Sun Coast Amateur <br>Radio Club Society - blog:2026-10-01https://scarcs.ca/2026-10-01T20:17:56+00:00FeedCreator 1.8echolink_back_online2026-10-01T19:32:04+00:002026-10-01T19:32:04+00:002026-10-01T19:32:04+00:00https://scarcs.ca/blog/2026-10-01/echolink_back_onlineAnonymous
<h1 class="sectionedit1" id="echolink_back_online">Echolink Back Online</h1>
<div class="level1">
<p>
Yesterday, the Echolink computer froze mid-net. I tried to restart it, but it kept rebooting into the BIOS.
</p>
<p>
It's now back and running, but here's an outline of the steps I took to fix the issue (for future reference).
</p>
</div>
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<h2 class="sectionedit2" id="re-install_windows">Re-install Windows</h2>
<div class="level2">
<ul>
<li class="level1"><div class="li">
From a working Windows computer, I downloaded the Windows 11 <abbr title="Upper Side Band">USB</abbr> boot drive program from the “Create Windows 11 Installation Media” section of this <a href="https://www.microsoft.com/en-ca/software-download/windows11" class="urlextern" title="https://www.microsoft.com/en-ca/software-download/windows11" rel="ugc nofollow">Microsoft page</a>.
</div></li>
<li class="level1"><div class="li">
Following section 3 of <a href="https://windowsreport.com/repair-efi-bootloader-windows-11/" class="urlextern" title="https://windowsreport.com/repair-efi-bootloader-windows-11/" rel="ugc nofollow">these instructions</a>, I booted the Echolink computer using the <abbr title="Upper Side Band">USB</abbr> boot drive and tried to “Troubleshoot” the computer that option wasn't available. <img src="https://scarcs.ca/lib/images/smileys/doubt.svg" class="icon smiley" alt=":-/" />
</div></li>
<li class="level1"><div class="li">
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).
</div><ul>
<li class="level2"><div class="li">
If Windows had been working, I could have used <code>regedit</code> to navigate to <code>Computer\HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\SoftwareProtectionPlatform</code>, and lookup <code>BackupProductKeyDefault</code>. (See Method 3 <a href="https://www.techrepublic.com/article/find-windows-11-product-key/" class="urlextern" title="https://www.techrepublic.com/article/find-windows-11-product-key/" rel="ugc nofollow">from these instructions</a> for more details)
</div></li>
<li class="level2"><div class="li">
But I couldn't boot into Windows so I used a <a href="https://www.linuxmint.com/" class="urlextern" title="https://www.linuxmint.com/" rel="ugc nofollow">Linux Mint</a> <abbr title="Upper Side Band">USB</abbr> boot drive and tried to <pre class="code bash"> <span class="kw2">sudo</span> <span class="kw2">strings</span> <span class="sy0">/</span>sys<span class="sy0">/</span>firmware<span class="sy0">/</span>acpi<span class="sy0">/</span>tables<span class="sy0">/</span>MSDM <span class="sy0">|</span> <span class="kw2">tail</span> <span class="re5">-1</span></pre>
<p>
Unfortunately, the <code>MSDM</code> 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 <a href="https://www.cyberciti.biz/faq/linux-find-windows-10-oem-product-key-command/" class="urlextern" title="https://www.cyberciti.biz/faq/linux-find-windows-10-oem-product-key-command/" rel="ugc nofollow">these instructions</a> for more details.)
</div></li>
<li class="level2"><div class="li">
Finally, following <a href="https://amedee.be/find-the-windows-11-product-key-using-linux/" class="urlextern" title="https://amedee.be/find-the-windows-11-product-key-using-linux/" rel="ugc nofollow">these instructions</a>, I installed <code>reglookup</code> on the Linux boot drive and ran:
</p>
<pre class="code bash">reglookup <span class="re5">-p</span> <span class="st0">"/Microsoft/Windows NT/CurrentVersion/SoftwareProtectionPlatform/BackupProductKeyDefault"</span> \
<span class="br0">[</span>YOURMOUNTPOINT<span class="br0">]</span><span class="sy0">/</span>Windows<span class="sy0">/</span>System32<span class="sy0">/</span>config<span class="sy0">/</span>SOFTWARE </pre>
<p>
</div></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li class="level1"><div class="li">
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. <img src="https://scarcs.ca/lib/images/smileys/doubt.svg" class="icon smiley" alt=":-/" />
</div></li>
<li class="level1"><div class="li">
I rebooted back to LinuxMint and used GParted and delete every partition on the Echolink computer.
</div></li>
<li class="level1"><div class="li">
I rebooted back using the Windows boot drive and this time Windows re-installed properly. <img src="https://scarcs.ca/lib/images/smileys/smile2.svg" class="icon smiley" alt="=)" />
</p>
</div></li>
</ul>
</div>
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<h2 class="sectionedit3" id="configure_windows">Configure Windows</h2>
<div class="level2">
<ul>
<li class="level1"><div class="li">
I used <a href="https://www.howtogeek.com/836157/how-to-use-windows-11-with-a-local-account/" class="urlextern" title="https://www.howtogeek.com/836157/how-to-use-windows-11-with-a-local-account/" rel="ugc nofollow">these instructions</a> to load Windows without a Microsoft account:
</div><ul>
<li class="level2"><div class="li">
At the sign-in page, press <kbd class="__keyboard">Shift</kbd>+<kbd class="__keyboard">F10</kbd> to open a command prompt window and type: <pre class="code">oobe\bypassnro </pre>
<p>
</div></li>
<li class="level2"><div class="li">
While the computer rebooted, I disconnected the ethernet cable.
</div></li>
<li class="level2"><div class="li">
Then chose <code>I don't have internet</code>
</div></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li class="level1"><div class="li">
I used <a href="https://github.com/Raphire/Win11Debloat" class="urlextern" title="https://github.com/Raphire/Win11Debloat" rel="ugc nofollow">Raphire's script</a> to debloat Windows: <kbd class="__keyboard">Windows Key</kbd>+<kbd class="__keyboard">R</kbd> and type <code>cmd</code> to open a command prompt window and type:
</p>
<pre class="code">& ([scriptblock]::Create((irm "https://debloat.raphi.re/")))</pre>
<p>
</div></li>
<li class="level1"><div class="li">
Run Windows updates
</div></li>
<li class="level1"><div class="li">
Turn off device sleep and hibernation
</p>
</div></li>
</ul>
</div>
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<h2 class="sectionedit4" id="install_and_configure_echolink">Install and Configure Echolink</h2>
<div class="level2">
<ul>
<li class="level1"><div class="li">
Download and install <a href="https://echolink.org/download.htm" class="urlextern" title="https://echolink.org/download.htm" rel="ugc nofollow">Echolink</a>
</div></li>
<li class="level1"><div class="li">
Add Echolink to the startup folder:
</div><ul>
<li class="level2"><div class="li">
Press <kbd class="__keyboard">Windows Key</kbd>+<kbd class="__keyboard">R</kbd> and type <code>shell:startup</code> to open the startup folder.
</div></li>
<li class="level2"><div class="li">
Copy (<strong>not</strong> Move) the Echolink link from the Desktop into that folder
</div></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li class="level1"><div class="li">
With the radio turned off, plug in the Signalink device and <a href="https://scarcs.ca/links/echolink#sound_configuration" class="wikilink1" title="links:echolink" data-wiki-id="links:echolink">configure the audio settings</a>.
</div></li>
</ul>
</div>
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