Problem with partitions

[chuckz47]

I posted originally in Storage

http://forums.anandtech.com/showthread.php?t=2096891

Thankfully, it seems not a hardware problem.

Windows XP SP3 Disk Manager refused to refresh partitions changes made by a 3d party software (Acronis Disk Director).

It is seeng two ghost partitions (no letter assigned, reported free or unallocated) that are duplicating space used by two legitimate partitions.
So the total size is overestimated by Windows.

Acronis support said "don't worry, it PROBABLY!! won't affest your system.
I am still concerned about installing new programs that might get confused, etc.
(Of course, reluctant keep using the Disk Director)

Is there a way to force Windows to refresh partitions?

I posted pictures in the Storage thread - see the link above

 

[VinDSL]

Is there a way to force Windows to refresh partitions?

I posted pictures in the Storage thread - see the link above

Hrm...

What do you mean by "refresh partitions"?

I read the above thread, and it's still not clear to me.

I *think* you're asking, "Is there is a way to force Winders to recalculate the true size of 3rd party ghost partitions?"

If that's the question, then I would judge the answer to be 'no'.

In my experience, 3rd party disk managers (et al.) are akin to viruses. They employ all sorts of proprietary trickery, that's inscrutable and incompatible to other vendors programs.

An example of this would be my Asus EeePC netbook. The OEM install included some sort of fast boot partition for XP. I don't use this feature, since I run Linux. It doesn't take up much room, so I leave it alone.

I've tried to do forensics on this magical fast boot partition (out of curiosity) but there isn't a 3rd party proggie (that I've found) which recognizes it as anything other than "unknown".

Anyway, maybe you can restate your question...

 

[chuckz47]

Hrm...

What do you mean by "refresh partitions"?


Anyway, maybe you can restate your question...

I used Acronis Disk Director for creating and managing partitions on one disk (boot disk), and the Windows Disk Manager showed "ghost" partitions.
The Acronis support said - don't worry, Windows XP just could not refresh the changes made by our program!!
(why would you want such a program at all?)

That's why I used the term "refresh"

Anyway, the problem has been solved by going back to an older version of Acronis Disk Director - turns out, the new program is buggy..
Keep away from it (I am now back to the version 9 and like it)