Stuck in a loop!

[KenB]

Hi Labi

 

Do you have "MyWinLocker" on your Win7 machine?

I have found numerous instances where folks are trying to copy/paste and this is the cause of the problem.

 

If you do have MyWinLocker installed - uninstall it and try again.

 

=========================

 

Although drive E: (and G: ) appear to be under my control, the folders "Users" "vincent" & "My Pictures"

are not!

I have located a handy bit of software that will make changes to the registry and add "Take Ownership" when you right click on a file / folder.

I have tried this and it works on my system.

 

Before we go any further - you need to create a Restore Point as the program below will make changes to the Registry.

This is a simple job - but necessary just in case there are problems after installing.

See here - How to Create a System Restore Point in Windows 7

 

Now for the Take Ownership bit ........

Click on the link below- it will download automatically [ probably to C:\ Users\*********\Downloads ] [ ******** will be the name of the login user ]

Locate "Take Ownership Menu Hacks" in Downloads and click on this.

You may need to click on another folder until you locate the two install / uninstall options.

Click on the Install one and it only takes seconds to complete.

 

https://www.howtogeek.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/Take-Ownership-Menu-Hacks.zip

 

Once installed go back to My Pictures and right click on it.

Take Ownership should now be an option - click on this.

Now try to copy / paste a picture from here to G:

Edited May 4, 2018 by KenB

[Labi]

Hi Ken

Eureka moment!!!

OS (E: ) copying to OS (G:\OS)

as I speak.

Winlocker seems to have been the culprit.!!

Long wait ahead (3 hrs it says).

Will get back to you later.

Best, Labi.😂😂

Edited May 4, 2018 by KenB

[Labi]

Ken

Not quite out of the woods, yet.

Message says " destination path too long.

The file name(s) would be too long for destination folder. You can shorten the file name and try again or try a location that has a shorter path."

Underneath is a tick box- "do this for all current items (167 found)"

I can either 'Skip' or 'Cancel' at this point.

Data transfer has stopped. Asus G: now showing 51GB free of 97GB. Not sure if everything is copied over or if it's awaiting a response to the message....??

Labi

[KenB]

Hi Labi

I removed the dancing stick man for the moment :)

 

Were you trying to copy the whole of E: to G: ?

This isn't really necessary and I think that this may be the problem.

 

Try copying just "My Pictures" to G:

 

Take a look at G: and see what is there.

I suspect that there are files and folders that you just don't want.

If there is too much stuff to manually delete - right click on G: and select "Format"

Simple/Quick format is fine.

Make sure you have NTFS.

 

Then you can start again with "My Pictures" from E: to G:

We tried this previously [ from a command prompt ]

robocopy "E:\users\your name\my pictures" "G:\My Pictures" /b /e

 

I am here for the next hour and a half [ until 5-45 UK time ]

Post back if you need clarification :)

[Labi]

Ken

I think it's now safe to say - we've made it to dry land!

I did copy over everything from E: drive - except (I think?) for the 167 items with

"file names too long for destination". Don't know what or where they are...probably not

that important, anyway.

Pictures/documents/downloads etc all seem to be intact, for which I'm very grateful!

 

I will keep the programme files as the list will be a useful reminder when I get round to

reinstalling everything.

 

Can we talk safely about reformatting the HD now, at last? I would dearly like to

get my Asus up and running if you have the patience for one more round of Q&A...!?

Best again, Labi.

[KenB]

I think it's now safe to say - we've made it to dry land!

Dancing man is back :)

 

Now that you have your photos etc safe on G: There are one or two things I would like to try before we actually wipe the drive itself.

 

Please confirm that you can open the photos and Open Office documents from G:.

You also mentioned PDFs earlier - do you have them too ?

[i am off out soon - so will pick this up later]

Well done for sticking with this - many would have given up a long time ago :)

[Labi]

Ken

Despite the scares earlier on, incredibly, all seems to be present and correct!

