Windows 10: How to get into System Restore in a Virtual Machine?

I installed virtual box with win 10 to test custom themes. But if I get a black screen in the vm, how to get into system restore at boot without booting into the desktop?

:)

 

How do I get into system restore w/o ctrl pnl or start

I need to do a system restore after user names gone, but cannot get into Control Panel, nor Settings, Start doesn't even work now.

 

How do I get into system restore w/o ctrl pnl or start

I ended up doing a repair install with in-place upgrade, and kept Windows.old files. Worked beautifully.

 

Same way as a normal system - Boot to Advanced Startup Options in Windows 10 Installation Upgrade Tutorials . Easiest way would be to boot to your installation media.

 

How would the host recognize I'm trying to boot into system restore in the guest vm?

 

Maybe I'm not clear on what you're trying to do. How did you install Windows onto the guest in the first place? You would follow the same procedure but click on the Repair option instead of the Install option.

 

Hey yahanna,
As long as your VM sees your CD Drive or USB Stick, then it should boot from it when you restart the Guest OS. There is also F12 when you first start a VirtualBox VM that allows you to select boot options.

Note: I've never actually tried to boot/insall from a CD or USB in a VirtualBox VM. I always point the CD to the .ISO for install, you probably could do the same to get to repair options.

 

Well DUH, never realized that there is no boot option for a USB Stick in VirutalBox, so you can scratch that one *Sad

 

What do you mean how did I install windows as guest in vm?? I hope youre joking.

Anyway I'll be a little more clear. If something should go wrong in the guest o/s where I can't boot to the desktop, HOW do I go into system restore at boot in the guest o/s?

I ask this cuz I'm testing win 10 custom themes. Before I vmed my pc, occasionally my pc would go black and I wouldnt be able to get to my desktop. The only way I fixed it was by doing system restore at boot. This is why I installed a vm to test these risky themes in a vm environment.

Hopefully this clears this up finally.,

 

You know what? This is what I want which is easier...

Before something goes wrong with my guest o/s, I'd want to make a backup of it. Is it better to copy or clone a guest o/s in my case?

 

Hi there

easy way would be to have your restore program as an ISO which the VM could boot from (power on VM into hardware or set boot in the virtual Bios). Define a DVD/CD device in the VM as an image and point it to your macrium or other bootable restore .iso image.

You need to have the restore file available on an accessible HDD / device too. An external USB is good for this as you can add the USB device before powering on the VM.

Another way is simply to have a backup copy of the VMdisk files -- then just trash the current VM, copy back the previous virtual disk files and power on the VM again. Both methods are equally good IMO.

If re-copying the virtual disk and the VM is a Windows one - ensure you say I MOVED It rather than I Copied it if a box appears (does using VMware -- not sure about vbox) - if you don't do this Windows could have activation problems as you might have to re-activate Windows.

Cheers
jimbo

 

Wassup jimbo,

I think just simply coping the vm folder then deleting the main one and pasting the copy should do it. Its the simplest way i think.

One thing thats not right is that my vm is runnning slowly. I dont know what to do. What do you suggest?

 

PolarNetties, you didnt read my question.

 

VirtualBox lets you create snapshots of VM (it's like freezing current disk in time) you can revert VM to snapshot and it will restore OS to time when snapshot was taken, can have more then one snapshot taken at different times it's faster to create then clone and takes less disk space.