Missing some partitions on Boot HD, but Boot is OK

bearly · 08-03-2009, 09:25 AM

Subject: Primary HDD became partially Unallocated. i.e. Win XP "My Computer" and Disk Management does not recognize all the partitions.

Although my boot drive, but the C:, E:, F: and BootIt EMBR, partitions are all fine, so I can still boot the PC. Still missing are: G, H, I, J, K and L

Based on multiple partition programs, the partitions and data are still there, but Win XP isn't able to see them. It is wierd that only a portion of the partitions became or "look like" unallocated space.

Running OS Win XP Home w/ sp3
HW: Abit SG-80 MOB, Intel Celeron 341 Socket 775 2.93 Ghz, 533 FSB
All drives originally partitioned and formatted with NTFS.

Primary/Master HDD Memorex ATA/133 200 GB (6L200P0) with OS

GRC's Spinrite Option 2, to check the drive. It tested and found no errors on HD0.

TestDisk for Win correctly identified the partitions during the Quick Search.

However, although I used the Write command, when I rebooted the system, again only the first few partitions showed up.

Fearing the worst, I began backing up those partitions, using Terabytes IFW (Image for Windows), to my slave drive, and much to my surprise, it also backed up all the files on all the partitions including those shown as Unallocated space. I verified this by examining some of the file names of the backup.

Tried using the "File and Mount" program, and although it did enumerate the "Mounted" partitions and the Unmounted partitons, it didn't identify the partitions by their name.

Also checked with Parted Magic, and it only saw those partitons identifeid by Win XP, that is, only the first four corresponding to drives C:, E:, F: and Bootit EMBR. Also tried the TestDisk in the PartedMagic CD, thinking perhaps Linux would be freindlier to the HD than Win XP. It weren't!

In looking at the drives using Terabytes BootitNG V1.86a, in Maintenance mode, Partition work, the partitions also seem to register correctly.

(Although primary PC is usable with only the Master drive enabled, I have access to a second PC while troubleshooting my main PC).

Many thanks for any assist,

I had had similar problems that the folks at Terabyte were helping with, but this part of the problem, is I think, beyond the scope of Terabytes products. Except that, using Terabytes BING (BootIt New Generation V1.86a), this HDD partition chart looks OK.

Bob

08-03-2009, 09:25 AM	#1 (permalink)
bearly Registered User Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 5 OS: Win XP	Missing some partitions on Boot HD, but Boot is OK Subject: Primary HDD became partially Unallocated. i.e. Win XP "My Computer" and Disk Management does not recognize all the partitions. Although my boot drive, but the C:, E:, F: and BootIt EMBR, partitions are all fine, so I can still boot the PC. Still missing are: G, H, I, J, K and L Based on multiple partition programs, the partitions and data are still there, but Win XP isn't able to see them. It is wierd that only a portion of the partitions became or "look like" unallocated space. Running OS Win XP Home w/ sp3 HW: Abit SG-80 MOB, Intel Celeron 341 Socket 775 2.93 Ghz, 533 FSB All drives originally partitioned and formatted with NTFS. Primary/Master HDD Memorex ATA/133 200 GB (6L200P0) with OS GRC's Spinrite Option 2, to check the drive. It tested and found no errors on HD0. TestDisk for Win correctly identified the partitions during the Quick Search. However, although I used the Write command, when I rebooted the system, again only the first few partitions showed up. Fearing the worst, I began backing up those partitions, using Terabytes IFW (Image for Windows), to my slave drive, and much to my surprise, it also backed up all the files on all the partitions including those shown as Unallocated space. I verified this by examining some of the file names of the backup. Tried using the "File and Mount" program, and although it did enumerate the "Mounted" partitions and the Unmounted partitons, it didn't identify the partitions by their name. Also checked with Parted Magic, and it only saw those partitons identifeid by Win XP, that is, only the first four corresponding to drives C:, E:, F: and Bootit EMBR. Also tried the TestDisk in the PartedMagic CD, thinking perhaps Linux would be freindlier to the HD than Win XP. It weren't! In looking at the drives using Terabytes BootitNG V1.86a, in Maintenance mode, Partition work, the partitions also seem to register correctly. (Although primary PC is usable with only the Master drive enabled, I have access to a second PC while troubleshooting my main PC). Many thanks for any assist, I had had similar problems that the folks at Terabyte were helping with, but this part of the problem, is I think, beyond the scope of Terabytes products. Except that, using Terabytes BING (BootIt New Generation V1.86a), this HDD partition chart looks OK. Bob