NWA-PCUG 1/99 NewsLetter Article 18861 N. Hwy 112, Springdale, AR 72762-9303 Partition Boundaries by Bill Shook, NWA-PCUG One of our members, Pat Kennedy, recently had an unfortunate circumstance, in that much of her hard drive data got "kinda messed up". In helping her restore the data and prepare for an easier recovery should it happen again, the subject of partitioning software came up. Pat said that she read in a review of partitioning software on the Net, that these utilities wouldn't work with certain machines; specifically, to quote from the review: "PC makers apparently image the software on new PC hard drives in a way that results in the drive's partition table not matching its hardware." Well, that scares me, so I decided to investigate. The results follow. Pat's concern was prompted by learning from her manufacturer that image software had been placed on her hard drive so that it could be restored back to the original configuration, should need be. But, this is another story. (As it turned out, Pat did not have any "bad" partitions). The so-called "bad" partitions occur when partitions do not end on cluster boundaries (a cluster is the minumum amount of space used by a file, and therefore a file boundary). Some machines have been known to be set up this way -- partitions not ending on cluster boundaries. The author of the review mentioned above says this is on the increase -- "a growing problem". Dialogs with PowerQuest, makers of PartitionMagic, reveal that Windows and other applications may lose data because of these "bad" partitions. This is a remote possibility under normal circumstances, but could happen. And the use of DOS's FDISK program is especially dangerous. Also, if this condition exists, and as I understand it, ONLY if this condition exists, data is more apt to be lost at the end of the partition. PowerQuest says that PartitionMagic may not work (usually won't work) with these partitions, but will not cause data loss because of them. PartitionMagic 4.01 will be out soon and will actually fix these partitions. Partition Tables and Partition Table Errors (100-199) and their resolutions are covered in the PartitionMagic 4.0 User Guide starting on page 126. It will be noted that with rare exception, resolving partition table errors requires creating new, error-free partition tables, which until 4.01 version comes out, in turn requires: "1)ensure there are no viruses, 2)backup data on affected partitions, 3)delete partitions, 4)recreate them, and 5)restore their contents." Since this is a drastic measure, even with partitioning software like PartitionMagic, it is not recommended unless you KNOW you have "bad" partitions AND either you have experienced data loss or for some other reason you just decide you WANT to; rather, wait for the new version, which as said earlier, is to be out soon and will correct the "bad" partitions. Now... 'How do I know if I have "bad" partitions?', you ask. I thought you'd never ask. Included with PartitionMagic is a utility file appropriately called PARTINFO.EXE. It is on the CD-ROM and PM doesn't need to be installed to use it. It can also be downloaded from PQ home page at: http://support.powerquest.com/ OR from YOUR BBS: 501-361-9036 - (it's in Misc Files category -- there from the Main Menu when you connect.) PARTINFO.EXE is a DOS utility. It can be run from an MS-DOS prompt (obtained during bootup with F8 or shutting down Windows with the option of "restarting in MS-DOS") or it can also be run from a DOS Window (click Start, Programs, MS DOS Prompt). There also is a Windows version named PARTIN9X.EXE which is created when PM is installed and gives a nicer graphic display, BUT THE DATA IS THE SAME as with the DOS file. This file can be run from the DOS Window, but NOT from MS-DOS. One key difference in the files is that the DOS version, PARTINFO.EXE, is portable -- works on any machine without PM installed -- but the Windows version, PARTIN9X.EXE is NOT portable -- won't work on any machine except the one that created it and PM must be installed. PARTIN9X.EXE is the one that is run from the Partition Info icon created during PM install. These partition information utilities provide considerable data (numbers) on each partition that can be mind-boggling to interpret. What needs to be looked for is -- are you ready for this? -- look for the word ERROR. What else? On the Windows version, it'll say "No errors encountered" in the upper right hand corner if there are no errors as well as it'll provide a column labelled "Errors" and show the number of errors by partition, if any. If none, it will show zeros. These are not provided with the DOS version, the errors are merely printed out, labeled, and described. The partition error #s will be within 100-109. As for interpreting the data, PQ home page provides an item called "Reading a Partinfo" which is quite detailed as to the meaning of the various columns, etc. and can be downloaded (http://support.powerquest.com/pm/pm1041.html). I have the file and a printout of it and will have a few copies at the meeting. If the data needs interpreting, PQ suggests faxing or mailing it to them for analysis. Be prepared to provide your PM serial number. Let me know if you have any questions or need any help. Please, no suicides! There probably aren't any of you that have "bad" partitions.