OK, so first my dad gets us a virus ... I was intending on doing a format anyway so I thought now would be as a good-a time as any ... I come to the partition creator/selector for installing Windows onto and notice that my second partition (S:\\ {4gb} -- Compressed {I set it to compressed by accident}) isn't there; this is after deleting Windows partition so of course I couldn't return to Windows to check to see if the partition was around ... so I ignored that and continued on ... I format a partition (to NTFS) and install Windows ... get into Windows and learn that this partition is no-where to be found: not in My Computer, Disk Management and I've tried several (including: Find and Mount, Partition Magic) partitioning software ... further more, it has come to my attention that rather than having access to: 160GB (which is the capacity of my HDD) I have no more than 131GB ...so even if I could get my 4GB partition back there's still 25GB (or so) that's just ...somewhere not being used.

Oh, and I even used Live Kubuntu to look around the hard drive and still no sign of this partition.


So, does anyone have any ideas on how I can get my space back? (I am not bothered about the data that was there, I am more bothered about getting back up near 160GB in capacity.)

You've got the best chance with the disktools (bootdisks) which you can get from your disk manufacturer's website. With some tools like Seagate Seatools you can (re)set the total disk's sectors size should that be neccesary. In the worsted case you'll maybe have to do a low-level format but if one of those tools can't fix it nothing can.

If you want to keep as much data as possible you'll probably have the best chance with an Acronis Disk Director Suite boot cd-rom or a bootdisk from other partitioning software.

Thank you for replying.
Could you elaborate on the "bootdisks"? My manufacturer (for HDD) is Seagate. I have checked their available downloads and looked into DiscWizard but how does that help?

I was informed to do a low level format and I agreed to doing so, however, I wasn't able to, due to not being able to boot up from a separate hard disk. My main concern is getting my capacity back, not bothered about any data--all my needed data is on a network that is backed up weekly.


I will be busy for the next few days--up to a week--sorting my computer out and doing work. I will visit to see if there are any replies to here and check the forums a little, but won't really be active; just letting people know.

What service pack do you have?

System Details
Operating System: Windows XP Home Edition (SP3 {after updating from Windows Update; my CD has no SP})
Computer Manufacturer: Packard Bell
Computer Model: iMedia 1508/2
HDD: Seagate ST3160023AS 160GB Internal Serial ATA
BIOS/CMOS: CMOS 10f

NOTE: I do NOT have any CDs from Packard Bell/with this system. My Windows XP Home Edition setup disc is from a previous computer. When I bought my current system I received absolutely NO discs.

Usually the system comes with a recovery partition that is accessed with a bootable floppy or in my case by depressing F11 on my XP Pro system at boot up.

I have used this method once to get rid of Kaspersky anti virus as no matter what I tried it would not let any other anti virus be installed namely avast Home Free.

I now have the SP3 CD that I ordered from Microsoft in case I have to endure the long process of installing XP Pro.

I'm sure someone will extol the virtues of BartPE but I don't have the money right now to splurge on things I can obtain for free.

The Heartbeat TV episode followed by Fawlty Towers was hilarious last night.

I would probably just nuke the hd with something like dban and then reinstall windows. If that doesn't wipe any partitions that were made then I dont know what will.

Just make sure you have a windows disc and not a recovery partition because that will get deleted too.

Doesn't that cost?
(I also removed that recovery thing a long time ago.)


oOo That looks like someonething I require. Thank you. I have spent all day rebuilding my system from Windows XP Home Edition (no SP) so that I could do College work, next time I have some free time I will give it a go--thank you once again.

Edit: Am also back to post again.

It was only $10.00 shipping for 2 and I gave one to my friend for safe keeping.


Why?

Its not like it takes up a lot of space and it sure comes in handy for a system recovery as a hard disk is MANY times faster than a CD.


If you had the recovery partition then you would have been back much sooner

Having the SP3 CD makes updating so much faster.

Guys his service pack or how he chooses to install it has nothing to do with this problem. Why must this be brought up in multiple topics all over the forum?

Really there is no need to have MS send you a disc unless your on dial up. You can burn your own for like 10cents with a cdr if you must but even thats not really needed. But still this has no relevance what so ever to this topic.

However this does have relevance:
I forgot to include a link to dban just encase you don't know what it is:
http://www.dban.org/

I thought pre-SP1 was limited to 137gb because of lack of 48-bit lba by default.

That's true, but who bothers installing pre sp1 xp anymore.

I actually forgot all about that issue(I didn't have/ know anyone with hds that big back then).
But I was mostly speaking to a certain other member...

Edit:
Yikes your actually right... (just noticed post about specs)
Here is how to fix this problem:

http://lifehacker.com/386526/slipstream-se...installation-cd

One fly in the ointment
I never received a Windows installation disk only a floppy diskette labeled:
DIAGNOSTIC DISKETTE
Aptiva/IBM
Intellistation
E Pro(Type 6204, 6214)
Netvista

From what I remember when I called IBM to ask for a Windows installation CD they said that due to Microsoft's OEM licensing agreement they could not send the CD but they could send the Lotus Smartsuite installation CD that I politely declined.

They said that the floppy is bootable that accesses the recovery data on the hard drive to restore the system to its shipped condition.

I needed to reformat: the recovery console didn't totally delete settings/data so I had to format (can't remember why now; but I did). Packard Bell do offer a image creator but it failed on me and no-one knew why so I thought *what the heck* and continued formatting.


Thanks I did a Google search ang came across that site. I will run it in Christmas holidays (won't have time to, before).


I had heard that.


Was you referring to me? If so, I am currently having problems loading that website. :|
Edit: I have been able to load the website and I have noticed it discusses nLite; I have already used and nLite and even have a CD burnt using it, however, due to it not installing with SP3 properly I've decided against further use of nLite.

What you need to do is create a slip streamed xp disc. There are different ways to do it.(I use the nlite one)
You could do it like this if you prefer:
http://www.winsupersite.com/showcase/windo..._slipstream.asp

Thats with SP2 which may be better to do anyway.

Thank you, that seems like a more suitable method.

I think this warrants a second post considering its separate from the above posts topic. If any moderators disagree feel free to merge this post in with the above.

So yeah... just wondering; going back to this business about previous to Windows XP SP2 being unable to recognise anything more than 137GB, does this include the partition management used on the boot disc?

To be honest I'm not sure, I think its just that windows wont be able to recognize anything larger. I had read of this a long time ago but back then I didn't have any hd large enough to bump into this issue. I do know that if you just make an xp sp1 or later disc and install it fresh you shouldn't have any more problems. I would shoot for at least sp2 since its a major update and SP3 only takes a few minutes to install afterwords.(Personally I would go ahead and do SP3. )

If I was to do this tutorial, what about any updates between the version I have and SP2 (if there are any; I cannot remember) ... will it matter? Will Windows Update detect I don't have such (if any) updates and install them?
Edit: Nevermind, I've read the third paragraph which explains what I asked, I believe.

Thanks for the help so far.