Solved File Explorer is Displaying Recovery Partitions with Drive

capair45

New Member
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13
Good morning! New member, first post.

It seems the recovery partitions on my Dell 3847 desktop (Windows 8.1 x64) have begun to display when I open "This PC". This is new and has not happened before. Furthermore, the two partitions (WINRETOOLS & PBR Image) have been assigned drive letters. These two partitions show normally is disk management.

Is there anyway to prevent these partitions from displaying in "This PC"?

Thank you for any help provided.
 

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My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Dell Inspiron 3847
    CPU
    4th Generation Intel Core i5-4440 (6M Cache, 3.3 GHz)
    Motherboard
    Dell 088DT1
    Memory
    12GB RAM
    Graphics Card(s)
    Intel HD 4600
    Sound Card
    Realtec HD Audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Samsung SyncMaster 226BW
    Screen Resolution
    1680 X 1080
    Hard Drives
    (2) Seagate Barracuda 1TB 7200 RPM 64MB cache (internal)
    (1) WD 5000AAV USB external)
    Browser
    IE11, Firefox 36.0.1
    Antivirus
    Kaspersky 15.0.2.361
Reboot the PC and see if they -rehide themselves..

They are hidden in disk management - so another 3rd party program is causing them to show in file explorer
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 3.1 > Windows 10
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Dell XPS 8700
    CPU
    I7
    Memory
    24 GB
Rebooting didn't seem to help. Still there. As far as 3rd party software, I use Macrium Reflect for image backups. The program has the ability to mount an image and assign a drive letter. I just tried mounting an image and the image appears with a Macrium icon and drive letter unlike what is seen in the attachment.

Right-clicking the drives and checking Properties provides no clues (at least to me).

Any other things I can check?

Dave...
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Dell Inspiron 3847
    CPU
    4th Generation Intel Core i5-4440 (6M Cache, 3.3 GHz)
    Motherboard
    Dell 088DT1
    Memory
    12GB RAM
    Graphics Card(s)
    Intel HD 4600
    Sound Card
    Realtec HD Audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Samsung SyncMaster 226BW
    Screen Resolution
    1680 X 1080
    Hard Drives
    (2) Seagate Barracuda 1TB 7200 RPM 64MB cache (internal)
    (1) WD 5000AAV USB external)
    Browser
    IE11, Firefox 36.0.1
    Antivirus
    Kaspersky 15.0.2.361
I use Macrium Reflect for image backups.

I would suspect that is why the drive letters are visible..

As Windows Disk Management does not show Drive Letter Assignment..
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 3.1 > Windows 10
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Dell XPS 8700
    CPU
    I7
    Memory
    24 GB
Looking at the disk partitions in the Macrium GUI, the 2 partitions had the drive letters showing there also. I posted in the Macrium forum. It may have something to do with Dell Backup and Recovery software that comes with Dell computers. It seems that Dell likes to assign letters to the recovery partitions. I've had this Dell machine for almost two years and I believe they may have recently issued an update to their recovery software. Perhaps that's why this change just appeared.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Dell Inspiron 3847
    CPU
    4th Generation Intel Core i5-4440 (6M Cache, 3.3 GHz)
    Motherboard
    Dell 088DT1
    Memory
    12GB RAM
    Graphics Card(s)
    Intel HD 4600
    Sound Card
    Realtec HD Audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Samsung SyncMaster 226BW
    Screen Resolution
    1680 X 1080
    Hard Drives
    (2) Seagate Barracuda 1TB 7200 RPM 64MB cache (internal)
    (1) WD 5000AAV USB external)
    Browser
    IE11, Firefox 36.0.1
    Antivirus
    Kaspersky 15.0.2.361
It is not Dell Backup and Recovery..
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 3.1 > Windows 10
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Dell XPS 8700
    CPU
    I7
    Memory
    24 GB
It is not Dell Backup and Recovery..