That includes pics/downloads/PDF's and Libre Office documents - many of which

converted to PDF's anyway.

It's me who should be thanking you for your staying power. Hope that's appreciated at home...!

 

Since we're in the middle of local elections, here's a pic that's not PC related!

Labi.

[KenB]

all seems to be present and correct

Brilliant !!

 

It's me who should be thanking you......

You are welcome.

It is a pity that we didn't find MyWinLocker earlier - could have saved a lot of time and effort :)

 

It is too late now [ 10-45 pm ] for me to continue.

I will pick it up again tomorrow :)

[KenB]

Hi Labi

 

We need to check that the problem drive is OK.

 

Please download Sea Tools for Windows from here - the download will start automatically.

https://www.seagate.com/files/www-content/support-content/downloads/seatools/_shared/downloads/SeaToolsforWindowsSetup.exe

 

If it doesn't install straight away it will be in your Downloads folder.

 

Install it and run it.

It will locate any drives - hopefully your problem drive will be shown.

 

You need to put a tick in the box next to it.

 

 

"Basic Tests" will appear.

Use the drop-down menu to select "Short Generic" and run this.

You will get a Pass or Fail [ see mine below ] It is shown in the toolbar [ Pass Info in green ]

A fail will be shown here too.

 

 

Then run the "Short Drive Self Test".

Any "Fails" and it is not worth continuing.

 

There is a short video on the Seagate page that may be of interest.

https://www.seagate.com/gb/en/support/downloads/seatools/

 

Let me know how you get on.

Edited May 5, 2018 by KenB

[Labi]

Ken

Happy to report Green light given in both of the system checks mentioned in your post.

No mention of 'Fail' during either scan.

Does that mean the HD is still fit for purpose...?!

 

Best, Labi.

[KenB]

Does that mean the HD is still fit for purpose...?!

Looking good.

 

Please run the S.M.A.R.T test from Sea Tools and see if it passes this one too.

 

This is Self-Monitoring, Analysis and Reporting Technology

SMART reports on the drive reliability and can predict a failing drive.

 

=====================

If the above is OK please try the following again:

 

Go into Command Prompt [ Administrator ] again.

Type in .....[ this assumes that the drive letter is still E: ]

sfc /scannow /offwindir=e:\windows /offbootdir=e:\

 

You can run this a couple of times as this scan very often misses things on the first pass.

 

This is slightly more complicated than the usual sfc /scannow because we are scanning an external drive

- i.e. in a caddy connected to a USB port.

Edited May 6, 2018 by KenB

[Labi]

Hi Ken

Can't locate the SMART icon to initiate this test...?

Puzzled, Labi.

[KenB]

Hi Labi,

 

Put a tick next to the drive and select the Drop Down menu as before.

Not all drives support S.M.A.R.T - but I would have thought that all recent drives do.

 

 

You could also try "Fix All" > Fast

This attempts to fix bad sectors on the hard drive if it finds any.

Edited May 6, 2018 by KenB

[Labi]

Ken

There's a funny thing! HD attached via USB, doesn't show SMART in the drop-down list -

but the much older drive in my Win 7 - does bring it up!!

Should I just move on to the command challenge...?

 

Labi.

[Labi]

Ken

Quick update: no "fix all" for either drive available.

[KenB]

No fix all ....

Very odd !!

It could be because it is not the main drive on that machine.

 

Try the sfc /scannow etc from an elevated command prompt [ Administrator ]

Let's hope you have more luck with this.

[Labi]

Ken

Message after trying the new Command: - "Windows resource protection could not start the repair service."

 

I'm not clear about what you meant by - "[This assumes that the drive letter is still E:]

Should the letter E: start the Command - after ...system 32> and immediately before "sfc"...?

I haven't done that so far.....

 

Labi.

[KenB]

Hi Labi

 

Yes - exactly as written in my post #161 :)

[Labi]

Ken

I'm not having any luck with this Command.

Each time I get the message - "windows resource protection could not start the repair service".

Have entered/checked the syntax carefully....?

