Dell/Compaq Hidden Partitions
I'm not sure if this is the right place to ask this but I don't seem to be able to get a clear answer from the other lists I have tried, lists to remain nameless. I want to repartition a hard drive to make room for Linux partitions in a dual-boot configuration. I tried using Partition Magic but it reports a non-standard partition and exits without making any changes. I have discovered that both Dell and Compaq create non-standard hidden partitions on their hard drives, the reason apparently open to debate. Does anyone know how to get around this non-standard partition? I'd appreciate any assistance here. -- Donald D. Henson, Managing Director West El Paso Information Network The "Non-Initiation of Force Principle" Rules
Most of the time it's for when you reinstall Windows. My Compaq and my Dell have one....Heh, HAD one. On my Dell Laptop, I deleted it, renstalled XP, and installed Linux to dual boot. On my Compaq Presario, GONE, deleted it, and installed Slackware Linux. I tested to see if Windows would still install if needed and it does. If you want you can delete it, you'll of course have to reofrmat to reinstall Windows like you would anyway, to me they are a waste of space. On Sat, 2004-10-02 at 16:50, Donald D Henson wrote:
I'm not sure if this is the right place to ask this but I don't seem to be able to get a clear answer from the other lists I have tried, lists to remain nameless.
I want to repartition a hard drive to make room for Linux partitions in a dual-boot configuration. I tried using Partition Magic but it reports a non-standard partition and exits without making any changes. I have discovered that both Dell and Compaq create non-standard hidden partitions on their hard drives, the reason apparently open to debate. Does anyone know how to get around this non-standard partition? I'd appreciate any assistance here.
-- Donald D. Henson, Managing Director West El Paso Information Network The "Non-Initiation of Force Principle" Rules --
http://www.cannibalholocaust.net http://www.misfits.com http://www.onethirtyeight.net http://www.suse.com http://www.slackware.com http://www.linux.org http://www.linuxiso.org http://www.gnu.org http://www.freebsd.org http://www.bsd.org http://www.antionline.com
Deleting the non-standard partition was one of the first things I tried. How did you delete it? Allen K wrote:
Most of the time it's for when you reinstall Windows. My Compaq and my Dell have one....Heh, HAD one. On my Dell Laptop, I deleted it, renstalled XP, and installed Linux to dual boot. On my Compaq Presario, GONE, deleted it, and installed Slackware Linux. I tested to see if Windows would still install if needed and it does.
If you want you can delete it, you'll of course have to reofrmat to reinstall Windows like you would anyway, to me they are a waste of space.
On Sat, 2004-10-02 at 16:50, Donald D Henson wrote:
I'm not sure if this is the right place to ask this but I don't seem to be able to get a clear answer from the other lists I have tried, lists to remain nameless.
I want to repartition a hard drive to make room for Linux partitions in a dual-boot configuration. I tried using Partition Magic but it reports a non-standard partition and exits without making any changes. I have discovered that both Dell and Compaq create non-standard hidden partitions on their hard drives, the reason apparently open to debate. Does anyone know how to get around this non-standard partition? I'd appreciate any assistance here.
-- Donald D. Henson, Managing Director West El Paso Information Network The "Non-Initiation of Force Principle" Rules
-- Donald D. Henson, Managing Director West El Paso Information Network The "Non-Initiation of Force Principle" Rules
On Sunday 03 October 2004 17.18, Donald D Henson wrote:
Deleting the non-standard partition was one of the first things I tried. How did you delete it?
Allen K wrote:
Most of the time it's for when you reinstall Windows. My Compaq and my Dell have one....Heh, HAD one. On my Dell Laptop, I deleted it, renstalled XP, and installed Linux to dual boot. On my Compaq Presario, GONE, deleted it, and installed Slackware Linux. I tested to see if Windows would still install if needed and it does.
If you want you can delete it, you'll of course have to reofrmat to reinstall Windows like you would anyway, to me they are a waste of space.
On Sat, 2004-10-02 at 16:50, Donald D Henson wrote:
I'm not sure if this is the right place to ask this but I don't seem to be able to get a clear answer from the other lists I have tried, lists to remain nameless.
I want to repartition a hard drive to make room for Linux partitions in a dual-boot configuration. I tried using Partition Magic but it reports a non-standard partition and exits without making any changes. I have discovered that both Dell and Compaq create non-standard hidden partitions on their hard drives, the reason apparently open to debate. Does anyone know how to get around this non-standard partition? I'd appreciate any assistance here.
