Accessing HP Recovery Disc Files: solved

Many of you have had questions about how, if anything, you can access the files on the HP recovery discs, without having to go through a full recovery. Maybe you did a clean install and want to get some software you forgot to backup, or something else like that. Well, here it is:

Before you start, please know that this is really for ADVANCED USERS ONLY, and frankly, it's kind of a pain.

Right now you can explore the folders and copy files out of the image, and that's about it. If you're looking to be able to do a clean install using this method, it might work in a limited way and you'll have to do a LOT of modifications to the image. I have not looked into this yet, but I bet someone can figure it out.

OK, so here's how:

1. Download and install the free, but HUGE Windows Automated Installation Kit (All you really need is the 'imagex' utility and WIM driver, which is about 14MB, but it only comes as part of this 1GB download)
2. Install the WAIK
3. Install the WIM driver:
   1. Go to "C:\Program Files\Windows AIK\Tools"
   2. Open the folder that matches the architecture of the OS you're running
      • 32-bit = x86
      • 64-bit = amd64
   3. Right-click on the "wimfltr.inf" file and select "Install"
   4. Reboot[/li]
4. Add the WIM tools folder to your PATH:
   
   [*] Right-click on "Computer", then "Properties"
   [*] Click on "Advanced system settings" in the left-hand pane
   [*] Select the "Advanced" tab, then press the button [Environment Variables...]
   [*] Under the "User variables for {username}", click on "PATH", then the [Edit] button
   [*] In the "Value" box, go to the end of the line (DO NOT DELETE ANYTHING THAT'S ALREADY THERE!) and add to the end of the line:
   ;C:\Program Files\Windows AIK\Tools\x86
   Make SURE to include the semi-colon, and replace "x86" with "amd64" if you are using 64-bit Vista.
   [*] Press [OK], [OK], [OK]
   
5. Insert each recovery DVD and go into the "preload" folder where you will find a bunch of "BASE#.WIM" files, where # is a number. Copy all of these files into a folder on your hard drive (also get the "BASE.WIM" file). Do this for each of the discs.
6. Open the "Command Prompt" as Administrator and "cd" into the folder where you copied the "BASE*.WIM" files.
7. Run the "imagex command to export the split WIM files into one big file:
   <code>imagex /export /ref *.wim base.wim 1 exported.wim "exported"</code>
8. Wait
9. Make a directory that will be used to mount the image:
   <code>mkdir exported</code>
10. Mount the image:
    <code>imagex /mount exported.wim 1 exported</code>
11. Now you can open the "exported" folder and explore all the files inside!

 

Hi Orev:

I have been trying to do this for awhile. Looks like in the step #4, sub#4
" Under the "User variables for {username}", click on "PATH",.."

There is no PATH entry, but I see PATH entry under "system variables.."
So, I inserted this " ;C:\Program Files\Windows AIK\Tools\x86 " under that entry to find what is going to happen.

However at the step #5, " ...go into the "preload" folder .."

I don't see any folder named "preload" in the recovery DVD.

I am using my Sony recovery disk.

I am using a PC with Vista Ultimate SP1 to do this procedure.

Any suggestion?

 

Here something that goies good with this gui from imagex

http://www.autoitscript.com/gimagex/


also am pretty sure when you install waik you do not need to install imagex fliter manual

 

For the PATH issue, it does not matter. You can do it systemwide or you can do it per user. You can make a new variable if it doesn't exist under USER, or just put it in SYSTEM.

As for the "preload", you'll have to find that yourself. It may not be called "preload". You have to look around on the disc for some really big files, probably ending in .WIM, or maybe .MOD files, according to post #4 in this thread. This procedure is very vendor specific, so you'll need to get creative to adapt it for you.

Great find!

 

I found several files *.MOD and two .WOM files that is BOOT.WIM and P1.WIM.

Everything went smooth, but in the out put folder there is no software that I am looking for though it is listed in *.MOD files.

Where went wrong, I have no idea.

I used this command for MOD files.

imagex /export /ref *.mod boot.wim 1 exported.wim "exported"

It created the exported.wm file
Then used this command

imagex /mount exported.wim 1 exported

Opened the folder, it has only the basic windows files but no softwares...

What is that P1.wim ? I tried with P1.wim instead of Boot.wim again, but no software files in the ouput.

 

thanks for the great tip orev!!!

 

Every vendor is different. You might have more luck in the Sony forum. One good clue will be how big each of the files are. For HP systems, there are about 10 files, each about 650MB, which makes it easy to fit on CDs or DVDs. There may be another image number in there that has more files on it.

