Restore F8 Safe Mode in Windows 8.x and Windows 10 TP

Pressing F8 to go into Safe Mode in Windows became a regular routine for those who needed to perform a quick fix until the advent of Windows 8.x. I have to admit that it was extremely frustrating not being able to invoke Safe Mode by simply pressing F8 during Windows start-up. To restore F8, launch the Command Prompt as administrator and type the command below and press Enter thereafter.

bcdedit /set {default} bootmenupolicy legacy

Restart your computer and test if it works for you.

Hope this helps

Windows To Go: Served Fresh Anytime, Anywhere (The Unofficial Way)

Back in 2009, I wrote a blog on how to install and run Windows 7 from a USB flash drive; doable, but it sure was quite a challenge. It reaped both success and failure to those who tried the procedure.

Today, with the advent of Windows 8.x, it is out-of-the-box possible to install and run the OS from a USB flash drive via Windows-To-Go but with certain conditions:

1. You can only use Windows 8.x Enterprise Edition.
2. You have to use a certified Windows-To-Go compatible USB flash drive.

You can read more about the official Windows-To-Go HERE.

What we are about to do is an unofficial version of Windows-To-Go using an non-certified USB flash drive therefore is unsupported by Microsoft and that you will be doing this at your own risk and pleasure .

There are a number of scenarios where this version of Windows-To-Go can be used but let me just cite two that I consider essential:

1. You can recover data from a corrupted or damaged Windows machine without removing the hard drive prior to reinstallation or if you do the “Insane” method, from a MacBook Pro.
2. You can effectively purge your existing Windows machine of malware by running the anti-virus application from Windows-To-Go.

Two methods will be presented here; “Sane” and “Insane”.

SANE METHOD

What you need:

1. A host computer that supports booting from a USB drive with a working Windows 8.x environment (am using 8.1 Enterprise).
2. Windows 8.0 Enterprise install DVD or ISO. You can download the evaluation ISO from Microsoft; click HERE.
   Why not Windows 8.1 Enterprise? Because it does not readily support this procedure. By the way, it’s best that you use the 32-Bit version so you can use it on most Windows 8.x compliant 32 and 64-Bit computers.
3. At least a 16GB USB Flash drive (I used a SanDisk Cruzer Blade 16GB that I got for less than P500.00) – I’d recommend 32GB though so you will have extra space to install more apps you need (e.g. system tools or utilities). You can by the way use an External USB HDD but it’s too bulky and more importantly, does not have the AWESOMENESS and WOW effect of a flash drive .
4. Tons of Patience – especially if you use a USB 2.0 flash drive; installation will be very slooooooowww.

Flash Drive Preparation

1. Plug in the flash drive to your computer if you haven’t done it yet.
2. Launch the Command Prompt as Administrator. Sorry, I haven’t tried doing this as non-Admin.
3. In the Command Prompt, follow the command sequence shown below:
   

Windows 8.0 Enterprise Installation

1. Load the Windows 8.0 Enterprise install DVD or locate and mount the ISO file (simply right-click the file and select Mount from the context menu).
   Take note of the drive letter assigned to the mounted ISO file; in my case, it’s Drive K:.
2. Go back to the Command Prompt and follow the command sequence shown below:
   
   If all goes well, you’re ready to test drive your newly created Windows-To-Go.

Windows-To-Go Test Drive

1. Reboot your computer and configure it to boot first from the USB if you haven’t done so.
   Depending on the USB type of your computer, it will take some time for the newly installed OS to fully load.
2. The Setup Wizard will present you with the Licensing Terms page.
   Tick the only checkbox and click Accept.
3. Key-in your desired PC name and click Next in the Personalize page.
4. In the Settings page, click Use express settings to speed up the process.
5. Key-in your desired User Name, Password and Password hint then click Finish.
   You will eventually be presented with the Start Screen.
6. Pressing Ctrl + D brings you to the Desktop.
   You are basically done. But if you want to fully personalize this OS, you will need to activate it.
   Two things are required to get this done:
   1. An active Internet connection.
   2. A valid Product Key.

