Cloning Windows 11 and Getting it to Boot
First Things First (and where they are)
- BCD (Boot Configuration Data) Related Information
- Windows MBR BCD File (default location): C:\Boot\BCD
- Windows UEFI (AKA EFI) BCD File (typically): C:\EFI\Microsoft\Boot\BCD (https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-hardware/manufacture/desktop/bcd-system-store-settings-for-uefi?view=windows-11 )
- Notes;
- An MBR BCD File and a UEFI BCD File can exist on the same disk / partition / volume (in different directories, see above for location).
- Setting a Partition active determines which BCD File is used (if there is more than one Partition with BCD File(s) of either type)
- Tools
- EasyBCD (Free and Paid Version, 2.4.x seems to be the latest version)
- BootICE (No Home Website seems to be available and 1.3.4.0 seems to be the latest version)
- Visual BCD (free)
- ...and of course the BCDEDIT Command Line utility
...here's a complex subject. Just rough notes for now;
1st, remember to disable Fast Boot (it can cause some funky Blue Screen issues): https://support.bromium.com/s/article/Disabling-Windows-10-Fast-Startup (and don't forget to mount the proper SYSTEM Hive, the System Hive from the Bootable Media or Rescue Media is different)
Be prepared to fix BCD stuff (the BOOTREC command is next to useless. Imagine spinning around in a circle seven times, and then pinning the tail on the donkey, that's about the success chances of BOOTREC, IE nothing evil or bad, just sheer luck that it will work or not, which begs the question of how useful a feature it is.) with: BCDBOOT: https://www.partitionwizard.com/partitionmagic/the-requested-system-device-cannot-be-found.html (Documentation from Microsoft: https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-hardware/manufacture/desktop/bcdboot-command-line-options-techref-di?view=windows-11)
BCDBOOT might require using DISKPART to manipulate drive letters: See above BCD Article and these: https://winaero.com/remove-drive-letter-windows-10/, https://winaero.com/change-drive-letter-windows-10/
RAID VS AHCI: In Windows 11, there's a shortcut to switching between RAID and AHCI: https://support.thinkcritical.com/kb/articles/switch-windows-10-from-raid-ide-to-ahci (The registry can still be used too, but this seems easier, except if one wants to switch back to IDE / ATA: https://wrw.is/switching-from-ahci-mode-back-to-ide/, and to a lesser degree: https://www.partitionwizard.com/partitionmagic/enable-ahci-after-win-10-installation.html)
Quick Notes;
...turn off Ready Boost or Boot or whatever
Fix the BCD
NOTE: The BCD boot menu comes AFTER disk WhatEver.sys file, so if the correct drivers aren't there, will never see the menu
Another NOTE: One of the solutions from switching to ATA (IDE for SATA), is to switch the BIOS to AHCI (from ATA), then let it reboot and crash a couple of times until it finally offers the Safe Mode option (F8), then boot to Safe Mode, Reboot, then it will be in AHCI mode. OR use the boot CD / DVD / ISO to modify the Start Up Settings (in the BSD)
For Windows 11 (assuming RAID drivers are installed and assuming Windows was originally installed using the built in Intel RAID drivers or in AHCI mode, then RAID drivers installed and switching to RAID mode)
Switching from AHCI to RAID (or vice versa) is just changing it in the BIOS, letting Windows Boot, crash, reboot, crash, reboot, then Safe Mode, boot, then reboot, in RAID Mode (or reinstall the RAID drivers while in AHCI mode, then rebooting)
RAID or AHCI to IDE seems to be all good to go (or a Safe Boot, then Restart)
And IDE to ACHI
Noted Differences in Registry;
IDE / ATA: iaStorV is set to 0
AHCI: iaStorV is set to 1
RAID: iaStorV is set to 1
iaStor (plain) and msahci do NOT seem to exist anymore for Windows 11 (but storeahci does), perhaps in favor of the MS Storage Space 'thing' / 'multi-driver thing' (present in RAID, AHCI, and ATA / IDE).
intelide and pciide always set to 0 for RAID, IDE / ATA and AHCI modes
...see here for more information on Intel RAID and AHCI: https://blog.workinghardinit.work/2018/11/28/moving-from-ahci-to-raid/
In the end, switching between modes can be as simple as boot / safe mode / boot, without worrying about manually changing registry entries.
Tips
SHIFT +F10 at "Windows Installation Screen 'Greeting'" opens a command prompt
Fast Boot
https://www.windowscentral.com/how-disable-windows-10-fast-startup
Control Panel, Power, Choose what the power buttons do*, Turn on fast startup (To modify the settings, see the Change Settings that are currently unavailable towards the top)
OR
Registry: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Session Manager\Power\HiberbootEnabled (0 = off, 1 = on)
* And of course the setting is under the "Choose what the power buttons do" even though it is no way involved with any power buttons. And for that matter, why is the word buttonS plural? For the life of me, I cannot think of a single computer that has multiple external power buttons (the exception being motherboards that have the power button mounted on the case, plus a button the motherboard manufacturer placed on the motherboard itself, and not counting the power SWITCH on the rear of a PSU).
Google Tirade
...and the number one item returned from a search by Google on the terms: "Windows" "Ready Boost" (or "ReadyBoost") is this retarded feature that actually promotes the idea of using Read Boost on a USB 2.0 device in the year 2022: https://www.thewindowsclub.com/how-to-turn-readyboost-on-or-off-in-windows-7 WTF?!?!?
Thankfully in an odd twist of fate where Microsoft actually gets something right in preventing users from enabling something they shouldn't is this;
ReadyBoost is not enabled because the computer is fast enough that ReadyBoost is unlikely to provide additional benefit. (...and it should be reworded: The ReadyBoost feature is not available. It is because this computer is fast enough that it will not benefit from this feature.
Again, Microsoft got something right. Wow!
So back to Google bashing... This is an example of why computers aren't smart enough to know the best answer. In the year 2022, the best formatted website (AKA conforming to Google's 'Best Practices') gets the number one listing, not the website containing the best information. It's that way with so many sites these days that poach content off of other sites, do a great job conforming to Google's 'Best Practices' in terms of SEO, and get listed first.