Solved Latest Macrium Reflect 8 updates

Wisewiz · Nov 28, 2023

My big question now is Why was the WIM fine for 7675 and previous versions of MR, but not adequate for 7762 and 71? Couldn't build a working USB with either version. Rebuilding WIM gave MR back the ability to build working RM.

SIW2 · Nov 28, 2023

Wisewiz said:
But the ones I've built from 7762 and 7771 won't boot. I just get sent to the blue screen sequence that starts with identifying my keyboard layout (???).

The wim has booted but recenv is the shel instead of the expected macrium quasi desktop.

That indicates the original winpeshl.ini is still in the wim file\windows\system32 and pointing at recenv.exe
[LaunchApp]
AppPath=X:\sources\recovery\recenv.exe

The gist of how the basic winpe creation works is the program files are copied to somewhere in the mounted wim - for example to mount\program files\macrium

then a new winpeshl.ini is added which points at the executable to be launched as the shel. In the case of macrium that is:
[LaunchApp]
AppPath=%SYSTEMDRIVE%\Program Files\Macrium\launch.exe

when you understand that little bit of info you can make your own simple winpe things.

For a bit of fun you could put explorer++ somewhere in the wim file. For example on the root.

Then change winpeshl.ini to point at it
[LaunchApp]
AppPath=%systemdrive%\explorer++.exe

If winpeshl.ini apppath is absent, then %systemdrive%\setup.exe is launched

If setup.exe is absent, then cmd.exe is launched.

That is because in standard bootable wim files the entry is the system hive is this:

Wisewiz · Nov 28, 2023

@SIW2
Thank you very much for making that effort to help me understand why I had to rebuild WIM to get 7771 to make bootable USBs. It didn't succeed, but that wasn't your fault. I appreciate the effort.

Caledon Ken · Nov 29, 2023

Sorry this has become quite long. Are you using PE to create your USB media?

Wisewiz · Nov 29, 2023

@Caledon Ken Nope. RE. But I learned from this experience that after an update, if I open the Rescue Media panel with no USB plugged in, if the top panel shows something like "Newer version <number>. Build to update.", and I click Build, it rebuilds the necessary boot files ( a few seconds, tops), and after that, if I plug in a USB disk and Create Rescue Media, it will succeed in building a bootable USB. Simple and fast. As has been noted many times here and on the MR forums, a new USB is not needed with every update. It's not a bad idea to update the key with every version update, but it's not necessary.

SIW2 · Nov 29, 2023

Caledon Ken said:
Sorry this has become quite long. Are you using PE to create your USB media?

His previous attempts booted to the recovery environment. Winre.wim has the recovery environment, recenv.exe. The winpe downloaded from wadk ( or whatever they call it now ) does not have the recovery environment.

Wisewiz · Nov 29, 2023

Bree said:
I'm not sure why you seem to have problems building bootable media, but I have just successfully built the 8.1.7771 .wim to update the boot menu, and then updated my rescue usb. (Bold added by Wisearse.)

And that was the important step, wasn't it? When I opened the Create Rescue Media window in 7762 and later in 7771, I sorta saw the notice up in the panel at the top (as in my #745 above) that said Build to update (or something like that), but I didn't. And the bootables I made in those editions weren't. (Bootable, that is.) But after piddling around for a bit (including a completely unnecessary deletion of the boot folder), when I went back and found "WIM not found. Build to repair," and THEN I made my bootable, it worked. Re-installing didn't help me, fuddling around didn't help me, but rebuilding the boot menu stuff did it. In future, I will pay attention to that little panel at the top of the Create RM window. It says "OK" when no action is needed.

Caledon Ken · Nov 29, 2023

I was asking about PE because if RE doesn't work I try PE.

I have two usb keys for most machines and three for my daily. The oldest key gets the new rescue media and I only do it when they say we have to. The only exception to this was I built new rescue media in prep for the secure boot changes MS is working through system. If new media created, like everyone else, I test. I also backup ISO copies.

Really old rescue media will work in most cases. Eventually secure boot may interfere with this statement but that is simple to shut off until restoration complete.

Bree · Nov 29, 2023

Caledon Ken said:
Really old rescue media will work in most cases....