   If requirements are met, proceed to the next steps.

7. Launch the Command Prompt as Administrator.
8. Type the command slui 3 and hit Enter.
   You will be presented with the Windows Activation page.
9. Key-in your Product Key.
10. Click Activate.
    If the activation is successful, you will see something like this:
    
11. Click Close.
12. Launch the System Properties to verify activation.
    You will see something like this:
    

That’s it, you’re done. Congratulations!

INSANE METHOD

This method is different in the USB flash drive preparation plus a little extra for the MacBook Pro daredevils.

What you need:

1. Windows 8.1 Enterprise or Windows 10 Enterprise Technical Preview install DVD/ISO.
   The good news is, you can download Windows 10 Enterprise TP direct from Microsoft; click HERE.
2. At least a 16GB USB Flash drive

Flash Drive Prep

1. Convert USB flash drive to Local Disk. Here’s a YouTube video you can follow.
   The advantage of doing this is the fact that some motherboard firmware or an OS like Windows will read your flash drive as a local disk instead; it could be possible that you would be enable to install non-enterprise editions of Windows 8.x and 10 or perhaps Windows 7.
2. When done with the conversion, simply go through the “Sane Method”.

You’re done. Congratulations!

For MacBook Pro Daredevils

1. Prepare your Win2GO flash drive with a virtual machine running Windows 8.x if you don’t have a physical Windows machine following the “Sane Method”. I used Oracle VirtualBox on OSX.
3. Download the appropriate Boot Camp Support Software for your machine from Apple. To know more about Boot Camp, click HERE.
   If the machine you’re using is in this list, download Boot Camp Support Software 5.1.5621

   MacBook Air (11-inch & 13-inch, Mid 2011)
   MacBook Air (11-inch & 13-inch, Mid 2012)
   MacBook Pro (15-inch & 17-inch, Mid 2010)
   MacBook Pro (13-inch, & 15-inch, Early 2011)
   MacBook Pro (17-inch, Early 2011)
   MacBook Pro (13-inch,15-inch & 17-inch Late 2011)
   MacBook Pro (13-inch & 15-inch, Mid 2012)
   MacBook Pro (Retina, Mid 2012)
   MacBook Pro (Retina, 13-inch, Late 2012)
   MacBook Pro (Retina, 13-inch & 15-inch Early 2013)
   Mac Pro (Early 2009)
   Mac Pro (Mid 2010)
   Mac Pro (Mid 2012)
   Mac mini (Mid 2011)
   Mac mini (Late 2012)
   iMac (27-inch, Mid 2010)
   iMac (21.5-inch & 27-inch, Mid 2011)
   iMac (21.5-inch, Late 2011)
   iMac (21.5-inch & 27-inch, Late 2012)

   If the machine you’re using is in this list, download Boot Camp Support Software 5.1.5640

   MacBook Air (11-inch, Mid 2013)
   MacBook Air (13-inch, Mid 2013)
   MacBook Pro (Retina, 13-inch, Late 2013)
   MacBook Pro (Retina, 15-inch, Late 2013)
   Mac Pro (Late 2013)
   iMac (21.5-inch, Late 2013)
   iMac (27-inch, Late 2013)
   iMac (21.5-inch, Late 2013)

4. After the download, extract the ZIP file to a folder.
5. Plug in your flash drive and copy the extracted folder.
6. When done, shutdown your MacBook Pro.
7. Press the option key (continue pressing the key) and turn on the machine.
8. Release the option key when the boot disk selection is presented.
   You will see something like this:
   
9. Select your flash drive and hit return.
   The next process will take some time but just be patient and wait.
10. Login.
11. Open File Explorer then locate and open your Boot Camp folder.
12. Inside the folder, you will see a folder named BootCamp. Open it.
13. Right-click (assuming you’re using a mouse because 2-finger tap does not yet) setup.exe then select Run as administrator from the context menu to launch the Boot Camp installation.
    Just follow on-screen instructions.
    Again, your patience will be tested.
14. When the installation is complete, shutdown the machine.
    The reason we do this is that often, we miss pressing the option key at reboot.
15. Press the option key and turn on the machine.
16. Select the flash drive and hit return.
17. Login.
18. The Boot Camp service is now running at the background.
    You can configure Boot Camp via the icon you see in the System Tray.
    Go ahead and explore.

