PQSERVICE Partition...

[kennedy1992]

Hello

I really don't know if this would go into Installation & Setup but i didn't know where else to put this.

I Realize This Is Rather Long But I Am In Need Of Assistance, Thank You For Any Help That You Give.

Last night i decided to delete some files and make a few new partitions in my HDD, but when i created a new partition in Disc Management the whole disc changed to "Dynamic" instead of the original "Basic".

After this i then looked up for some possible fixes for changing the disc from "Dynamic" back to "Basic" and i could only find one solution which was delete all the partition on the drive, i then dug out an old HDD and used some software to find my Windows 7 Product Key and have wrote that down.

I Downloaded a Windows 7 32 Bit.ISO and proceeded to install that onto a new drive. once the installation was finished i deleted all the partition except "PQSERVICE" which i realised i could not delete. I found a program called Easeus Partition Master which made it able to switch the drive back to "Basic" but i had already deleted all my partition except "PQSERVICE".

Since then i have done a few things including installed Windows 7 on the drive with "PQSERVICE" on, now i have came here for help which i realize i should have don hours ago.

Right now My "PQSERVICE" Is No Longer Hiddin because when i switched it back to basic it has changed the "MBR" Code (Thats What I Have Gathered Anyway)

So To Some Up:
Original OS - WINDOWS 7 HOME PREMIUM 64bit
Current OS - WINDOWS 7 ULTIMATE 32bit 30 DAY TRIAL
Problem - PQSERVICE MBR Code Changed?

I want to be able to use my "PQSERVICE again but if that is not possible is it legal to download WINDOWS 7 Home Premium 64bit and use my product key that i backed up? i really don't want to do anything illigal.

Thank you for your help and apoligies for being so long if you pictures or any more information just ask.

 

[Bill2]

1) The PQservice partition is the acer hidden partition that contains the factory image- it can restore the computer to factory condition. It can be launched either from the e-recovery software (part of e-empowering suite) inside windows or a key combo (ALT+F10 or such like) at boot. Since you have clean installed windows, the boot option would be lost. You can try downloading e-empowering/e-recovery from the acer support page, then try make recovery disks (unless you have already made them). The recovery disks also contain the factory image and are bootable.

If all this doesnt help, you can order recovery disks from Acer for your model for a nominal charge.

I've also read accounts of how people have restored the default mbr using partedit32. I dont advise that you do it, because its a bit involved and not guaranteed to succeed. But you can take a look here.

Acer Aspire » The Acer eRecovery D2D 101

2) The product key you backed up is the OEM SLP key which is useless for online activation. You can download home premium, install it, then activate with key on the STICKER on the computer. That key usually activates online, failing that you can use phone activation.

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/3408-activate-windows-7-online.html

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/18715-activate-windows-7-phone.html

 

[Shootist]

Really get a drive wiping program, actually you can do that in a command prompt during the install with the Clean All command, and WIPE that drive.

There is nothing on it now anyway.
Since you have Easeus Partitioning software delete that partition, format it and start fresh.

 

[Bare Foot Kid]

Hello kennedy1992, welcome to Seven Forums!


If you choose to do so, you should be able to delete that partition while booted to Windows diskpart using this command below.

list disk <enter>

select disk # <enter> (# = target HDD)

List partition <enter>

select partition # <enter> (# = target partition)

delete partition override <enter>
​

DISKPART : At PC Startup

If you do choose to wipe the Hard Disk Drive, here's some useful information, the clean all will make the entire HDD "unallocated" space (a Basic disk) and be sure to post back with any further questions you may have and to keep us informed.


After you have copied out or made back-ups of the data you need to save to external media, then boot the Windows 7 installation media to use Step One of this tutorial at the first link below to do a wipe (secure erase) to the entire Hard Disk Drive / Solid State Drive.

• Then if you do not want to create the new Windows 7 "System Reserved" partition use the outline in Step Two #2 to create, format and mark Active a single 100GB partition to do the installation to.
• If you do want to create the "System Reserved" partition use the outline in Step Two #3 to create, format and mark Active the System Reserved partition and then create and format the 100GB partition to do the installation to.

Either way, running the "clean all" then creating and formatting the partition(s) using diskpart will get you the best possible space to do a clean install of Windows 7 to; you can always extend the Windows partition to include the remaining unallocated space on the HDD / SSD or create additional Primary partitions or an Extended partition after the installation completes if you choose.

SSD / HDD : Optimize for Windows Reinstallation

DISKPART : At PC Startup

Do a Clean Install with a Upgrade Windows 7 Version

If you don't want to wipe the entire HDD, you can do a partition-specific wipe of the Windows partition using the Partition Wizard Bootable Disk (PWBD) have a look at Option Three in the tutorial at this link below.

Partition Wizard : Use the Bootable CD

 

[gregrocker]

Too bad you didn't check with us first as we could have linked you to Partition Wizard v. 4.2 which will convert your disk from Dynamic back to Basic: partition wizard 4.2 free.zip - Windows Live

You could also have run factory Recovery from the PQService partition, but since you have the preferred clean reinstall now you can delete the partition and recover its space using Partition Wizard - unless you want to try booting it to see if it will run, to make a decision to keep it just in case you need it to restore to factory condition to use your Win7 elsewhere.

 

[JonathonSac]

Alternative Solution

I just wanted to add that I have had success in restoring laptops & PCs to original factory condition, without the use of the proper RE-IMAGE CD(s). There are several ways to boot your laptop/PC to some version of DOS and then run a utility called XFDISK. This utility is easy to find on the Internet. For my boot CD I used 'The Ultimate Boot Disc' also easy to find in ISO form on the Internet.

Once you run the XFDISK utility, set the PQSERVICE partition (or whatever partition contains the image) to be the ACTIVE partition. Then just remove the CD and reboot. When the image partition boots, it will typically walk you through the re-installation process.

Jonathon

 

[gregrocker]

You can mark PQService active using Win7 DVD or REpair CD as well: Mark Partition Active.

If Factory Recovery won't boot on it's own or using hotkey then I would get the superior Clean Reinstall - Factory OEM Windows 7.

 

[mjf]

I just wanted to add that I have had success in restoring laptops & PCs to original factory condition, without the use of the proper RE-IMAGE CD(s). There are several ways to boot your laptop/PC to some version of DOS and then run a utility called XFDISK. This utility is easy to find on the Internet. For my boot CD I used 'The Ultimate Boot Disc' also easy to find in ISO form on the Internet.

Once you run the XFDISK utility, set the PQSERVICE partition (or whatever partition contains the image) to be the ACTIVE partition. Then just remove the CD and reboot. When the image partition boots, it will typically walk you through the re-installation process.

Jonathon

You are correct Jonathan. But you can also image your PQService partition with a program like (free) Macrium Reflect and restore to an existing or new HDD and restore to factory condition. This is perfectly legal since the security is all tied to your Motherboard.

You also have the option to "clean install" as stated earlier.

General Tip: for purchasers of mass produced PCs always record the details on the COA sticker that should be attached to your PC. In particular the Product Key Code.

 

[Michael33]

So, (dumb question from a novice) you have to include pqservice in the img file in order to properly mount it later on?