[fog] Black Screen after Imaged

[TLARWise]

I have a multi computer image created in vmware that I have used to successfully image a number of different computer/laptop types using fog 0.28, however I have one laptop model type that will not boot after copying the image.

 

Fog runs and copies the image with no problems however after the computer restarts just after the bios screen the laptop stops at a black screen with a flashing cursor in the top left (windows does not appear to even attempt to start, no errors displayed).

 

The laptop is an old RM nBook 4000 (Compal CL51) with 40GB IDE hard drive, both the laptop hard drive and image are configured as a single partition and I am using the single partition (resizable) option on fog. Image size is approx 32GB.

 

Has anyone come across this problem before, any ideas on things to try to get this laptop working with my image?

[leon999uk]

1. Can you see the Hard drive in the Bios?
   
2. Have you checked in the Bios to make sure that the Hard drive is the first boot device?
   

[ZeroHour]

BTW tbh I probably wouldnt use vmware to make images. I theory it should be fine but the vmware drivers if installed could do weird things to windows with things such as virtualisation tweaks.

[ssx4life]

Agreed.

 

However what OS are you attempting to push? 7?

[sparkeh]

Just to echo ZH, I had weird results when trying to use VMs to make images.

Black screens, blue screens, really weird connectivity issues etc. It might just be down to this.

[walkden-high]

Sounds like it may be a dodgy HDD, I have seen something like that before but I was using symantec ghost try running spinrite to see if there is any bad sectors on the disc.

 

SpinRite v6 - hard disk recovery utility review

[leon999uk]

Sounds like it may be a dodgy HDD, I have seen something like that before but I was using symantec ghost try running spinrite to see if there is any bad sectors on the disc.

 

SpinRite v6 - hard disk recovery utility review

 

If you think this maybe the case, then usually the manufacturer, has Hard drive diagnostic tools. They are usually quite good at fixing and repairing drives, other than that, just swap the drive with a spare one, if you have one floating around, and try imaging again.

 

heres one tool for Maxtor and Seagate drives

 

Maxtor and Seagate diagnostic tools:

SeaTools | Seagate

[sfoord]

I have had this problem before, created a master Image on a Desktop PC, sysprep & ghost, Desktops boot ok, but some Laptops just reboot, found its normally on newer laptops to do with SATA mode in the BIOS, If you set it to be Compatible mode, the laptop with boot fine into sysprep. On older laptops it seems to do with the AHCI mode, if you change the options in the BIOS they will boot in sysprep as well

 

Hope this helps:)

[jack0w]

Just to echo ZH, I had weird results when trying to use VMs to make images.

Black screens, blue screens, really weird connectivity issues etc. It might just be down to this.

 

When you experienced these problems had you installed the 'VMWare Tools' with drivers and all? As I've been building images on our VMware ESXi box for the last 6 months or so and haven't experienced any of these problems