Recovery not working

TweaknFreak

New Member
Messages
10
I've got a Samsung NP550P5C laptop with the following specs :
☻i5-3210M
☻6 GB RAM @ 1600 MHz
☻1 TB HDD @ 5400 rpm
☻2 GB nVidia GT650M with Optimus
☻Windows 8 Single Language 64-bit

It came with Recovery partitions. Now using the Samsung Recovery application I had copied my recovery files to another external HDD alongwith a backup of C drive. Now all these are in some weird extensions. I refreshed my PC and then the problems began. The problems were :
☻No Fn key working
☻Samsung recovery did not recognize factory condition recovery point,i.e,Factory reset option was gone.
☻The backup on external HDD was showing up on Samsung Recovery, but after clicking on it, it would go on a restart and recovery never happens.

Since my warranty is finished, so before I go to any service outlets, I wanna ask for help here.

Any help is deeply appreciated.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 Single Language 64-bit
    Computer type
    Laptop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Samsung NP550P5C
    CPU
    i5-3210M
    Motherboard
    Intel HM77
    Memory
    6 GB DDR3 @ 1600 MHz
    Graphics Card(s)
    nVidia GT650M 2 GB
    Sound Card
    Realtek
    Monitor(s) Displays
    15.6"
    Screen Resolution
    1600x900
    Hard Drives
    1 TB Matshita @ 5400 rpm
    PSU
    Power Adapter
    Cooling
    Cooler Master Notepal X3
    Keyboard
    Island keyboard with Numpad
    Mouse
    Logitech G300
    Internet Speed
    4.1 MBps
    Browser
    Google Chrome
    Antivirus
    AVG Internet Security 2014
Have you made the OEM manufacturer's Recovery Disks?

information   Information

We always assume you have made your Recovery Disks using the OEM manufacturer's Recovery Media Creator app the first day you had your new PC.
& made the Startup Repair CD. (Windows 8 only)
http://www.eightforums.com/tutorials/5132-recovery-drive-create-usb-flash-drive-windows-8-a.html
http://www.eightforums.com/tutorials/2855-system-repair-disc-create-windows-8-a.html (Windows 8 only)




I would recommend you making the OEM manufacturer's Recovery DVD's or USB drive.
or
You can order the Microsoft official OEM Recovery disks from the OEM manufacturer's website.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    ME, XP,Vista,Win7,Win8,Win8.1
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Other Info
    Notebooks x 3

    Desktops x 5

    Towers x 4
Well I've those recovery partitions and I copied a "install.wim" from it. After googling, I came to know that it can be applied by ImageX. But I have no idea to do that after looking at those instructions at MS site. I will share the link:

Samples: Applying Windows, System, and Recovery Partitions by using a Deployment Script

I have downloaded WAIK but cant see that ImageX executable in it. If you help in in doing that I think my problem might be solved.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 Single Language 64-bit
    Computer type
    Laptop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Samsung NP550P5C
    CPU
    i5-3210M
    Motherboard
    Intel HM77
    Memory
    6 GB DDR3 @ 1600 MHz
    Graphics Card(s)
    nVidia GT650M 2 GB
    Sound Card
    Realtek
    Monitor(s) Displays
    15.6"
    Screen Resolution
    1600x900
    Hard Drives
    1 TB Matshita @ 5400 rpm
    PSU
    Power Adapter
    Cooling
    Cooler Master Notepal X3
    Keyboard
    Island keyboard with Numpad
    Mouse
    Logitech G300
    Internet Speed
    4.1 MBps
    Browser
    Google Chrome
    Antivirus
    AVG Internet Security 2014
Well I've those recovery partitions and I copied a "install.wim" from it.

How did you copy the install.wim?

