Solved MSI F3 Recovery Failed Error 0xc000000f

windrider

New Member
Messages
18
Location
Alberta
Recently I could not get my MSI laptop GS70 20D 295US to Boot to Windows after a failed Driver installation

Tried F3 for Recovey and got the error 0xc000000f Windows/System32/winload.efi missing or damaged

I then created the Windows 8.1 recovery USB and could boot and install Windows 8.1 with it. Then I just downloaded all my MSI drivers and reinstalled so all is working fine again

I previously never made a backup, my bad as I usually do all that on all my pc/notebooks etc.

MSI tech had asked me the same and I explained and sent pictures below. I am since ordering one, even though the method I used worked.

What I am wondering is why does it show Healthy Partitions and with Partition Guru it shows files. I just don't want to pay full price for that software when I am ordering the disk anyway.
Recovery in Windows 8.1 is greyed out so clearly it doesn't detect the Recovery Image.

Is there someway to restore the images and recreate or should I just delete all those partitions and regain space.

I basically understand hard drives, types, partitions etc, but not advanced enough to do it with out screwing it up.

Thanks

UPDATE: I also ran Macrium Reflect and did an "Analyze File System" on all the partitions
Can I use this to Create an Image of the backup from the Partitions.
 

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Last edited:

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1
    Computer type
    Laptop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    MSI GS70 20D-295US
    CPU
    i7 4700HQ
    Motherboard
    MSI
    Memory
    16GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 765M GDDR5 2GB VRAM
    Sound Card
    Realtek with Soundblaster Cinema
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Matrix
    Screen Resolution
    1920 x 1080
    Hard Drives
    Super RAID with 2 SSD RAID0
    1TB WD
    Cooling
    Duel Fan Thermal Cooling
    Keyboard
    steelseries
    Mouse
    RAZER OUROBOROS
    Antivirus
    NIS 2015
You have two possible recovery partition choices - and that is the last partition on both disks..

You need to assign the last partition(s) a drive letter and then find install.wim or install.swm(s) those are your recovery images,,

The two partitions with WindowsRE - winre.wim are the recovery tools partitions.. you now have a second one due to the reinstall.. Macruim Disk 1, partition 5

It appears your primary disk is setup as a raid disk - to what other disk in the array??

If I had to guess the 1TB drive was the factory original disk?

The 265GB disk was added?? SSD?? Last Partition contents??

You really need to find out what files are on the last partition of both disks..
 
Last edited:

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 3.1 > Windows 10
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Dell XPS 8700
    CPU
    I7
    Memory
    24 GB
Hello

This MSI laptop has two 128GB msata SSD set up as RAID0 Stripe to give the 256GB and also came with the 1TB hdd as well.

All factory Original disks

I changed the last partition to a Drive Letter , and changed options to show hidden. Its empty . No files
Funny disk management shows only 32% Free , while the other partitions show 100% , yet Macrium shows files on the partitions.

And the last partition on Disk 1 won't let me change it to a drive letter.

So I am guessing somehow the images were deleted for whatever reasson. So I am probably safe to remove the partitions seeing I have ordered a Recovery disk.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1
    Computer type
    Laptop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    MSI GS70 20D-295US
    CPU
    i7 4700HQ
    Motherboard
    MSI
    Memory
    16GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 765M GDDR5 2GB VRAM
    Sound Card
    Realtek with Soundblaster Cinema
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Matrix
    Screen Resolution
    1920 x 1080
    Hard Drives
    Super RAID with 2 SSD RAID0
    1TB WD
    Cooling
    Duel Fan Thermal Cooling
    Keyboard
    steelseries
    Mouse
    RAZER OUROBOROS
    Antivirus
    NIS 2015
Finally used Acronis to see the disk partitions and I have the following files. Could I possible rebuild the Install.wim with WinToolkit

Drive F is my Partition 5 and Drive H is from my Data D: hard drive 2nd Partition.

If not, then I will most likely get rid of what partitions I don't need.

