangerous game - don't use utilities unles you have to.

This topic win a popularity award also!! Ahmad2080 I found two of them freeware: VistaBootPRO 3.3 and EasyBCD 1.7.2 and bulletin from Microsoft From Acronis.com can be dowloaded Acronis Disc Director v2.161 that is for Vista (previous versions does not!!) to resize partitions and retreview contents even of HP recovery hidden section directly from Windows. Solution: Safe way to resize and create partitions on HP PC's is using Vista disc managenent. Acronis and many others when resizing change bootsectors and replace it with a standart (warning for D: - you can lose a RECOVERY stamp and see in this case "...not found" message while trying to start recovery or CD creator)

All of those errors are from Windows Boot Manager that uses BCD (startup OS Cofigurations Base instead of boot.ini) and not an MBR messages. So the problem is incorrect booting into WinRE image (witch is placed on Recovery D:) using this messed configurations files/registry entries. That's why I would like try import a working branche of registry HKLM\BCD or C:\boot\bcd itself. I think that is hardware independent and can be copyed from any working HP computer running Vista. In fact Jaclaz is right - there are many of undewater stones and some trics from HP in MBR. But on the other hand F11 routine from MBR working and stops in this BCD brushwood.

From HP site: Preparing the hard drive for recovery using the recovery discs (Manufacturer Menu) NOTE: Please be aware that using your system's recovery discs may take two hours, and that using discs ordered directly from HP may take four to six hours and include several restarts. 1. Insert recovery disc 1 into the notebook and restart. 2. When the PC restarts, it reads from the Recovery CD/DVD, and displays a screen of options (typically R, F, and Q.) 3. Press and hold the ctrl key, and press the Backspace key. The Manufacturer Menu is displayed. 4. Select option 4, "Clear the partition table." The following message appears: No Operating System Installed or Partition Corrupted Press "R" to perform a full system recovery. 5. Do not press R. Instead, press and hold down ctrl , then press Backspace to bring up the Tools Menu. 6. Select option 5, "Erase the Master Boot Record of drive." The following message appears: No Operating System Installed or Partition Corrupted press "R" to perform a full system recovery. NOTE: If there are no partitions, the following message appears: No MBR or master boot record found. Continue using these steps . 7. Do not press R. Instead press and hold down ctrl , then press Backspace to bring up the Tools Menu. 8. Select option 6, "wipe all sectors of drive." An Erasing Hard Drive progress bar will appear. This process may take longer than one hour to complete, depending on the size of the hard drive. When the hard drive is completely erased, the following message is displayed: No Operating System Installed or Partition Corrupted Press "R" to perform a full system recovery. 9. Press R to begin the automatic System Recovery process. _____________ I have no "...screen of options (typically R, F, and Q.)..." while booting from DVD. Simple press the key combination above on black screen with cursor blinking on top left corner.

Congratulations Ahmad2080! You just won a junior award from MSFN! To wake up your Vista try to run a "Windows Vista Recovery Disc" (about 120Mb) it contain a starting part of vista instalation disk with Starup Repair option. http://www.neosmart.net/blog/2008/windows-...-disc-download/ Warning: For lucky owners of HP PC's If you are not in face with booting problem - use F11 or F8 option to repair your instalation. Not even try to use above mentioned disc "Startup Repair" in that 100% legal utility from Microsoft to make some repair on HP computers because of those "advanced" HP software developers that don't take into account existence of any other soft (MS !!?) exept of theirs. You will lose the recovery F11 & F8 ability!!! I went no further than I was a week ago. However my experience grow up anyway. Even with the disks created succesfully along with a "unbelievable" help from HP I am not able to perform factory restore. It have to be healthy before creating restore disk!!! So the disks I made got wrong (they say). What than is the purpose of restore partition? Get profits and save money on plastic disk? * When I try to boot in D: (from advises I found across the web ) with a damaged BCD it hung or reboot. * While booting from those DVD's by pressing ctrl + Backspace keys it displays a screen of unusefull options: and goes boot Vista normally after any key was pressed Solution: The problem is missing boot.sdi file from directory SMINST\BOOTDISK\BOOT\ (in this directory must be two files: boot.sdi and a bcd). Files used by CD creator program to make a bootable image on DVD. Thats why the system should be healthy . B) wise guys... B)