I also have a Dell laptop with Windows 7. It has Macrium installed on it. It does not have Dell Backup & Recovery installed. The Macrium GUI does not show drive letters assigned to the recovery partitions.

As a test, I downloaded and installed Dell Backup & Recovery and rebooted. The Macrium GUI now shows a drive letter assigned to the recovery partition.

If it was Macrium doing this, why wouldn't the drive letter have been assigned before the installation of the backup and recovery feature?

Either way, everything seems fine with the desktop. Just curious why this might happen. Can you help me understand why this isn't the Dell software assigning the drive letters?

Thanks for the help!

Dave...
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Dell Inspiron 3847
    CPU
    4th Generation Intel Core i5-4440 (6M Cache, 3.3 GHz)
    Motherboard
    Dell 088DT1
    Memory
    12GB RAM
    Graphics Card(s)
    Intel HD 4600
    Sound Card
    Realtec HD Audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Samsung SyncMaster 226BW
    Screen Resolution
    1680 X 1080
    Hard Drives
    (2) Seagate Barracuda 1TB 7200 RPM 64MB cache (internal)
    (1) WD 5000AAV USB external)
    Browser
    IE11, Firefox 36.0.1
    Antivirus
    Kaspersky 15.0.2.361
I had a Lenovo which had a hidden Q partition (I think, I deleted the partition years ago). I had to change the partition id to 7 so I could change the drive letter (even though it was hidden) to install Office as Office click to run used a Q:\ while it was installing.

Have a look in diskpart and see what the partition ID is. 07 is Microsoft Basic Data, 17 is hidden, 27 is OEM recovery but there is a whole bunch of them. Could be the dell software changes the partition id to something mountable - I know there are Lenovo utilities to do this.

Perhaps you could have a look at or post the output of diskpart like the output below but adding select partition 5 , detail partition ​as you have more partitions than me.

If you want you can use setid = 07 (or whatever value) after selecting your partition to make them visible (or not). There isn't any risk in doing this really but note down what it was before you change it so you can change it back as your recovery won't work if you change it to something Windows knows nothing about.
Code:
C:\WINDOWS\system32>diskpart

Microsoft DiskPart version 10.0.9926

Copyright (C) 1999-2013 Microsoft Corporation.
On computer: WINDOWS10

DISKPART> select disk 0

Disk 0 is now the selected disk.

DISKPART> list partition

  Partition ###  Type              Size     Offset
  -------------  ----------------  -------  -------
  Partition 1    Primary            200 MB    512 B
  Partition 2    Primary             50 GB   200 MB
  Partition 3    Primary            619 MB    50 GB
  Partition 4    Primary             61 GB    51 GB

DISKPART> select partition 1

Partition 1 is now the selected partition.

DISKPART> detail partition

Partition 1
[COLOR=#ff0000]Type  : EE[/COLOR]
Hidden: Yes
Active: No
Offset in Bytes: 512

There is no volume associated with this partition.

DISKPART> select partition 2

Partition 2 is now the selected partition.

DISKPART> detail partition

Partition 2
[COLOR=#ff0000]Type  : 07[/COLOR]
Hidden: No
Active: No
Offset in Bytes: 209735680

  Volume ###  Ltr  Label        Fs     Type        Size     Status     Info
  ----------  ---  -----------  -----  ----------  -------  ---------  --------
* Volume 0     Y   Yosemite     HFS P  Partition     50 GB  Healthy

DISKPART> select partition 3

Partition 3 is now the selected partition.

DISKPART> detail partition

Partition 3
[COLOR=#ff0000]Type  : AB[/COLOR]
Hidden: Yes
Active: No
Offset in Bytes: 54682804224

There is no volume associated with this partition.

DISKPART> select partition 4

Partition 4 is now the selected partition.

DISKPART> detail partition

Partition 4
[COLOR=#ff0000]Type  : 07[/COLOR]
Hidden: No
Active: Yes
Offset in Bytes: 55333355520

  Volume ###  Ltr  Label        Fs     Type        Size     Status     Info
  ----------  ---  -----------  -----  ----------  -------  ---------  --------
* Volume 1     C   Windows10    NTFS   Partition     61 GB  Healthy    System

DISKPART> exit

Leaving DiskPart...

