Windows 7 - Dismount for chkdsk, diff HDD, E: drive missing

Hi Everybody,

I have a missing E: drive on my internal backup disk. Here is what I did that may have caused this:

I currently have Windows 7 with 2 internal HDDs. C: is a 750GB that came with this eMachine (new) and my backup is a WD 500GB. I have been using this setup lightly for several days and everything was working fine. Three weeks ago I had divided the 500GB backup drive into 4 primary partitions (E:, F:, G:,and H) using XP Pro, SP3. I had just the OS and a few startup files on a separate WD-40GB disk.

Then my old motherboard died, so I bought this new eMachine.

I wanted my two startup files from the 40GB drive, so I disconnected my 500GB backup, and connected the 40GB, setting the jumpers to slave. I accessed the files, and moved them to my new C: drive. Fine.

I decided to run chkdsk on the 40GB, and when it asked if I wanted to dismount it to do that, I said yes, knowing that I was going to remove this drive anyway and put the 500GB back in again. After the chkdsk, I did a quick format.

I removed the 40GB disk, and reconnected the 500GB backup disk.

When I rebooted, my first partition in the 500GB disk, E:, is missing, as if the computer still was obeying the "dismount" instruction. I thought the dismount command would go away after connecting a different hard disk and rebooting. I'm thinking that the computer "thinks" that the first (and only) partition in the 40GB drive (E was dismounted, so now the first partition (of 4, E: again) in the 500GB drive is also supposed to be dismounted. Maybe that's wrong....it's just a guess.

When I go to Disk Management, Windows 7 RENAMED that first partition as a Recovery Partition instead of leaving it as the Primary Partition that it was. As a result, I cannot right-click and change the drive letter. When I right-click, all I get is a "Help" message. (See the attached PrintScreen.) I checked the help files and cannot find what I seemingly need. Maybe I'm missing something. I am a bit concerned for all my files, so I don't want to just "try things" willynilly.

I tried a file recovery software that I have used before, but it did not see the "missing" partition -- so I could not move the files.

There is a software program on the internet called "Find and Mount" for "lost" partitions, but it is not compatible with Windows 7, only XP.

Does anyone know how I can get those files moved or accessed?

Thanks.

I found the solution right after I posted this question.

I used a free program called "Partition Wizard" that someone else mentioned on this forum.

Thanks, and hope that helps someone else.