Have you updated to Windows 8.1 from Windows 8?
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    ME, XP,Vista,Win7,Win8,Win8.1
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Other Info
    Notebooks x 3

    Desktops x 5

    Towers x 4
Last edited:

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 Single Language 64-bit
    Computer type
    Laptop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Samsung NP550P5C
    CPU
    i5-3210M
    Motherboard
    Intel HM77
    Memory
    6 GB DDR3 @ 1600 MHz
    Graphics Card(s)
    nVidia GT650M 2 GB
    Sound Card
    Realtek
    Monitor(s) Displays
    15.6"
    Screen Resolution
    1600x900
    Hard Drives
    1 TB Matshita @ 5400 rpm
    PSU
    Power Adapter
    Cooling
    Cooler Master Notepal X3
    Keyboard
    Island keyboard with Numpad
    Mouse
    Logitech G300
    Internet Speed
    4.1 MBps
    Browser
    Google Chrome
    Antivirus
    AVG Internet Security 2014
How did you copy the install.wim?

I did it on the very week I got my laptop. As for how did I do that, by Easeus Partition Manager Professional.

Have you updated to Windows 8.1 from Windows 8?

Yeah I upgraded from Store.

1) Easeus Partition Manager will mess up Recovery Partitions. (We see this a lot with Easeus)

2) Windows 8.1 Refresh & Reset will not work with a Windows 8 Recovery Partition.


I would use your Samsung Recovery disk (DVD/USB) to do a Factory Reset back to Windows 8.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    ME, XP,Vista,Win7,Win8,Win8.1
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Other Info
    Notebooks x 3

    Desktops x 5

    Towers x 4
1) Easeus Partition Manager will mess up Recovery Partitions. (We see this a lot with Easeus)

Didnt know that. But will take care about it in future.

2) Windows 8.1 Refresh & Reset will not work with a Windows 8 Recovery Partition.

I knew just the opposite. My bad.

I would use your Samsung Recovery disk (DVD/USB) to do a Factory Reset back to Windows 8.

Thats the problem, the Samsung Recovery agent cant recognize those files anymore. Theres no option to browse to those files.

So, now my only chance is to apply that WIM file on to my C drive. It would be very helpful if you can help me out in that direction.

And thanx for these prompt replies :)
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 Single Language 64-bit
    Computer type
    Laptop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Samsung NP550P5C
    CPU
    i5-3210M
    Motherboard
    Intel HM77
    Memory
    6 GB DDR3 @ 1600 MHz
    Graphics Card(s)
    nVidia GT650M 2 GB
    Sound Card
    Realtek
    Monitor(s) Displays
    15.6"
    Screen Resolution
    1600x900
    Hard Drives
    1 TB Matshita @ 5400 rpm
    PSU
    Power Adapter
    Cooling
    Cooler Master Notepal X3
    Keyboard
    Island keyboard with Numpad
    Mouse
    Logitech G300
    Internet Speed
    4.1 MBps
    Browser
    Google Chrome
    Antivirus
    AVG Internet Security 2014
Not clear where you are up to.

If you want to apply the image from install.wim, you need to do it from outside windows ( unless you are intending to apply it to a different partition?).

1. Find the images in the wim ( may be more than one, if so, use the Pushbuttonreset image). Apply to chosen partition.

2. Correct the os drive letter.

3. Add bcd entry

First question, where are you going to do it from - another installation, or winpe?


%ProgramFiles%\Windows AIK\Tools\amd64\imagex.exe
%ProgramFiles%\Windows AIK\Tools\x86\imagex.exe

Or if you installed wadk:

%SYSTEMDRIVE%\Program Files (x86)\Windows Kits\8.1\Assessment and Deployment Kit\Deployment Tools\amd64\DISM\imagex.exe

%SYSTEMDRIVE%\Program Files (x86)\Windows Kits\8.1\Assessment and Deployment Kit\Deployment Tools\x86\DISM\imagex.exe

Or you can use gimagex, free and comes in both bit versions. Very easy , it is GUI driven:

download GImageX


2014-03-12_203738.jpg
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    7/8/ubuntu/Linux Deepin
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
Not clear where you are up to.

If you want to apply the image from install.wim, you need to do it from outside windows ( unless you are intending to apply it to a different partition?).

