Help. Cannot Access OEM Partition on Hard Drive

  • Thread starter Thread starter Bob Jones
  • Start date Start date
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Bob Jones

My hard drive has a small (39 MB) partition on it. I think it was put on by
the vendor (Dell), but I don't know what purpose it serves. I am running
Windows XP Professional.

When I first got the PC, I don't believe this partition had a drive letter.
Then, for no apparent reason that I know of, it was assigned drive letter F.
Recently, when I added an external hard drive, the external hard drive was
assigned drive letter G.

Yesterday, I noticed that the system had assigned drive letter F to the
external hard drive! The small partition on my internal hard drive is still
there, but it has no drive letter assigned to it and I can no longer access
that partition. (It no longer shows up on Windows Explorer).

I used the DISKPART command function to prove that the partition was still
there. It is shown as a FAT partition with no drive letter. The 56 GB
primary partition (Drive letter C) is NTFS.

Can anyone shed any light on this situation for me? I'm not even sure I
need the partition or the info on it, but even if I don't need it, I'm
afraid it might suddenly get a drive letter assignment again. That might
then change the drive letter assignment of my external hard drive.

Thanks in advance. ---------------------Bob Jones
 
You probably have Dell diagnostic tools installed in that partition.
Just leave it alone or else you could void your Dell warranty and
support.

--
Carey Frisch
Microsoft MVP
Windows XP - Shell/User

Be Smart! Protect your PC!
http://www.microsoft.com/security/protect/

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


| My hard drive has a small (39 MB) partition on it. I think it was put on by
| the vendor (Dell), but I don't know what purpose it serves. I am running
| Windows XP Professional.
|
| When I first got the PC, I don't believe this partition had a drive letter.
| Then, for no apparent reason that I know of, it was assigned drive letter F.
| Recently, when I added an external hard drive, the external hard drive was
| assigned drive letter G.
|
| Yesterday, I noticed that the system had assigned drive letter F to the
| external hard drive! The small partition on my internal hard drive is still
| there, but it has no drive letter assigned to it and I can no longer access
| that partition. (It no longer shows up on Windows Explorer).
|
| I used the DISKPART command function to prove that the partition was still
| there. It is shown as a FAT partition with no drive letter. The 56 GB
| primary partition (Drive letter C) is NTFS.
|
| Can anyone shed any light on this situation for me? I'm not even sure I
| need the partition or the info on it, but even if I don't need it, I'm
| afraid it might suddenly get a drive letter assignment again. That might
| then change the drive letter assignment of my external hard drive.
|
| Thanks in advance. ---------------------Bob Jones
|
|
 
Bob Jones said:
My hard drive has a small (39 MB) partition on it. I think it was put on by
the vendor (Dell), but I don't know what purpose it serves. I am running
Windows XP Professional.

When I first got the PC, I don't believe this partition had a drive letter.
Then, for no apparent reason that I know of, it was assigned drive letter F.
Recently, when I added an external hard drive, the external hard drive was
assigned drive letter G.

Yesterday, I noticed that the system had assigned drive letter F to the
external hard drive! The small partition on my internal hard drive is still
there, but it has no drive letter assigned to it and I can no longer access
that partition. (It no longer shows up on Windows Explorer).

I used the DISKPART command function to prove that the partition was still
there. It is shown as a FAT partition with no drive letter. The 56 GB
primary partition (Drive letter C) is NTFS.

Can anyone shed any light on this situation for me? I'm not even sure I
need the partition or the info on it, but even if I don't need it, I'm
afraid it might suddenly get a drive letter assignment again. That might
then change the drive letter assignment of my external hard drive.

Thanks in advance. ---------------------Bob Jones
Click to expand...

As Carey suggested this is the utility partition that Dell computers come
from the factory with. Ordinarily it is hidden. The utilities are accessed
by pressing f12 as the computer boots. The same utilities are available on
the utility disk that came with the computer.

Did you recently install Napster software? There is a known problem with it
(Napster) "unhiding" this hidden partition. I've also seen some evidence
that some software from Stomp inc. may also be causing this problem.

The partition can be removed as I understand it using an appropriate tool
such as Partition Magic.

I have left it alone on my Dells. Should you have a problem that
requires support they will have you run the Utilities, if the part in
question fails the diagnostic getting it replaced is a slam dunk. If for
some reason you can't find or don't have access to the CD (and have removed
the partition from the HDD ) You'll have a more difficult time getting them
to
replace a faulty part.

There is some discussion on restoring the hidden partition here.
http://www.computer-chat.com/dell/Utility_Partition_211453.html

Dell Forums also have discussions on the matter.
http://forums.us.dell.com/supportforums


--
D

I'm not an MVP a VIP nor do I have ESP.
I was just trying to help.
Please use your own best judgment before implementing any suggestions or
advice herein.
No warranty is expressed or implied.
Your mileage may vary.
See store for details. :)

Remove shoes to E-mail.
 
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