I would suggest reading up on imagex, and trying out that GUI utility that andyasselin mentioned.

 

I wound say p1 image are apply after the base one with windows depend on config

have you try just mount the p1 images?

or do imagex /info on them? that gui can do that

 

I followed this verbatim and it worked perfectly, even tho it took me hours on imagex before I found the tutorial.

My question is what or how do I create a bootable DVD without the HP crap? Is it possible? should i create a virtual machine to try out the new mounted image?

Please help.

cgman

 

There's some information on how to make a bootable DVD from the downloaded Vista files, which you can find here: http://www.mydigitallife.info/2007/05/10/how-to-make-vista-bootable-dvd-with-wim-downloaded-files/
You may be able to figure out a technique that uses the extracted file from these WIM files instead.

 

Hello again,

I've attached a sample of the directories the .wim files spit out. I am using the boot files command.com from my bootable flash drive. I guess to try and spoof it.

I tried to create a bootable image with imgburn, but with the entire 9+GB, it creates 3 images.

I would like to burn this to a HDD to see if it will work, but am currently unable to get it to work.

any ideas??

Thanks,

cgman

 

I would start looking into how corporations can customize the discs (Windows Automatic Installation Kit), and once you figure that out you can try to reverse engineer the HP disc.

 

when u have access to the contains of the disk, can't u try to find the necessary files to make a iso for a vista clean install? im just hoping. i need to do a clean install on my tx2000, but i dont have any vista dvds

 

I'm sure it's possible, but some other smart person will need to figure out how to do it.

 

Thanks for the help, so far, OREV. This is what I am trying to do. Upon further research, it looks like WinPE is used for the vista install and all of the folders are what WinPE look for during the install.

What is really nice is the HP didn't encrypt or count on us trying to look at the actual files and there are TONS of batch files and text files, containing information like... generic CD key for the installation.

I still have not found anyway to get a clean install. My next step is to install vista, remove all the CRAP, and then create a bootable .iso image for the OS. I hope it works and I will post the outcome.

Thanks

Cgman

 

Thanks for the help, so far, OREV. This is what I am trying to do. Upon further research, it looks like WinPE is used for the vista install and all of the folders are what WinPE look for during the install. Also, HP us using a lot of python scripts to automate something.

What is really nice is the HP didn't encrypt or count on us trying to look at the actual files and there are TONS of batch files and text files, containing information like... generic CD key for the installation.

I still have not found anyway to get a clean install. My next step is to install vista, remove all the CRAP, and then create a bootable .iso image for the OS. I hope it works and I will post the outcome.

Thanks

Cgman

 

Hi,

My first post on this forum, but reading the clean install topics has been very useful, thanks!

With my dv2531ea, I have found a way to get the clean version of Vista off the recovery disk.

When you have mounted the image, you search for a file called "baseos.wim" (just do a search - I'm afraid I've forgotten the dir name, but it looked like a load of random letters in the root of the cd ([something]\source\baseos.wim)). This wim file contains the clean Vista install. Copy this file to a flash drive and follow the instructions here (can't post a link because the forum won't let me):

windowsnetworking.com/articles_tutorials/Deploying-Vista-Part-13-Performing-Image-Based-Deployment.html

This will apply the wim to your hard drive.

Hopefully you know this already, but this will delete all files and the recovery partition from your hard disk! I have tried this and it works, but the usual disclaimer applies: you must accept responsibility for anything you do that results in losing data or damaging hardware!

This procedure installs Vista completely clean and my ethernet and WLan ports worked out-of-the-box. It's then up to you to apply video drivers, relevant updates and the HP software (extracted from those recovery disks).

Hope this helps,
Cheers,
Adam

 

hmm.... nice job Orev! Thanks!

Looks like I have a new project on my hands

[EDIT]
I'm trying my best btw.... using all the resources I have.
Been few hours and no luck so far, but I still have a few tricks left.
Btw no "baseos.wim" file....
They wouldnt include an image of an OS install disk inside of an image of an OS recovery disk
Did I give too much info away?

 

Wel, that's how it is on my recovery CD - the mouned image contains another image with the clean OS image - applying it to a newly formatted HDD was trivial.

I'll go through the extraction again and post the path later.

Cheers,
Adam

 

Thank you. Can you try and post a screenshot (and size of file)?

You have dv2500 and I have dv9500.... the recovery disks should be really similar (besides drivers)

I created my own wim using the wim files extracted from the recovery disks...
All I have to do is test it (how can I without messing up my own installation?)
I'm going to try virtual machine first... probably wont work on there since this is based off OEM (OEM-check?)