1. Find the images in the wim ( may be more than one, if so, use the Pushbuttonreset image). Apply to chosen partition.

2. Correct the os drive letter.

3. Add bcd entry

First question, where are you going to do it from - another installation, or winpe?


%ProgramFiles%\Windows AIK\Tools\amd64\imagex.exe
%ProgramFiles%\Windows AIK\Tools\x86\imagex.exe

Or if you installed wadk:

%SYSTEMDRIVE%\Program Files (x86)\Windows Kits\8.1\Assessment and Deployment Kit\Deployment Tools\amd64\DISM\imagex.exe

%SYSTEMDRIVE%\Program Files (x86)\Windows Kits\8.1\Assessment and Deployment Kit\Deployment Tools\x86\DISM\imagex.exe

Or you can use gimagex, free and comes in both bit versions. Very easy , it is GUI driven:

download GImageX


View attachment 39489
Yes I'm going to use WinPE.

As for the Pushbuttonreset image, I'm currently decompressing the WIM file by 7-zip and then I'm gonna search for that. Sorry for being a noob but Steps 2 & 3 just went over my head.

Yeah, I gave GImageX a shot but then it had some error applying the WIM. Then I remembered I cant push a car by sitting inside it, I've to get out. So, its then that I came to know about WAIK and WinPE.

I guess WinPE is some sort of Windows Live CD kinda thing ?? I was thinking if I install Windows 8.1 on trial version in another partition and then apply that WIM to my original C partition will it work ?? Will it be bootable ??
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 Single Language 64-bit
    Computer type
    Laptop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Samsung NP550P5C
    CPU
    i5-3210M
    Motherboard
    Intel HM77
    Memory
    6 GB DDR3 @ 1600 MHz
    Graphics Card(s)
    nVidia GT650M 2 GB
    Sound Card
    Realtek
    Monitor(s) Displays
    15.6"
    Screen Resolution
    1600x900
    Hard Drives
    1 TB Matshita @ 5400 rpm
    PSU
    Power Adapter
    Cooling
    Cooler Master Notepal X3
    Keyboard
    Island keyboard with Numpad
    Mouse
    Logitech G300
    Internet Speed
    4.1 MBps
    Browser
    Google Chrome
    Antivirus
    AVG Internet Security 2014
Yes, piece of cake.

If your recovery sequence is working, you can just run this from within windows and it is done for you :

For 64 bit https://www.dropbox.com/s/802hgbocdafdhd2/RE64v7.zip

For 32 bit https://www.dropbox.com/s/ubak5ssng7ozipb/RE86v7.zip

1. Extract the zip file. You will see a .cmd file and a BIN folder.

2. Copy the matching bit version gimagex into BIN\X64-or-x86\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32

3. Rt click and run as admin on the re64-or-86v7-runmeasadmin.cmd.

RE.jpg

Tools already in there for you to do other steps if needed.

You don't need to think about it, they will be there on the menu.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    7/8/ubuntu/Linux Deepin
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
Yes, piece of cake.

If your recovery sequence is working, you can just run this from within windows and it is done for you :

For 64 bit https://www.dropbox.com/s/802hgbocdafdhd2/RE64v7.zip

For 32 bit https://www.dropbox.com/s/ubak5ssng7ozipb/RE86v7.zip

1. Extract the zip file. You will see a .cmd file and a BIN folder.

2. Copy the matching bit version gimagex into BIN\X64-or-x86\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32

3. Rt click and run as admin on the re64-or-86v7-runmeasadmin.cmd.

View attachment 39499

Tools already in there for you to do other steps if needed.

You don't need to thibnk about it, they will be there on the menu.

