[DonnaB]

Hi there,

Does anyone have any experience with this technique? I am following this guide. I have the DOS ISO downloaded to the desktop of my good laptop and 7-zip is installed. I am lost from Step 3. onward. When I right click on the DOS ISO and hover over 7-zip in my r-click menu I have several options and do not know which to choose nor how to locate to extract the SeaTools.ima file to my hard drive.

What I am trying to do is to double check the HDD on an unbootable ASUS W8.1. (no CD/DVD drive). The problem I am having started when the W10 update failed to configure and stalled at 84%. Since then, it boots to Preparing Automatic Repair then straight to the RE (Choose an option) screen. Refresh and Reset both results in "There was a problem blah, blah, blah" and back to the (Choose an option) screen I go. I want to make sure that the HDD is healthy (as told by a friend who did test it for me).

Any help is truly appreciated.

Thank you,

Donna

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ok not having used a windows os and 7zip for ages, this may not be 100% accurate.

 

what you want to do is extract here, then assuming the iso is in the download folder it is there the extracted files will show up, you will then be able to find and rename the required file, once renamed just burn that file to the usb drive using image writer.

 

[terry1966]

ok not having used a windows os and 7zip for ages, this may not be 100% accurate.

 

what you want to do is extract here, then assuming the iso is in the download folder it is there the extracted files will show up, you will then be able to find and rename the required file, once renamed just burn that file to the usb drive using image writer.

 

[DonnaB]

Hi terry1966,

Thank you for coming to my aide. I had downloaded the SeaToolsDOS223ALL.ISO file to my desktop. I came across some instructions here that I am following. Been quite some time myself that I have played around with extracting files so I was kind of lost as to which option to chose in 7-zip to extract those files. Think I figured that one out.

Presently I am at step 3, extracting the SeaTools.ima file to C:\ so I can r-click and rename the file to SeaTools.img (step 4).

How long does it normally take to extract a file that is 1627kb's? Seems like it's taking forever!

[terry1966]

to be honest i don't think it should take that long at all, certainly not long enough for you to start worrying if it is extracting or not, but does depend on your pc's capabilities.

 

all you should need to do i believe if memory isn't playing me up is right click on the desktop downloaded iso file, then hover over 7-zip move to the popout and click on extract here, then within a minute or two you should see a folder appear on the desktop with the extracted files inside it, or just the extracted files on your desktop, then just find the correct file rename it and burn it to your usb stick using the suggested program.

 

to burn it i think you just need to start imagewriter running then drag the file into it's window if it's anything like the process for using imagewriter on linux and then click the write button on bottom right, the usb drive should be listed automatically but check it is the correct drive if you have more than 1 connected.

 

 

just downloaded the iso myself and extracted and renamed the file for you but sorry i couldn't attatch the renamed file here for you because it is to big at 5.6MB

 

by the way the full process took me less than 2 minutes to download the iso file, extract it and then rename the file.

 

just noticed you said the seatools iso is 1627kb in size, but the one i downloaded is 8.5MB or 8500KB so are you sure the file as finished downloading? that might be why your having problems.

 

the file i downloaded is

SeaToolsDOS223ALL.ISO

same as you so there shouldn't be a size discrepancy like there seems to be between my file size and yours.

Edited by terry1966, 07 September 2015 - 06:30 PM.

[terry1966]

did you get it sorted in the end?

 

[DonnaB]

No. I am ready to toss this notebook out the window. Windows 8/8.1 is not my bestest of friends.... For some reason I can't get it to boot into the USB. Guess I have to go into BIOS and figure out what I am doing wrong. I don't even see the option to boot into USB in the BIOS. I'll do some more research on how to do that to make sure I have it set to boot into USB when I get back later today and let you know how it goes..

Thanks for checking back with me terry1966.

[terry1966]

ok insert usb drive then when you start the notebook use what ever key is the correct key to enter boot options, then you will probably find the usb drive listed under the hard drive boot option.

 

select it and try to boot, if it doesn't boot to it then i'm guessing it won't boot either with secure boot or uefi enabled, so you will have to go into the uefi/bios find the option for secure boot and disable it then also look for the uefi setting where it will say something like boot uefi or legacy, make sure legacy boot is enabled then try again.

 

 

don't forget to note what changes you make in the uefi/bios so you can change them back again later.

Edited by terry1966, 09 September 2015 - 04:37 AM.