Thanks
 

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My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1
    Computer type
    Laptop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    MSI GS70 20D-295US
    CPU
    i7 4700HQ
    Motherboard
    MSI
    Memory
    16GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 765M GDDR5 2GB VRAM
    Sound Card
    Realtek with Soundblaster Cinema
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Matrix
    Screen Resolution
    1920 x 1080
    Hard Drives
    Super RAID with 2 SSD RAID0
    1TB WD
    Cooling
    Duel Fan Thermal Cooling
    Keyboard
    steelseries
    Mouse
    RAZER OUROBOROS
    Antivirus
    NIS 2015
Open that resetconfig.xml in notepad and then "Save As" a .txt file and attach it.. Or post a copy of txt, either way..
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 3.1 > Windows 10
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Dell XPS 8700
    CPU
    I7
    Memory
    24 GB
Hi

Here it is.

Thanks
 

Attachments

  • ResetConfig.txt
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My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1
    Computer type
    Laptop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    MSI GS70 20D-295US
    CPU
    i7 4700HQ
    Motherboard
    MSI
    Memory
    16GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 765M GDDR5 2GB VRAM
    Sound Card
    Realtek with Soundblaster Cinema
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Matrix
    Screen Resolution
    1920 x 1080
    Hard Drives
    Super RAID with 2 SSD RAID0
    1TB WD
    Cooling
    Duel Fan Thermal Cooling
    Keyboard
    steelseries
    Mouse
    RAZER OUROBOROS
    Antivirus
    NIS 2015
rename > phaseb.cmd to > phaseb.cmd.txt

and open in notepad
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 3.1 > Windows 10
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Dell XPS 8700
    CPU
    I7
    Memory
    24 GB
Hi . phaseb.cmd as below

Code:
@ECHO OFF FOR %%R in (A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z) do ( 
IF EXIST %%R:\Windows\System32\oobe\oem\PBR.CMD ( 
MD %%R:\Windows\System32\oobe\oem\phaseB.log 
DEL /F /Q %%R:\Windows\System32\oobe\oem\PBR.CMD 
GOTO ENDA 
) 
) 
:ENDA
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1
    Computer type
    Laptop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    MSI GS70 20D-295US
    CPU
    i7 4700HQ
    Motherboard
    MSI
    Memory
    16GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 765M GDDR5 2GB VRAM
    Sound Card
    Realtek with Soundblaster Cinema
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Matrix
    Screen Resolution
    1920 x 1080
    Hard Drives
    Super RAID with 2 SSD RAID0
    1TB WD
    Cooling
    Duel Fan Thermal Cooling
    Keyboard
    steelseries
    Mouse
    RAZER OUROBOROS
    Antivirus
    NIS 2015
now i'm looking for this file

\Windows\System32\oobe\oem\PBR.CMD

darn OEM recovery...

Which I now assume is your PBR (Push Button Recovery)
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 3.1 > Windows 10
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Dell XPS 8700
    CPU
    I7
    Memory
    24 GB
Probably right lol. , I press F3 for recovery. But now we are at a standstill because I deleted Windows.old already

Now unless when my new recovery disk comes this file would be on it. I was hoping to have both. Fix the recovery on hard drive, plus have the disc for backup. I should get the disk next week and could look

I will try to see if I can recover those files.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1
    Computer type
    Laptop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    MSI GS70 20D-295US
    CPU
    i7 4700HQ
    Motherboard
    MSI
    Memory
    16GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 765M GDDR5 2GB VRAM
    Sound Card
    Realtek with Soundblaster Cinema
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Matrix
    Screen Resolution
    1920 x 1080
    Hard Drives
    Super RAID with 2 SSD RAID0
    1TB WD
    Cooling
    Duel Fan Thermal Cooling
    Keyboard
    steelseries
    Mouse
    RAZER OUROBOROS
    Antivirus
    NIS 2015
Dang again - I just realized the info was the in front of me the whole time...

Open a command prompt(admin) and type >

Reagentc /Setosimage /Path H:\RecoveryImage /Target C:\Windows /Index 1

then go to control panel > recovery > create a recovery drive

What I am wondering is why does it show Healthy Partitions and with Partition Guru it shows files. I just don't want to pay full price for that software when I am ordering the disk anyway.
Recovery in Windows 8.1 is greyed out so clearly it doesn't detect the Recovery Image.

Above will re-register your factory image - but it appears you already have factory recovery??
How did you create the recovery media you re-installed from?
factory recovery would of had all the driver and OEM apps included when pc rebooted

Also if the PC came with windows 8 or 8.1 - the product key is embedded in the firmware - no need to purchase any software..
You can download windows 8.1 setup media > Create installation media for Windows 8.1 - Windows Help
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 3.1 > Windows 10
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Dell XPS 8700
    CPU
    I7
    Memory
    24 GB
Hello

Yes I had a factory recovery. It was put there by MSI and just press F3

But something failed with it when I had a driver installation go bad and the computer would not reboot and F3 failed.

