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Dr.Richard.V.Finney
Hello guys and girls …
I am fortunate in having more than one (22) computers at my disposal, thus critical failures are just 'off-line' time issues. Having a number means I do updates in blocks (six to eight computers - concurrent) x 4~6 hours (do monthly preventative maintenance at the same time/session). As a rule, one in six concurrent updates will fail. Not usually an MS fault - rather transmission 'spikes' in the telecommunication source portals feeding the LANs. Like a static chatter on the car radio during a favorite song, only the IT version means a critical file/chain transmission/receival error.
This issue involves a HP Z400 Xeon 3.6GHz x 40GB ram - running Windows 10 pro (full, not upgrade - installed on the HDD - 1TB). Avast antiVir pro, IObit utilities (pro) assorted, HP agent & DNS jumper … as active TSRs.
There was a problem doing the update (failed), probably because of line interference or 'shunting' (Node servers) by telcos - not MS's fault. Not a drama, because usually it works if retried in a day or two (and the other five went OK).
It still would not update properly 24 hours later; so I decided to take the computer back to its "last good" system/driver shadow (restore), two days before the update attempt.
That went OK/well (no problems or interruptions); however when I went back to start the Z400 after the process had completed (was working on other computers); the graphics drivers had reverted to semi-standard MS 640 x 480 and it was asking for a password (not the log-on PIN). {provided as a fault insight - I know you just type in the user/administrator password, then reset the graphics ... but it should not have been like that, so was the first indicator of dramas ahead...}.
I have a set series of passwords/administrator passwords, designed for different usage and application (risk environment specific). The "administrator" and "log-on" passwords for Win 10x (HP, Dell, Toshiba & Lenovo machines) are 'common'.
The new (roll-back two days) 'password' screen would not accept the normal administrator/owner log-on passwords; nor would it let me use the HP verified administrator (internet) log-on.
It should have (reason that is there/for such instances).
It would not accept the PIN, nor would it accept any other of my passwords or sequences (thought it might have grabbed one from a PW file, and installed it in the wrong place during the roll-back).
Next I tried to reboot into set-up (intending to use a HP system recovery usb, or do a recovery from an external back-up HDD (usb port); at which point the system failed completely.
The HDD is OK, but will not boot to anything; thus the correct solution (next try in sequence) is to try a clean install of Win 10x from a usb thumb drive {because it cannot link to the net or HP's servers/LAN cards are down/off-line = manual medium from folder = usb boot and installer}.
My questions/request for help are thus:
1. "Is there a WWW page/place where I can download (must be MS genuine, not third party) a thumb drive Windows 10 pro recovery file/files?;
{{ I think there is, but do not know where/url.}}
or,
2. (not preferred as its much harder/time-intensive) Is there a WWW page/place where I can download (must be MS genuine, not third party) ISO installer (full)?
{{not a drama to download and mount to CD/DVD - on this (MP350 GL6 dual xeon) or another system - however the mount/burn means another hour of messing about - USB thumb drive would be faster.}}
3. I assume a full reinstall will reset the admin/access password to default. If not - please advise?
{{I'll be taking the HDD out of the Z400 to hot-swap it into one of the servers (likely this one) for disk integrity checking; thus can recover-move the critical non-system files and data; then reformat it …. however it is preferable (faster) to just leave the other data in place and just reinstall the operating system/win10x.
nb. Were it not for Covid19, the z400 would already be in the IT department/techs and/or fixed; however were are all 'isolated', so you have to dust-off old skills (and not be lazy) … to do-it/fix-it yourself.
Thank you in advance for suggestions and advice. Be well, keep safe and - importantly - stay happy. Covid19 will pass (likely later than sooner, [12>36 months] but it will pass and things will return to normal). Stress and worry are more likely to do you harm than Covid (immediate threat) … so Be Happy.
Cheers,
Rick Finney,
Dean of Applied Sciences, SYLVR.
ps. For students … laugh all you like, but it shows some of us can actually do it - not just talk about it. Also (Saturday afternoon), Dr Mike Brett and I were trying our hand at concreting a pot-hole in the carpark - successfully we think. If cars are down holes this week, we might have to reconsider. Last night I helped a neighbor paint a wall and fix some plaster holes … so the Covid lock-down provides the opportunity to get out and do things (or try to).
