Windows repair can only find 1 partition with 3gb?

[Dabrenn]

I know my Windows 7 bootloader is messed up, so I'm trying to repair it. In commandline prompt i type

Diskpart
List vol

it only finds one disk with 3gb on it, when there should be a partition with 60gb's on it and one with ~400gb on it.

Help? i don't care if i loose my windows data if i have to reinstall completely, i just want windows back. The installer can't find the partitions either

 

[gregrocker]

Boot the DVD Repair console or Repair CD to Startup Repair - Run 3 Separate Times.

If this doesn't help, boot free Partition Wizard bootable CD to make sure the partition is intact and marked Active. If not, use the Partition Recovery Wizard to reconstruct it. If so, from Disk tab run Rebuild MBR.

Post back a camera snap or verbatim text from PW Disk Map and listings.

 

[Dabrenn]

Boot the DVD Repair console or Repair CD to Startup Repair - Run 3 Separate Times.

If this doesn't help, boot free Partition Wizard bootable CD to make sure the partition is intact and marked Active. If not, use the Partition Recovery Wizard to reconstruct it. If so, from Disk tab run Rebuild MBR.

Post back a camera snap or verbatim text from PW Disk Map and listings.

Ok, i found where my partition is but i can't select it because it says it can't perform this operation on an invalid disk. it says its type is Dynamic Data? I see some solutions online but all of them entail having a running windows installation, which i do not have.

 

[Bare Foot Kid]

Hello Dabrenn, welcome to Seven Forums!


You can create a bootable CD of this version of Partition Wizard and it will convert a Dynamic disk to a Basic disk and it should be non-destructive.


Download the .zip file from this link below and burn the ISO to a CD and boot that.

partition wizard 4.2 free.zip - Windows Live


Have a look through this tutorial at the link below for some useful information.

How to Convert a Dynamic Disk to a Basic Disk

 

[Dabrenn]

Hello Dabrenn, welcome to Seven Forums!


You can create a bootable CD of this version of Partition Wizard and it will convert a Dynamic disk to a Basic disk and it should be non-destructive.


Download the .zip file from this link below and burn the ISO to a CD and boot that.

partition wizard 4.2 free.zip - Windows Live


Have a look through this tutorial at the link below for some useful information.

How to Convert a Dynamic Disk to a Basic Disk

am i blind or is there no ISO file there?

 

[Bare Foot Kid]

Maybe I'm blind, I thought it was / is an ISO ; let me ask someone and I'll or they will post back here.

 

[Dabrenn]

I downloaded an ISO file from Free Download Magic Partition Manager Software - Partition Wizard Online and booted up with it, but when i clicked on change dynamic disk to Basic, it said it wasn't available in this version, which is strange because it says that's the full version?

 

[gregrocker]

The PW v.4.2 Jonathan uploaded is the Home Edition.

Will try to find the PWBD v.4.2 ISO and upload it.

Too large to attach when zipped, so I will keep it shared on Windows Live:

http://cid-365ea77f74a302f6.skydrive.live.com/redir.aspx?resid=365EA77F74A302F6!775

 

[Bare Foot Kid]

Hello Greg, I don't think this OP can boot to Windows.

 

[Dabrenn]

Yeah, i can't boot to windows in the first place, or even reinstall it. The installer can't find a location to install because i need device drivers (which i am unsure where to get those, manufacturer's website maybe?) . But I'd rather try to repair rather than reinstall because i want my data =)

 

[Bare Foot Kid]

See if this will get you to the data.

How to Copy & Paste in Recovery Console on Windows 7 or Vista

 

[Bare Foot Kid]

I'm going to put this here in case it's needed after you get the data out, the wipe can be run to create unallocated space that can then be formatted for an install and it will be converted to a Basic disk in the process.


After you have copied out or made back-ups of the data you need to save to external media, 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

 

[SIW2]

pw422.zip - Windows Live

 

[Bare Foot Kid]

pw422.zip - Windows Live

Thanks SIW, I have replaced the 'other' link with this one.

 

[SIW2]

Have you done it yet Dabrenn?

 

[Dabrenn]

I haven't attempted it yet, i will tomorrow but thank you so much for all the help. I'll definitely let you guys know how it works out =)

 

[mjf]

After the operation the drive letters may need changing
Read the final paragraph here:
How to convert dynamic disk to basic disk with Partition Wizard?

Normally the installed (Home, mini tool) is preferred for this conversion when you can still boot into Windows. Unfortunately you cannot boot into Windows so you need to be aware of the partition letter issue.

 

[gregrocker]

Thanks for the link Michael.

When the OS drive letter slips during reimaging or repairs, the tool to use to change it back to the correct letter is FREE Rescue Kit Express | PARAGON Software Group

Boot the Paragon CD, select Normal Mode, then Boot Corrector.

Correct drive letters in the system registry.

 

[Dabrenn]

ok, soooo whenever i try to convert the dynamic disk to it says that "Failed to convert the specified dynamic disk to basic"

and the rescue kit free edition won't boot all the way

i am confused

 

[gregrocker]

Are you trying to copy out your files using the Rescue Kit CD? You'd only need to change drive letter back if it slips during the conversion operation as suggested by Michael earlier.

Try copying out your files if needed this way: Copy & Paste - in Windows Recovery Console - Windows 7 Forums

I'd wait for SIW2 to advise you on any other options or workarounds.