Another way to use cloud recovery tool app

[obarretov]

I used hp recovery tool for install fresh WIN10 home into 15-bw073nr  since  the bootable USB drive made with MCT from MS did not work : when I try to boot & start the install, screen was filled a lot of "noise", nothing could be seen & could'nt be done after that, I googled the issue and I found I can do the install via hp recovery tool (HPRT)

I did the procedure as explained in this forum but it took me almost 2 hours to complete the install.  Everything was good.

But I cheched the files in bootable USB drive made with HPRT, i saw that almost all files are similar to the ones contained when you create bootable USB with MCT, except the "Preload" folder which IS NOT present in bootable USB made with MCT.

The content in Preload folder is several  *.swm files (totalling around 10 GB)  which are the image HP did for especific model you have.   Those files are the split image files made from original install.wim.  I found out 18 *.swm files:  base.swm, base2.swm, base3.swm ... base18.swm. MS has the proper commands to handle these *.swm files

I did the following to install fresh WIN10  from HPRT with those split files WITHOUT using ALL process which took me 2 hours :

1. I did a winPE bootable usb, fortunately, this usb drive booted all way and no "rain"  appeared

2. I put the "preload" folder in that usb drive 

3. I booted from winPE drive and partitioned SSD with diskpart (I used a script to do that)

4. I  applied the split image with DISM command (I used a .bat file to do it, but you can write the command)

5. I recreate boot sector (mandatory when you apply image, you have to  write a command too)

6. Done ...  install  took me 15 minutes (instead 2 hours) 

I know I explained very brief, if anybody wants more detail, please let me know

[BeemerBiker]

I have older HP system that does not have HPRT. 

Question:  After the 15 minute install did you get the latest 22h2 or 23h2 release of Windows 10 or did you have to go through a lot of updates?

The reason I ask is that I once used an old windows 10 retail install DVD and found that none of the windows update servers were available.  In addition, some websites that I had to download drivers did not work with the IE that came with the original DVD. 

I found it was easier to install from the DVD with network disabled, then use a USB flash drive that had had the 22h2 "setup.exe".  If I left the ethernet cable connected the old win10 tried to download tons of stuff and would be failing constantly

IIMHO, it would be useful if you put your script on GitHub and explain what you did.

[Paul_Tikkanen]

Hi, @BeemerBiker 

W10 22H2 is the final release build of W10.

Windows 10 - release information | Microsoft Learn

[obarretov]

Hello BeemerBiker :

The script I used is the typical script accepted by DiskPart command, I used it because I was able to boot from winPE only.

That is the command :  DiskPart /s CreatePartitions-UEFI.txt.    you have to create a *.txt file with necessary commands to create the 3 partitions windows needs, I downloaded this from MS website :

rem == CreatePartitions-UEFI-FFU.txt ==
rem == These commands are used with DiskPart to
rem create three partitions
rem for a UEFI/GPT-based PC.
rem Adjust the partition sizes to fill the drive
rem as necessary. ==
select disk 0
clean
convert gpt
rem == 1. System partition =========================
create partition efi size=100
rem ** NOTE: For Advanced Format 4Kn drives,
rem change this value to size = 260 **
format quick fs=fat32 label="System"
assign letter="S"
rem == 2. Microsoft Reserved (MSR) partition =======
create partition msr size=16
rem == 3. Windows partition ========================
rem == a. Create the Windows partition ==========
create partition primary
rem == c. Prepare the Windows partition =========
format quick fs=ntfs label="Windows"
assign letter="W"
list volume
exit

Put these lines in notepad and create the .txt file and name it "CreatePartitions-UEFI" 

Put this text file along with "Preload" folder in the root of bootable winPE usb drive

But If you are able to boot from bootable flash drive made with MCT, then go through the process up to you complete the partitions, go back one time and enter Shift+F10 to get command shell and apply the split image from there.

I strongly recommend using diskpart because it assign the proper volumes letters needed for further commands.  

That is the command :       

Dism /Apply-Image /ImageFile:D:\preload\base.swm /SWMFile:D:\preload\base*.swm /Index:1 /ApplyDir:W:\

😧  D is the flash drive, W: is the target SSD where you want to install windows (W is temp assigned letter, it will become C:  when you restart your fresh install),  Preload is the folder downloaded from HPRT.

DO NOT forget to recreate the boot files with this command :       

W:\windows\system32\bcdboot W:\windows /s S: /f UEFI       ...   where S:  is the EFI system partition created  with diskpart 

I created 3 batch files to go quicker :  1.  for patitioning, 2. for applying the split image & 3. for create the boot files. 

With these batch files the install of 10 GB of image split files took me 15 minutes, just execute each from command shell.

Keep in mind, ALL these instructions are for UEFI bios machine and NO cd drive .    Thanks