windows-repair-from-linux-skilllisted
Install: claude install-skill 4ntiDandruff/zero-bloat-skills
# Windows Bench Repair From Linux Skill
Operating instructions for diagnosing, salvaging, and repairing damaged Windows client installations directly from a Linux workstation or technician live USB environment.
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## 1. NTFS Partitions & Windows Fast Startup
Windows 10 and 11 utilize Fast Startup (hybrid hibernation), leaving NTFS volumes in a dirty, locked state:
```bash
# Identify storage partition
lsblk -f
# Clear hibernation locks safely without data loss
sudo ntfsfix -d /dev/nvme0n1p3
# Mount volume cleanly
sudo mkdir -p /mnt/client_windows
sudo mount -t ntfs-3g -o remove_hiberfile /dev/nvme0n1p3 /mnt/client_windows
```
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## 2. Offline Password Reset with Atomic Registry Hive Backup
Modifying Windows registry hives directly with `chntpw` carries corruption risks if system shutdown was improper. Always create atomic timestamped backups before editing:
```bash
cd /mnt/client_windows/Windows/System32/config
# 1. Mandatory Atomic Backup Rule
sudo cp SAM SAM.bak_$(date +%Y%m%d_%H%M%S)
sudo cp SYSTEM SYSTEM.bak_$(date +%Y%m%d_%H%M%S)
# 2. List local users in SAM hive
sudo chntpw -l SAM
# 3. Reset password for target account
sudo chntpw -u "TargetUser" SAM
# Menu options:
# 1 -> Clear (blank) user password
# 2 -> Unlock and enable account
# q -> Write hive changes and quit (confirm with 'y')
# 4. Clean unmount to sync dirty buffers
cd /
sudo umount /mnt/client_windows
```
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## 3. UEFI BCD Bootloader Reconstruction from Linux
When a client drive encounters