Restoring Windows OS on DW Blackjack Cube

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Affected Roles: Administrator

Last Edit: October 3, 2025

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Operating System Recovery

When encountering major operational issues, use of recovery files may be recommended to resolve an issue.

Examples of this include:

Windows OS not booting
Important OS functions not working
Computer viruses, malware, etc.

This article will outline how to recover a Windows embedded DW Blackjack Cube using a USB Recovery key and the Acronis True Image program.

**CRITICAL NOTE: Please make sure that the DW Spectrum database and License Key information has been backed up and saved to a separate storage device (flash drive, external hard drive, etc.) before performing the OS recovery. This procedure will clear the entire system to return the DW Blackjack Cube to its factory defaults.

Before You Begin

Network Settings Documentation

The recovery process will completely reset the NVR and return the system to its factory default. If you are using static IP settings in a managed network, it is recommended to document your computer’s network settings. You can use this information when reintegrating the computer into the network.

IP Settings include:

IP Address
Subnet or Subnet Prefix Length
Gateway Address
Preferred DNS Address
Alternate DNS Address

Media Archive Data Backup

Data will be deleted during the formatting process. DW Blackjack units use separate drive partitions to preserve DW Spectrum Media archives but if you are using a custom-built server or have altered the default save location of the DW Spectrum Server Media, it is recommended to back up the media archives. For more information on manually backing up server archives, you can refer to the article “Large Storage Backup from a DW Spectrum Server”.

Performing OS Recovery

Part 1: Change the Boot Mode Priority

To begin, confirm that the system is turned off and that all other devices, such as USB storage drives, are disconnected from the DW Blackjack Cube.

Proceed by connecting your DW USB Recovery Drive to one of the free USB ports of the system.

There are two (2) USB ports at the bottom of the front panel of the unit:

As well as eight (8) USB ports on the rear panel of the unit:

Once the DW USB Recovery Drive has been connected to the DW Blackjack Cube, proceed with pressing the Power button on the front of the unit to turn the system on.

As the unit is booting, tap the “Delete” key on the keyboard to prompt the BIOS.

A login prompt will display. Enter the System Administrator password

- Default Password : admin

Once logged into the BIOS, use the arrow keys on the keyboard to navigate to the “Boot” tab.

Make sure that the “Boot mode select” setting is set to “UEFI” boot mode.

In the Boot menu, locate the Boot Device Priority and select “Boot Option #1”.

Make sure that Boot Option #1 is set to use “USB Key:UEFI: Flash Drive_SM_USB” as the first boot option. This designates the connected USB recovery drive as the device that the NVR will attempt to start from.

Next, press the F4 key to Save and Exit the BIOS setup.

Be sure to Save the configuration as you exit.

The system will reboot and the following image will display.

Press the “1” key on the keyboard to select the “Acronis True Image” program.

Part 2: Setting up the Acronis True Image Recovery Wizard

Following the instructions in the Part 1 section above, the Home menu of the Acronis True Image program will display.

Under the Recover section, click on “My Disks”.

The program’s Recovery Wizard will display to begin setting up the recovery parameters.

Click on the “Browse” button to select the file path for the Archive selection.

The Browse for Location file browser will display.

Select the XXXXX_v1.tib file, then click the OK button.

After selecting the XXXXX_v1.tib file, click the “Next” button to proceed.

Select to “Recover whole disks and partitions”, then click the “Next” button.

The “What to recover” window will display.

Select “Disk 1”. This will automatically select all of the partitions on Disk 1.

Click the “Next” button to proceed.

In the “Settings of Partition” (partition varies by drive letter) screen, locate the “Partition location” section and click on “New location”.

For the “Partition Destination”, select “Recovery Partition”, then click the “Accept” button.

Next, set the “Logical drive letter” setting to “Auto”, then click the “Next” button.

For the EFI System partition (2nd partition), click on “New location”.

Select “EFI System Partition”, then click the “Accept” button.

Set the “Logical drive letter” setting to “Auto”, then click the “Next” button.

For the C: Partition (third partition), click on “New Location”.

Select the “NTFS (C:)” option, then click the “Accept” button.

**NOTE: The Partition Destination window here may take a moment to close. Please allow the Recovery Wizard complete the setup.

Next, set the Logical drive letter to the first available drive letter in the dropdown.

Click “Next” button.

For the D: Partition (fourth partition), click on”New Location”.

Select the “NTFS (Recovery) (D:)” option, then click the “Accept” button.

Next, set the Logical drive letter to “Z:”, then click the “Next” button.

When selecting a disk for the master boot record (MBR) recovery, select the HDD or SSD that is hosting the (C:) drive partition. Do not select the recovery USB.

Click the “Next” button to continue.

A Summary of the Recovery Wizard setup settings will display.

Click the “Proceed” button to run the recovery program.

Wait until the recovery completes. You can track the process by using the progress bar.

Once the recovery operation has completed, a confirmation message will display.

Click the “OK” button to close the popup, then close the Acronis True Image tool.

Close the Command Prompt and reboot the system.

As the unit is booting, tap the “Delete” key on the keyboard to prompt the BIOS.

A login prompt will display. Enter the System Administrator password

- Default Password (Win7): admin

Once logged into the BIOS, use the arrow keys on the keyboard to navigate to the “Boot” tab.

Make sure that the “Boot mode select” setting is set to “UEFI”.

In the Boot menu, locate the Boot Device Priority and select “Boot Option #1”.

Make sure that Boot Option #1 is set to use “Hard Disk: Windows Boot Manager” as the first boot option. This designates the storage drive that is hosting the (C:) partition as the device that the NVR will attempt to start from.