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Hiren's is indeed the right choice. It is a great Win10XPE building, with all the features that make it close to a real Windows, and it has a wide range of software for diagnosis, repair, etc
(I would have just liked a little thank you or an indication of the project used for the Hiren building. But otherwise, no worries, I'm happy that my project is being used)

Personally, I use a custom Windows 10 PE (Win10XPE) with my PC drivers and favorite application (portble PB included), rather than a Windows 11 PE, which I find more stable. Also, I don't use Net Framework which I think is too big for a PE
It is installed on a second hard drive in a 32 GB partition, which is more than enough with an specific entry in the BCD for startup.
Thus, it is always available in case of future need.
Since it is loaded in Ram, and without all the services of a real Windows, it is fast and I also use it sometimes to test the speed of some apps.
Blablabla

Don't hesitate to ask if you have any questions about Hiren's, such as how to use it, customize it, add drivers, add bitLocker (if it is not already installed by default),... I'm less familiar with how to use the different tools.

For the product key you have ShowKeyPlus or you can add Nirsoft ProduKey
Otherwise, initially I will use tools such as BootIce, (Process PBR to check the current PBR, part manage to see the partition) and a Hard Disk Tools - Diagnostic like HDDSCan or others...

For Linux, you can use a debian-based image (github), which I boot from a hard drive and which supports any video card and has access to ntfs disks. However, I use Grub2 as my bootloader. It has the ability to import files at the loading stage, connect modules, and save changes to the file.
video

I just tested Hirens, Win10XPE, on a drive (here D:) encrypted with BitLocker.
The encrypted BitLocker drive is displayed with a yellow padlock icon in Explorer.
And bdeunlock is functional and integrated for drive in Explorer (double click on the encrypted drive).

If the drive is not unlocked first, chkdsk displays the error: The file system type is RAW - CHKDSK is not available for RAW drives.
chkdsk works normally once the drive is unlocked.



Since you are French too, it will probably be easier to help you on the French forum.
If I can, I am familiar with the project to build the PE, but I have rarely used it to diagnose or repair a PC in real life.

The source of the problem, from what I understand:
On certain configurations, the update caused keyboard/mouse issues (see USB), but that was just the icing on the cake.
Some disks that use the computer's RAM as cache experienced issues with write operations.
Personally, I have the impression (based on the disk scan) that the recordings were made at random locations, potentially on other files, until a sensitive system file was affected -> crash -> impossible to restart.


If you have this kind of problem, there is an interesting Microsoft program : MediaCreationTool
it downloads Windows 10 or 11 and puts it on a USB key.
It allows several types of Windows installation, including the option to keep files and applications.
It can also be used in “repair” mode.

Question: I'm looking for a tool to recover files from a faulty disk.
Do you have any names?

To download and install the latest original Windows 10 or 11 ISO, there is also the Fido.ps1 PowerShell script. Then use Rufus, from the same author Pete Batard, to install it on a USB drive. Personally, I prefer it to the MediaCreationTool.

To recover lost files, I have previously had success with Recuva (in hirens),
for files emptied from recycle bin 1 week before, on my mother's computer, I was allowed to eat an extra slice of chocolate cake
for the story, it's my 92-year-old father's fault (so from the days of Atari, Windows 3.1 and 95), he can't stop cleaning up things with tools like CCleaner... I told him it wasn't really necessary anymore in windows 10, 11 but he likes it and it keeps him busy, that's good

You can also try MiniTool® Data Recovery, I haven't tried it, but I like MiniTool® Partition Wizard.
Or Puran File Recovery (in hirens), or Lazesoft Data Recovery (in hirens)
...

pf shadoko wrote: Wed Oct 22, 2025 10:45 am It can also be used in “repair” mode.

It's winRE, better to use Win10XPE or Hirens in this case. They are based on it (just WinSxS is cleaned up, but same drivers, recenv.) and adding a lot of windows features to be close to a true lightweight Windows.

ChrisR wrote:for the story, it's my 92-year-old father's fault (so from the days of Atari, Windows 3.1 and 95), he can't stop cleaning up things with tools like CCleaner... I told him it wasn't really necessary anymore in windows 10, 11 but he likes it and it keeps him busy, that's good

He is right.

Just in case:
Do you ppl remember that not long ago there was a win10 update, related to bitlocker, that always failed?
You needed to repartition your drive to ADD "SYSTEM RESERVED" SPACE FOR THE UPDATE (at least according to some…)
I blocked it (the update) with a MS tool, and I'm almost sure I posted about it, but now cannot find it here…