Hard_Configurator - Windows Hardening Configurator

[Andy Ful]

Please check if Windows 10 bootable usb is compatible with UEFI.
Can you go into Windows Boot Manager - Advanced Recovery - Command Prompt?

 

[Andy Ful]

From the Rufus page I read that USB bootable media that was made on Windows XP does not work with UEFI/GPT.
Only UEFI/MBR is supported.

 

[LightWave]

Clicking on install or setup from the USB Windows 10 launcher from within windows worked, as it took over and the pc was able to boot from it to proceed with the installation.

I thought I upgraded from Windows 8.1 to Windows 10.... but it must of been a fresh install as it wiped out my recovery partition.

 

[LightWave]

From the Rufus page I read that USB bootable media that was made on Windows XP does not work with UEFI/GPT.
Only UEFI/MBR is supported.

I made the iso on xp with no issue from Rufus, I selected:
- MBR partition scheme for BIOS or UEFI-CSM
- NTFS

Should I try to rewrite the USB but select "MBR partition Scheme for UEFI" instead? ..thats the only other option.

(thanks for your help on this)

 

[Andy Ful]

You can try it, but I am afraid that you have GPT partition on the new laptop, so it may not help. The UEFI/GPT option in Rufus is available only on Windows Vista+.

 

[Andy Ful]

I read somewhere that it is possible to get to command prompt using :
Save & Exit - Boot Override - Windows Boot Manager
Does it work for you?

 

[LightWave]

You can try it, but I am afraid that you have GPT partition on the new laptop, so it may not help. The UEFI/GPT option in Rufus is available only on Windows Vista+.

Ok, I will have a rethink over the next few days, I've sent an email to Asus support, but expect just a generic response. I may be able to redo the USB on my sister's Win 7 laptop, but still cant see how my laptop will boot from the usb outside of windows now.

Thanks for your support, and have a Merry Christmas.

 

[LightWave]

I read somewhere that it is possible to get to command prompt using :
Save & Exit - Boot Override - Windows Boot Manager
Does it work for you?

I'll have a look.. cheers

 

[LightWave]

Nope.. selecting Windows Boot Manager just restarts the sytem back to the blue screen error page.

 

[Andy Ful]

I also read that pressing ESC key during system startup should invoke startup menu. You can try it with the new bootable media.
Merry Christmas and good luck to you.
With the new bootable media the USB should appear in the BIOS.

 

[LightWave]

Hangon.. there's a glimmer of hope :-0.. possibly.

 

[LightWave]

...just for the sake of trying anthing... I reformatted the USB to MBR partition Scheme for UEFI" instead, and used Fat32 ..... and the windows loading screen has come up!!!... no mouse or keyboard input work though (may need to flash update BIOS)... thats rings a bell... or may need a external USB Mouse and keyboard to proceed.

Ok I'm on the road to recovery then, I hope.. :-D

Many many thanks again for your help on Christmas eve, sorry about that.
Have a wonderful christmas.

 

[Andy Ful]

You are welcome, do not give up.

 

[LightWave]

You are welcome, do not give up.

Neverrrrr!.. :-D

Cheers mate.

 

[Andy Ful]

Finally I found the post for Asus X205TA that solved the problem with bootable media.
1. Enable UEFI in BIOS.
2. Download the image of Windows 10 32Bit version from Microsoft (with Microsoft download manager).
3. Make bootable media with Rufus : UEFI/GPT and FAT32 .
So, this is circa about the solution we already found out.

 

[Andy Ful]

WARNING!
After a very unpleasant @LightWave's case, I do not recommend to install Hard_Configurator on laptops with Windows installed on eMMC flash memory. This kind of memory has a lot in common with SD Cards. I suspect that eMMC can be treated by Windows policies as a Removable Storage Device. One of Hard_Configurator restrictions, uses Windows policy to block execution from Removable Storage Devices, so this can totally hang the system.
Next week, I will test this.

 

[Andy Ful]

Hard_Configurator ver. 2.0.0.0 released.
GitHub - AndyFul/Hard_Configurator: GUI to Manage Software Restriction Policies and harden Windows Home OS
Added in version 2.0.0.0:
1. SRP file/folder whitelisting by path (also with wildcards).
2. Protecting (SRP deny execution) writable subfolders of 'C:\Windows' folder.
3. "Run By Smartscreen" option in Explorer context menu (run files without elevation, useful when SRP deactivated)
4. Manual
Some minor bugs were corrected.

 

[Av Gurus]

Working fine on my test PC.
Tnx

 

[Andy Ful]

You are welcome. Thanks for testing.

 

[Andy Ful]

Hard_Configurator 2.0.0.1 released.
Minor bug with 'Load Defaults' option was corrected. Some unnecessary alerts, when 'not found' parameters were saved with 'Save Defaults' option.
GitHub - AndyFul/Hard_Configurator: GUI to Manage Software Restriction Policies and harden Windows Home OS