So I just run it from my current Windows installation ??
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 Single Language 64-bit
    Computer type
    Laptop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Samsung NP550P5C
    CPU
    i5-3210M
    Motherboard
    Intel HM77
    Memory
    6 GB DDR3 @ 1600 MHz
    Graphics Card(s)
    nVidia GT650M 2 GB
    Sound Card
    Realtek
    Monitor(s) Displays
    15.6"
    Screen Resolution
    1600x900
    Hard Drives
    1 TB Matshita @ 5400 rpm
    PSU
    Power Adapter
    Cooling
    Cooler Master Notepal X3
    Keyboard
    Island keyboard with Numpad
    Mouse
    Logitech G300
    Internet Speed
    4.1 MBps
    Browser
    Google Chrome
    Antivirus
    AVG Internet Security 2014
Yes. It will create winpe from what you already have on your HD. If your recovery sequence is badly broken, it might not be able to. Give it a go.

If you already know where winre.wim is, you can avoid that possibility by copying it into the same folder, directly next to the .cmd file . Then run the .cmd file. It looks there for winre.wim first.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    7/8/ubuntu/Linux Deepin
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
Gives this error
Untitled.png

Can I set that copied WIM as current recovery image by recimg and then try your program ???
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 Single Language 64-bit
    Computer type
    Laptop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Samsung NP550P5C
    CPU
    i5-3210M
    Motherboard
    Intel HM77
    Memory
    6 GB DDR3 @ 1600 MHz
    Graphics Card(s)
    nVidia GT650M 2 GB
    Sound Card
    Realtek
    Monitor(s) Displays
    15.6"
    Screen Resolution
    1600x900
    Hard Drives
    1 TB Matshita @ 5400 rpm
    PSU
    Power Adapter
    Cooling
    Cooler Master Notepal X3
    Keyboard
    Island keyboard with Numpad
    Mouse
    Logitech G300
    Internet Speed
    4.1 MBps
    Browser
    Google Chrome
    Antivirus
    AVG Internet Security 2014
Yes, unknown. Your recov sequence is borked. Common problem.

You can try and reset it manually.

Elevated cmd prompt:

reagentc /disable

reagentc /enable

reagentc /info


If that appears ok, then run the cmd file again.

We are not looking for the huge install.wim,. We are looking for a much smaller file called winre.wim.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    7/8/ubuntu/Linux Deepin
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
Yes, unknown. Your recov sequence is borked. Common problem.

You can try and reset it manually.

Elevated cmd prompt:

reagentc /disable

reagentc /enable

reagentc /info


If that appears ok, then run the cmd file again.

We are not looking for the huge install.wim,. We are looking for a much smaller file called winre.wim.

Nope it doesnt seem alright.
Untitled1.png

I copied that wim file to
Untitled1.png
and renamed it winre.wim. Can I run the program now??
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 Single Language 64-bit
    Computer type
    Laptop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Samsung NP550P5C
    CPU
    i5-3210M
    Motherboard
    Intel HM77
    Memory
    6 GB DDR3 @ 1600 MHz
    Graphics Card(s)
    nVidia GT650M 2 GB
    Sound Card
    Realtek
    Monitor(s) Displays
    15.6"
    Screen Resolution
    1600x900
    Hard Drives
    1 TB Matshita @ 5400 rpm
    PSU
    Power Adapter
    Cooling
    Cooler Master Notepal X3
    Keyboard
    Island keyboard with Numpad
    Mouse
    Logitech G300
    Internet Speed
    4.1 MBps
    Browser
    Google Chrome
    Antivirus
    AVG Internet Security 2014
NO.

Completely wrong file.

That is unfortunate. Isn't there a smaller wim on your recov partition? Might be called boot.wim ? That should do if you have it. Don't rename it, the .cmd will understand what to do with boot.wim
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    7/8/ubuntu/Linux Deepin
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
You might have to borrow mine. Will boot into 8.1 and make one. I Could be gone a little while.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    7/8/ubuntu/Linux Deepin
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
You might have to borrow mine. Will boot into 8.1 and make one. I Could be gone a little while.