-- Donald D. Henson, Managing Director West El Paso Information Network The "Non-Initiation of Force Principle" Rules
-- Donald D. Henson, Managing Director West El Paso Information Network The "Non-Initiation of Force Principle" Rules
The "hidden" parttiton on a DELL is a ""dell system" partition. They (at least USED to hide different programs there to check the system in case of a crash. It was reached by a special CD/floopy... And some other odd sytems used that partitin idea for BIOS setup facilities. But as far as i know, you can erase it. -- /Rikard ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Rikard Johnels email : rikjoh@norweb.se Web : http://www.rikjoh.com Mob : +46 735 05 51 01 ------------------------ Public PGP fingerprint ---------------------------- < 15 28 DF 78 67 98 B2 16 1F D3 FD C5 59 D4 B6 78 46 1C EE 56 >
On Sun, 3 Oct 2004 17:34:16 +0200 Rikard Johnels <rikjoh@norweb.se> wrote:
The "hidden" parttiton on a DELL is a ""dell system" partition. They (at least USED to hide different programs there to check the system in case of a crash.
Rikard, We're talking Windoze here- you mean "when it crashes again.".... Terence
On Sunday 03 October 2004 18.23, Terence McCarthy wrote:
On Sun, 3 Oct 2004 17:34:16 +0200
Rikard Johnels <rikjoh@norweb.se> wrote:
The "hidden" parttiton on a DELL is a ""dell system" partition. They (at least USED to hide different programs there to check the system in case of a crash.
Rikard,
We're talking Windoze here- you mean "when it crashes again."....
Terence
Tried to be diplomatic.... -- /Rikard ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Rikard Johnels email : rikjoh@norweb.se Web : http://www.rikjoh.com Mob : +46 735 05 51 01 ------------------------ Public PGP fingerprint ---------------------------- < 15 28 DF 78 67 98 B2 16 1F D3 FD C5 59 D4 B6 78 46 1C EE 56 >
Deleting the non-standard partition was one of the first things I tried. How did you delete it? ither SUSE or Slackware, load the CD at boot, when it comes to the
On Sun, 2004-10-03 at 11:18, Donald D Henson wrote: partition screen, delete it.
Allen K wrote:
Most of the time it's for when you reinstall Windows. My Compaq and my Dell have one....Heh, HAD one. On my Dell Laptop, I deleted it, renstalled XP, and installed Linux to dual boot. On my Compaq Presario, GONE, deleted it, and installed Slackware Linux. I tested to see if Windows would still install if needed and it does.
If you want you can delete it, you'll of course have to reofrmat to reinstall Windows like you would anyway, to me they are a waste of space.
On Sat, 2004-10-02 at 16:50, Donald D Henson wrote:
I'm not sure if this is the right place to ask this but I don't seem to be able to get a clear answer from the other lists I have tried, lists to remain nameless.
I want to repartition a hard drive to make room for Linux partitions in a dual-boot configuration. I tried using Partition Magic but it reports a non-standard partition and exits without making any changes. I have discovered that both Dell and Compaq create non-standard hidden partitions on their hard drives, the reason apparently open to debate. Does anyone know how to get around this non-standard partition? I'd appreciate any assistance here.
-- Donald D. Henson, Managing Director West El Paso Information Network The "Non-Initiation of Force Principle" Rules
-- Donald D. Henson, Managing Director West El Paso Information Network The "Non-Initiation of Force Principle" Rules --
http://www.cannibalholocaust.net http://www.misfits.com http://www.onethirtyeight.net http://www.suse.com http://www.slackware.com http://www.linux.org http://www.linuxiso.org http://www.gnu.org http://www.freebsd.org http://www.bsd.org http://www.antionline.com
On Sunday October 3 2004 11:18 am, Donald D Henson wrote:
Deleting the non-standard partition was one of the first things I tried. How did you delete it?
You can use the "expert" settings in SUSE to get rid of ALL partitions, and create new ones. Fred -- "Running Windows on a Pentium is like getting a Porsche but only being able to drive it in reverse with the handbrake on."
On Sun, 3 Oct 2004 18:57:16 -0400, Fred Miller <fmiller@lightlink.com> wrote:
On Sunday October 3 2004 11:18 am, Donald D Henson wrote:
Deleting the non-standard partition was one of the first things I tried. How did you delete it?
You can use the "expert" settings in SUSE to get rid of ALL partitions, and create new ones.
I think Donald mentioned that he wanted a dual-boot configuration. So, deleting ALL partitions is not the right thing to do. Osho
On Sat, 02 Oct 2004 14:50:04 -0600 Donald D Henson <wepin@wepin.com> wrote:
I want to repartition a hard drive to make room for Linux partitions in a dual-boot configuration. I tried using Partition Magic but it reports a non-standard partition and exits without making any changes. I have discovered that both Dell and Compaq create non-standard hidden partitions on their hard drives, the reason apparently open to debate. Does anyone know how to get around this non-standard partition? I'd appreciate any assistance here.
