I'm using popular the ghettoVCB.sh script to backup my virtual server, but I have a problem with restoring virtual machines running Windows Server 2012 (VM with all flavor of Linux OS do not suffer this problem). After restoring VM with Windows Server 2012 - it won't boot - instead it displays something like this:
Windows failed to start. A recent hardware or software change might be the cause. To fix the problem:
1. Insert your Windows installation disc and restart your computer.
2. Choose your language settings, and then click "Next."
3. Click "Repair your computer."
If you do not have this disc, contact your system administrator or computer manufacturer for assistance.
Status: 0xc000000e
Info: The boot selection failed because a required device is inaccessible.
After many research I have found a solution for this problem (it has something to do with disk ID, which changes when cloning vmdk files). To make my restored VM bootable again I have to:
- Boot this VM from Windows installation disk and run command prompt.
- Issue commands “bootrec \fixmbr” and “bootrec \fixboot”.
- Run diskpart and change disk uniqueid to previous value (it is, value it has before backup was made).
This method has always worked fine for me (although there is a catch: you have to note disk id before restoring your VM), but recently I have to restore some newer VM with Windows Server 2016, and in this case (wonder whether it also applies to W2019) this method do not work anymore.
I’m not sure whether this problem is for W2016/W2019 in general or just I have some other problem with this particular VM. This time Windows Server starts booting, display Windows logo and spinning dots, and stay on this screen forever.
I would like to understand:
- Why cloning .vmdk files causes disk ID to change?
- How to prevent this?
- How to recover not bootable W2016 and W2019?
P.S. Backup is not corrupted – I could mount vmdk files to other running VM, check them, etc, - there are no errors on the /vmdk files.
Thank you in advance for any help.
P.S2: thanks to Daniel Ocando for correcting my spelling errors