Playing games I have no enought knowledge but let's try more efforts to resolve issue, thinking the problem is worldwide... Applying WAUfix.bat from C:\hp\recovery\bin folder finally I can see F11 WBM window with three line menu. But the first one is "ramdisk option" instead of Recovery Manager. Do nothing of coarse. Little left to do... I suspect this menu item points to a Vista BCD file. Any idea? Ahmad8020 more things to be missing: * the MBR and bootsector __C:__ from your friend 16 sectors. * C:\boot\bcd And by the way have you pass through Complete Factory Restore? That should return your computer to be boot with F11 enabled and running without problem. Or I missed somewhat in discussions

To resolve F11 need those 16 clasters from your friend and some experiments with SoftThinks software, that was implemented in an unusual mode by HP. I take a look on mine 16s and saw mass of zero's instead of info. As I posted above I found a hidden HP folder with a patch.cmd file in it. After some modifications to make it point to MBRinst (MBR.exe) in folder C:\windows\SMINST and run it I get error in a log file: "Sorry, could not add Auto Failover to Vista's BCD" After all F11 working .... with reboot as a result. Normal booting remain unaffected.

I found were the problem with "recovery partition could not be located" is buried by HP. Analysing boot sector drive D: from Ahmad2080 friend in compare with mine ---> there must be a word RECOVERY at offcet 1F0. Adding this code with HEX editor and saving it to disk using HDhack (no need rebooting) I start Recovery Disk Creator and voila - I have a set of recovery disks. tips: * Since SoftThinks uses Roxio open it and change speed defaults to x1. May be helpfull with older DVD-RW. * Disable any virtual CD/DVD * Check presence of boot.sdi in folder SMINST\bootdisk\boot\ - if not there is a copy in c:\windows\boot\ * To repeat burning run the code from command prompt or make .cmd file del /a:h d:\hpcd.sys c:\windows\sminst\hpcd.sys * Or while looking at writing disk progress bar open c:\temp folder and copy .iso file to safe location * HDhack from post #88 or #57 HEX editor HxD

Sure - mbldr (Post #106) MBR from HP is for testing purposes only One more thing - pressing F1 while F11 progress bar switch me to "chose operating system" WBM window with only choices Starting Vista and Memory Diagnostic. Without Recovery item

Hi Make it twice, for sure but nothing happened * F11 make a black screen for a while and then boot normally * Disk creator sing the same song "Recovery partition could not be located" * F8 show standart Vista Boot Manager, and when I choose "System Reparation" goes to error 0xc000000F The boot selection failed because a required devices is inaccessible (see post #115) pressing ESC resume normal booting note: Booting with PE disk all content of recovery disk D: can be viewed and accessible. ------------- next attempt I tried to increase User Timer to 5 second and was able to see text message Press F11.. with dot progress bar working. Pressing different keys do nothing exсept resume to normal booting.

Hi Jaclaz! Would be grateful to take a part That is my way to point: My Vista was damaged from unrecover disaster. It get lazy with many errors and updates stoped. No viruses found. Gaming with restore points do somesing but not a decision. Read a tones of forums with no movement. HP discontinued my Pavilion and when I ask them get a link to third patry market to find out Recovery Disk suit. Now what I see in replay on your question * by pressing F11 I get normal start with a little delay in absolutely black screen till welcome * yeap I try to recover this issue by starting a Vista installation disk with option "recover startup" cose I thougth MS is wize enought to recover their native product now I now the guys who achived more sofisticated results * after got "help" from Microsoft I found (reading this topic) a hidden HP directory with RECOVERY and PATCH folders. Applying those *.cmd leed me to above MBR and do nothing of course. * Then I renamed a mbr.dll into mbr.exe and it show me a screen with some options, but trying to apply them I got message -- WARNING: Recovery partition could not be located

Sure, thanks for the link Jaclaz!! Let me a little to discover this utility and I'll post the results Hm... This topic lost unfinished. and redirected: http://www.msfn.org/board/index.php?showtopic=130645&hl= Moreover Tripredacus now keep with PE to boot onto D: to start recovery instead of reparation So the making disk problem still goes on. But if I try (on my own risk) somewhat like Partition Doctor for reparation? Or simply HDhack it from similar disk. There is no special HP code in second part so it must be the same like many others. I have no much experience so far. May it be helpfull?

CD Creator show me the same note: "recovery partition could not be located"

Hi! All trick that I can't do recovery disk The bad one!!! BootSector_DriveD.rar For resolving see post #115

This is mine Vista Home Premium OEM HP Pavilion The bad one!!! MBR_HardDisk0.rar

Greetings Ahmad! Sleel nerves. I am tired from mentioned service and "patches" trying resolve the similar problem Think may be helpfull attach those ridiculos MBRs from HP to this forum. Comparing take to find this "special" code. No choice find solution in a usual way Recovery can't be created...