Don, I'm not sure this will help, but I have installed Linux ( SuSE 9.1) on my company laptop (Dell Latitude 500), and can link to my company metwork (Windows), and my home net (Linux- what else?). Using normal networking I find a Dell /dev.hada1, with lots of "Dell stoff" which launches nothing (apart from apparently allowing an OS to kick off). The company M$ Win/lose 2000 O/S is on /dev/hda2. The rest is reliable Linux. The re-partitioning was done within SuSE- Winblows didn't complain, and I've had (cross fingures etc.,) no problems (so far) over eight months..... HTH Terence
On Saturday October 2 2004 4:50 pm, Donald D Henson wrote:
I'm not sure if this is the right place to ask this but I don't seem to be able to get a clear answer from the other lists I have tried, lists to remain nameless.
I want to repartition a hard drive to make room for Linux partitions in a dual-boot configuration. I tried using Partition Magic but it reports a non-standard partition and exits without making any changes. I have discovered that both Dell and Compaq create non-standard hidden partitions on their hard drives, the reason apparently open to debate. Does anyone know how to get around this non-standard partition? I'd appreciate any assistance here.
Those partitians are used for data to "restore" your MickySoft system to exactly what it was when the box was shipped. This, PROVIDING you haven't changed the config. of that drive. IF you've changed the original config. of the drive, then it won't restore. OEMS do this because they only furnish a LIMITED OS from MickySoft - NOT the full copy. It's best to just blow away all MickySoft, replace with SUSE and be done with it. Fred -- "Running Windows on a Pentium is like getting a Porsche but only being able to drive it in reverse with the handbrake on."
On Saturday 02 October 2004 01:31 pm, Fred Miller wrote:
On Saturday October 2 2004 4:50 pm, Donald D Henson wrote:
I'm not sure if this is the right place to ask this but I don't seem to be able to get a clear answer from the other lists I have tried, lists to remain nameless.
I want to repartition a hard drive to make room for Linux partitions in a dual-boot configuration. I tried using Partition Magic but it reports a non-standard partition and exits without making any changes. I have discovered that both Dell and Compaq create non-standard hidden partitions on their hard drives, the reason apparently open to debate. Does anyone know how to get around this non-standard partition? I'd appreciate any assistance here.
Those partitians are used for data to "restore" your MickySoft system to exactly what it was when the box was shipped. This, PROVIDING you haven't changed the config. of that drive. IF you've changed the original config. of the drive, then it won't restore. OEMS do this because they only furnish a LIMITED OS from MickySoft - NOT the full copy. It's best to just blow away all MickySoft, replace with SUSE and be done with it.
Fred
Actually Compaq lost a class action suit about this very issue and were required to provide partition removal tools (Windows can't remove that partition but Linux can) and, to certain class of parties to the suit they had to provide media with windows on it. I believe the Presario line was involved, and failed hard drives after the warranty left the customer with no legal copy of windows to reinstall. -- _____________________________________ John Andersen
On 02-Oct-04 Fred Miller wrote:
On Saturday October 2 2004 4:50 pm, Donald D Henson wrote:
I'm not sure if this is the right place to ask this but I don't seem to be able to get a clear answer from the other lists I have tried, lists to remain nameless.
I want to repartition a hard drive to make room for Linux partitions in a dual-boot configuration. I tried using Partition Magic but it reports a non-standard partition and exits without making any changes. I have discovered that both Dell and Compaq create non-standard hidden partitions on their hard drives, the reason apparently open to debate. Does anyone know how to get around this non-standard partition? I'd appreciate any assistance here.
Those partitians are used for data to "restore" your MickySoft system to exactly what it was when the box was shipped. This, PROVIDING you haven't changed the config. of that drive. IF you've changed the original config. of the drive, then it won't restore. OEMS do this because they only furnish a LIMITED OS from MickySoft - NOT the full copy. It's best to just blow away all MickySoft, replace with SUSE and be done with it.
