Restore Windows on NEO Z83-4 PRO

G

Galactus

New member
Hi, guys,

Unfortunally, for the third time I will have to reset my Z83 (32GB). Even disabling everything I could to prevent an update, recently the PC turned itself off and I believe it tried to update because when turned on again it tries to load but gets stuck in the Minix logo and nothing happens (that happened in the past and the problem was the update). Then I did the exact thing I've done in the previous two occasions (all in this thread https://theminixforum.com/index.php?threads/neo-z83-4-pro-windows-10-pro-os-image-1903.1943) but now I am not successful in restoring the PC (Still stucked in Minix logo after trying to boot from USB).

Can anyone help me?
 
Last edited:
Galactus said:
Hi, guys,

Unfortunally, for the third time I will have to reset my Z83 (32GB). Even disabling everything I could to prevent an update, recently the PC turned itself off and I believe it tried to update because when turned on again it tries to load but gets stuck in the Minix logo and nothing happens (that happened in the past and the problem was the update). Then I did the exact thing I've done in the previous two occasions (all in this thread https://theminixforum.com/index.php?threads/neo-z83-4-pro-windows-10-pro-os-image-1903.1943) but now I am not successful in restoring the PC (Still stucked in Minix logo after trying to boot from USB).

Can anyone help me?
Click to expand...

It's actually not unheard of for the Z83-4 series (or even an N42C-4 or a J50C-4) to apparently get stuck at the MINIX splash screen after a Windows update. This can be caused by a number of factors, from your available bandwidth, high contention ratio of MS servers, the OS taking longer than normal to complete the update process if the remaining storage space is indeed critically low, software installed on the device, or a combination of multiple factors.

Providing you haven't actively caused any additional problems in the meantime since you first experienced this issue?.... Try booting the device up & otherwise just leave the system completely alone but fully connected as you normally would to see if it sorts itself out.

(Several users have reported having to leave their systems running for 24 hours (or even up to 36 hours) after a Win update. Upon checking their devices the following day they then found that it just needed this considerable extra time to download, install, & process everything. Their systems had been updated & everything ran perfectly fine from there onwards.)

Give that a try first before you start potentially causing yourself more work or more problems than you may have had to begin with. If you're still completely stuck at the splash screen after giving the system a day or two to update/repair itself then let us know & you can discuss alternative options from there.

Obviously, it may also be beneficial after sorting your system out this time that you consider using an app or method to stop certain updates in the future if you're happy to do that so you aren't potentially repeating this scenario.

It would also be a very good idea for you to take a direct backup/system image from here on out!!! You can use the older Win 7 style system image tool that's still actually included in Win 10, or there are plenty of paid or freeware apps available to take a full system backup/image. That way, if you run into any problems or this specific issue again at any time in the future, you can immediately restore your system back to its previous state in a few minutes without having to start over from scratch each time.

Finger's crossed your device just needs some time in this instance :)!!
 
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ArcticWolf said:
It's actually not unheard of for the Z83-4 series (or even an N42C-4 or a J50C-4) to apparently get stuck at the MINIX splash screen after a Windows update. This can be caused by a number of factors, from your available bandwidth, high contention ratio of MS servers, the OS taking longer than normal to complete the update process if the remaining storage space is indeed critically low, software installed on the device, or a combination of multiple factors.

Providing you haven't actively caused any additional problems in the meantime since you first experienced this issue?.... Try booting the device up & otherwise just leave the system completely alone but fully connected as you normally would to see if it sorts itself out.

(Several users have reported having to leave their systems running for 24 hours (or even up to 36 hours) after a Win update. Upon checking their devices the following day they then found that it just needed this considerable extra time to download, install, & process everything. Their systems had been updated & everything ran perfectly fine from there onwards.)

Give that a try first before you start potentially causing yourself more work or more problems than you may have had to begin with. If you're still completely stuck at the splash screen after giving the system a day or two to update/repair itself then let us know & you can discuss alternative options from there.

Obviously, it may also be beneficial after sorting your system out this time that you consider using an app or method to stop certain updates in the future if you're happy to do that so you aren't potentially repeating this scenario.

It would also be a very good idea for you to take a direct backup/system image from here on out!!! You can use the older Win 7 style system image tool that's still actually included in Win 10, or there are plenty of paid or freeware apps available to take a full system backup/image. That way, if you run into any problems or this specific issue again at any time in the future, you can immediately restore your system back to its previous state in a few minutes without having to start over from scratch each time.

Finger's crossed your device just needs some time in this instance :)!!
Click to expand...
Hi, ArcticWolf, first of all, many thanks! The thing is that I am not completely shure that the problem was the update. I was away from de PC for sometime 4 days ago and when I came back to my desk I found the PC stucked in the Minix logo. Since then (4 days) I tried many many times to restore from the USB stick. I used different sticks, different USB ports, different Windows images from the Minix Forum threads and had no success. I can get to the bios interface, I can choose the USB stick to boot, but the PC goes straight to the Minix logo and stays there. Is there any configuration I can change in the bios settings to help solve this?
 