Labi.

[KenB]

Hi Labi

 

Click the Start Orb [ bottom left ] and type in ...... services.msc ......hit Enter

Scroll down and look for Windows Modules Installer or the TrustedInstaller service

It should be set to "Manual"

If it is "stopped" then double click on it and select "Manual" by clicking the down-arrow next to "Startup Type"

Apply > OK

 

Alternatively ....

using the elevated command prompt ....[ Administrator ]

Type in ..... net start trustedinstaller .....Enter

 

Try the command prompt again.

[Labi]

Ken

I'm afraid I can't get away from that message...."Windows resource protection could not start the repair service".

I did reset "windows module installer" - to - "started"/ "manual".

Also tried "net start trustedinstaller".

 

When I researched the 'message' online, it suggested I should download Registry fixing software(?). Is this

something to consider do you think....?

 

Labi.

[KenB]

Registry fixing software

It really depends what it is and who has written it. Generally - rule of thumb - stay away from any software that changes registry settings

[ unless advised :) ]

 

Can you post a link to the "Registry fixing software"

 

================

 

I have just tried sfc /scannow /offwindir=e:\windows /offbootdir=e:\ [ knowing that it would fail as I don't have an E: drive ]

I got exactly the same message as you.

Conclusion:

I your case - It is not finding E: or the Boot Directory or Windows on E:

 

================

 

Try this for me:

Go back to an elevated command prompt [ Administrator ]

Type in E: .........then hit return.

 

Now type in ........ bootrec /fixmbr [space after bootrec ]

[ the MBR - Master Boot Record - is information that tells where the Operating System is located on the disk ]

 

You should get a message - "operation completed successfully"

 

=================

 

I think - without checking back - we altered the BIOS of your Win7 machine to boot from USB.

If we did - shut down normally then reboot [ with the problem drive connected ]

 

Does 8.1 boot up or are we still with Win7 ?

Edited May 7, 2018 by KenB

[Labi]

Ken

Would that I could give a favourable report!

 

Bootrec Command isn't recognised. (And we tried it much earlier on)

 

With USB connected - and prioritised in BIOS Boot order, Win7 still opens normally

with no sign of USB OS 8.1 being detected.

 

I haven't looked further into the Registry fixing software available.

However, the programme is called - ReimageRepair.EXE.

Website address: - www.Reimageplus.com.

 

Labi.

[KenB]

Hi Labi

 

That is "paid for" software - and there are still no guarantees.

I did a search for reviews for them - not good - lots of people disappointed because it didn't do what it was claimed.

 

we tried it much earlier on

I remember now :)

 

Instead of bootrec - type in bootrec.exe /fixmbr and give this a try.

Don't forget to type in E: first.

 

====================

 

If that fails go to this link and download EaseUs [ different from the recovery software we tried earlier :) ]

Rebuild MBR, repair MBR, fix MBR or MBR recovery with EaseUS Partition Master

 

This is a "Free Trial" - hopefully it will let us rebuild the MBR and not ask for cash :)

 

Install it on the Win7 machine. Run it.

Make sure that you select the E: partition - Disk 0 will be your Win7 machine.

You will need Disk 1 - if it is showing.

 

This video may help -

 

Edited May 7, 2018 by KenB

[Labi]

Hi Ken

Thank you for continuing to find solutions to the difficulties that present themselves

on this mission!!

 

Still the Bootrec.exe command is not recognised!?

 

The MBR software download screen differs slightly from the link video example shown.

 

Video shows "Disk 1 (MBR)" with the drop down option to select "rebuild MBR" highlighted.

 

My downloaded screen version shows "Disk 1 (GPT)" - with the drop down option to select (among other choices)

"convert GPT to MBR" (which appears to me to be the nearest available equivalent to "rebuild MBR"?)

 

Where I'm asked to"Please type MBR with the current OS": should I choose Win7 at this point?

Sorry if this seems obvious but I don't want to make an error here!

 

Labi.