Question About A Computer Problem

Sgt. Floyd · Apr 2, 2011

I have an Asus Eee pc netbook with Windows XP. I used the restore disc that came with it to reformat it. It didn't go through the typical windows installation. Instead it went through an Asus "restore factory settings" setup. Now under "my computer", it shows two hard drives instead of one with the storage capacity roughly split in half between the two. On the second there are some three folders one of which has a bunch of documents labeled eula025 with info about the MS Netframework in different languages.

What's going here?

...... · Apr 2, 2011

I dont know shit about computers but im pretty sure when you re installed everything you clicked 2 partions.
ones probably just used for recovery

Kodank Moment · Apr 2, 2011

It's a recovery partition on your hard drive where asus basically stores a bone stock recovery setup incase shit gets foul. You are going to be fine.

Sgt. Floyd · Apr 2, 2011

I didn't get an option about partitions. And there's 70gb's in the "second" drive.

Rethinking this, I don't really know if I actually reformatted the drive because I didn't get those options.

Sgt. Floyd · Apr 2, 2011

Kodank Moment said:
It's a recovery partition on your hard drive where asus basically stores a bone stock recovery setup incase shit gets foul. You are going to be fine.

Can I use the "second" drive like a regular drive? Half of my storage space is in it.

Kodank Moment · Apr 2, 2011

Ya or you could just back up all your shit to an external drive or usb stick and actually reformat your pc. All you did basically is install some bloat ware. Google something along the lines of "combining a regular and recovery partition on my hard drive"

Sgt. Floyd · Apr 2, 2011

I definitely don't need anything that bloats this system. Unfortunately this is going to be my only computer for a while.

I've got everything backed up on an external drive. How can I get a clean Windows installation from the recovery disc or can I? The first time I just booted from the disc and this is what happened.

Kodank Moment · Apr 2, 2011

It's likely not a Windows xp recovery disc. I know you can combine the partitions some how.

cruzer101 · Apr 2, 2011

Before you do a full re format find your genuine windows Key.
You will need it upon reinstall. I found mine on the back of the computer.

Sgt. Floyd · Apr 2, 2011

cruzer101 said:
Before you do a full re format find your genuine windows Key.
You will need it upon reinstall. I found mine on the back of the computer.

I used the Magical Jelly Bean keyfinder to get it then realized it was on a sticker on the bottom of my computer.

Devildog93 · Apr 2, 2011

Kodank Moment said:
It's likely not a Windows xp recovery disc. I know you can combine the partitions some how.

I use Partition Wizard whenever I resize/add/delete/format partitions.

http://www.partitionwizard.com/

Claims to be XP compatible as well, though I have never used it with XP myself. I just use the free edition, works awesome.

SnakierGrizzly · Apr 2, 2011

are you running the cpu in safe mode?

Sgt. Floyd · Apr 2, 2011

Devildog93 said:
I use Partition Wizard whenever I resize/add/delete/format partitions.

http://www.partitionwizard.com/

Claims to be XP compatible as well, though I have never used it with XP myself. I just use the free edition, works awesome.

I will look into that. +rep

SnakierGrizzly said:
are you running the cpu in safe mode?

Its running in normal mode.

moodinsk · Apr 2, 2011

Sgt. Floyd said:
I have an Asus Eee pc netbook with Windows XP. I used the restore disc that came with it to reformat it. It didn't go through the typical windows installation. Instead it went through an Asus "restore factory settings" setup. Now under "my computer", it shows two hard drives instead of one with the storage capacity roughly split in half between the two. On the second there are some three folders one of which has a bunch of documents labeled eula025 with info about the MS Netframework in different languages.

What's going here?

Try right clicking on My Computer and goto Manage. Click on Disk Management on the left side, it should list all the drives you have on the computer as well as how each of them are partitioned. Do you recall how big your drive was originally? How much free space are in each partition? Most netbooks have a hidden "recovery" partition that houses the files needed to perform a complete restore if something went horribly wrong. This partition is normally completely full because the user should never have any interaction with it. As to why it may be showing up now after a restore... I have no idea. Asus' tech support is normally fairly helpful, maybe they have some suggestions.

Good luck!

tip top toker · Apr 2, 2011

[youtube]nn2FB1P_Mn8[/youtube]

Sounds like moodisk could be right. I'd personally delete that partition and then just extend the normal partition (partition being one of the disk drives showing up in my computer). This can be done either through 3rd aprty software or should also be possible from the same disk management section detailed by moodisk.

Sgt. Floyd · Apr 2, 2011

The partitions split the drive in half with each showing 71 GB. Disk management shows another partition with 47 MB that is empty and invisible under my computer.

I have an external disc drive and the recovery disc that came with the computer so will I be safe if I accidentally delete a recovery partition? I'm not worried about any other files because I backed everything up on an external drive before I tried reformatting the first time.

Edit: There's another partition on the drive labeled PE that has FAT32 file system with 6.83 GB that is half full. It doesn't show up under my computer.

Devildog93 · Apr 2, 2011

It's sounding more and more like you may have set the computer to dual boot. Did it come with Linux and you put XP on it?

Seems like the Linux partition was left on the HDD ???

moodinsk · Apr 2, 2011

Sgt. Floyd said:
The partitions split the drive in half with each showing 71 GB. Disk management shows another partition with 47 MB that is empty and invisible under my computer.

I have an external disc drive and the recovery disc that came with the computer so will I be safe if I accidentally delete a recovery partition? I'm not worried about any other files because I backed everything up on an external drive before I tried reformatting the first time.

Edit: There's another partition on the drive labeled PE that has FAT32 file system with 6.83 GB that is half full. It doesn't show up under my computer.

If the disk that came with the PC is a full recovery DVD, then you shouldn't have to worry about deleting everything. Windows XP shouldnt have any random partitions like Vista/7/Linux... so they were probably put there by ASUS and used for recovery, especially if they are hidden.

If I were you, I would wipe the entire drive and start over, but I dont know if that "recovery" disk that you have is a full installation, or just a supplement to the recovery partition that should be hidden. To be sure, id do a quick google search with the model number and recovery options to see if Asus or anyone else has a recovery guide you can follow.

Or just be awesome and install Ubuntu!

Hope this helps.

Sgt. Floyd · Apr 2, 2011

No. Just XP.

Sgt. Floyd · Apr 2, 2011

When all else fails refer to the manual...
"The Support DVD includes an image of the operating system, installed on your system at the factory."

Sounds like is a full installation.

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