Enjoy your fully MacbookPro-compatible Win2Go…

Thank You CavSU

Although this comes late, it never has been forgotten. It was indeed an honor and privilege to be part of a historic event at the Cavite State University – Silang Campus, particularly in the Department of Information Technology. The 22nd of September 2014 marked the first D.I.T. Convention, themed “DIT in Facing Global Technological Revolution”. I was invited as one of the resource speaker where I shared “Windows 8 To Go”. Below are few captured historic moments of the event:

The Event tarp

Me preparing for the Prezo

The Full House (between 400 and 500 students)

Department of I.T. – Head (Madam Beverly Malabag) introducing me.

Presention Proper 1 (Introducing PHIWUG)

Presentation Proper 2

Pre-Demo. Just showing where I placed the laptop’s HDD

The Demo. Showing the laptop running Windows 8 without HDD

Question and Answer 1

Question and Answer 2

Awarding of Certificate with DIT-Head Beverly Malabag and Instructor Brylle Samson

I sure had fun and the audience was truly aswesome

Hope it wasn’t the first and last. ‘Til next time…

THANK YOU, CavSU!!!

PHIWUG at Manila Central University

Last February 27, I had the privilege of doing an event again with MVP John Delizo at the Manila Central University. The event was attended by graduating students of the Bachelor of Science in Information Technology from the College of Computer Studies. Students were tensed at first perhaps because John started with his usual “shock then awe” approach. He demoed Windows Deployment with MDT as his finale. I was next giving the students a technical overview of Windows 8 To Go then end the presentation with a blast showing the audience my Hard-Disk-less laptop; disk drive bay open for them to see. I was running the entire presentation by way of a 32GB Flash Drive; it was my unofficial version of Windows 8 To Go. Using an unsupported Transcend 32GB flash drive, I used ImageX to install Windows 8 Enterprise and installed PowerPoint 2007 thereafter.

Thank you Manila Central University for the speaking opportunity and thank you Microsoft for the giveaways.

Few snapshots of the event.

Here’s John doing a demo on MDT

Me presenting the Technical Overview of Windows 8 To Go

John and me answering questions during the Q and A

Awarding of Certificates

PHIWUG invite

Virtualbox Host-Only Ethernet Adapter Not Working in Windows 8.1

After upgrading from Windows 8.0 Enterprise Edition to Windows 8.1 Enterprise Edition, the Virtualbox Host-Only Ethernet Adapter stopped working. Even after uninstalling Virtualbox and installing the latest version, the problem still persists. What I did to resolve the issue was as follows:

1. From the Device Manager, uninstall the problematic Virtualbox driver.
2. In the Device Manager, right-click your computer name and select Add legacy hardware from the context menu. Like this:
   This will launch the Add Hardware wizard.
3. Click Next to continue.
4. Select the second option and click Next.
5. From the list of hardware types, select Network Adapters and click Next.
6. Click Have a disk.
   The Install From Disk dialog will popup.
7. Click Browse and locate the driver. Something like this:
8. Double-click the driver.
   This will bring you back to the Install From Disk dialog.
9. Click OK.
   This will bring you back to the Add Hardware wizard.
10. Click Next and another Next.
11. Click Finish to dismiss the wizard.

