Solved How to recover Windows 8.1 Files without re-installing?

tjsuominen

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Member
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Hi all!

I have a fairly new (purchased 8/2013) Lenovo ThinkPad T431s with Windows 8.1 Pro 64-bit. It has a very tricky error coming basically 8 / 10 boots: Windows is Scanning and repairing drive...

Lenovo_Error.jpg



Error details from Windows Event Viewer:

A corruption was discovered in the file system structure on volume \?\Volume{f62db2cf-efe4-4b55-a3f7-0e7db991a984}.


A file on the volume is no longer reachable from its parent directory. The parent file reference number is 0x2000000000002. The name of the parent directory is "". The parent index attribute is ":$I30:$INDEX_ALLOCATION". The file reference number of the file that needs to be reconnected is 0x400000003db80. There may be additional files on the volume that also need to be reconnected to this parent directory.


What is wrong (my personal analysis):

To me, it seems that for some reason there is one (all the Event Viewer details point to similar error) corrupted / missing Windows (System) file that is causing this, but I have NO idea what the file(s) is/are.

Other symptoms on my laptop is that after loggin in and using whatever app (Windows delivered or 3rd party), the whole laptop jams totally for say 30-240 seconds and all apps go to "Not Responding" state untill Laptop recovers AND I can continue using my Laptop "normally".


What has been done trying to fix that:


  1. SSD disk has been changed (image from previous SSD copied back) -> no solution, error remains
  2. chkdsk /F /R -> no solution, error remains
  3. SFC /scannow -> no solution, error remains
  4. dism /online /cleanup-image /restorehealth -> no solution, error remains after a few boots
  5. TRIED using Windows 8.1 "Update & Recovery -> Refresh Your PC without affecting your files" -> Inserted the Lenovo "Operating System Recovery Disk Windows 8 Pro (OEM Activation 3.0 Required)" BUT Windows did not accept that DVD claiming "The media inserted is not valid"... ???
  6. Ended up calling Lenovo Support and they instructed me to order the Recovery DVD from Lenovorecovery.com -> Waiting that to arrive...

So anyone had this kind of problem and how to solve this (prior proper (?) the Recovery DVD arrives)? I would absolutely NOT want to re-install everything from scratch...

Thx for helping :)
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1
    Computer type
    Laptop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Lenovo T431s
6.Ended up calling Lenovo Support and they instructed me to order the Recovery DVD from Lenovorecovery.com -> Waiting that to arrive...

You can wait.
or you can try (If you have up dated to 8.1 the below will not work)

How do a Refresh:
http://www.eightforums.com/tutorials/2293-refresh-windows-8-a.html


How to do a Reset:
http://www.eightforums.com/tutorials/2302-reset-windows-8-a.html


How to do a System Restore:
http://www.eightforums.com/tutorials/4692-system-restore-how-do-windows-8-a.html
 

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
Thx. As I have already updated 8.1, seems my only option is to wait for that recovery DVD to arrive.

// t
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1
    Computer type
    Laptop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Lenovo T431s

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Win 7 32, Win 7 64 Pro, Win 8.1 Pro
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    It's a Dell, Dude.
    CPU
    Intel Caffinated Core Duo
    Motherboard
    Father is bored too.
    Memory
    4 GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    NVidia something-or-another
    Monitor(s) Displays
    24" HD TV/Monitor/Alternative Dimensional Viewing Portal
    Screen Resolution
    Fuzzy after a couple drinks
    Hard Drives
    2 or 3, depending on if it's a night they're arguing about having a "split personality crisis" because I partitioned the drive.
    Case
    Don't get on my case....man
    Cooling
    Scotch on the rocks on the weekends..
    Keyboard
    Mad Catz Cyborg V7. Or maybe Cyborg Catz Are Mad At V7's??? I know it lights up...far out.
    Mouse
    currently being stalked by the cat...
    Internet Speed
    Never fast enough...
    Browser
    Defeated by Mario...wait...OH...BRowser...
    Antivirus
    Various
The challenge is, that the product key (checked with ProduKey) seems to be a Lenovo OEM product key and therefore is not a valid one for creating the images...
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1
    Computer type
    Laptop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Lenovo T431s
I do not have dual-boot or anything, just plain and simple Windows 8.1 (upgraded from 8) installation.



Now this is getting interesting... I put the latest Volume ID
\\?\Volume{f62db2cf-efe4-4b55-a3f7-0e7db991a984} from the Event Viewer error-log to the run-box and executed it.

It returned:

bootsqm.jpg


So it returned a bootsqm.dat -file which is NOT located in my local drive (in C: root) nor I can not find it anywhere else. Did some research and it seems that it's only created by chdsk for checking errors, but if (?) that's a temp (?) file, how come Windows tries to "fix" it almost on every boot?