I got a boot.wim ~400 MB in another of my 2 GB recovery partition inside a Sources folder. Is that it ??
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 Single Language 64-bit
    Computer type
    Laptop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Samsung NP550P5C
    CPU
    i5-3210M
    Motherboard
    Intel HM77
    Memory
    6 GB DDR3 @ 1600 MHz
    Graphics Card(s)
    nVidia GT650M 2 GB
    Sound Card
    Realtek
    Monitor(s) Displays
    15.6"
    Screen Resolution
    1600x900
    Hard Drives
    1 TB Matshita @ 5400 rpm
    PSU
    Power Adapter
    Cooling
    Cooler Master Notepal X3
    Keyboard
    Island keyboard with Numpad
    Mouse
    Logitech G300
    Internet Speed
    4.1 MBps
    Browser
    Google Chrome
    Antivirus
    AVG Internet Security 2014
Well SIW2 solved it. Here's what I had to do :

Use Gimagex inside the WinPE to browse to install.wim.

Click Select button. It will show the contained images.


You need to either format the target partition before applying the wim, or if you have space, you can MOVE the existing windows directories into a folder before applying.(Format worked just fine)

To do that, use Explorer to create a folder on the target partition called e.g. oldwin8 , then MOVE the following into it ( one at a time ) Programdata, program files,program files (x86), users,windows.

After applying the wim, open nt6repair, and under FIX DRIVE LETTER section, select the letter you just applied the wim to and click FIX.

The existing bcd entry already points at your current windows partition, so will still work if you applied the wim to that same partition.

Here's the link to WinPE8.1x64-

For the Link PM me(Decided by the owner SIW2)
 
Last edited:

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 Single Language 64-bit
    Computer type
    Laptop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Samsung NP550P5C
    CPU
    i5-3210M
    Motherboard
    Intel HM77
    Memory
    6 GB DDR3 @ 1600 MHz
    Graphics Card(s)
    nVidia GT650M 2 GB
    Sound Card
    Realtek
    Monitor(s) Displays
    15.6"
    Screen Resolution
    1600x900
    Hard Drives
    1 TB Matshita @ 5400 rpm
    PSU
    Power Adapter
    Cooling
    Cooler Master Notepal X3
    Keyboard
    Island keyboard with Numpad
    Mouse
    Logitech G300
    Internet Speed
    4.1 MBps
    Browser
    Google Chrome
    Antivirus
    AVG Internet Security 2014
RESTORING SAMSUNG RECOVERY WITH F4 LINK AFTER HARD DRIVE SWAP – NP550P5C-S05in
(Windows 8 upgraded to Windows 8.1 via the Windows Store)

Let me begin by saying that I did try looking for options online and researching through the various forums available but none of them were either successful, many recommended going to a Samsung service centre, most gave up or entailed reformatting the entire hard disk and starting the set up from the beginning.

Well, fortunately for me I was successful and wanted to share my success with the others.
To go to procedure just scroll down and skip the jabberwocky.

SCENARIO and SYMPTOMS:

I recently upgraded my stock hard drive to an SSHD.
I first used Samsung’s Recovery software to create a clone and then proceeded to swap the hard drives. This was extremely easy and required no operator intervention except for swapping out the hard drives.
Unfortunately for me, Windows 8.1 started crashing repeatedly and my laptop was rendered useless. Basically, I think, something went wrong with the copy process.
Fortunately, I had created a Windows System Image and a Windows Recovery Drive, therefore all I did was boot from the recovery drive, select the “Restore Windows System Image” option and I was good to go.
I also reformatted the new hard disk using the slow format process and disabled secure boot.
Although this brought back a stable windows, the Samsung Recovery Partitions didn’t restore correctly leading to loss of the Samsung Recovery program in entirety.
Thus began my quest to restore the Samsung recovery partitions and the F4 link.
Now most people would actually give up at this point on the point that it would not be worth it and I even know a friend who sacrificed his recovery options for a new SSD. Most of the forums even recommend this.
But, there is a benefit from this. You get a clean copy of windows with your laptop as it came from the factory. There is a quick and easy way to purge all your personal data when you are selling the computer and so on.

