Running Spinrite 6.1 Pre-Release issue

[Adam-F]

Hi All,

I have just visited the Spinrite 6.1 Pre-Release page, entered my details and downloaded the srpr.exe file.

But when I try to run the executable, I get the following errors from Windows 11.

Please see attachments for full details.

Thanks

Adam

 

[miquelfire]

From the latest SN episode, the prerelease is pure DOS code with no code for Windows to run (the 3rd message you got). The first two (mostly a side effect of the first) is the EXE file is not signed.

 

[Steve]

From the latest SN episode, the prerelease is pure DOS code with no code for Windows to run (the 3rd message you got). The first two (mostly a side effect of the first) is the EXE file is not signed.

Exactly right. So you'll need to copy that DOS EXE to the existing SpinRite v6.0 boot media, boot it and go!

 

[rakosnik]

I think I'm missing something. I had a USB stick that with SpinRite 6.0 on it. I downloaded the pre-release and copied the file to the SpinRite 6.0 USB stick. I then booted a computer from the USB stick and I'm running SpinRite, but I think I'm am running 6.0 not the pre-release of 6.1.

I don't see any visual evidence that I'm running the pre-release. It still says it is going to take over 24 hours to scan a 2TB drive on level 4.

The pre-release file was srpr.exe. Am I supposed to delete SpinRite.exe or make some other changes to the files on the USB stick?

 

[Steve]

The pre-release file was srpr.exe. Am I supposed to delete SpinRite.exe or make some other changes to the files on the USB stick?

You're right. The instructions I provided are incomplete. By default, the "Spinrite.exe" is the DOS shell (like command.com would normally be) so you should rename "spinrite.exe" to sr6.exe and then rename srpr.exe (SR Pre-Release) to spinrite.exe.

Sorry for the incomplete instructions!

 

[Adam-F]

Please can someone create a guide on how to get the pre-release spinrite 6.1 working?

I have created an .iso image using the spinrite 6.0 installation media, then changed the file names as Steve stated above, I then found out that I am unable to add aditional .exe files to the .iso image file.

What am I doing wrong?

Thanks

 

[Steve]

Please can someone create a guide on how to get the pre-release spinrite 6.1 working? I have created an .iso image using the spinrite 6.0 installation media, then changed the file names as Steve stated above, I then found out that I am unable to add aditional .exe files to the .iso image file. What am I doing wrong?

Sorry, Adam! To use the pre-release DOS executable of SpinRite, you'll need to create a bootable USB drive. The easiest way to do this would be to use GRC's "InitDisk" freeware (https://www.grc.com/initdisk.htm), running it from the command prompt with the "freedos" parameter, which will install a bootable FreeDOS operating system. Then copy your personalized and licensed SRPR.EXE file to that USB drive.

Boot a PC with that USB drive attached at boot time, overriding the system's normal boot from the 'C' drive (various BIOSes are able to do this). Then run "SRPR".

 

[dmot]

Rename or no rename, on windows 11, I get the message that 'this app can't run on your pc'

Edit- I just saw Steve's post. Thanks Steve.

 

[Steve]

Rename or no rename, on windows 11, I get the message that 'this app can't run on your pc'

Edit- I just saw Steve's post. Thanks Steve.

I'm working on the SpinRite FAQ page right now. The FIRST THING I'll get posted there is a "How do I run the SpinRite Pre-Release"

 

[dmot]

I'm working on the SpinRite FAQ page right now. The FIRST THING I'll get posted there is a "How do I run the SpinRite Pre-Release"

I'll need to wait for that, I can't get initdisk to do anything other than esc to exit or NUKE and the only option is esc to exit when the NUKE is complete. I can't make a bootable disk even when trying with freedos.

Or I'll need to wait for your utility to be complete which creates the ISO.

Thanks Steve.

 

[Adam-F]

Sorry, Adam! To use the pre-release DOS executable of SpinRite, you'll need to create a bootable USB drive. The easiest way to do this would be to use GRC's "InitDisk" freeware (https://www.grc.com/initdisk.htm), running it from the command prompt with the "freedos" parameter, which will install a bootable FreeDOS operating system. Then copy your personalized and licensed SRPR.EXE file to that USB drive.

Boot a PC with that USB drive attached at boot time, overriding the system's normal boot from the 'C' drive (various BIOSes are able to do this). Then run "SRPR".

I will wait for the SpinRite FAQ page with the guide for the pre-release.

If I still haven't got it working after that, I will wait for the final release version of spinrite.

Thanks for the support @Steve

 

[Steve]

Guys... Given your feedback, I'm going to take a different approach to this. I'll have full details in the FAQ shortly. But, in short:

1. Insert your existing SpinRite boot USB stick into Windows and view its contents in Windows Explorer. You should see a file SPINRITE.EXE.
2. In Windows, rename that to SR6.EXE.
3. Copy your SRPR.EXE file to your USB stick.
4. In Windows, rename SRPR.EXE to SPINRITE.EXE.

