Solved Data partition detected as EFI

Hi guys,

I run Windows in the following configuration:

I have an SSD and a normal HDD. The Windows system itself runs on the SSD for faster boot-up, and all my user data is stored on the HDD. I recently installed Linux as a dual boot option, but due to issues with UEFI and Legacy BIOS settings, I decided to uninstall my Linux. My Linux was similarly configured, with /boot residing on the SSD and the rest of it residing on an ext4-formatted partition on my HDD.

I uninstalled Linux using the boot-repair livedisc, and I can boot just fine into Windows 8.1. However, now my Windows Data partition on the HDD cannot be accessed. On boot, it doesn't even mount, and links to my Downloads or Documents folders are broken.

The Disk Management tool lists the Data partition as an EFI System Partition, when it was previously just a normal Primary NTFS partition. GParted detects the partition as an NTFS one. DiskPart also indicates the partition is hidden. Mounting the partition works fine using DiskPart but I cannot access it as it throws an access denied error, and says I do not have permission to access the drive. I have tried changing the security options in the security tab to give me full control, but to no avail. I can use CMD to access it though, and view things, but I cannot seem to move or copy data out of it. I have tried using the convert utility in CMD to convert the EFI partition to NTFS (EFI is FAT32, IIRC) but it says that the partition is already NTFS.

How can I fix this or at least enter the partition and backup my data before performing a format and restore? What data should I provide to get proper support?

numshah

You might attach a picture of your Disk Management windows so we can see the partitions.

If you want, also run the following command and attach the resulting Text file.

bcdedit /enum all > %userprofile%\Desktop\bcdtext.txt

in an administrative command window.

Saltgrass said:

You might attach a picture of your Disk Management windows so we can see the partitions.

If you want, also run the following command and attach the resulting Text file.

bcdedit /enum all > %userprofile%\Desktop\bcdtext.txt

in an administrative command window.

Click to expand...

Here is the partition layout. The HDD is Drive 1. The partition I need to fix is labeled "Healthy (EFI System Partition)". The unallocated spaces were where my Linux was previously installed.
View attachment 51623

bcdedit data is attached.

numshah

Try and do a MBR repair on the HDD. When you install Linux, it creates a ext4 format partition. Only way to fix that, is to either use a Linux Live DVD and use GPartd to fix, or use other tools like the Windows 8 disc to repair said drive.

This is why we always tell people that if you are going to play with Linux. You either fully commit to it, or run it in a VM (Virtual Machine).

I have been running Linux for 6 years now. My old PC was before UEFI, I think UEFI messed things up because not all Linux distros support it properly. My setup for this PC was to install Linux on legacy BIOS and keep Win 8.1 on UEFI. Unfortunately the GRUB chainloader function didn't quite work so it ended up that I had to switch BIOS modes everytime I wanted to change OS. I didn't like the hassle of this so I uninstalled Linux in the end, hoping to find another distro that handled UEFI properly or that #!, my current distro eventually supports it.

AHA I HAVE FIGURED IT OUT. The Linux uninstall script I used decided to flag the data partition as boot. Windows decided to be helpful and list it as an EFI partition, resulting in these shenanigans. Just booted into a Linux livecd and unflagged the partition as boot.