Questions about NTFS partitions

[Guest]

Hi,

I have an HP Pavilion a815n desktop PC with Win XP Home. Recently I noticed
that Sound Recorder and calculator are missing. I tried researching HP
website but without any luck on how to restore the missing things. The only
way I know is to restore them is by installing XP again because I tried using
Software restore CD that came with the PC but no luck.

I have one hard drive that is divided in 3 NTFS partitions. One of which
has OS and other two partitions are data drives. If I try to format system
partition in order to reinstall OS, will my other two data partitions remain
intact?

Thanks for yours advice and time,

Joe

 

[Doug Knox MS-MVP]

Control Panel, Add/Remove Programs, Windows Components. All the files needed are already on your hard disk.

As for re-formatting, this depends on the method used by HP. I would suspect that it will just reformat the system partition and leave the other two intact. This would go along with the strategy of a Recovery Partition.

 

[Servo]

Hi,

I have an HP Pavilion a815n desktop PC with Win XP Home. Recently I noticed
that Sound Recorder and calculator are missing. I tried researching HP
website but without any luck on how to restore the missing things. The only
way I know is to restore them is by installing XP again because I tried using
Software restore CD that came with the PC but no luck.

I have one hard drive that is divided in 3 NTFS partitions. One of which
has OS and other two partitions are data drives. If I try to format system
partition in order to reinstall OS, will my other two data partitions remain
intact?

Yes but why would you reformat to install the OS? You should be able to
reinstall the OS over itself, no formatting needed. If you need the
calculator you can ad that thru the WIndows Add/Remove programs feature
and I THINK the same goes for the sound recorder, assuming it isn't from
a 3rd party vendor.

Thanks for yours advice and time,

Joe

--
Servo @ work
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Proud member of PETA-People Eating Tasty Animals
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Slow, fiery death to all spammers!!!

 

[Anando [MS-MVP]]

Hello Joe,

There is no need to re-install Windows XP just to get access to calculator and sound recorder.
Create new shortcuts pointing to:

C:\windows\system32\calc.exe --for Calculator
C:\windows\system32\sndrec32.exe -- for Sound recorder

Hope this helps.

--

Anando
Microsoft MVP- Windows Shell/User
http://www.microsoft.com/mvp
http://www.mvps.org


Folder customizations
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Protect your PC!
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[Guest]

I tried installing Calculator and Sound Recorder through Windows Add/Remove
programs feature, but it didn’t work. For some strange reason, it didn’t
work.

I am referring to Windows Sound Recorder.

Joe

 

[Servo]

I tried installing Calculator and Sound Recorder through Windows Add/Remove
programs feature, but it didn’t work. For some strange reason, it didn’t
work.

I am referring to Windows Sound Recorder.

Joe

Check Anando's response...see if the files are in the system folder.
--
Servo @ work
God Bless Our Troops!
"Giggity, Giggity!"
Proud member of PETA-People Eating Tasty Animals
tservo100 at
ameritech dot net
Slow, fiery death to all spammers!!!

 

[Guest]

I was hoping that by creating new shortcuts I will be able to solve the
problem but the files calc.exe and sndrec32.exe don’t come up in search for
files. When I was removing the unwanted bundled software that came with the
HP desktop, I think something must have happened to these programs. I don’t
know what caused their disappearance.

I tried installing Calculator and Sound Recorder through Windows Add/Remove
programs feature, but it didn’t work.

I am little afraid of using the system restore /reinstall disk because I
wasn’t sure it will format my 2 data drives also or not. This is why I
thought it’s best get some advice.

Joe

 

[D.Currie]

If the data drives are something you added afterwards by partitioning the
drive, they are vulnerable if you use the HP restore, as it may be set to
change everything back to the way it was originally, including any
partitioning done. If the data drives are actually separate drives, you can
simply disconnect them, and the HP software can't touch them. It shouldn't
anyway, if they are separate drives, but it doesn't hurt to be a little
extra cautious when you're using that sort of software.