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| blog:2026-10-01:echolink_back_online [2026/10/01 12:19] – created va7fi | blog:2026-10-01:echolink_back_online [2026/10/01 12:32] (current) – [Configure Windows] va7fi |
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| ===== Re-install Windows ===== | ===== Re-install Windows ===== |
| * From a working Windows computer, I downloaded Windows 11 USB boot drive program from the "Create Windows 11 Installation Media" section of this [[https://www.microsoft.com/en-ca/software-download/windows11 |Microsoft page]]. | * From a working Windows computer, I downloaded the Windows 11 USB boot drive program from the "Create Windows 11 Installation Media" section of this [[https://www.microsoft.com/en-ca/software-download/windows11 |Microsoft page]]. |
| * I booted the Echolink computer using the USB boot drive and tried to "Troubleshoot" the computer per Section 3 of [[https://windowsreport.com/repair-efi-bootloader-windows-11/ |these instructions]], but that option wasn't available. | * Following section 3 of [[https://windowsreport.com/repair-efi-bootloader-windows-11/ |these instructions]], I booted the Echolink computer using the USB boot drive and tried to "Troubleshoot" the computer that option wasn't available. :-/ |
| * Before trying to re-install Windows, I had to find the Windows Product key. | * I decided to do a full re-install, but first I had to find the original Windows Product key (since Windows came pre-installed on that computer). |
| * If Windows had been working, I could have used ''regedit'', navigate to ''Computer\HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\SoftwareProtectionPlatform'', and lookup ''BackupProductKeyDefault''. (See Method 3 [[https://www.techrepublic.com/article/find-windows-11-product-key/ |from these instructions]] for more details) | * If Windows had been working, I could have used ''regedit'' to navigate to ''Computer\HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\SoftwareProtectionPlatform'', and lookup ''BackupProductKeyDefault''. (See Method 3 [[https://www.techrepublic.com/article/find-windows-11-product-key/ |from these instructions]] for more details) |
| * But I couldn't boot into Windows so I used a [[https://www.linuxmint.com/ |Linux Mint]] USB boot drive and tried to <code bash> sudo strings /sys/firmware/acpi/tables/MSDM | tail -1</code> Unfortunately, the ''MSDM'' file didn't exist on that computer. I tried that command on in my personal computers and it worked so I made notes of these keys in case I ever wanted to install Windows on them. (See [[https://www.cyberciti.biz/faq/linux-find-windows-10-oem-product-key-command/ |these instructions]] for more details.) | * But I couldn't boot into Windows so I used a [[https://www.linuxmint.com/ |Linux Mint]] USB boot drive and tried to <code bash> sudo strings /sys/firmware/acpi/tables/MSDM | tail -1</code> Unfortunately, the ''MSDM'' file didn't exist on that computer. I tried that command on in my personal computers and it worked so I made notes of these keys in case I ever wanted to install Windows on them. (See [[https://www.cyberciti.biz/faq/linux-find-windows-10-oem-product-key-command/ |these instructions]] for more details.) |
| * Finally, I installed ''reglookup'' on the Linux boot drive and ran <code bash> | * Finally, following [[https://amedee.be/find-the-windows-11-product-key-using-linux/ |these instructions]], I installed ''reglookup'' on the Linux boot drive and ran: <code bash> |
| reglookup -p "/Microsoft/Windows NT/CurrentVersion/SoftwareProtectionPlatform/BackupProductKeyDefault" \ | reglookup -p "/Microsoft/Windows NT/CurrentVersion/SoftwareProtectionPlatform/BackupProductKeyDefault" \ |
| [YOURMOUNTPOINT]/Windows/System32/config/SOFTWARE </code> (See [[https://amedee.be/find-the-windows-11-product-key-using-linux/ |these instructions]] for more details.) | [YOURMOUNTPOINT]/Windows/System32/config/SOFTWARE </code> |
| * I rebooted the computer using the Windows boot drive to re-install Windows 11 from scratch on its old partition (leaving the other partitions alone), but it again booted to the BIOS. | * I rebooted the computer using the Windows boot drive to re-install Windows 11 from scratch on its old partition (leaving the other partitions alone), but it again booted to the BIOS. :-/ |
| * I rebooted back to LinuxMint and used GParted and delete every partition on the Echolink computer. | * I rebooted back to LinuxMint and used GParted and delete every partition on the Echolink computer. |
| * I rebooted back using the Windows boot drive and this time Windows re-installed properly. | * I rebooted back using the Windows boot drive and this time Windows re-installed properly. =) |
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| ===== Configure Windows ===== | ===== Configure Windows ===== |
| * To load Windows without a Microsoft account (see [[https://www.howtogeek.com/836157/how-to-use-windows-11-with-a-local-account/ |these instructions]] for more details): | * I used [[https://www.howtogeek.com/836157/how-to-use-windows-11-with-a-local-account/ |these instructions]] to load Windows without a Microsoft account: |
| * At the sign-in page, press <key>Shift + F10</key> to open a command prompt window and type: <code> | * At the sign-in page, press <key>Shift + F10</key> to open a command prompt window and type: <code> |
| oobe\bypassnro </code> | oobe\bypassnro </code> |
| * While the computer reboot, disconnect the ethernet cable. | * While the computer rebooted, I disconnected the ethernet cable. |
| * Choose ''I don't have internet'' | * Then chose ''I don't have internet'' |
| * Debloat Windows using [[https://github.com/Raphire/Win11Debloat |Raphire's script]]. Press <key>Windows Key + R</key> and type ''cmd'' to open a command prompt window and type: <code> | * I used [[https://github.com/Raphire/Win11Debloat |Raphire's script]] to debloat Windows: <key>Windows Key + R</key> and type ''cmd'' to open a command prompt window and type: <code> |
| & ([scriptblock]::Create((irm "https://debloat.raphi.re/")))</code> | & ([scriptblock]::Create((irm "https://debloat.raphi.re/")))</code> |
| * Run Windows updates | * Run Windows updates |