[EDIT] - update
I got my wim file down to just over 3GB..... from 6.29GB
I still cant find a way to test however...
I'm going to have to get a bit creative.
BUt for now I am going to sleep.

Btw, is all this worth it? I dont think so personally but its still fun, all in the name of research.

[update 2]
Found a way, but installation failed before showing License Agreement (probably missing it in the wim or something)
Going to use original wim/remake wim

 

Hi,

I have re-extracted the wim's and the exact path is C:\vista\exported\USWV32HP\Sources\BaseOS.wim. As you requested, I have attached a screenshot. The method for installing this is as follows:

1) Copy BaseOS.wim to a flash drive.
2) Run WindowsPE (I have a windows PE CD with ImageX, which I created using the Windows AIK).
3) Use diskpart to create a single NTFS partition on drive C (disk0 partition1).
4) Use imagex /apply to apply the wim Image to the hard drive.

When you reboot in to Vista for the first time, you have a clean (but pre-activated!) install. I manually installed drivers from HP's web site and on installing the video driver, Aero Glass automatically activated. Once you have the drivers and SP1 installed, you can then use WindowsPE/ImageX to create a new 'slipstreamed' image for future installs.

HTH,
Adam

EDIT: The path I have given above is obviously because I have mounted the WIM image at c:\vista\exported - the path I extracted my original WIM's to was c:\vista, just for clarification!

 

Thanks AMJ. Looks like you are very lucky.
My dv9500t did not come with a Vista image... (I checked and rechecked)

They made the dv2500t restore disks different as there isnt even a USWV32HP folder.
Looks like it is easier for dv2500t owners to make a clean-install

 

Oh, bad luck

I did think that if it was this easy, someone would have figured it out by now, TBH. FYI, my restore DVD is one ordered from HP about 2 weeks ago. It's a second hand laptop and the previous owner (my dad), had already recked the recovery partition and not created a backup set! I know this shouldn't make any difference because everyone says the recovery disks are the same as the ones you make yourself...

I have done a fair bit of background reading about how WIM files work now and can only think of a few ways that HP could do it where they don't supply disks like mine:
1) The Base#.wim files have an image containing the vista installation already including the drivers and cr@pware - in this case, you probably won't ever extract the bloat from the image unless you have HP's Windows AIK Answer Files.
2) The BaseOS.wim file is there on the disk, but somehow disguised in file name and / or encrypted (luckily mine wasn't because I'm rubbish at cracking encryption (not that I've tried for anything devious ).
3) The Base#.wim files themselves make up the new hard disk image, in which case they would contain a pre-installed \Windows\ directory. In this case, you may well be able to extract the pure Windows installation from the WIM - after all, I believe the recovery DVD normally contains a swsetup directory with setup executables, so the main image can't have all that preinstalled too.

For options 1 and 2, there's going to be a file on the recovery DVD somewhere around 2-4GiB which should give away the fact that it's the installation image. There's only so much you can do to hide files on a DVD, after all...

Cheers,
Adam

 

No BaseOS.wim file here either. It would be interesting if others had it on there purchased recovery disks.

Since the recovery disks you make yourself can also be burned to CD's I doubt they would include a file 2-4 GB in size. Attached is a copy of the WIM files from recovery disks made from my notebook.

I personally don't need another copy of the OS but it was a fun exercise. Your effort may help those with purchased HP recovery disks.

 

If you burned DVDs it would be different..

 

Yeah what I tried doing is deleting all the junk from the wim and save it.
But Vista setup wont recognize it.
So then I tried the original wim file (before deleting junk) and it didnt recognize that either.
So I have to somehow let Vista setup recognize the wim file.
Or maybe people can just use that wim file and then use imagex to extract all the files on a clean hard drive.

 

If that message is for me, the attachment I included in my post shows the WIM files extracted from the preload folders on the 3 DVD's I originally burned for my recovery set. I didn't use CD's.

 

Oh sorry, I misread your other post....... completely my fault

 

Hi remember that this file is within the original base#.wim files, which are split to the CD/DVD size. That means that there is (theoretically) no limit to anything included in the base#.wim's, because they are re-joined when you use the /export command.

Sorry it's not working for anyone else - hopefully this will help someone, though.

Cheers,
Adam

 

Now you have me confused. If the BaseOS.wim file is included within the base#.wim files and not a file unto itself, how do you see it? How would you extract the BaseOS.wim file out of the other wim files to perform the operations on it you proposed?

