ZCM Imaging Windows 11 - no boot after restore

Hello,

We are trying to build a Windows 11 image using ZCM native Linux engine. We can create the image, restore the image but upon the first boot of the Windows 11 operation system the spinning circle stuck at the Manufacture "Lenovo" screen.

I have narrowed the issue down to a chkdsk issue. After the computer image is restored, computer does not boot, I can boot the computer with the Installation ISO key, go into recovery mode, go to command prompt, change drive to c: and run a chkdsk /f on c:. The process completes and I reboot. Windows 11 boots normal.

I made a Windows 10 Image, captured and restored the image and upon first boot of Windows 10 goes into a chkdsk, repairs itself and then boots.

Whats odd is that in both Windows 10 and Windows 11 ZCM image restores it appears there is a need for a chkdsk /f upon first boot in either OS. Windows 10 does a automatic checkdsk on first boot but Windows 11 just hangs. I checked the regkey to see if the autocheck disk was enabled for windows 11 OS and it is. I did a CHKDSK /f on both installs prior to capturing the image and ran a chkntfs to confirm the drive was not dirty.

ZENworks environment

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ZENworks Configuration Management Version: 23.4.0.0
ZENworks Asset Management Version: 23.4.0.88
ZENworks Patch Management Version: 23.4.0.88
ZENworks EndPoint Security Management Version: 23.4.0.88
ZENworks Full Disk Encryption Version: 23.4.0.88
ZENworks Agent Version: 23.4.0.88
ZENworks Updater Service Last Contact Time: 8:55 AM
ZENworks Updater Service Version: 23.4.0.88

Windows Versions 

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Windows 10 Education Version 22H2.19 64 bit

Windows 11 Education Version 23H2 Build (22631.3593) 64 bit

Windows 10/11 base Image creation process

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1) Install Windows 11 from Iso

2) install Windows patches

3) Deploat OS with Windows10DebloaterGUI.ps1

4) Disable Hibernate with Powercfg /h off

5) Capture Image

6) Deploy image on same exact hardware (changed nothing) then we get boot issue in Windows 11.

Few things I have tried.

I have tried sysprep /oobe and non sysprep same results.

I have switched to using the Texera driver. This made no difference.

I have tried different hardware, same results. Windows 11 first boot stuck on Manufacture screen. Chkdsk /f in recovery mode fixes the issue.

I am wondering if the capture or restore process is causing the system partition to be in a dirty state.

Anyone experience this? does anyone know of a workaround?

Thanks,

  • 0 in reply to 

    I'm testing a Windows 11 image right now. 

    I'm going to build a Windows 10 image right after this. I want to see If I still have the boot chkdsk issue in Windows 10 as described in the Manual. If this is the case then I think it would be something with the tuxera driver.

    I am in the process of my testing and will post in a few.

  • 0   in reply to 

    At this point.....I think we can eliminate the SID Change as your issue.  Also since it is booting to Chckdsk, the issue is not boot order or it would not get to chckdsk and that would not fix it.

    --

    Maybe try some of the various tools to remove all the junk Windows Store Apps.  Apparently, a few are now required so removing all is not recommended but clearing out much of that junk can give you a cleaner and faster system.  

    And I "WinPE" will be far less likely to give your NTFS issues and far less driver issues

    While it's a change, it is far simpler LInuxPE, especially for WIndows Admins.  Far less driver issues.  Does not interfere with ongoing LInuxPE.  The learning curve is so small for most, any time spent getting it going will be less than spent on a single LInuxPE issue which will always be far more prevalent than WinPE since Drivers come out for Windows First,

    --

    If you found this post useful, give it a “Like” or click on "Verify Answer" under the "More" button

    Be sure to "Like" My (and a few others) Cool Solutions below! 

    https://community.microfocus.com/members/craigdwilson/bookmarks

  • 0 in reply to 

    Are you sure the tuxera driver is loaded? Have a look at the message-screen on  CTL+ALT+F4. There have to be a message like:  tfs_linux: tntfs taints kernel. Tuxera NTFS driver version...