[terry1966]

i know your busy but stop keeping me in suspence,

did you manage to create and boot the usb stick and check the drive or did it go out the window?

 

[DonnaB]

I am sorry. I don;t mean to keep you in suspense. I have been watching the topic that BHowett started here. I feel his pain. His issue is similar to mine, to an extend. I ran a FRST scan and there is no evidence of an OS even being installed. It's as if the partitions were erased. That is why I am thinking maybe the HDD crashed. It's really strange though, If I click on the Use a device option on the Choose an option image in this post, I can navigate to Computer > Local C: > Windows and it's as if all the folders and files are there and intact.

I put the notebook away after I ran another chkdsk c:/r the other day and got a really weird read out I had never encountered before. Sorry, but I don't remember what it said now, but I did run chkdsk a second time and now it says the HDD is RAW now. I know that is not good.

Would I be wasting my time now if I continue to get it to boot to the USB so I can check the HDD with Seatools? I did download a W8.1 .iso from here and have a link to the ASUS drivers and thought maybe if the HDD checked out I could reinstall. I have been told that I wouldn't need the product key by some and a friend of mine who owns a tech shop told me that I would.

ASUS is of no help. I contacted them and they said they would reload the notebook for a price but the box they said they would send via FedEx never showed up. What to do, what to do.....

The way I see it, if the HDD checks out ok then it has to be a corrupt W10 upgrade and MS should pay to have it fixed.

[DonnaB]

On second thought, couldn't I slave the drive and run seatools on it?

[terry1966]

 

I am sorry. I don;t mean to keep you in suspense.

don't be sorry, i know your probably very busy, i just get impatient sometimes so it is me that should be sorry for pressurising you for a responce.

 

 

but I did run chkdsk a second time and now it says the HDD is RAW now.

a hd that was working then shows up as raw is usually a sign the partition table/file system has gotten corrupted, that can usually (sometimes.) be fixed without losing data but first thing i'd do if it was mine is to image it so if it is failing, or does fail then at least i'd be able to recovery most of the files from the backup image.

 

 

On second thought, couldn't I slave the drive and run seatools on it?

yes, but by that i guess you've been unable to boot the seagate usb on the notebook.

 

do you know the reason why? as in can you not get to the boot options menu on start up and select a different boot device or is it you can get there and select the boot device but it still doesn't boot?

 

can you download live kde from below link and create a bootable usb stick with that and see if you can get that to boot, i know that should boot regardless of what secure boot or uefi settings are in the uefi/bios where as i'm not so sure about seatools.

 

http://software.opensuse.org/132/en

live kde will be listed under alternative media in a box under the default download link.

 

curious if the notebook is unbootable how did you run a FRST scan? thought that needed to be installed in a working os to run?

and how did you run the chkdsk was that from a bootable windows install usb/cd?

 

anyway first things first, step 1 take the drive out of the notebook connect it to your pc and backup it up, before doing anything else.

then run the seatools on it and we'll procede from there depending on what the results are.

 

Edited by terry1966, 12 September 2015 - 09:29 AM.

[DonnaB]

On second thought, couldn't I slave the drive and run seatools on it?

yes, but by that i guess you've been unable to boot the seagate usb on the notebook.

do you know the reason why? as in can you not get to the boot options menu on start up and select a different boot device or is it you can get there and select the boot device but it still doesn't boot?

I am unable to boot into the USB. When I reboot the computer and press F2 I can get to the American Megatrends BIOS though the only option I have under the Boot tab is to disable Windows Boot Manager. As you can see in the image below, Fast boot is disabled, but I can't find an option to choose to set boot from USB as first option. What do I have to do? Create one? See below:


 

curious if the notebook is unbootable how did you run a FRST scan? thought that needed to be installed in a working os to run?

and how did you run the chkdsk was that from a bootable windows install usb/cd?

We trained removal techs have tricks up our sleeves for unbootables.

What I did was download FRST to the USB, inserted the USB into the sick computer. Accessed cmd prompt from Advanced Options screen, typed in notepad, clicked on file, navigated to computer, got the drive letter and directed FRST to run and save the log file to the USB. I ran sfc /scannow and chkdsk c:/r from the cmd prompt in the same manner. For some reason, as the corruption progressed, I first lost access to the "A" key on the keyboard and now the "E" key doesn't work and I have no idea why? I was going to get another FRST scan but now I can't type notepad since the "A" and "E" keys don't work anymore.