Yes, I have one that's a v7.2 rescue usb, and that still works fine, even with images made by v8.1.

Wisewiz · Nov 29, 2023

Thank you both for this helpful information. I now have five tested USB keys in my drawer with various versions of MR Rescue Media builds on them. I think I'll wait, as you say, until MR recommends a RM update before I do another, but I know, at least, that every one I have boots and works fully.

Wisewiz · Nov 29, 2023

cereberus said:
I just updated rebuilt boot menu and iso, and all is fixed.

And once again, it seems using Build to update the boot menu is necessary (at least when the Create Rescue window calls for it) before creating a new RM key. I’ll watch out for that after every update from now on.

Josey Wales · Dec 1, 2023

There is yet another MR Update to 8.1.7784. looks like this is an every other day event!

trevo · Dec 1, 2023

Josey Wales said:
There is yet another MR Update to 8.1.7784. looks like this is an every other day event!

They seem to be generally addressing the problems with rescue media in this update.

Josey Wales · Dec 1, 2023

Maybe they will get it right this time.

jimbo45 · Dec 1, 2023

f14tomcat said:
Does anyone know how to force Reflect to see the current booted OS, i.e. 22621 and not Dev or other OS's on the same drive? The Rescue Build always wants to pick up the highest one it can find, in my case DEV 25231 (?). Occasionally, the WIN on the DEV is not quite all together and causes issues. I thought some time back that had been corrected by Macrium to only pick up the current OS, then it went back to the highest it could find. I've tried hiding the partitions of other OS's on the drive, but that doesn't help. Any insights would be appreciated.

Hi there
if you use vhdx files then just backup the vhdx files you want -- easiest way is simply to boot a windows install disk, choose --->repair system --->enter command mode and then do copy v:\windowsinstallx.vhdx w:\target\windowsinstallallx.vhdx or whatever where u and v are the source / target disks.

cheers
jimbo

Bree · Dec 1, 2023

Josey Wales said:
There is yet another MR Update to 8.1.7784. looks like this is an every other day event!

Thank you.

This one seems to be just about the rescue media, the patch didn't ask for the usual reboot when finished.

Post #1 updated.

bikemanI7 · Dec 1, 2023

Hmm mine did ask for Reboot when it finished, which i still gotta complete in a few moments

man00 · Dec 1, 2023

Can the rescue media be updated or do you have to make a new boot disk again?

cereberus · Dec 1, 2023

man00 said:
Can the rescue media be updated or do you have to make a new boot disk again?

Same thing really. Just do it.

pietcorus2 · Dec 1, 2023

Tested 777.1 ( previous ) , made OS-backups , verified (OK) , rolled back to backup , 100% did not encounter any problems at all ...........
No reason ( for me ) to make a new boot-media..............
btw; certainly not almost every day !!

Solved Latest Macrium Reflect 8 updates

𝐒𝐩𝐞𝐚𝐤𝐬 𝐀𝐧𝐜𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐆𝐞𝐞𝐤

My Computers

Well-known member

My Computers

𝐒𝐩𝐞𝐚𝐤𝐬 𝐀𝐧𝐜𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐆𝐞𝐞𝐤

My Computers

Well-known member

My Computer

𝐒𝐩𝐞𝐚𝐤𝐬 𝐀𝐧𝐜𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐆𝐞𝐞𝐤

My Computers

Well-known member

My Computers

𝐒𝐩𝐞𝐚𝐤𝐬 𝐀𝐧𝐜𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐆𝐞𝐞𝐤

My Computers

Well-known member

My Computer

Well-known member

My Computers

𝐒𝐩𝐞𝐚𝐤𝐬 𝐀𝐧𝐜𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐆𝐞𝐞𝐤

My Computers

𝐒𝐩𝐞𝐚𝐤𝐬 𝐀𝐧𝐜𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐆𝐞𝐞𝐤

My Computers

Endeavor to Persevere

My Computers

Well-known member

My Computer

Endeavor to Persevere

My Computers

Well-known member

My Computer

Well-known member

My Computers

Well-known member

My Computers

Well-known member

My Computer

Well-known member

My Computer

Well-known member

My Computer

Similar threads