So what's next?
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1
    Computer type
    Laptop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Lenovo T431s

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Win 7 32, Win 7 64 Pro, Win 8.1 Pro
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    It's a Dell, Dude.
    CPU
    Intel Caffinated Core Duo
    Motherboard
    Father is bored too.
    Memory
    4 GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    NVidia something-or-another
    Monitor(s) Displays
    24" HD TV/Monitor/Alternative Dimensional Viewing Portal
    Screen Resolution
    Fuzzy after a couple drinks
    Hard Drives
    2 or 3, depending on if it's a night they're arguing about having a "split personality crisis" because I partitioned the drive.
    Case
    Don't get on my case....man
    Cooling
    Scotch on the rocks on the weekends..
    Keyboard
    Mad Catz Cyborg V7. Or maybe Cyborg Catz Are Mad At V7's??? I know it lights up...far out.
    Mouse
    currently being stalked by the cat...
    Internet Speed
    Never fast enough...
    Browser
    Defeated by Mario...wait...OH...BRowser...
    Antivirus
    Various
mountvol returns:



\\?\Volume{4d337687-0033-42f7-8a8e-b6968b533cb3}\
(This is my C:\ drive where Windows installation resides)

\\?\Volume{e010cf9d-c04d-4c82-b517-3cda1b647fe7}\
*** NO MOUNT POINTS ***

\\?\Volume{f62db2cf-efe4-4b55-a3f7-0e7db991a984}\
*** NO MOUNT POINTS ***

\\?\Volume{33f0062f-0aff-4fd2-8402-1c7911d86897}\
*** NO MOUNT POINTS ***




Then running fsutil dirty query on each returns:


Volume - \\?\Volume{4d337687-0033-42f7-8a8e-b6968b533cb3} is NOT Dirty
Volume - \\?\Volume{e010cf9d-c04d-4c82-b517-3cda1b647fe7} is NOT Dirty
Volume - \\?\Volume{f62db2cf-efe4-4b55-a3f7-0e7db991a984} is Dirty
Volume - \\?\Volume{33f0062f-0aff-4fd2-8402-1c7911d86897} is NOT Dirty



The 3rd on is the dirty one... but I do not know what it (that Volume) refers to and WHAT to do IF that is causing my WIndows to perform the scan and repair on each boot...
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1
    Computer type
    Laptop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Lenovo T431s
Doing some research on that, I find references to running CHKDSK (either /R or /F, depending on if you want to scan for bad sectors or just fix). Might want to give that a try. Otherwise, you might have to wait for the disk.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Win 7 32, Win 7 64 Pro, Win 8.1 Pro
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    It's a Dell, Dude.
    CPU
    Intel Caffinated Core Duo
    Motherboard
    Father is bored too.
    Memory
    4 GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    NVidia something-or-another
    Monitor(s) Displays
    24" HD TV/Monitor/Alternative Dimensional Viewing Portal
    Screen Resolution
    Fuzzy after a couple drinks
    Hard Drives
    2 or 3, depending on if it's a night they're arguing about having a "split personality crisis" because I partitioned the drive.
    Case
    Don't get on my case....man
    Cooling
    Scotch on the rocks on the weekends..
    Keyboard
    Mad Catz Cyborg V7. Or maybe Cyborg Catz Are Mad At V7's??? I know it lights up...far out.
    Mouse
    currently being stalked by the cat...
    Internet Speed
    Never fast enough...
    Browser
    Defeated by Mario...wait...OH...BRowser...
    Antivirus
    Various
Hi.

Unfortunatelly chkdsk does not fix the situation.

Did some further analysis with mountvol and it returns:



\\?\Volume{4d337687-0033-42f7-8a8e-b6968b533cb3}\
(This is my C:\ drive where Windows installation resides)

\\?\Volume{e010cf9d-c04d-4c82-b517-3cda1b647fe7}\
*** NO MOUNT POINTS ***

\\?\Volume{f62db2cf-efe4-4b55-a3f7-0e7db991a984}\
*** NO MOUNT POINTS ***

\\?\Volume{33f0062f-0aff-4fd2-8402-1c7911d86897}\
*** NO MOUNT POINTS ***



Then running fsutil dirty query on each returns following:

Volume - \\?\Volume{4d337687-0033-42f7-8a8e-b6968b533cb3} is NOT Dirty
Volume - \\?\Volume{e010cf9d-c04d-4c82-b517-3cda1b647fe7} is NOT Dirty
Volume - \\?\Volume{f62db2cf-efe4-4b55-a3f7-0e7db991a984} is Dirty
Volume - \\?\Volume{33f0062f-0aff-4fd2-8402-1c7911d86897} is NOT Dirty


The 3rd on is a dirty one.

The chkdsk on the dirty volume
\\?\Volume{f62db2cf-efe4-4b55-a3f7-0e7db991a984}\ returned:


The type of the file system is NTFS.
Insufficient storage available to create either the shadow copy storage file or
other shadow copy data.

