Can the hidden recovery partition be backed up and restored?

[Peabody]

I got a new eMachines computer with only a "recovery disk" O/S.
Actually, it's a combination of a Windows recovery CD, and a
recovery partition for the apps and drivers. I've figured out a way
to do a clean install of just XP, plus just the selected drivers and
apps I want, and that would let me avoid the perils of uninstalling
all the other crap they put on there.

But to do that, I need to delete the recovery partition from the
drive, or at least change its contents. But in case things don't go
right, I need to copy the recovery partition to another drive for
safekeeping, and then be able to copy it back and have it work
properly to re-create the as-shipped drive contents.

I think the recovery partition is hidden FAT-32.

1. Can I use Ghost booted from a floppy or CD to copy that partition
to another much smaller drive as a backup copy?

2. Can I then delete the contents of the original partition, or at
least delete whatever the file is that makes the recovery process
think there's a recovery partition?

3. Can I then copy the contents back later to that partition, and
will it work as originally intended to restore the original drive
contents?

4. I really really really miss FDISK. Is there an XP equivalent
that I can run from a boot CD?

I have a feeling XP won't let me do a lot of this. It's all
protected and locked stuff.

 

[Guest]

The recovery disk should reinstall Windows and all preloaded software!!
That's what the Recovery CD and partiton is there for? You wouldn't have to
delete recovery partion!!

Why/What are yuo trying to do?

Why would yuo have to come up with your special method? I f your doing some
clean install, yuo aren't using recovery cd!!

What do you mean by " plus just the selected drivers and apps I want, and
that would let me avoid the perils of uninstalling all the other crap they
put on there"??

Sounds like you should be dealing with eMAchine tech support!!!!!

 

[Kerry Brown]

I got a new eMachines computer with only a "recovery disk" O/S.
Actually, it's a combination of a Windows recovery CD, and a
recovery partition for the apps and drivers. I've figured out a way
to do a clean install of just XP, plus just the selected drivers and
apps I want, and that would let me avoid the perils of uninstalling
all the other crap they put on there.

But to do that, I need to delete the recovery partition from the
drive, or at least change its contents. But in case things don't go
right, I need to copy the recovery partition to another drive for
safekeeping, and then be able to copy it back and have it work
properly to re-create the as-shipped drive contents.

I think the recovery partition is hidden FAT-32.

1. Can I use Ghost booted from a floppy or CD to copy that partition
to another much smaller drive as a backup copy?

2. Can I then delete the contents of the original partition, or at
least delete whatever the file is that makes the recovery process
think there's a recovery partition?

3. Can I then copy the contents back later to that partition, and
will it work as originally intended to restore the original drive
contents?

4. I really really really miss FDISK. Is there an XP equivalent
that I can run from a boot CD?

I have a feeling XP won't let me do a lot of this. It's all
protected and locked stuff.

1. I don't know about Ghost but Acronis True Image will do this.

2. Not recommended. The best method I have found for imaging disks with a
hidden partition is to image the whole disk not each partition. This makes
sure you can restore to a state that the on board ROM routines recognize.

3. Yes.

4. The disk management snapin is a far more powerful tool than fdisk. You
also can use diskpart in the recovery console.

Kerry

 

[Borg hater]

Yes, I backup an HP notebook's hidden partition and system/boot partition
using DriveImage 7.0 in the same session, Ghost and TI will do it too, as
well as other imaging softwares. The DI 7.0 boot CD is used for recovery of
same. Like you, I strip the stuff loaded by the recovery CDs that I don't
need or want.

There's no need to modify the hidden partition if you know the calls made
from it, just don't load them.

HP's tech support program interfaces with the hidden partition information
to get a "support ticket" number on my notebook. Your Emachine may be
similar. Consider not modifying the hidden partition.

 

[Peabody]

Kerry Brown says...

4. The disk management snapin is a far more powerful
tool than fdisk. You also can use diskpart in the
recovery console.

The only disk management I have access to is the one in XP
itself, and I'm sure it won't let me mess with itself. I
don't have the recovery console - just have the restore CD,
not a real Windows XP CD.

 

[Kerry Brown]

Kerry Brown says...


The only disk management I have access to is the one in XP
itself, and I'm sure it won't let me mess with itself. I
don't have the recovery console - just have the restore CD,
not a real Windows XP CD.

Start ==> Run ==> diskmgmt.msc

It is much more powerful than fdisk. You just have to learn how to use it.
There are also many 3rd party apps that do the same thing. Google is your
friend

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=xp+fdisk+replacement&btnG=Google+Search

Kerry