Windows 7: Recover Windows 7 Recovery Partition?

I have my netbook dual-boot WinXP and Windows 7. (I used EasyBCD for the dual-boot setup.)

In booting into Windows 7, I used to have the option of the "repair your computer", which brought one several useful tools, if there is problem booting.

Of course, the exact same tools are on the Windows 7 setup DVD, which I have. However, with a netbook, I don't always have the USB DVD drive with me, or the DVD, and that recovery stuff boots up much faster from the HDD partition, than from the DVD. So I think it is good to have. (Not at all like the notebook manufacturers recovery partitions. I wouldn't want to use those at all, wiping out all my data.)

Recently I upgraded to a larger HDD. I used Acronis to clone my old HDD (at that time in the notebook) to the new HDD (attached via USB enclosure). (It was an older Acronis version, long predating Windows 7. I don't know if I would have had better results with a new version.)

Well, at first I could not boot at all, with the new HDD installed. I was able to fix that though. (I forget the details of it at the moment.)

Also, my drive letters (I have four partitions-drives) were messed up, so somehow the Acronis cloning did not keep that information, and I had to fix that in both XP and 7, with Disk Management.



For the most part though, my partitions were all intact in the new drive. Being a larger HDD, I increased the size of a couple, in the Acronis interface.

I realize now though, that I do not have the recovery boot-up option any more. That can show up while booting into Windows 7 and pressing a key, but if one chooses it, it just tells one to put in the Windows 7 DVD. Therefore, that option of booting from the recovery partition seems to be gone.

Looking in Disk Management from Win 7, I see an unallocated partition, I think about 8.98 GB, I think. Is that the Windows 7 recovery partition? Did Acronis copy it correctly, but somehow the boot sector on the new drive cannot access it?

How can I fix that? (Please no suggestion of a clean reinstall of Windows. No.)

It is not urgent, as I have the Windows 7 installation DVD, which can do the same thing, but I would like to get that capability back. How can I get that?

Thanks in advance.

Please post back a screenshot of your maximized full Disk Management drive map with listings, using Snipping Tool in Start Menu. Screen Shots

If you cloned the HD over then the Recovery Partition should be intact, although whether it will still run from the hotkey at boot is questionable. What is your make and model so we can advise you on trying to boot Recovery?

If Repair console is on the HD it is the 100mb System Reserved partition placing it on the F8 Advanced Boot tools menu. What options do you have on that menu now? Does Repair load if there?

Since you have the DVD to use the preferred method of reinstall, you probably don't really need the Recovery Partition anyway, so may want to recover its space if it doesn't cue up to run from boot. You can always order Recovery Disks from your tech support if you didn't make them when Recovery was still working from All Programs.

Hi. THanks for the reply.

That computer is indisposed at the moment, so I can't do the screenshots, etc., right now, but will try to get to that later. I think I explained the situation pretty well.

Yes, I have all the same recovery tools on DVD. However, I think I explained pretty well in the OP, why I find it convenient to have on a HDD boot partition as well.

I think I also explained, that yes, I do see the repair option on boot (when I press the key for boot options--I think F8.), but if I click it, it only says to insert the Windows 7 installation DVD. So, I think it is unable to boot the recovery partition, although as you wrote, it is probably there.

The computer is a Lenovo S10e. I don't have a problem though, finding what key to press for boot options--that is displayed on the screen during boot time.

If you have the seperate 100MB active bootmgr partition, have a look whether your recovery partition figures in there: Partitions - View Hidden Partitions

Also open the 8GB partition and see whether that is indeed the recovery partition stuff.

Try booting into Lenovo S10e Factory Recovery using one-key Recovery or the F11 hotkey:

How to restore to factory settings in Lenovo S10 - Techie Corner
How can I restore an IdeaPad s10e to factory setti... - Lenovo Community

If it will cue up Recovery then I would keep the Recovery partition since it's hotkey still works.

We can help you reinstall the 100mb System Reserved partition which should replace the Repair console on the F8 Advanced Boot tools menu. You'll likely have to add XP from Windows 7 using EasyBCD 2.02 again.

When we see the Disk Mgmt screenshot we can advise you better.

I thought I already made clear--I have no interest at all in keeping the Lenovo recovery partition. I do not want to restore the computer to how it came from the factory. I am sure that I will never do that.

What I wanted back was the Windows 7 recovery partition, which has useful recovery tools. Yes, I also have the DVD for that, but more convenient directly from a HD partition.

Hello.


Are you referring to the new Windows 7 System Reserved partition, have a look at these tutorials at the links below to see if that's what you want and be sure to post back with any further questions you may have and to keep us informed.


System Reserved : Create Using Disk Management

System Reserved : Create for Dual Boot

There is no Windows Recovery Partition, just the one which comes from factory to restore to factory condition.

Are you referring to the 100mb System Reserved partition, which places the Repair console with it's System Recovery Options on the F8 Advanced Boot Options menu?

If that's the case, then we need to see your Disk Management screenshot so we can give you the exact steps to reconstruct the 100mb SysReserved partition.

I believe he is referring to winre.wim.

Thank you. I will take a look at those.

I guess I was using the wrong language by calling it "recovery partition". Yes, it is that "sysem reserved" partition that I want back.

My disk management does not show any 100MB partition, but an 8.98 GB unallocated partition. That is perhaps the Lenovo recovery partition, or their "Quickstart" thing, or maybe just empty space.

In any case, I will take a look at those tutorials. Thank you.