A snapshot error occured while scanning this drive. Run an offline scan and fix.


Diskpart output on the same volume:

DISKPART> lis par

Partition ### Type Size Offset
------------- ---------------- ------- -------
Partition 1 Reserved 128 MB 17 KB
Partition 2 Recovery 1000 MB 129 MB
Partition 3 System 260 MB 1129 MB
Partition 4 Primary 146 GB 1389 MB
Partition 5 Recovery 350 MB 147 GB
Partition 6 Recovery 19 GB 148 GB


Questions:

1) Are my Partitions OK, haven't "touched" anything?
2) Excluded the dirty volume from boot checking with chkntfs /x -> still the Error appears in Event viewer log (see my 1st message on this post). What is causing the error?

3) Why do I have three (3) recovery partitions?
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1
    Computer type
    Laptop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Lenovo T431s
I'm curious, have you done a malware scan with anything? It might be a good idea to run TDSSKiller to make sure there are no rootkits involved. Also a full system scan with Malwarebytes wouldn't hurt.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Win 7 32, Win 7 64 Pro, Win 8.1 Pro
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    It's a Dell, Dude.
    CPU
    Intel Caffinated Core Duo
    Motherboard
    Father is bored too.
    Memory
    4 GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    NVidia something-or-another
    Monitor(s) Displays
    24" HD TV/Monitor/Alternative Dimensional Viewing Portal
    Screen Resolution
    Fuzzy after a couple drinks
    Hard Drives
    2 or 3, depending on if it's a night they're arguing about having a "split personality crisis" because I partitioned the drive.
    Case
    Don't get on my case....man
    Cooling
    Scotch on the rocks on the weekends..
    Keyboard
    Mad Catz Cyborg V7. Or maybe Cyborg Catz Are Mad At V7's??? I know it lights up...far out.
    Mouse
    currently being stalked by the cat...
    Internet Speed
    Never fast enough...
    Browser
    Defeated by Mario...wait...OH...BRowser...
    Antivirus
    Various
I have posted this a couple of times already but certain people have been reluctant to use this method.
I myself had a problem similar to yours that could not be corrected in sfc /scannow...the following solved it.
Start computer....then click on Restart holding down Shift key at same time.
Choose an Option screen appears.
Click on Troubleshoot....then Advanced Options....then System Image Recovery.
This in my case rectified the problem and only took a couple of minutes....stating also location of the cbs logs.
Hope this helps.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8 Pro
@Borg 386 - Yes, I have done Malware scanning with various tools, no findings.

@Dencal - To my understanding, this option (System Image Recovery) completely wipes my current Windows 8.1 installation removing e.g. manually installed apps (= non Win Store installed non-Metro Apps) and other settings (like VPN connections, WiFi settings, Installed Printers etc.), right?

Does the "Sync Settings with SkyDrive" bring majority of my settings back?
 
Last edited:

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1
    Computer type
    Laptop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Lenovo T431s
@Borg 386 - Yes, I have done Malware scanning with various tools, no findings.

@Dencal - To my understanding, this option (System Image Recovery) completely wipes my current Windows 8.1 installation removing e.g. manually installed apps (= non Win Store installed non-Metro Apps) and other settings (like VPN connections, WiFi settings, Installed Printers etc.), right?

Does the "Sync Settings with SkyDrive" bring majority of my settings back?
My experience....It had no effect whatsoever on any other settings or files, it just rectifies any errors in the directory.
It will tell you before that it does not effect anything else.
In my case the whole process only took a couple on minutes so obviously it did not need to reinstall the complete System Image.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8 Pro
Tried that... Put in the Lenovo "Windows 8 Recovery Media for Windows 8 Products" disk and booted to "Repair" mode, the disk is not accepted...
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1
    Computer type
    Laptop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Lenovo T431s

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8 Pro
Tried that... Put in the Lenovo "Windows 8 Recovery Media for Windows 8 Products" disk and booted to "Repair" mode, the disk is not accepted...

I have Windows 8.1 installed (updated from 8 -> 8.1)...
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1
    Computer type
    Laptop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Lenovo T431s
Sure I have, that document came also with the disks, BUT as they are for Windows 8, they do not work...
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1
    Computer type
    Laptop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Lenovo T431s
Sure I have, that document came also with the disks, BUT as they are for Windows 8, they do not work...
Is it possible for you to make a rescue ISO?....If so you could use that instead of your Lenovo disks.
I have W8.1 upgraded from W8 and had no problem using the W8 ISO.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8 Pro
I do not want to make a Rescue ISO from my current installation, if that's what You mean...? Why, because if that's the corrupted one... ;o)

I can not create the ISO through MSFT Web as I have Lenovo OEM Windows Product ID which is NOT accepted. And no, Lenovo does not have yet the 8.1 Recovery media.

So I am more than stuck...
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1
    Computer type
    Laptop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Lenovo T431s
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