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Echolink Back Online

Wiki contributor: va7fi

Echolink Back Online

Yesterday, the Echolink computer froze mid-net. I tried to restart it, but it kept rebooting into the BIOS.

It’s now back and running, but here’s an outline of the steps I took to fix the issue (for future reference).

Re-install Windows

  • From a working Windows computer, I downloaded the Windows 11 USB boot drive program from the “Create Windows 11 Installation Media” section of this Microsoft page.

  • Following section 3 of these instructions, I booted the Echolink computer using the USB boot drive and tried to “Troubleshoot” the computer that option wasn’t available. :-/

  • 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).

    • If Windows had been working, I could have used regedit to navigate to Computer\HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\SoftwareProtectionPlatform, and lookup BackupProductKeyDefault. (See Method 3 from these instructions for more details)

    • But I couldn’t boot into Windows so I used a Linux Mint USB boot drive and tried to

      sudo strings /sys/firmware/acpi/tables/MSDM | tail -1

      Unfortunately, the MSDM 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 these instructions for more details.)

    • Finally, following these instructions, I installed reglookup on the Linux boot drive and ran:

      reglookup -p “/Microsoft/Windows NT/CurrentVersion/SoftwareProtectionPlatform/BackupProductKeyDefault” \ [YOURMOUNTPOINT]/Windows/System32/config/SOFTWARE

  • 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. :-/

  • I rebooted back to LinuxMint and used GParted and delete every partition on the Echolink computer.

  • I rebooted back using the Windows boot drive and this time Windows re-installed properly. =)

Configure Windows

  • I used these instructions to load Windows without a Microsoft account:

    • At the sign-in page, press Shift+F10 to open a command prompt window and type:

      oobe\bypassnro

    • While the computer rebooted, I disconnected the ethernet cable.

    • Then chose I don't have internet

  • I used Raphire’s script to debloat Windows: Windows Key+R and type cmd to open a command prompt window and type:

    & ([scriptblock]::Create((irm “https://debloat.raphi.re/”)))

  • Run Windows updates

  • Turn off device sleep and hibernation

  • Download and install Echolink

  • Add Echolink to the startup folder:

    • Press Windows Key+R and type shell:startup to open the startup folder.

    • Copy (not Move) the Echolink link from the Desktop into that folder

  • With the radio turned off, plug in the Signalink device and configure the audio settings.