Missing partition

[inkleput]

XP Pro SP2 and current updates.

Ever since I set up this laptop (best I an recall) I seem to have been
missing a partition.

The My Computer list shows drives "C", "D", "F", etc. A direct access
hard drive utility indicates a 4 gb FAT32 primary partition where "E"
should be but indicates no drive letter. Suggestions?


JimL

 

[John John (MVP)]

A hidden recovery partition, most likely.

John

 

[inkleput]

Would this be related to "Restore?" I once had Acronis, but its stuff was
all stored on my external USB drive.

And if it were system related why would it be FAT 32?

Hm. I just found the description "CompaqCfg" on it. Wierd.

A hidden recovery partition, most likely.

(e-mail address removed) wrote:

JimL

 

[Jerry]

Would this be related to "Restore?" I once had Acronis, but its stuff was
all stored on my external USB drive.

And if it were system related why would it be FAT 32?

Hm. I just found the description "CompaqCfg" on it. Wierd.

There's nothing wierd about it, Compaq put a restore partition enabling you
to put your laptop back to the same state it was in when you turned it on
for the first time. It's very common for that type of partition to be
FAT32. It is not system related and has nothing to do with XP's System
Restore function.

 

[inkleput]

"Jerry" <[email protected]> said:

There's nothing wierd about it, Compaq put a restore partition enabling
you to put your laptop back to the same state it was in when you turned
it on for the first time. It's very common for that type of partition
to be FAT32. It is not system related and has nothing to do with XP's
System Restore function.

I thought it was wierd because neither on this ThinkPad nor any other time
have I ever had anything to do with Compaq. I've not even been to their
web site.


JimL

 

[Jim]

"Jerry" <[email protected]> said:






I thought it was wierd because neither on this ThinkPad nor any other time
have I ever had anything to do with Compaq. I've not even been to their
web site.


JimL

It is not just Compaq that does this. Every manufacturer who sells you an
OEM system, but does not furnish rebuild CDs, puts a hidden partition on the
disk.
Jim

 

[inkleput]

It is not just Compaq that does this. Every manufacturer who sells you an
OEM system, but does not furnish rebuild CDs, puts a hidden partition on the
disk.
Jim

And they all put Compaq's name on it?


JimL

 

[Jim]

And they all put Compaq's name on it?


JimL

No, of course they put their own name on the repair partition.
Jim

 

[inkleput]

No, of course they put their own name on the repair partition.
Jim

Precisely. It isn't a Compaq computer - never touched a Compaq computer or website. But the partition has a Compaq descriptor on it.


JimL