Once the WIM files are extracted and exported then re-joined (I am aware of no size limitation, just pointing out that there is not any file 2-4 GB in size) there is just one large WIM file such as exported.wim. Now you can no longer see any individual wim's as they do not exist, obviously.

Once you imagex the exported (joined wim's) you now have all the individual files, no longer are there any wim files. So if the BaseOS.wim is not on the disk in wim format from the beginning how do you create/extract it. (sorry I think I asked this before, but i am not re-writting)

I am not trying to be critical or confrontational, I am just trying to understand

 

I understand what you are trying to say.
I believe that only the dv2700 has the baseos.wim file.
For any other Pavilion, it will not have baseos.wim in the hard drive image.

 

Sorry to be confusing! Here's the method

You have the base.wim and base#.wim files, which, as per the original tutorial you join in to "exported.wim". You then mount this file at the point "c:\exported", so that the file system contained within the wim file is visible - "c:\exported\" as the root of the imaged file system. The baseos.wim file is now at "c:\exported\USWV32HP\Sources\BaseOS.wim". This is the wim you need to use directly with imagex to install your clean version of Vista on to a formatted hard disk.

Since originally posting, I have tried this a couple of times and it worked perfectly. Once the base OS is installed, you install up to date drivers and Vista SP1, and you can then use imagex to create a new, slipstreamed baseos.wim file to use in the future (if you are lucky enough to have this type of recovery media).

Cheers,
Adam

 

Hello everyone,

just popping in to post a quick summary of my efforts to extract installation dvd from recovery partition. I wanted to have a vista installation disc, but wanted to keep a few pieces of software bundled with my PC, drivers (plus I like HP logos sprinkled around my system and support info just in case, well hyperlinks to driver downloads, updates and so on are also nice) that's why I started investigating recovery partition to see if I can somehow connect those things. I have a 2007 pavilion desktop pc and after a couple of days of sniffing arounfd and playing with some tools I came to a few conclusions. Here's what I found out:

- first and foremost, and this is the bad news, hp seems to have taken a different approach some time ago: after compiling extracted.wim from all that can be found on recovery partition, I found only folders and files that are nicely copied onto a clean C: drive by hp, it's just an image of a fresh instal, no windows installation files; after all, it's pretty obvious, recovering the system takes approximately 8 minutes, just as long as it takes to copy 7gb of data

- "base" names are no longer used, instead you will most certainly find something that resembles "8MbnyB1*.wim" with ascending endings (B1, B11, B12, etc.), the structure remains untouched, the first file is the base, others are base#, but given the first conclusion this leaves you with nothing

- 8MbnyB1 and the likes are system tatoos, while searching the net I came across a few apparently hp confidential (sic!) docs and tools ready for download, a quick read reveals that each system is tatooed so that the name comprises the build details (system, date of manufacture, etc)

- gimagex, mentioned at the beginning of this thread doesn't always do what it's told to; I'd recommend using it only as a second tool; for instance, exported.wim made with the use of gimagex contained nothing else but 42 wim files used to create the image... but it's nice for mounting images and getting info on them

- to sum up: no installation files, nothing to boot from, just a neat image of a fresh windows

- one thing I was unable to understand: how those thing are scripted, it seems that recovery script copies the image and then forces the installation of bundled software and drivers, can someone point to where the main script may be hidden?

And maybe someone can find something on this tatooing thing, this seems like an interesting thread. Who knows, this might take us somewhere...

Happy findings,
Rad

 

I think the scripting is done in some of the automated installation files. If you do some research into automated installation for Vista, you may find the answers. There's also some information in my clean install guide on how to remove the customization from Dell OEM discs, which might have some clues.

 

hi guyz well i have the recovery cds but i removed my recovery partition

and i tried the method as you mentioned and i copied the BASE.wim files which are as i believe 13 files from the prelod folder on the recovery cds but when i try to export them as one big file i cant

i have HP pavilion dv7-1070ek with tow hard disks of 250Gb

and heres the log:

Source: C:\Program Files\Windows AIK\Tools\x86\BASE.WIM
Image: 1
Destination: C:\exported\test.wim
Compression: Fast
Check: Off
Temporary files: C:\Users\MOHA\AppData\Local\Temp\

Opening WIM...please wait...

Exporting image index "1" from WIM file...
ERROR: Error exporting WIM.
ERROR: The system cannot find the file specified.

i couldn't know what is the file that it is looking for...

please if anyone could help

and in the other time ill try to figure it out my self