Aces High Bulletin Board

General Forums => Hardware and Software => Topic started by: Spikes on January 22, 2008, 07:21:04 PM

Title: Finding a hidden HD
Post by: Spikes on January 22, 2008, 07:21:04 PM

Well, when Xfire looks up my Gaming Rig info, it says I have an 80GB hard drive.
When I go into C: drive and look at it, it says I have a 40GB hard drive. I know for sure there is a hidden drive somewhere, anyone know a program that finds them?

Title: Finding a hidden HD
Post by: Irwink! on January 23, 2008, 05:19:23 AM

Contol Panel/Administrative Tools/Computer Management/Disk Management.

Title: Finding a hidden HD
Post by: SD67 on January 23, 2008, 05:25:34 AM

That sounds like you have a partitioned HDD.
Try what Irwink! said, that should point you to the missing partition, it will probably be D: does your removable storage start at E:?

Title: Finding a hidden HD
Post by: Ghosth on January 23, 2008, 07:46:53 AM

I'd bet that drive is partitioned and only one half of it is formatted.  So Windows probably isn't seeing the other half.

Could check your bios settings, see what it sees for drives and sizes.

You could boot a disk diagnostics software cd, (I have several versions of western digitals software) Most should be capable of formatting an unformated partition. Preferably you will want to use the software compatable with your hardware. IE MaxBlast may not work as well on WD drives as on Maxtor's.

Title: Finding a hidden HD
Post by: Spikes on January 23, 2008, 12:09:03 PM

Before I posted this thread I checked Disk Management. It only showed up as my C: Drive and D: Drive (D Drive is COD4 CD). My removable drives start at E:.

I was thinking something along the lines that Dell partitioned it and they have some of their files on the hidden drive.


It's not much to worry about...I was just wondering at that time. I have a portable 120GB Ext anyway.

Title: Finding a hidden HD
Post by: SD67 on January 23, 2008, 05:05:52 PM

I'd be concerned as to what dell may have hidden in 40gig.
:noid

Title: Finding a hidden HD
Post by: Spikes on January 23, 2008, 05:51:15 PM

Quote

Originally posted by SD67
I'd be concerned as to what dell may have hidden in 40gig.
:noid

Exactly...

I mean, if Xfire detects it, it's GOTTA be there...but where. :noid

Title: Finding a hidden HD
Post by: MrRiplEy[H] on January 24, 2008, 07:44:54 AM

That 40 gigs might be a backup image for recovery purposes. In any case open 'run' and 'cmd' and type 'diskmgmt.msc' without the ' obviously ;) to open your disk manager - you'll see if half of your disk is not partitioned.

Title: Finding a hidden HD
Post by: Fulmar on January 24, 2008, 09:18:25 AM

Quote

Originally posted by MrRiplEy[H]
That 40 gigs might be a backup image for recovery purposes. In any case open 'run' and 'cmd' and type 'diskmgmt.msc' without the ' obviously ;) to open your disk manager - you'll see if half of your disk is not partitioned.

40gb is a lot of space for a backup image.  That would be A LOT of bloatware they pack into that machine.

Title: Finding a hidden HD
Post by: Spikes on January 24, 2008, 10:04:55 AM

(http://i152.photobucket.com/albums/s162/spikesx/yah.jpg)

Title: Finding a hidden HD
Post by: Fulmar on January 24, 2008, 10:40:03 AM

Btw SpikesX, Alt+Printscreen takes a screenshot of just the active Window.

Title: Finding a hidden HD
Post by: Spikes on January 24, 2008, 11:57:17 AM

Yes I know. :D

Title: Finding a hidden HD
Post by: Boroda on January 24, 2008, 12:33:43 PM

What's your HDD model? You can look it up by right-clicking on the disk in Disk Management and selecting "Properties".

There is a way to intentionally reduce drive capacity on firmware level, programs like MHDD allow you to change it.