Yes the laptop came with Windows 8, but even reinstalling 8.1 it activated fine.

Hey thanks for everything. This is working. So once the Recovery drive is installed on a USB disk do I just delete the partitions or leave them there.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1
    Computer type
    Laptop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    MSI GS70 20D-295US
    CPU
    i7 4700HQ
    Motherboard
    MSI
    Memory
    16GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 765M GDDR5 2GB VRAM
    Sound Card
    Realtek with Soundblaster Cinema
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Matrix
    Screen Resolution
    1920 x 1080
    Hard Drives
    Super RAID with 2 SSD RAID0
    1TB WD
    Cooling
    Duel Fan Thermal Cooling
    Keyboard
    steelseries
    Mouse
    RAZER OUROBOROS
    Antivirus
    NIS 2015
If you delete the recovery partition (the option is given after the recovery drive is created) The internal Reset and Refresh will not work without the USB recovery drive plugged into the PC.. If you have enough freespace leave the partition.. If you need space you can delete the recovery image partition - BUT be sure you save that Recovery USB drive..
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 3.1 > Windows 10
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Dell XPS 8700
    CPU
    I7
    Memory
    24 GB
Hi. OK Yes I saved the recovery partition as I am not worried about space. And I created the Recovery USB with no issues.

Thanks again for all your help.
 
Last edited:

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1
    Computer type
    Laptop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    MSI GS70 20D-295US
    CPU
    i7 4700HQ
    Motherboard
    MSI
    Memory
    16GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 765M GDDR5 2GB VRAM
    Sound Card
    Realtek with Soundblaster Cinema
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Matrix
    Screen Resolution
    1920 x 1080
    Hard Drives
    Super RAID with 2 SSD RAID0
    1TB WD
    Cooling
    Duel Fan Thermal Cooling
    Keyboard
    steelseries
    Mouse
    RAZER OUROBOROS
    Antivirus
    NIS 2015
Actually I do have one more question with your post in #2

Should I get rid of the second Recovery partition that was recreated or just keep therm all.

Thanks
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1
    Computer type
    Laptop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    MSI GS70 20D-295US
    CPU
    i7 4700HQ
    Motherboard
    MSI
    Memory
    16GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 765M GDDR5 2GB VRAM
    Sound Card
    Realtek with Soundblaster Cinema
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Matrix
    Screen Resolution
    1920 x 1080
    Hard Drives
    Super RAID with 2 SSD RAID0
    1TB WD
    Cooling
    Duel Fan Thermal Cooling
    Keyboard
    steelseries
    Mouse
    RAZER OUROBOROS
    Antivirus
    NIS 2015
On disk 1 the 30GB partition can be removed - the 450MB partition was written by 8.1 upgrade
on disk 2 save the 15GB partition that is your factory windows 8 recovery image partition

usually that 15GB partition should be sitting on disk 1 in place of that 30GB

One thing to keep in mind - a Refresh or Reset - will be back to Factory Windows 8, not Windows 8.1
 
Last edited:

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 3.1 > Windows 10
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Dell XPS 8700
    CPU
    I7
    Memory
    24 GB
Ok sounds good. I hope I don't have any issues ever again like that. Its just nice having different recovery methods if I should ever need it.

Thanks

I just realized I bought the display Model Laptop as it was all they had left and those files on the 30GB were from the STore for Demo Mode
Just thought I would add if anyone wonders. Well I have learned quite a bit from this. :)
 

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Last edited:

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1
    Computer type
    Laptop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    MSI GS70 20D-295US
    CPU
    i7 4700HQ
    Motherboard
    MSI
    Memory
    16GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 765M GDDR5 2GB VRAM
    Sound Card
    Realtek with Soundblaster Cinema
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Matrix
    Screen Resolution
    1920 x 1080
    Hard Drives
    Super RAID with 2 SSD RAID0
    1TB WD
    Cooling
    Duel Fan Thermal Cooling
    Keyboard
    steelseries
    Mouse
    RAZER OUROBOROS
    Antivirus
    NIS 2015
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