Cloned Hard Drive: 40GB Lost!

[webie]

I was trying to clone (with Norton Ghost 9) the 40GB SATA 2.5" factory Hitachi drive of my new DELL Inspiron to a brand new 80GB Fujitsu Drive. The DELL 40GB drive was divided on 3 partitions. The first one was an (EISA) 39MB, the second a Windows 31GB, and the last one was a 4.5GB Dell utilities. On my first attempt on the 80GB Fujitsu I tried to put those partitions in the following order: 39GB (EISA) -> 4.5GB (Utilities) -> 71GB Windows (31GB + remaining amount on the 80GB drive). For some reason Windows booted but didn't load completely. I suspected that this could be related to the partitions ordered that I changed. So I decided to make a second try using the original order 39GB (EISA) -> 31GB Windows -> 4.5GB (Utilities) and then using the remaining amount to make another partition for backup purposes. But I did something different this time. I selected a checkbox property to supposedly copy the MBR to the new drive with each partition and BANG here goes my problem...

The 80GB Fujitsu drive is now recognized even in the BIOS as a 38.5GB drive although it says on it's model identification FUJITSU 80. I think the problem resides that for some reason Norton Ghost changed the geometry on the drive since now is (4681, 255, 63 - CHS) which is effectively a 38.5GB drive. I tried a lot of options like (Fdisk /mbr), (TestDisk), and others to delete MBRs but none of them seams to work. I contacted Fujitsu support since they have no utility for SATA drives on their site. But they couldn't even tell me the factory (CHS). :Q They just offered me RMA.

Now, Is there any freeware utility to change the Geometry of a SATA drive? Any other suggestion before I do RMA? I just don't want to give up so easily on the problem, although I have spent almost 2 full days trying to find a solution. I should sue Symantec for the STRESS incurred on the past days

 

[BDawg]

Only one I've ever used is Partition Magic, and it's not freeware.

 

[webie]

This is driving me crazy as I can not find a logical explanation for the problem.

 

[Bozo Galora]

A Dell HDD is a complicated SYSTEM designed for idiots that dont know anything about computers, and dont ever want to know. This means various recovery modes, an XP reinstall, a driver cache, a Ghosted image, hidden partitions etc.

The prob is when an "enthusiast" tries to treat it as just a regular HDD - which it isnt.
When you first boot a Dell it prompts for O/S key. After that it does not. This is part ofautomated system.

Complicating things is the fact that Dell has changed things every year. What was done 3 years ago during a Dell HDD load, is different from what is done now.

Normally, I would not reply to this kind of thing - the insanity of trying not only to clone a Dell automated HDD, but to do it partition by partition. However you did say you have spent 2 days on it.

I have said this a dozen time here already - keep your Dell HDD in a drawer in case of warranty or sale to another person. Cntrl-F11 should restore HDD to original state. Suck whatever data you need off it. BUY your own HDD, format partition and set active and load XP Pro, and manually install all drivers - you know, like usual.
O.K> You bought a 80GB Fujitsu, good. Start with that.

Edit: EISA partition - recov partition - hidden to XP

http://club.cdfreaks.com/showthread.php?t=159361

not kept in ghosted image mbr
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=165181

(Quote)
That option isn't available for an EISA partition. There is no drive letter associated with it and you can't see what is inside. It is an OEM partition where they save a basic copy of their proprietary setup for recovery purposesand it was ghosted to a backup disk by Ghost software. I am reistalling windows and on a new drive and want the Del lproprietary stuff gone from the back up as I'll save the Dell HDD in a ESD bag.
http://www.hardwareanalysis.com/content/topic/48032/

 

[webie]

The problem is that I can not reset the 80GB Fujitsu to it?s original state. It's recognized even by the BIOS as 38.5GB. And NOT the remaining space is not under UNFORMATED space or something like that, It?s simply not there. I have tried everything: Delete all partitions, wipe the drive, Delete all MBRs, etc. But I can't get the drive back to the 80GB / 76GB. That?s why I think Norton changed something more than just MBR.

I know I could install another XP version on the new HD and stock drawer the DELL drive. But I wanted to be the original licensed OS for DELL with the extra space. I don?t fell like buying an extra XP license just because I want 40GB more. My plan was get the extra 40GB space using the provided OS with DELL to effectively get 80GB on the Laptop, and then wipe all partitions on the DELL drive to use it on an external USB enclosure as a backup drive.

My 2 days have been searching for a solution to get my 80GB drive back to its original ~76GB space.

 

[fire400]

Well, whatever software you performed the operation with on that particular Dell hard drive, you should contact, they might have a few steps for you in order to handle certain kinds of drives from manufacturers. An example, like setting up ATI crossfire technology on motherboards may require you to do a number of ridiculous things with your OS and BIOS which may not make any sense even to the enthusiast.

I know Dell does stuff to their systems, this may just be another problematic mishappening to one of their customers.

Also, check to make sure if your BIOS is updated and everything to ensure it's reading the sectors on your hard drive correctly or that it's posting the right numbers on screen?

 

[Bozo Galora]

"I know I could install another XP version on the new HD and stock drawer the DELL drive. But I wanted to be the original licensed OS for DELL with the extra space. I don?t fell like buying an extra XP license just because I want 40GB more. My plan was get the extra 40GB space using the provided OS with DELL to effectively get 80GB on the Laptop, and then wipe all partitions on the DELL drive to use it on an external USB enclosure as a backup drive."

Well, your little plan didnt work, did it??
Like I said, Dell is not made for your enthusiast machinations.
Welcome to reality.

you are going to have to download a program called PTedit (and put on floppy and boot to it) and unhide the invisible partition you cloned

Edit:
FWIW: PTedit means partition table edit