Disk2VHD VHDX boots to flashing underscore

Question

Disk2VHD VHDX boots to flashing underscore

k_ch 1

I'm not completely sure what system is it since license.rtf says Windows Server 2008 R2, but the COA sticker on the server says windows server 2012, and Windows Server 2008 R2 boot ISO says system is incompatible, so I used a Windows Server 2012 ISO which works. After attempting to recreate the EFI partition with this method (which I thought would fix the issue since the EFI partition was RAW, just like in the article) I got this in the repair option:

Unfortunately this still doesn't boot and bootrec /scanos stops detecting the system. I'm out of ideas.

No Body 71 Reputation points

2022-08-09T14:45:35.073+00:00

Disk2VHD may not be working properly with EFI. Have you tried BackupChain? The P2V converter in BackupChain handles EFI and GPT layouts correctly.
Also how exactly did you boot the VHDX? In Hyper-V or as a physical machine?
k_ch 1 Reputation point

2022-08-09T14:59:48.677+00:00

Unfortunately the original data is gone, so I'm stuck with the Disk2VHD drive.
Booted in Hyper-V.
No Body 71 Reputation points

2022-08-09T15:04:02.973+00:00

crap. The screenshot you sent looks like the boot loader is Windows 2012 or later. The machine was probably a dual boot or upgraded to Server 2012 or later.
I would try this: take a copy of the VHDX file and add it to your physical box using BCDEDIT as boot option.
Then it will use your server's/PC's boot loader and jump to load the OS from the attached virtual disk. It usually works that way.
The same can be done from within a Hyper-V VM.

Take a VM that works, create extra space and copy the VHDX inside the VM (not the same as attaching to Hyper-V VM). Then use bcdedit to add the VHDX as a boot option.
Hope this helps!
No Body 71 Reputation points

2022-08-09T15:05:56.827+00:00

Detailed instructions on how to add the boot options are here. See section "Multiboot / Boot Menu Setup Instructions"
The settings are still the same on newer versions of Windows
k_ch 1 Reputation point

2022-08-09T15:16:35.77+00:00

Oh that's not a boot loader, that's the 2012 ISO

1 answer

Your answer

No Body 71 Reputation points

2022-08-09T14:45:35.073+00:00

Disk2VHD may not be working properly with EFI. Have you tried BackupChain? The P2V converter in BackupChain handles EFI and GPT layouts correctly.
Also how exactly did you boot the VHDX? In Hyper-V or as a physical machine?
k_ch 1 Reputation point

2022-08-09T14:59:48.677+00:00

Unfortunately the original data is gone, so I'm stuck with the Disk2VHD drive.
Booted in Hyper-V.
No Body 71 Reputation points

2022-08-09T15:04:02.973+00:00

crap. The screenshot you sent looks like the boot loader is Windows 2012 or later. The machine was probably a dual boot or upgraded to Server 2012 or later.
I would try this: take a copy of the VHDX file and add it to your physical box using BCDEDIT as boot option.
Then it will use your server's/PC's boot loader and jump to load the OS from the attached virtual disk. It usually works that way.
The same can be done from within a Hyper-V VM.

Take a VM that works, create extra space and copy the VHDX inside the VM (not the same as attaching to Hyper-V VM). Then use bcdedit to add the VHDX as a boot option.
Hope this helps!
No Body 71 Reputation points

2022-08-09T15:05:56.827+00:00

Detailed instructions on how to add the boot options are here. See section "Multiboot / Boot Menu Setup Instructions"
The settings are still the same on newer versions of Windows
k_ch 1 Reputation point

2022-08-09T15:16:35.77+00:00

Oh that's not a boot loader, that's the 2012 ISO

Answer 1

Hello there,

There are several Windows advanced repair options you can use to solve boot problems such as running Startup Repair, repairing the Master Boot Record (MBR), and fixing corrupted system files. If none of them helps then you can use clean install.

This topic provides an overview and supporting procedures for restoring or repairing a server running Windows Server. Restore or repair your server running Windows Server Essentials https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-server-essentials/manage/restore-or-repair-your-server-running-windows-server-essentials

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Disk2VHD VHDX boots to flashing underscore

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