Fred
What Fred says may be true in itself (I don't know), but it may not be the full story. I bought a Compaq Armada secondhand (from a re-seller who had wiped the original corprate owner's stuff clean off the disk and installed Windows), and lacking the printed manual I downloaded one from the web. It appears that Compaq at least (I don't know about Dell) have a hidden partition on the drive on which is stored their proprietary BIOS setup and diagnostic software. This can be accessed during the BIOS phase of boot-up by pressing F10 "when the blinking cursor appears in the upper-right corner of the screen" according to the reference manual. On the machine I had purchased, this didn't work and it seemed that there was no such partition. Fortunately there was also a ZIP file of the BIOS setup/diagnostics setup software downloadable from the Conmpaq site. Once unzipped, this fits onto a bootable floppy from which you can run it. You also have the option to re-install it from the floppy onto the hard drive (which I declined since I already had Linux up and running by now). So that's my theory about hidden partitions on Conpaq drives. There should certainly be one for Compaq's BIOS software, though you can manage without it. There might also be one for restoring Windows as Fred describes, but I'd advise people with Donald Henson's query in mind not to assume that it's the only one, and "blow it away" -- you may deprive yourself of the BIOS setup stuff. If you have an Armada 1750, I don't know if it's still possible to download the ZIP file any more. Maybe if someone is stuck for this they could drop me a private email and I could send it as an attachment if you're desperate: it's a 1664924 byte file and it includes compaq-bios.img which is a 1474560-byte floppy image. Best wishes to all, Ted. -------------------------------------------------------------------- E-Mail: (Ted Harding) <Ted.Harding@nessie.mcc.ac.uk> Fax-to-email: +44 (0)870 094 0861 [NB: New number!] Date: 03-Oct-04 Time: 10:43:43 ------------------------------ XFMail ------------------------------
At 02:50 PM 10/2/2004 -0600, Donald D Henson wrote:
I'm not sure if this is the right place to ask this but I don't seem to be able to get a clear answer from the other lists I have tried, lists to remain nameless.
I want to repartition a hard drive to make room for Linux partitions in a dual-boot configuration. I tried using Partition Magic but it reports a non-standard partition and exits without making any changes. I have discovered that both Dell and Compaq create non-standard hidden partitions on their hard drives, the reason apparently open to debate. Does anyone know how to get around this non-standard partition? I'd appreciate any assistance here.
-- Donald D. Henson, Managing Director West El Paso Information Network
I ran into this kind of craziness when trying to eliminate a Win 2000 partition. Nothing in DOS or Windows could do it. Boot from your Linux floppy disk--I used an old Linux 5 or so--and do an FDISK, and then wipe all the MS stuff, or whatever is corroding the drive. Then partition the drive with whatever you like. If you are going to share the drive with MS, then make a partition with FAT32, so you can read and write from it from both OS's. (The particular problem was that the drive was set up for W2K, with the owner not having the access password, etc. and the owner wanted W98, but this worked fine.) --doug
I had similar trouble with IBM thinkpad T42p - they also have hidden partitions and "non-standard" partition table. The Partition Command 6 version I had was not able to handle that. What I ended up doing was to download the linux system rescue disk ISO, burn it on a CD - which makes a bootable linux rescue disk. It has a partition table utility like partition magic, partition commander etc. I think it is called qtpartd. It has a nice qt GUI and works just like partition magic. I was able to use that tool to delete the hidden partition, move around the partitions and then create a free disk space on it - which suse 9.1 installer used to do the installation. You can get the System rescue ISO from http://www.sysresccd.org/ Osho On Sat, 02 Oct 2004 14:50:04 -0600, Donald D Henson <wepin@wepin.com> wrote:
I'm not sure if this is the right place to ask this but I don't seem to be able to get a clear answer from the other lists I have tried, lists to remain nameless.
I want to repartition a hard drive to make room for Linux partitions in a dual-boot configuration. I tried using Partition Magic but it reports a non-standard partition and exits without making any changes. I have discovered that both Dell and Compaq create non-standard hidden partitions on their hard drives, the reason apparently open to debate. Does anyone know how to get around this non-standard partition? I'd appreciate any assistance here.
-- Donald D. Henson, Managing Director West El Paso Information Network The "Non-Initiation of Force Principle" Rules
-- Check the headers for your unsubscription address For additional commands send e-mail to suse-linux-e-help@suse.com Also check the archives at http://lists.suse.com Please read the FAQs: suse-linux-e-faq@suse.com
It's possible that Partition Manager from Paragon Software will detect and handle the hidden Dell and IBM partitions. It knows about Reiser filesystems, which Partition Magic doesn't, and in my experience can analyze partition tables that Partition Magic thinks have uncorrectable errors. Whether it also understand the Dell partitions, I have no way of knowing. Paul
participants (10)
-
Allen K -
Donald D Henson -
Doug McGarrett -
Fred Miller -
John Andersen -
Osho GG -
Paul W. Abrahams -
Rikard Johnels -
Ted.Harding＠nessie.mcc.ac.uk -
Terence McCarthy