Safely eject the USB stick. It should now boot and run the SpinRite pre-release.

 

[dmot]

Guys... Given your feedback, I'm going to take a different approach to this. I'll have full details in the FAQ shortly. But, in short:

1. Insert your existing SpinRite boot USB stick into Windows and view its contents in Windows Explorer. You should see a file SPINRITE.EXE.
2. In Windows, rename that to SR6.EXE.
3. Copy your SRPR.EXE file to your USB stick.
4. In Windows, rename SRPR.EXE to SPINRITE.EXE.

Safely eject the USB stick. It should now boot and run the SpinRite pre-release.

I just tried that, the PC does see the bootable drive I made, but it doesn't run spinrite, fails to load.

Edit- picture attached.

I used the spinrite 6.0 to create a 6.0 bootable drive then I edited/copied the updated file per your instructions.

 

[Steve]

I just tried that, the PC does see the bootable drive I made, but it doesn't run spinrite, fails to load.
Edit- picture attached.
I used the spinrite 6.0 to create a 6.0 bootable drive then I edited/copied the updated file per your instructions.

That all looks exactly right! If you rename them back, so SR6.EXE is SPINRITE.EXE (and the new SPINRITE is again SRPR.EXE) does your original SpinRite 6.0 run correctly?? To make sure this would work I just did it all myself.

 

[dmot]

That all looks exactly right! If you rename them back, so SR6.EXE is SPINRITE.EXE (and the new SPINRITE is again SRPR.EXE) does your original SpinRite 6.0 run correctly?? To make sure this would work I just did it all myself.

Great question and a good test. It does not work when I switch back. I guess that confirms I named the files properly but something with the bootable creation didn't work properly. I did use the spinrite.exe 6.0 program to create a bootable disk, I pressed D to indicate that was the drive to use and everything seemed smooth. I guess I will try again.

 

[rakosnik]

You're right. The instructions I provided are incomplete. By default, the "Spinrite.exe" is the DOS shell (like command.com would normally be) so you should rename "spinrite.exe" to sr6.exe and then rename srpr.exe (SR Pre-Release) to spinrite.exe.

Sorry for the incomplete instructions!

Thanks Steve. It works great now. That was all the understanding that I was missing.

Two questions about this version of SpinRite.

#1 The user interface mentions level 2 and level 3. 6.0 mentioned level 2 and level 4 although I know that the odd number levels were there too. Why isn't the user interface mentioning level 4? Is level 4 still there? Is there a reason I shouldn't run level 4 on a spinning hard disk?

#2 I thought 6.1 was going to work in AHCI? Am I mistaken or is that not in the pre-release version yet?
When I tried to run SpinRite in AHCI mode it said that it found the hard drives, but said it didn't have access to them. I went back into the BIOS and changed the mode to IDE and then ran SpinRite and everything worked well.

 

[dmot]

When I run the spinrite 6.0 exe all it does is add the spinrite.exe file to the D drive and nothing else. I think there should be more files on the D drive. I don't have my original SR USB stick with me, I have that at another location. I'll be able to see what is on my original SR USB stick, tomorrow.

I have so many hard drive that are waiting to be scanned with 6.1 I was hoping to get this going today but I'll need to wait a bit longer, it seems.

Thanks Steve.

 

[DanR]

@dmot, @Adam-F

Given that you BOTH refer to Win 11, you guys are running a UEFI boot system. SpinRite 6.x cannot run on on such a system.

To see if there is a possibility of doing so, please see this forum article:

https://forums.grc.com/threads/how-to-boot-and-run-spinrite-6-x-on-a-uefi-machine.968/

You may have no choice but to wait for SpinRite 7.0.

 

[dmot]

@dmot, @Adam-F

Given that you BOTH refer to Win 11, you guys are running a UEFI boot system. SpinRite 6.x cannot run on on such a system.

To see if there is a possibility of doing so, please see this forum article:

https://forums.grc.com/threads/how-to-boot-and-run-spinrite-6-x-on-a-uefi-machine.968/

You may have no choice but to wait for SpinRite 7.0.

I'm building the USB Bootable Drive on win11, but running it on an older PC that I've ran spin rite off of before. The machine I'm trying to run it on ran the initial 6.1 USB stick I made, but it wouldn't scan the drive, it was restricted to testing to see if SR could boot/load/see the drives and nothing more, as I understand.

My issue is with creating a new bootable drive, from what I can tell.

 

[DanR]

My issue is with creating a new bootable drive, from what I can tell.

Ah . . . OK. I have NO experience with Win 11. However, I do know that is is UEFI only. So, it occurs to me (speculation) that there may be something inherent in Win 11 that will NOT allow the proper creation of DOS bootable media? Just wondering . . .