If successful, you should see something like this:

Hope this helps

How to run the New Cisco Networking Academy RS Introduction to Networking Offline

Google indeed does not have all the answers! So here you go:

1. Download the offline material (it’s a zip file) from http://netacad.com using your academy instructor account or if you’re a student, request a copy from your academy instructor.
2. Extract the zip file; Windows would usually offer to create an extraction folder so just accept it.
3. Enable IIS 8 (Control Panel >> Programs and Features >> Turn Windows features on or off >> Internet Information Services).
4. Copy the extraction folder to C:\inetpub\wwwroot.
5. Launch your favorite browser and key-in http://localhost/the_extraction_folder_name (e.g. http://localhost/CCNA-R-S_ITN/)

Hope this helps…

From Windows 7 to Windows 8: The Transition

After a long and anguishing struggle, I now finally transitioned to Windows 8. NO! It’s not the “bloody UI” like most of the rants you’d hear or read about; it’s primarily the drivers and hardware vendor enhancement apps that perfectly worked on Windows 7 that failed to work on Windows 8. For those going through a similar fate, here is how I did the transition:

 

THE SPECIMEN

Lenovo IdeaPad Y460p
  CPU: Intel Core i7 @ 2.0GHz
  RAM: 4GB
  OS: Windows 7 Ultimate x64
  HDD: WDC 750GB
   Partitions
    C: – OS partiton
    D: – OEM pre-defined partition with all the bundled enchiladas

Windows 8 Enterprise – got it from… Oops! Sorry, have to comply with the NDA

 

SETTING THE STAGE

Before you install Windows 8, make sure you don’t have any driver problems in Windows 7. You can verify this from the Device Manager. If you have incompatibility issues in Windows 7, you bet it’ll be more so in Windows 8.

 

PHASE 1: WINDOWS INSTALL

1. If possible, do an in-place upgrade; you probably would have a smoother transition than I did
   In my case though, I can’t, it’s because upgrade from Windows 7 Ultimate to Windows 8 Enterprise is not possible. Refer to this Windows 8 upgrade path just to be sure.
2. For those with similar scenario, do a fresh install via DVD or USB.
   IMPORTANT: Do not format or remove your Windows 7 partition. Windows 8 will save everything related to Windows 7 in a folder named Windows.old.

 

PHASE 2: DEVICE DRIVER WORKAROUND

1. After installing Windows 8, immediately check the Device Manager for unknown devices and update each driver. Begin the update by right-clicking on the device in question then select the Browse my computer for driver software option when the Update Driver Software – Unknown Device wizard appears.
2. In the Search for driver software in this location field, type c:\Windows.old\Windows and make sure to select Include subfolders; very essential I should say. Click Next.

Chances are, Windows 8 would be able to use the drivers and you’re good to go. My previous attempts of the installation was a pain until I thought of this workaround. Unfortunately for me, the driver that worked on Windows 7 for the Belkin F5U409 didn’t work; I have this error:

This to me is an essential tool to configure Cisco devices via the Console. Even using the driver from Magic Control Technology Corporation didn’t work…

Another issue I had was installing the laptop’s enhanced features but I’ll get back to this later.

Now, these perhaps are vendor support issues but hypothetically, drivers written for Windows 7 should work since Windows 8, according to a Microsoft Technical Marketing team, is 70% Windows 7. Hmmmmm…

Hopefully, you’re doing well with the drivers on your end.

 

PHASE 3: RESTORING THE QUICK LAUNCH TOOLBAR

Didn’t I say the UI was not a problem? It’s because I had the Quick Launch toolbar working. I did it the same way I did in Windows 7; view post here. After restoring the toolbar, I arranged all the apps I needed in folders and moved the folders into the toolbar. I then opened the Taskbar Properties and set it like this:

By the way, don’t for forget to click OK to save the settings and dismiss the dialog. Here’s what I have thereafter:

The proverbial Windows orb is missing but just like in Windows 7, I seldom use it. Now, who needs the Start Screen?