I downloaded a W8.1 .iso from MS and saved to USB, using Rufus to make the USB bootable. Wasn't sure that would work since I have only used Rufus for the purpose of creating a bootable USB for RC.iso's (recovery console). I figured it would work for OS .iso's as well but when I insert the USB into the notebook it doesn't boot to USB, and I am back to the BIOS to figure out how to change the boot order but I see no way to do so. I am stuck in a catch 22.
 

can you download live kde from below link and create a bootable usb stick with that and see if you can get that to boot, i know that should boot regardless of what secure boot or uefi settings are in the uefi/bios where as i'm not so sure about seatools.


http://software.opensuse.org/132/en

live kde will be listed under alternative media in a box under the default download link.

I can try that. Let me read up on that.....

Side note:
What's really weird, while playing around to see if I could get the A and E keys to work, I went ahead and typed in chkdsk c:/r again and now it's on stage 5 of 5.. What happened to RAW??

[terry1966]

not having worked on a uefi pc for ages, and not having one of my own i can't refresh my memory on boot options/settings so i'm afraid this might be trial and error than exact steps.

 

besides the F2 key to get into uefi, have you tried tapping any other F key to see if it brings up a boot device option menu? F10 or F12 i think are the usual keys for that option.

 

i think to be able to select other bootable devices you may need to find the boot uefi/lagacy option and maybe/also secure boot option. then try disabling secure boot and also setting the uefi option to either legacy only or uefi&legacy and then try again.

 

what happens if you disable the windows boot manager?

also have you installed the usb stick into the pc then goto that menu and try adding another boot option and add the usb stick, you can always remove this option later if required.

 

to check any bootable usb sticks you make work, i'd check them on your currrent pc first and once you know they do actually work and are bootable you'll know then it is just a case of working out the correct procedure to make the notebook boot them instead of always booting the hard drive.

 

like i said earlier though before doing anything more with this drive i'd slave it in your current pc and make a complete backup image of it and once that's done you can also then run the seatools on that pc to check the hard drive.

 

[DonnaB]

not having worked on a uefi pc for ages, and not having one of my own i can't refresh my memory on boot options/settings so i'm afraid this might be trial and error than exact steps.

I am still familiarizing myself with UEFI and I do have another W8 notebook that I want to boot up. Reasons being is that there is a video I found in this link and the Choose an option screen offers more features than what are found on the same screen I am accessing. Wonder why? I googled access american megatrends boot options ASUS and found that the F2 is supposed to be the key used for accessing the boot options.
 

what happens if you disable the windows boot manager?

also have you installed the usb stick into the pc then goto that menu and try adding another boot option and add the usb stick, you can always remove this option later if required.

Haven't tried disabling Windows Boot Manager yet and I see that in that video found in the link above it says to insert the USB in order to add another device. That thought had crossed my mind so I'll try that and see what happens. I'll also try the USB on my HP W8 (the one I am working on is my sons ASUS) I have handy to see if boots, though not sure that will tell me anything since the BIOS's might be different. I'll check that out though. I am wondering, even if the BIOS is different will the boot options be?
 

like i said earlier though before doing anything more with this drive i'd slave it in your current pc and make a complete backup image of it and once that's done you can also then run the seatools on that pc to check the hard drive.

Yes...first things first. Might be wasting my time here if the HDD is trashed. I'll do that first.

Thanks terry1966 for you continued help and guidance.

[terry1966]

the thing with uefi and it's options is there are no set rules for what needs to be in them so a lot depends on the manufacturer, for example your sons uefi with less options available may not have the secure boot disable option, so without that option then there is probably no way to set legacy boot options to boot devices that do not have a signed boot loader, because secure boot can only work in uefi mode. in those cases then a lot of bootable software which will boot in legacy mode can not be booted anyway, even if you knew exactly how to set usb devices to boot..

 

also that was one reason why i'd asked you to create the bootable live kde usb stick because i know that can boot regardless of any uefi settings because it has a signed boot loader but then again the same thing should apply to the windows 8.1 bootable stick you created.

 

from what you've said though i do think inserting the usb stick into the notebook then going to the boot options and adding it is going to be the best/only way to boot anything connected by usb.

 

the only reason to check if any bootable media works on another pc be that in legacy mode or uefi mode is just to make sure it was created correctly and is bootable, then you know it can only be a hardware or uefi/bios settings problem on any machine that won't boot it.