Galactus said:
Hi, ArcticWolf, first of all, many thanks! The thing is that I am not completely shure that the problem was the update. I was away from de PC for sometime 4 days ago and when I came back to my desk I found the PC stucked in the Minix logo. Since then (4 days) I tried many many times to restore from the USB stick. I used different sticks, different USB ports, different Windows images from the Minix Forum threads and had no success. I can get to the bios interface, I can choose the USB stick to boot, but the PC goes straight to the Minix logo and stays there. Is there any configuration I can change in the bios settings to help solve this?
Click to expand...

Nevertheless, did you still simply try just leaving the system alone at the MINIX splash screen for an extended period or have you since wiped system files?

If you're trying to reinstall an official MINIX Win 10 image to start fresh, are you remembering to rename the USB stick to WINPE as well?
 
ArcticWolf said:
Nevertheless, did you still simply try just leaving the system alone at the MINIX splash screen for an extended period or have you since wiped system files?

If you're trying to reinstall an official MINIX Win 10 image to start fresh, are you remembering to rename the USB stick to WINPE as well?
Click to expand...
Yes, I left he PC for hours and hours, sometimes the screen gets black then go back to the splash logo, and then gets black and became unresponsive. I tried to reinstall different Windows images always with a 16 GB (different ones) formatted to NTFS, copied the content from the zip files folder to the root and renamed WINPE.
 
Galactus said:
Yes, I left he PC for hours and hours, sometimes the screen gets black then go back to the splash logo, and then gets black and became unresponsive. I tried to reinstall different Windows images always with a 16 GB (different ones) formatted to NTFS, copied the content from the zip files folder to the root and renamed WINPE.
Click to expand...
Hi! Excelent news here. I've tried to reboot with a different disk image (from this thread >> https://files.theminixforum.com/shared/firmwares/Z83-4_Pro(&Z83-4_Plus)-Win10_Pro_1809-20190220.zip) and the PC rebooted with the 1903 (?) Windows version. Do you think I am going to be able to uptade to 20H2 (remembering that my PC has only 32GB)? If the answer is no, could you please review what should I do to stop the machine in trying to update to avoid this recurrent problem?
 
Galactus said:
Hi! Excelent news here. I've tried to reboot with a different disk image (from this thread >> https://files.theminixforum.com/shared/firmwares/Z83-4_Pro(&Z83-4_Plus)-Win10_Pro_1809-20190220.zip) and the PC rebooted with the 1903 (?) Windows version. Do you think I am going to be able to uptade to 20H2 (remembering that my PC has only 32GB)? If the answer is no, could you please review what should I do to stop the machine in trying to update to avoid this recurrent problem?
Click to expand...
In respect to 20H2: If you start with a fresh official MiniX Windows version (the latest - which you have) I have had success in running the windows updates following the refresh - right up to the latest 20H2 version. It takes time and you will need to run disk cleanup near the end to recoup drive space - including the system files. I am hopeful to see the 20H2 as an official MiniX version as it would greatly reduce the reinstall times!

I usually run the updates immediately after the fresh install to keep things simple.
 
Hopefully there will be one. It's not a sign of good customer support letting the customers alone after the purchase.
 
Dear MINIX,

I think it's wrong for customers to complain about small things simply because they're angry at the world. But, a measured rebuke is occasionally warranted commensurate with vendor negligence; wouldn't you agree? When I purchased my NEO Z83-4, I was not made aware (negligence #1 on you) that there would be issues with upgrading the Windows 10 (64-bit) operating system because the RAM was limited to 4GB. But, I found out the hard way. Twice now that I can remember, I've had to download an OS image from the forum, and install the update from a memory stick, effectively wiping out my personal data and leaving me with a fresh install.

Now, with the advent of version 21H1, the word from Villa that "There isn't one yet! If there ever will be I do not know?!" is negligence #2 (by my count--there may be more I'm just missing). This is a perfectly good device--like NEW I'd say--with no future and Microsoft constantly nagging me that there's not enough room for the downloaded files to be installed. You have kicked your customer to the curb with little-to-no solution. I consider this to be greater than just a small thing for me to complain about. As a more 'seasoned' consumer, what do you think I will now be doing as I look for a more capable device? Should I look once again to MINIX? What would you do? At the time I purchased this box, there were few like it on the market. Now? Have you looked on Amazon lately? You're not being very competitive in the service department, and it's probably going to cost you.

This box would be fine if I was given the responsive update solution from MINIX that I think I deserve. (And, I'd be happy to repurchase to expand my entertainment system throughout the house. I'd also happily re-up with MINIX for gifts to family and friends.) SOLUTION ONE would be to provide a new 21H1 image. SOLUTION TWO would be to upgrade the hardware with my soldering iron, given the correct instructions for swapping out the memory with 8GB--if they were published somewhere. SOLUTION THREE is for me to learn how to install a Linux distro and just bypass the Windows conundrum altogether. It would be nice if you would assist us with that. But, I'm feeling no more confident in MINIX' resolve to help me than Villa seems to be. Why don't you prove both of us wrong?

Warm regards,
Dano.
 
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