This user guide provides instructions on how to deploy and configure both a StoneFly Scale Out NAS Enterprise Cloud Drive virtual machine and Veeam Cloud Connect in the Microsoft Azure Cloud.
COURSE of the MONTH
10 days, 23 hours left to enrollBecome a Premium Member and unlock a new, free course in leading technologies each month.
Solved
Windows 8 reinstallation using files from recovery partition (damaged disk)
Posted on 2014-01-04
Hi,
I have a Dell Inspiron 3521 with Windows 8. It has no COA label/activation code on the underside (presumably it's license is tied to the BIOS). The disk is damaged, unbootable and no recover disks were ever made. However, I was able to get the full contents of the 4th and 6th partitions which seem to house the recovery setup. I've also gotten most of the data from the windows partition.
Partition 6 has two small .wim files and 4 .swm files which are 3-4Gb in size. I've attached a screen dump to show the partition's files and directories.
Some points to note:
I can't get a recovery DVD from Dell or any other source
I don't have any other Windows 8 media to work with
My question is, is there any way I can restore this PC to a new disk using what I've saved from the recovery partitions? I've attached screenshots showing the files/folders of partitions 4 and 6 with the WIM and SWM files highlighted.
Thanks in advance!
partition-4.gif
partition-6.gif
I have a Dell Inspiron 3521 with Windows 8. It has no COA label/activation code on the underside (presumably it's license is tied to the BIOS). The disk is damaged, unbootable and no recover disks were ever made. However, I was able to get the full contents of the 4th and 6th partitions which seem to house the recovery setup. I've also gotten most of the data from the windows partition.
Partition 6 has two small .wim files and 4 .swm files which are 3-4Gb in size. I've attached a screen dump to show the partition's files and directories.
Some points to note:
I can't get a recovery DVD from Dell or any other source
I don't have any other Windows 8 media to work with
My question is, is there any way I can restore this PC to a new disk using what I've saved from the recovery partitions? I've attached screenshots showing the files/folders of partitions 4 and 6 with the WIM and SWM files highlighted.
Thanks in advance!
partition-4.gif
partition-6.gif
[X]
Welcome to Experts Exchange
Add your voice to the tech community where 5M+ people just like you are talking about what matters.
- Help others & share knowledge
- Earn cash & points
- Learn & ask questions
4 Comments
Hi Mark,
I have not run into this situation before, but when I looked up .WIM files (windows image), I found MS does indeed have software to "deploy" these files:
http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/jj979425(v=winembedded.81).aspx
this part in particular seemed like it would be useul to your situation:
http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/jj979690(v=winembedded.81).aspx
Looks like you need to know which of those two WIM files you have are neede to deploy.
It also appears that those SWM files in the dll folder can be opened with 7zip
http://h30434.www3.hp.com/t5/Notebook-Recovery/How-do-I-restore-backup1-swm-files-created-during-system/td-p/1414171
Sounds like a pretty hairy situation with no recovery disks, Good luck. (By the way, wont dell let you download the recovery disks?)
I have not run into this situation before, but when I looked up .WIM files (windows image), I found MS does indeed have software to "deploy" these files:
http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/jj979425(v=winembedded.81).aspx
this part in particular seemed like it would be useul to your situation:
http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/jj979690(v=winembedded.81).aspx
Looks like you need to know which of those two WIM files you have are neede to deploy.
It also appears that those SWM files in the dll folder can be opened with 7zip
http://h30434.www3.hp.com/t5/Notebook-Recovery/How-do-I-restore-backup1-swm-files-created-during-system/td-p/1414171
Sounds like a pretty hairy situation with no recovery disks, Good luck. (By the way, wont dell let you download the recovery disks?)
Active today
If the Inspiron is still under warranty and you're in the US you can order re-installation media by using your Service Tag here:
https://www.dell.com/support/diagnostics/us/en/19/nondiagnostichome?c=us&l=en&s=dhs
Your CoA sticker should be in the battery compartment or it will be a BIOS embedded product key. Either way you need a Win8 boot environment to launch the recovery from which without a bootable environment or an OS DVD you simply don't have.
Why aren't Dell helping?
https://www.dell.com/support/diagnostics/us/en/19/nondiagnostichome?c=us&l=en&s=dhs
Your CoA sticker should be in the battery compartment or it will be a BIOS embedded product key. Either way you need a Win8 boot environment to launch the recovery from which without a bootable environment or an OS DVD you simply don't have.
Why aren't Dell helping?
Featured Post
Question has a verified solution.
If you are experiencing a similar issue, please ask a related question
I use more than 1 computer in my office for various reasons. Multiple keyboards and mice take up more than just extra space, they make working a little more complicated. Using one mouse and keyboard for all of my computers makes life easier. This co…
As cyber crime continues to grow in both numbers and sophistication, a troubling trend of optimization has emerged over the last year.
This video Micro Tutorial explains how to clone a hard drive using a commercial software product for Windows systems called Casper from Future Systems Solutions (FSS). Cloning makes an exact, complete copy of one hard disk drive (HDD) onto another d…
- Microsoft Legacy OS
- Storage
- Storage Software
- Windows OS
- Storage Hardware
- Windows 10, Windows Vista, Windows 8, Windows 7, *Disk Cloning
Finding and deleting duplicate (picture) files can be a time consuming task. My wife and I, our three kids and their families all share one dilemma: Managing our pictures. Between desktops, laptops, phones, tablets, and cameras; over the last decade…
Suggested Courses
Course of the Month10 days, 23 hours left to enroll
770 members asked questions and received personalized solutions in the past 7 days.
Join the community of 500,000 technology professionals and ask your questions.