Hdd - Windows Xp Reports Wrong Capacity

[webfact]

I am getting desparate. I had Acronis True Image running for a while with a secure zone/start up manger (F11) enabled. I disabled/deleted the secure zone via Acronis.

After I uninstalled Acronis True Image. So far so good. After the mandatory reboot I opened Partition Magic and showed my C: drive again with the one and only NTSF partion.

This all happend on my C: drive, which has 320 GB capacity.

And here the chaos start... When I check with the build in Windows Disk utiliy the capacity you can clearly see Windows OS reports the drive with 229 GB but the capacity is 320 GB

Windows OS

When I do the same check with Partition Magic the drive shows its full capacity but Windows OS still shows 229 GB only

The BIOS shows the correct size (320GB).

What's it all about? Where have the missing, almost 70GB gone...? Of course, Windows file manager does report only 229 GB toral capacity as well...

I suspect the might be hidden in the "system restore" but not sure.

Any adivse is very much appreciated. Thanks!

[Guest Reimar]

Have you try Acronis Disk Director? If not try them! It's better than Partition Magic anyway.

Seems to be that True Image had created an Hidden Partition which still exist and without to delete that partition and after that resizing the system partition, you'll not get the full size of your HDD!

Cheers.

[webfact]

Have you try Acronis Disk Director? If not try them! It's better than Partition Magic anyway.

Seems to be that True Image had created an Hidden Partition which still exist and without to delete that partition and after that resizing the system partition, you'll not get the full size of your HDD!

Cheers.

Reimar, your advise did not solve my problem. I checked with Disk Airector and opend "disk - advanced". There's no such hidden partition... I only can HIDE a partition.

Any suggestions except reformat the C: drive?

Thanks

[Guest Reimar]

If you have the Disk Director Suite installed, there is a part named Disk Editor. Use that for to check you HDD for hidden sectors (look at the pic) for to find out how many hidden sector your HDD has.

I use Disk Director 10.x

Cheers.

[webfact]

If you have the Disk Director Suite installed, there is a part named Disk Editor. Use that for to check you HDD for hidden sectors (look at the pic) for to find out how many hidden sector your HDD has.

I use Disk Director 10.x

Cheers.

to: Reimar

Please view attachemts. You know already what XP reports.

about 70 GB have disappeared and are not reported...

[Guest Reimar]

If you have the Disk Director Suite installed, there is a part named Disk Editor. Use that for to check you HDD for hidden sectors (look at the pic) for to find out how many hidden sector your HDD has.

I use Disk Director 10.x

Cheers.

to: Reimar

Please view attachemts. You know already what XP reports.

about 70 GB have disappeared and are not reported...

Ok, I'll try to replay your config. Could you please tell me which version of True Image you was using and it's a Client or a Server version.

But I need a bit time for that because I've to prepare a computer with XP for that.

Thanks and cheers.

[webfact]

If you have the Disk Director Suite installed, there is a part named Disk Editor. Use that for to check you HDD for hidden sectors (look at the pic) for to find out how many hidden sector your HDD has.

I use Disk Director 10.x

Cheers.

to: Reimar

Please view attachemts. You know already what XP reports.

about 70 GB have disappeared and are not reported...

Ok, I'll try to replay your config. Could you please tell me which version of True Image you was using and it's a Client or a Server version.

But I need a bit time for that because I've to prepare a computer with XP for that.

Thanks and cheers.

I very appreciate your offer and efforts.

I used Acronis True Image 11, home edition. (must be client)

After that I activated an recovery environment which seems to create its own boot environment "during startup push F11 for recovery"which was then crated as a special partition, I could view that partition with disk direktor and it had almost the

size of the missing 68 GB, Guess you know what I mean.

After I decided to uninstall True Image, I first deleted this "secure zone" with the wizard within the program environment.

I uninstalled Acronis, was asked to reboot, did it, the rest ist history. My 320 GB HDD is now reported with 229 GB capacity

I have no other OS installed but XP professional.

And now I hope for a miracle... :-)

[Guest Reimar]

One more question: after deleting the secure zone, had you rebooted the computer or directly deleted True Image?

Thanks and cheers.

[webfact]

One more question: after deleting the secure zone, had you rebooted the computer or directly deleted True Image?

Thanks and cheers.

I rebooted after the program was uninstalled and I was asked to do so.

But not 100% sure. I might ave done this: removed secure zone, was asked to reboot now or later,

clicked "later" and uninstalled True Image. After I definatly rebooted.

Another question. I have a system restorepoint from yesterday when Acronis Tru was still running.

If I restore to yesterday will that bring me True Image back including the "lost" 68 GB partition"?

[Guest Reimar]

One more question: after deleting the secure zone, had you rebooted the computer or directly deleted True Image?

Thanks and cheers.

I rebooted after the program was uninstalled and I was asked to do so.

But not 100% sure. I might ave done this: removed secure zone, was asked to reboot now or later,

clicked "later" and uninstalled True Image. After I definatly rebooted.

Another question. I have a system restorepoint from yesterday when Acronis Tru was still running.

If I restore to yesterday will that bring me True Image back including the "lost" 68 GB partition"?

I'm not sure with that but it's worth trying! But save your data before to an different place!

Will see what I can find out. Need a bit time, so I'll get back to you sometimes later.

Cheers.

[webfact]

One more question: after deleting the secure zone, had you rebooted the computer or directly deleted True Image?

Thanks and cheers.

I rebooted after the program was uninstalled and I was asked to do so.

But not 100% sure. I might ave done this: removed secure zone, was asked to reboot now or later,

clicked "later" and uninstalled True Image. After I definatly rebooted.

Another question. I have a system restorepoint from yesterday when Acronis Tru was still running.

If I restore to yesterday will that bring me True Image back including the "lost" 68 GB partition"?

I'm not sure with that but it's worth trying! But save your data before to an different place!

Will see what I can find out. Need a bit time, so I'll get back to you sometimes later.

Cheers.

Raimar, guess I done the trick.

I reinstalled Acro True 11 and setup a secure zone with the smallest possible size

Now look what Windows reports - the correct capacity!!!

Now the big concern. We will switch to Storagecraft shadowprotect Monday.

it means, I have to unstall True Image Home again.

As far as I understand the "secure" zone is protected and cannot be deleted or the space formatted as NTSF. Actually I haven't tried it yet because of a possible disaster.

I might only get rid of it if I do the same proceedure as before. Deaktivate and delete it with the program. The Zone is FAT 32, Master is NTSF.

Guess the same happend before but I ask for your advise and suggestions what would you do.

Thanks mate

What do you suggest?

Edited September 26, 2008 by webfact

[Guest Reimar]

I DO BELIEVE THAT YOU HAD MISS ONE STEP!

If you take a look at the pictures ADI 1 - 10 you'll find one pic ADI 8 which shows that you need to do a check mark! If you don't, the secure partition will be NOT deleted.

I was play about one hour now with it without any problems.

So just follow my steps and you shouldn't have any problems.

By the way: OS = XP Pro Sp2, ADI 11 Home

Cheers and good luck.

[webfact]

I DO BELIEVE THAT YOU HAD MISS ONE STEP!

If you take a look at the pictures ADI 1 - 10 you'll find one pic ADI 8 which shows that you need to do a check mark! If you don't, the secure partition will be NOT deleted.

I was play about one hour now with it without any problems.

So just follow my steps and you shouldn't have any problems.

By the way: OS = XP Pro Sp2, ADI 11 Home

Cheers and good luck.

Reimar, thank you very much indeed for all your help and efforts made!

Very much appreciated!

Thanks!!!