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Partition Recovery disappeared

Archi-tech Posted messages 4 Status Member -  
pépé35530 Posted messages 2951 Registration date   Status Member Last intervention   -
Hello,

I just reinstalled Windows 7 64-bit on my laptop (an Asus N75SF). For this, I used the original Recovery partition. The reinstallation to factory settings went well but... the Recovery partition has now disappeared. This raises my question, can you use a recovery partition multiple times? Or did I make a mistake?

To guide your responses, here are more specific details that I hope can help: My computer has two 600 Go hard drives, already partitioned originally. Before reinstalling Windows, the first was partitioned into 3: 25 Go for Recovery (R:) / about 270 Go for the OS (C:) / and the rest for a third partition (D:). The second hard drive is divided into two equal partitions that have not changed (E:) and (F:). Since the reinstallation of Windows, the partitions (C:) and (D:) have merged, which I understand since I used the option "Recover Windows to entire HD". Is the (R:) partition still there with its 25 Go but has lost its name and letter in the disk manager, it has no name. This partition, and this is my problem, has become 100% free. Furthermore, this partition is no longer visible from Windows Explorer. I therefore assume that all Recovery files have been erased.

Is the Recovery recoverable?
Thank you in advance for any help!

2 answers

  1.
    bazfile Posted messages 58494 Registration date   Status Moderator Last intervention   20 270
     
    Good evening,
    I think the Recovery partition is still present, but it must be hidden; it's not showing up.
    If by any chance it has been accidentally deleted, you can always create an image of your system and restore it in case of problems; this image will replace the Recovery. You can create this type of image and restore it using, for example, the paid software Acronis True Image or Paragon Drive Backup & Recovery 2014 Free Edition: https://www.paragon-software.com/free/br-free/

    Also see here: https://www.commentcamarche.net/faq/304-creation-d-image-systeme-ghost.

    bazfile 
    security contributor
    .
    1
    1. Archi-tech Posted messages 4 Status Member
       
      Thank you for your advice, I will create a system image, but why use third-party software? Windows can also do it, can't it?
      Furthermore, if my Recovery partition is "hidden," can we make it reappear normally?
      0
  2. pépé35530 Posted messages 2951 Registration date   Status Member Last intervention   1 390
     
    Good evening,

    In principle, your R partition should still be there.
    At startup, do you still get the message allowing you to access your hidden partition?

    You can also use the "disk management" section which will let you view your hard drives with the different partitions.

    See you soon

    pépé
    1
    1. Archi-tech Posted messages 4 Status Member
       
      What type of message are you talking about?

      With the disk management, I have, as stated in my question, two partitions on the first hard drive. One without a name or letter of 25 GB apparently empty ("100% free" in the table), and another with the OS (C:).
      0
      1. pépé35530 Posted messages 2951 Registration date   Status Member Last intervention   1 390 > Archi-tech Posted messages 4 Status Member
         
        At startup, you should see a message allowing you to access the BIOS and, on some machines, a hidden partition containing your system. The keys to use vary by machine: F12, F9, F8, Escape, Delete.
        As "bazfile" says, it is imperative to create a disk image of the system. It seems to me that W7 and W8 can create a disk image, but many like me are loyal to third-party software that they know well.

        See you later

        Grandpa
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    2. Archi-tech Posted messages 4 Status Member
       
      Yes, I can still access the BIOS on startup.

      Thank you for the clarification regarding the system image. Not knowing either of the two mentioned software, I initiated the creation of a system image with Windows. It has just finished, and I will keep it on an external hard drive.

      Do you know where the changes I mentioned in my question might come from, and how to remedy this? How can I recover the original Recovery partition?

      Cheers!
      0
      1. pépé35530 Posted messages 2951 Registration date   Status Member Last intervention   1 390 > Archi-tech Posted messages 4 Status Member
         
        W7 and W8 can also create a repair CD which can sometimes be useful and avoids reinstalling the entire system.

        Also, remember to regularly create a disk image? In reality, we create an "incremental" image that simply completes the original image (which reduces the time taken). But I don't know if W7 and W8 can perform this type of backup.

        A+

        pépé
        0