What follows next is the procedure to restore the Samsung Recovery Partitions and the F4 link.

PROCEDURE:
WHAT I HAD/REQUIREMENTS FOR THIS TO WORK:

1. A bootable Samsung Recovery USB drive.
I exported a copy of the factory image to an external drive and made it a bootable disk using Samsung Recovery. This was before I attempted the hard drive swap and I believe was the only saving grace. I intend to upload the contents of this drive as ISOs so that others can download and create the recovery drive.
2. A wonderful free (and a little buggy) program called EaseUS Partition Master without which I’d be stumped.
3. A USB key to create the Samsung AdminTool – this can be created using the bootable recovery drive.

WHAT EVERYONE NEEDS TO KNOW because the information available out there is really misleading.
Samsung Recovery requires two partitions – SAMSUNG_REC AND SAMSUNG_REC2
SAMSUNG_REC is the boot partition for Samsung Recovery to load. This partition is 1 GB in size.
SAMSUNG_REC2 contains the factory image and in my case was 19.68 GB.

WHAT I DID and WHAT HAPPENED
1. Boot from the Samsung recovery drive – I first disabled Fast Boot, then selected the external disk in the first boot option and restarted.
2. The Samsung recovery environment loaded and entered the Recovery Management Settings by pressing ctrl+alt+F10. The password I used was “secclx” (“secos” is another password if the former doesn’t work)
3. Imported the factory settings from the external drive in the “Image” option. This will overwrite the image on the disk (which in my case was corrupted, even though present).
4. Created the USB AdminTool. This option was previously not available as the factory settings were corrupt, like I mentioned before. After importing the factory settings, this option became available.
5. Restarted the computer and tried to load Samsung Recovery by pressing F4 – this did not work.
6. Booted into windows, ran Samsung Recovery from windows where I got the dreaded “Recovery partition does not exist” error.
7. Plugged in the USB AdminTool, navigated to \Winclon and ran Admintool.exe. This brought up a set of options and of key concern is the option to “Finalize Recovery Setting”. None of the other options worked and after execution, a prompt with a small procedure appeared along with file “RecoverySettingsSV.exe” that appeared on the desktop and a set of instructions.
8. I ran the “RecoverySettingsSV.exe” file using administrator privileges, from which a command prompt and a set of commands started to run.
9. I tried running the Samsung Recovery program again from within Windows and presto! Recovery loaded successfully.
10. However, when I restarted and tried to get into Samsung Recovery using the F4 – that didn’t work.
Normally I should have let it go at this point, but I was just not happy with it.

Here comes the complicated part.
11. I figured that the recovery partition itself was corrupted and decided to clone the boot partition from my external bootable drive and copy it onto the hard drive. I used EaseUS for this and although it wasn’t all smooth – firstly the partition size was too small which needed to be extended, then the GPT attributes and IDs went wrong because EaseUS just changed them at random. I had to set all of this right and try again. Still no luck.
12. Then I attempted to boot from the USB AdminTool and recreate the Boot Partition and Data partitions. This turned out to be a disaster because I lost windows all over again.
13. Started from scratch with my trusty windows recovery drive and then using the system image restore option.
Normally, I would have let it go at this point at least, right? HELL NO!
14. So I started all over, THIS TIME, when I booted from the USBAdmin Tool I didn’t create new partitions, I just checked the “Reinstall the recovery partition” which reinstalls recovery on the same partition and I got a surprising error – that the partition was too small, despite being 1GB in size.
15. Back to windows and using EaseUS, I shifted the partitions on the hard drive to create enough space to extend the SAMSUNG_REC partition to 1.1GB. Once again, all the IDs changed and I had to change back the GPT attributes to their original.
16. I tried again, using the USB AdminTool – reinstall recovery WITHOUT creating new partitions, Fix MBR and set init date.
17. This solved EVERYTHING!

Samsung Recovery environment works through windows and through F4 flawlessly, like it used to.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1
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