    Otherwise the tuxera driver is not loadedand your iso file is not modified by downloading the tuxera driver.

  • 0 in reply to 

    I don't see the tfs_linux: tntfs taints message anywhere.

    I booted the USB key and got to the /# prompt type "modprobe tntfs" and I get the following error

    "Fatal: Module tntfs not found in directory /lib/modules/5.14.21-150500.53-default"

    I am not sure If I am running the correct command. I am trying to figure out if the TNTFS is running. I believe this is my main issue.

    I did use the bootcd_tntfs.iso file that was created after uploading the tuxera and after bother servers indicated "Available" on the status page of the Tuxera High Performance NTFS Driver Integration Settings.

  • 0 in reply to 

    I did the modprobe tntfs from the USB boot imaging key after it finished loading into maintenance mode.

  • 0 in reply to 

    Additionally, I ran find / -name tntfs.*    and found nothing. This is on the USB boot key.

    How can I definitively confirm what driver is running on the system?

    On my USB key I do see these files:

    1) \addfiles\x86\tntfs.ko    (File Size 620 KB dated 9/14/2022)

    2) \addfiles\x86_64\tfs_linux.ko      (File Size 46 KB    dated 9/6/2023)

    3) \addfiles\x86_64\tntfs.ko      (File Size 1,017 KB    dated 9/6/2023) 

     

  • 0 in reply to 

    Hi Joseph,

    modify your settings.txt:

    # Tuxera treiber laden
    insmod /mnt/addfiles/x86_64/tfs_linux.ko
    insmod /mnt/addfiles/x86_64/tntfs.ko

  • 0 in reply to 

    Working on adding these to the usb boot key. I noticed the USB drive is not mounted to /mnt, working on fixing that.

    I manually mounted /dev/sda1 (USB drive) and insmod the ko drivers. I did a new capture with the drivers and restored. Then I got a blue screen on boot. going to try the following

    efibootmgr -b 0000 -B
        efibootmgr -c  -L "Windows Boot Manager" -l "\EFI\Microsoft\Boot\BOOTMGFW.EFI" -d /dev/nvme0n1 -p 3
        efibootmgr -n 0000
        reboot -f

    I did get a few errors when trying to put the insmod in the settings file.

    I'm working on a few things, I'll post back in a bit.

  • 0 in reply to 

    I don't think the tuxera driver is loading properly. The ZENpreboot/imaging manual states adding files to the "Addfiles" directory will place the files in the root with the exception regarding RAM limitation. The files are not in the root "/" directory as stated in the manual.

    When the Tuxera driver was added in the ZCM console it created the Bootcd_Tntfs.iso file, it automatically put the files in the Addfiles directory.

    I tried manually adding the driver with the insmod commands, I don't think its working properly.

    I'm in the process of getting the client to boot via PXE.

    How do I make the USB work?

    ######## From the Manual #######

    4)Copy any other files or drivers that you want included on the CD, DVD or bootable USB to the
    addfiles directory in the temporary bootcd.iso image.

    Any files or subdirectories that you add under the /addfiles directory are placed at the root
    of the client when booting the CD, DVD or bootable USB.

    IMPORTANT: When booting from the CD, DVD or bootable USB, the imaging engine is read into
    RAM. Because the imaging engine uses some of the RAM that exists on the client device, the
    combined size of any files that you add under the addfiles directory cannot exceed the
    amount of remaining RAM.

  • 0 in reply to 

    Quick update:

    After switching from the USB to PXE boot, I can now take and deploy a Windows 11 computer without issue.

    Something is going on with the USB key, I think its related to "remaining RAM" the addfiles are not in the root / drive and as a result the tuxera driver is not loading properly.

    PXE boot works perfectly. 

    Thanks for the help.