Old Windows 10 Machine - Cannot execute reagentc /enable after MBR2GPT migration because script cannot update boot configuration data
itFWC
1
Reputation point
After updating migrating my Windows 10's disk 0 from MBR to GPT using the MBR2GPT tool, I found that I could not enable the Windows Recovery Environment using reagentc /enable in an elevated command prompt.
Remarks:
- The system is running on a Lenovo ThinkCentre M92P that was updated from Windows 7 Pro (the original OS) to Windows 10 Pro. This update happened when disk 0 was still in MBR mode.
- The BIOS supports both Legacy and UEFI mode.
- bcdedit cannot find the BCD file unless it is directly specified using the /store flag, regardless of whether the full OS or Windows PE mode is running.
- I have a Windows 10 installation CD that I can use to run the Windows PE command prompt.
- Unlike some other users who have experienced this problem, I am able to run Windows. I just can't access the Windows RE menu items when holding "Shift". The only item available in the "Troubleshoot" menu is "UEFI Firmware settings."
- Because MBR2GPT was used, the partitions aren't standard: the recovery partition (System_DRV) comes first, followed by the EFI partition and the C drive. There is no MSR partition.
- I have another Lenovo ThinkCentre (we'll call this PC 2) that was also updated from Windows 7 to 10, and migrated from MBR to GPT successfully. reagentc was enabled without a hitch, so I'm not sure what is going on with PC 1.
- The computer used to be a dual-boot Windows-Linux machine, with the Linux partition stored on another disk (Disk 1). However, bcdboot was used to reset the BCD configuration file.
- Windows RE worked before the MBR to GPT migration.
Things that have been tried:
- I've ran the following in an elevated terminal, but reagentc still cannot enable Windows RE successfully. sfc /scannow
DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth - In Windows PE mode (where the C drive is called "D"), I've used diskpart to assign V: to the EFI partition and ran
bcdboot D:\Windows /l en-US /s V: /f ALL
successfully. - Use the Windows 10 CDto boot into Windows PE, then execute "Startup Repair," which fails.
- Run Windows normally, then "run" the Windows 10 installation disk. This is to see if I can reinstall Windows, while keeping my files. I get a "Sorry, we’re having trouble determining if your PC can run Windows 10" error.
- In Windows PE, run reagentc /enable /osguid {GUID of the default bootloader}. I get a "REAGENTC. EXE: Unable to update Boot Configuration Data. Access denied." message. The "Access denied" error does not appear when running reagentc in the full OS.
Screenshots/Logs
Reagentc logs: https://controlc.com/7f8fafdd
Diskpart logs: https://controlc.com/8269a89c
BCDEdit logs: https://controlc.com/bb43b2c6
System_drv dir logs (showing that the F drive contains winre.wim): https://controlc.com/207edf59
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