Continue reading...
I am fortunate in having more than one (22) computers at my disposal, thus critical failures are just 'off-line' time issues. Having a number means I do updates in blocks (six to eight computers - concurrent) x 4~6 hours (do monthly preventative maintenance at the same time/session). As a rule, one in six concurrent updates will fail. Not usually an MS fault - rather transmission 'spikes' in the telecommunication source portals feeding the LANs. Like a static chatter on the car radio during a favorite song, only the IT version means a critical file/chain transmission/receival error.
This issue involves a HP Z400 Xeon 3.6GHz x 40GB ram - running Windows 10 pro (full, not upgrade - installed on the HDD - 1TB). Avast antiVir pro, IObit utilities (pro) assorted, HP agent & DNS jumper … as active TSRs.
There was a problem doing the update (failed), probably because of line interference or 'shunting' (Node servers) by telcos - not MS's fault. Not a drama, because usually it works if retried in a day or two (and the other five went OK).
It still would not update properly 24 hours later; so I decided to take the computer back to its "last good" system/driver shadow (restore), two days before the update attempt.
That went OK/well (no problems or interruptions); however when I went back to start the Z400 after the process had completed (was working on other computers); the graphics drivers had reverted to semi-standard MS 640 x 480 and it was asking for a password (not the log-on PIN). {provided as a fault insight - I know you just type in the user/administrator password, then reset the graphics ... but it should not have been like that, so was the first indicator of dramas ahead...}.
I have a set series of passwords/administrator passwords, designed for different usage and application (risk environment specific). The "administrator" and "log-on" passwords for Win 10x (HP, Dell, Toshiba & Lenovo machines) are 'common'.
The new (roll-back two days) 'password' screen would not accept the normal administrator/owner log-on passwords; nor would it let me use the HP verified administrator (internet) log-on.
It should have (reason that is there/for such instances).
It would not accept the PIN, nor would it accept any other of my passwords or sequences (thought it might have grabbed one from a PW file, and installed it in the wrong place during the roll-back).
Next I tried to reboot into set-up (intending to use a HP system recovery usb, or do a recovery from an external back-up HDD (usb port); at which point the system failed completely.
The HDD is OK, but will not boot to anything; thus the correct solution (next try in sequence) is to try a clean install of Win 10x from a usb thumb drive {because it cannot link to the net or HP's servers/LAN cards are down/off-line = manual medium from folder = usb boot and installer}.
My questions/request for help are thus:
1. "Is there a WWW page/place where I can download (must be MS genuine, not third party) a thumb drive Windows 10 pro recovery file/files?;
{{ I think there is, but do not know where/url.}}
or,
2. (not preferred as its much harder/time-intensive) Is there a WWW page/place where I can download (must be MS genuine, not third party) ISO installer (full)?
{{not a drama to download and mount to CD/DVD - on this (MP350 GL6 dual xeon) or another system - however the mount/burn means another hour of messing about - USB thumb drive would be faster.}}
3. I assume a full reinstall will reset the admin/access password to default. If not - please advise?
{{I'll be taking the HDD out of the Z400 to hot-swap it into one of the servers (likely this one) for disk integrity checking; thus can recover-move the critical non-system files and data; then reformat it …. however it is preferable (faster) to just leave the other data in place and just reinstall the operating system/win10x.
nb. Were it not for Covid19, the z400 would already be in the IT department/techs and/or fixed; however were are all 'isolated', so you have to dust-off old skills (and not be lazy) … to do-it/fix-it yourself.
Thank you in advance for suggestions and advice. Be well, keep safe and - importantly - stay happy. Covid19 will pass (likely later than sooner, [12>36 months] but it will pass and things will return to normal). Stress and worry are more likely to do you harm than Covid (immediate threat) … so Be Happy.
Cheers,
Rick Finney,
Dean of Applied Sciences, SYLVR.
ps. For students … laugh all you like, but it shows some of us can actually do it - not just talk about it. Also (Saturday afternoon), Dr Mike Brett and I were trying our hand at concreting a pot-hole in the carpark - successfully we think. If cars are down holes this week, we might have to reconsider. Last night I helped a neighbor paint a wall and fix some plaster holes … so the Covid lock-down provides the opportunity to get out and do things (or try to).
Continue reading...