NBRT and non-English keyboard

 

To be prepared for a day I hope never comes, I downloaded and installed Norton Bootable Recovery Tool (NBRT). I did not add any drivers; at startup the program searched for a local network, but was unable to find an appropriate driver. The main screen displayed the the two scan options, but the Norton Power Eraser option was dimmed with the subtext “You need a wired Internet connection to activate this alternative”. Despite all the drivers included (in SET1.7Z & SET2.7Z), I had to manually add a 32bit driver for my Realtek network card.

I am running a 64bit Windows, but the WinPE used by Norton, is a 32bit environment and you have to add 32bit drivers (in my case rt86win7 in stead of Rt64win7 which is used in normal mode). I recreated the recovery media, and this time I got a recovery tool with full functionality. The wizard/tool is translated to several languages; my language was automatically used. Excellent!

The tool has an option for opening a CMD window; excellent again, but I am afraid Norton has forgotten that not all of us use an en-US keyboard. It is very difficult to navigate when the colon on the backslash is “gone”. It is NOT possible to use Shift-Alt to switch keyboard settings in this WinPE environment.

At last I have reached my question: How can I modify the keyboard settings in NBRT?

To be prepared for a day I hope never comes, I downloaded and installed Norton Bootable Recovery Tool (NBRT). I did not add any drivers; at startup the program searched for a local network, but was unable to find an appropriate driver. The main screen displayed the the two scan options, but the Norton Power Eraser option was dimmed with the subtext “You need a wired Internet connection to activate this alternative”. Despite all the drivers included (in SET1.7Z & SET2.7Z), I had to manually add a 32bit driver for my Realtek network card.

 

I am running a 64bit Windows, but the WinPE used by Norton, is a 32bit environment and you have to add 32bit drivers (in my case rt86win7 in stead of Rt64win7 which is used in normal mode). I recreated the recovery media, and this time I got a recovery tool with full functionality. The wizard/tool is translated to several languages; my language was automatically used. Excellent!

 

The tool has an option for opening a CMD window; excellent again, but I am afraid Norton has forgotten that not all of us use an en-US keyboard. It is very difficult to navigate when the colon on the backslash is “gone”. It is NOT possible to use Shift-Alt to switch keyboard settings in this WinPE environment.

 

At last I have reached my question: How can I modify the keyboard settings in NBRT?

 

Please check the post here by Red and see if it works for you.

http://community.norton.com/t5/Other-Norton-Products/NBRT-and-non-English-keyboard/td-p/889469

 

Dave

 

edit- sorry I didn't notice that was you.

@ PieterV I understand the need of a smallest possible wim file, but there are already 166 Keyboard Layout files in the wim's System32 folder. As far as I can understand is is just a “selector app” which is missing. At least redk9258's brilliant solution (in the thread referenced by DaveH) should be submitted on a help page. I find Symantec to be clever to offer online help in several languages.

 

When that is said, the command prompt is not the most important element in NBRT. I consider the option to be a bonus!

 

@ DaveH Yes, I am myself! At least for the time being...

 

Hi, the locale support I was referring to is for console font support, not for keyboard layouts.

Changing the keyboard layout by itself is a good idea as long as you do not require any special font characters.

Since you know how to open a command prompt in Windows PE, maybe the information here will help...

http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc765969%28v=ws.10%29.aspx

In WinPE, can you open a command prompt and type the command...

wpeutil SetKeyboardLayout 0809:00000809

 


This is supposed to change the keyboard layout for you guys that drive on the wrong side of the road. (Just kidding about the wrong side thing).

 

If that doesn't work, you might have to mount the wim file to make the changes.

To open a command prompt in Windows PE is certainly not a piece of art; there is a shortcut at the bottom of the screen.

 

I have successfully used DISM (“Deployment Image Servicing and Management” from MS) to edit some WinPE environments for image backup purposes, but I had not a slightest idea about the WPEUTIL commands. It was my understanding that 'wpeutil' was a command to initiate the network. Thank you very much, redk9258.

 

I tried the SetKeyboardLayout command today; still I had an en-US keyboard. Even though we are NOT driving on the wrong side of the road (my LCID = 0414).

 

The solution was simple (and logical), just enter the command 'exit' (close the cmd window) and reopen a cmd prompt from the main GUI.

 

Still I should like to suggest a solution with a keyboard question like that the Win7 Repair Disc has (with a drop down menu), but that is for another section of the community.

 

BTW, I have tried to mount the wim file. As soon as I give a simple command like 'Dism /image:C:\winpe_x86\mount /Get-Intl' the system responds with 'C:\winpe_x86\mount\Windows may not point to a valid Windows folder'. The Norton WinPE environment is a bit 'specialized', the usage time is limited (72 hours). On the other hand you can create this recovery media without downloading WAIK (Windows Automated Installation Kit) from MS. I think most of the other vendors ask you to download WAIK and create your own WinPE according to the vendor's instructions. This cumbersome procedure is a result of Microsoft's changed license conditions.

So, it did work for you. Hooray!

The 72 hour limit is put in place by Microsoft.

 

LCID = 0414 = Norway =You drive on the right side of the road. :smileysurprised:

Sorry, I don't know why I thought you needed the British version of a keyboard. I must have been thinking of another person that post's here often.

 

Edit: When I was trying this out yesterday, I couldn't get it to work. I thought it was because of my keyboard or something. You solved the puzzle. You must type EXIT for the change to take place.

 

 


redk9258 wrote:

 


This is supposed to change the keyboard layout for you guys that drive on the wrong side of the road. (Just kidding about the wrong side thing).

 


Red,

it's you lot that drive on the wrong side of the road,it's either that or I keep getting in the wrong car for 50 years or I've had too much pop.

Deric

 

Deric


DStain wrote:

Red,

it's you lot that drive on the wrong side of the road,it's either that or I keep getting in the wrong car for 50 years or I've had too much pop.

Deric

 

Deric


You weren't supposed to see me do that! LOL