1 Topic by Nocturnal

  • Nocturnal
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Topic: How to approach...

Oi, I'm Alex, and I'll get this out of the way, I have not used Gparted before. Messing with partitions....it's a territory I try to avoid but have no other option at this point. And another disclaimer....I have not yet tried to run Gparted live; that is because before I attempt anything, (though I've already backed up my data), I want to have a clue of what I'm doing and the documentation I've read, well I haven't found anything that helps me out directly. Anyway, here's the problem(s).

I have 4 work compys, 1 works but is in another state, 1 is a personal i just have to back up some more data and reformat, but the one I am one and the one I use as a work compy have ghost partitions. This one, can't use for much cuz of specs but thats not important, it wouldnt recognize audio drivers, etc, but it has a pci ethernet adapter, so i am able to get the internet, so i got the drivers online, this computer sucks but can function. Its main problem is when reformatted, (this could be cuz of my carelessness), for somereason it created windows and made the defualt drive a small partition that I know I didn't create. It leaves me with no virtual memory, the C drive is there, but doesn't have windows on it. It causes problems. For this computer, I want to move windows partition, over to the C drive, so basically, merge them. Is this possible without screwing both partitions up?

Thats the easier one, I was reading up on some docs and I think I can fix it but again, I'm hesitant too since this is my only working compy right now.

My main problem is the other computer. Booted one day, C drive's windows was missing system files, and wouldnt allow for windows repair through the windows XP install disk, or a recovery disk (cant remember which I used.) It was working fine, only thing unusual was the ghost partition. It didnt do a thing before, I never even heard of em, untill my compy died. It created windows on the ghost partition, it would run, C would not, but C is still there. Biggest problem is I can't do anything on there. That compy was upgraded (these compys are the same, except the upgraded one has a better gfx instead of onboard, extra ram, etc.) The monitor is plugged into the video card but doesnt recognize it, search all you want in the device manager or add hardware. I found that odd, but whats worse, is no internet access, it doesnt even have network adapters as a catergory in device manager. It can't find anything. Other then a few files that it wont let me access, i backed up everything onto my external, which is good enough for me so I'm ready to fix this, just, I'm not sure what to do. I used the main site and this site http://www.wikihow.com/Use-Gparted for reference, so I'm ready to set it up just once its working, I'm not sure how to fix this. This time, the C drive has windows but its damaged beyond repair. The ghost partition has a working windows, sort of, except again I want windows on the C drive, and this windows won't recognize any hardware. I couldnt even download the drivers if I wanted. Why it wont recognize the adapter and video card is beyond me, one is pci-e, one is onboard, if they were both pci-e, it would make more sense but this one doesnt have a pci-e adapter like the one i'm using right now.

That's probably far too explanatory, but I really don't know how to get my desired results: eliminate the ghost partitions, move the working windows to the broken one if possible, and even if i cant do that, i wouldnt know the alternative, i have no idea how to approach this, I've never dealt with ghost partitions before and hopefully never will have to again.

If anyone can help (more concerned with the second computer, the upgraded one) I'd appreciate it immensely.

Thanks,
Alex

2 Reply by cmdr

  • cmdr
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Re: How to approach...

Hi Alex,
I apologize, but your post is very hard to understand for me, cuz English is not my native language.

Would you please be so kind and sum up the problems, you have, in a shorthand table, so that your four compys are clearly distinguishable ?

Some formulations seem ambiguous to me (e.g. ... is in another state = abroad or has a better/worse status). What do you understand by a "ghost partition",  a mirrored partition, a RAID compound, an extended partition , an unvisible partition for Windows or else ?

I want to move windows partition, over to the C drive, so basically, merge them. Is this possible without screwing both partitions up?

You want to repair a corrupted Windows system by "merging partitions" ( a working one with a corrupted ) ?  Not to mention the fact, that "GParted" doesn't allow to merge partitions, even if the target content may get destroyed, it's nearly impossible to put Windows to another (different) PC simply by copying it, no matter, if on a physical (drive sectors) or logical (file) basis, and to keep it working or recovering it. There are even enough pitfalls, if you simply want to have it on a bigger new drive in the same system.

Regards
cmdr

3 Reply by Nocturnal

  • Nocturnal
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Re: How to approach...

Thanks for the response, and sorry for the confusion.  When it comes to partitions, my knowledge is very limited.

I may of been mistaken on the problem. My understanding on ghost partition, mirrored, raid, etc. is minimal to none.
From what I currently understand, while discussing these problems with someone far more knowledgeable then me concluded my problem was probably ghost partitions; I've never heard of them before, but he had the same problem at one point. But here's my questions simplified: (not sure what you mean by short hand table, but I can give you shorter questions in a quote box...not what you asked for but best I can do, sorry)

When I boot the pc, I get 3 boot options; 2 say windows xp, and there is a blank space that if selected, restarts the pc. The second windows xp is on a partition that I did not create; it somehow created itself, and the original windows and partition I used, C, would no longer boot due to corruption in windows. The partition created does allow me to boot up my PC to windows, and does recognize the C drive, however this new partition does not recognize hardware such as the video card, or even the Ethernet adapter which is unboard. I've backed up as much as I can to my external, and since it's taken so long I've decided to simply delete the partition with the working windows, and reformat my C drive. Another computer also had windows installed onto a partition I did not create, so I will be attempting the same with it, if I can get the other computer working again. So let me simplify everything and come to my current concern:

When reformatting this computer it was unable to recognize a lot of drivers. And my other computer had the same problem, but even more so with hardware. I plan on reformatting C after I use Gparted Live to delete the partition that created itself. Is there anything I can do to avoid another case where hardware is undetectable? In another option I could expand the space on this computer so I don't have to face problems with constant low virtual memory due to the small size of the partition. Is there any advantage to running windows on a seperate partition then your program files, documents, etc. ?

4 Reply by cmdr

  • cmdr
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Re: How to approach...

Hi Alex,
I suspect, that we talk about a severe virus infection of your systems. To minimize the risk of transfering it to your reformatted systems, I would suggest, that you scan your backuped files and your running systems with an effective antivirus software for prevention. You need not do it with a windows software. There are also Linux based antivirus live CDs (e.g. Avira Antivir Rescue System, which scan ALL Windows system files as well (not possible with a Windows virus scanner !).

If you use a "clean" Windows installation CD with the latest Service Packs to reinstall it and have the latest drivers for your motherboard and hardware: why should anything not work ? Perhaps there might be damage of motherboard or hardware, if anything doesn't work properly. If you can get it : a flash BIOS update for your motherboard might also be a good idea.

I suggest, that you rebuild your systems from scratch, i.e. delete ALL partitions with "GParted", install Windows and create new partition(s) with desired size with Windows ("GParted" can NOT create Windows bootable Partition Boot Records !). Install  all necessary drivers for your systems and your favourite other programs (a background antivirus software is a must !). At last restore your virus free backup files to the new systems.

Regards
cmdr