 

PHASE 4: LENOVO IdeaPad Y460p EXCLUSIVE

This particular model has a number of features but what I really liked is the Slide Navigator. One fancy thing you can do is to zip/unzip the laptop screen. Anyway, the Slide Navigator didn’t work after the Windows 8 install. Here’s what I did to make it work:

1. If you still have the Lenovo partition (drive D: in may case), you already have what you need but if not, download the following from Lenovo support:
   * Synaptics Touchpad Driver – Windows 7 (32-bit, 64-bit)
   * Lenovo Energy Management Software
   * Lenovo slidaNav 2.0 tool – there are two packages available. I used IN8STW20WW5.exe.

    

2. Install the packages in this order:
   a. Synaptics Touchpad
   b. Lenovo Energy Management Software – a reboot will be required
   When you log in after the reboot, the Program Compatibility Assistant will appear.

   

   Just tick Don’t show this message again and click Close.
   c. Lenovo Slide Navigator

    

3. If for some reason the Slide Navigator still doesn’t work, download and install:
   1. Lenovo MuteSync Second Display Control Driver – Windows 7 (32-bit, 64-bit)
   2. Intel Management Engine Interface driver – Windows 7 (32-bit, 64-bit)

The Slide Navigator should work fine except for the One Key Theater system which I didn’t install; nothing against it, just a preference.

 

PHASE 5: ADDING AUTHENTICITY

Apart from using the Lenovo images for wallpaper and lockscreen background, launching System Properties shows you this:

Notice something under the System section? Here’s how I did it:

Find the Lenovo logo and other images somewhere in C:\Windows.old\Windows\System32\oobe\. At least this is where I got it from.

Well, that’s all folks!

Overall, my infatile Windows 8 Enterprise life (3 weeks now) is good thus far; hoping it will get better with the advent of Windows 8.1 (a.k.a SP1 much like Windows XP Reloaded with SP2) especially resolving incompatibility issues with hardware and apps making the transition from Windows 7 to Windows 8 painless.

Hope this helps…

Restore the Quick Launch toolbar in Windows 7

A couple of days back, I was trying to figure out how in the world am I supposed to keep a group of program shortcuts in one folder and drag it to the Quick Launch toolbar like I used to in Windows XP (sorry, never been a Windows Vista fan). My idiot instinct tells me it’s time to fire-up Help and Support which I did with glee knowing I’d get a good answer to my question. Keying "quick launch" in the search field returned two results. One of which, a question that says "What happened to the Quick Launch toolbar?". The way the question was framed gave me a clear picture that the Quick Launch toolbar is but a fragment of history which of course was validated after reading the help information. Disappointed, I launched the Command Prompt and did a dir quick* /s. Surprisingly, this is what I got…

Something tells me Quick Launch just needed to be unearthed. Well, I was able to somehow restore the Quick Launch toolbar and here is how I did it:

 

   1. Right-click the Taskbar and hover the mouse cursor to Toolbars then select New toolbar.

       This opens the New Toolbar – Choose a folder window.

   2. Click the document icon in the address field.

       If you got it right, you’d see something like this:      

  

   3. Now replace the highlighted path with this %appdata%\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Quick Launch and hit Enter.

   4. Click the Select Folder button.

       Notice that the Quick Launch toolbar has now been added to the Taskbar on the rightmost portion beside the system tray.

   5. Right-click the Taskbar and uncheck Lock the taskbar from the context menu.

       Notice that toolbar handles are now displayed.

   6. Unpin your current program shortcuts from the Taskbar. By default these are Internet Explorer, Windows Explorer, and Windows Media Player.

   7. Right-click the Quick Launch toolbar then uncheck Show Text and Show title from the context menu.

   8. Click the Quick Launch toolbar and drag it all the way to the left next to the Windows orb.

   9. Resize the Quick Launch toolbar to display just two or three program shortcuts then Lock the taskbar again.

You now have a fully restored Quick Launch toolbar…

 

Works on Windows 8 too! Read about it HERE