The drive has lost it's partition structure or it's partition "type".
This happens occasionally. To my knowledge no one has ever figured out "why"
it happens!
The fix is not for the faint of heart and there is one thing that you
absolutely need to know before you begin. What TYPE of FILE SYSTEM was being
used on the hard drive? If you are 100% certain that you know there is (may
be) a way to recover.
There is a little DOS program included with Partition Magic 8.01. It is
called ptedit. This program can only be used from within "pure DOS". When
you use Partition Magic 8.01 to create the 2 disk floppy set (the DOS
version of Partition Magic) this little program is placed in the set.
You have to boot the computer from disk 1 of the floppy set. Then insert
disk 2 when asked to. After you are in Partition Magic, EXIT from the
program. You will be back at the A: prompt. Re-insert floppy disk 1.
Now, type in ptedit and press enter. The program will start. This program
allows you to change the drive "type". It is imperative that you are certain
that you are working on the correct drive. You can choose drives at the top
of the program window. Once you have chosen the correct drive, click in the
**Line 1 | Type** box.
This will energize the "Set_Type" box at the bottom. Now click the mouse on
the "Set_Type" BOX. Look for the file system that you KNOW was being used.
There are many choices. Choose the correct file system and follow the
instructions from there.
NOTE: If you choose the wrong file system, and commit the change, you may
corrupt any information that is on the drive.
I have successfully recovered about a dozen drives that have gone RAW, or
otherwise lost their partition structure, by using this great little DOS
program.
NOTE: This program CAN NOT be used from within Windows.
And "shame" on the computer manufacturers who deliver new computers without
a floppy drive installed!
There is also a Windows version of ptedit called ptedit32. The usage is the
same. Search Google to find a source for this utility.
Addendum:
I have since been using Acronis Disk Director 10.0 2160 to do these type of
repairs. I have successfully recovered a handful of drives that have become
"confused" as to what they are and what they contain. This program is usable
from within windows.
--
Regards,
Richard Urban
Microsoft MVP Windows Shell/User
(For email, remove the obvious from my address)
"Albert Trudeau" <AlbertTrudeau@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:9A99B2F4-AADF-4737-BD5C-306EE55B6F46@microsoft.com...
> I'm still looking for a solution for my problem.
>
> I have installed a 'secondary' SATA HDD and though you can see it in the
> "Disk Management" window (Computer Management Console), there isn't a
> drive
> letter assigned, nor can I assign a drive letter.
>
> The 'Volume' column shows the drive (without an assigned drive letter)
> The 'Layout' column shows "Simple" (just like the C: drive)
> The 'Type' is "Basic" (just like the C: drive)
> The 'File System' is blank (whereas the C: drive shows NTFS)
> The 'Status' is "Healthy, (Active, Primary Partition); (whereas the C:
> drive
> is listed as "Healthy (System, Boot, Page File, Active, Crash Dump,
> Primary
> Partition))
>
> The only anomaly listed above is under the "%Free" column; this is at 100%
> -- which is, of course, false. This is my Backup D: drive that is listed
> in
> Windows XP Professional, etc.
>
> The 'pop-up' menu will only list 'Delete Volume' and 'Help'. All other
> selections are unavailable (ghosted out).
>
> This 'glitch' is preventing me from running Vista full-time. I would love
> to hear a solution as soon as possible. Thank you.
>
> Albert Trudeau