C:\WINDOWS\system32>
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 10 Pro Prieview x64
    Computer type
    Laptop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    MacBook Pro Core2Duo
    CPU
    T7600
    Memory
    3
    Graphics Card(s)
    ATI Radeon X1600
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Internal
    Screen Resolution
    1440 x 800
    Hard Drives
    40GB
    Keyboard
    Apple
    Mouse
    Apple
    Internet Speed
    Varies
    Browser
    Various
    Antivirus
    Defender
So far you have a test with and without Dell B+R - Windows disk management is not showing drive letter assignment..

the Macruim GUI is.. It may be reading certain flags created by Dell BR - but it is macruim reading those flags..

As a test - un-install Marcuim
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 3.1 > Windows 10
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Dell XPS 8700
    CPU
    I7
    Memory
    24 GB
....As a test - un-install Marcuim

I'm not sure I'm ready to do that quite yet. I would lose all the backup schedules and would need to recreate them when reinstalling. Let me think about that for awhile. Everything seems to be working properly so there's no real need to go too far with discovering why.

Assuming it was Macrium assigning the drive letters, would you expect those drives to disappear in File Explorer with Macrium uninstalled?

adamf: Thanks for your post! I am still reading through it to make sure I understand. Only used DiskPart a little bit.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Dell Inspiron 3847
    CPU
    4th Generation Intel Core i5-4440 (6M Cache, 3.3 GHz)
    Motherboard
    Dell 088DT1
    Memory
    12GB RAM
    Graphics Card(s)
    Intel HD 4600
    Sound Card
    Realtec HD Audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Samsung SyncMaster 226BW
    Screen Resolution
    1680 X 1080
    Hard Drives
    (2) Seagate Barracuda 1TB 7200 RPM 64MB cache (internal)
    (1) WD 5000AAV USB external)
    Browser
    IE11, Firefox 36.0.1
    Antivirus
    Kaspersky 15.0.2.361
The problem with Adam's post is it is not for your UEFI-GPT system, But rather MBR

Please open command prompt(admin)

type> diskpart
type> list volume
type> select disk 0
type> list partition

post a pic of prompt windows
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 3.1 > Windows 10
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Dell XPS 8700
    CPU
    I7
    Memory
    24 GB
Thanks for your post! I am still reading through it to make sure I understand. Only used DiskPart a little bit.
It's OK - I was only asking you to display things. Don't change things if you don't want to.

The problem with Adam's post is it is not for your UEFI-GPT system, But rather MBR

Please open command prompt(admin)

type> diskpart
type> list volume
type> select disk 0
type> list partition

post a pic of prompt windows
And then select partition and detail partition. It is just more info. KYHI is right - I am using a hybrid MBR/EFI partitions scheme (not a standard EFI) but your information of the partition types may be interesting.

It might not be interesting (I could be wrong) but you are only displaying a bit more info :)
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 10 Pro Prieview x64
    Computer type
    Laptop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    MacBook Pro Core2Duo
    CPU
    T7600
    Memory
    3
    Graphics Card(s)
    ATI Radeon X1600
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Internal
    Screen Resolution
    1440 x 800
    Hard Drives
    40GB
    Keyboard
    Apple
    Mouse
    Apple
    Internet Speed
    Varies
    Browser
    Various
    Antivirus
    Defender
diskpart.JPG
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Dell Inspiron 3847
    CPU
    4th Generation Intel Core i5-4440 (6M Cache, 3.3 GHz)
    Motherboard
    Dell 088DT1
    Memory
    12GB RAM
    Graphics Card(s)
    Intel HD 4600
    Sound Card
    Realtec HD Audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Samsung SyncMaster 226BW
    Screen Resolution
    1680 X 1080
    Hard Drives
    (2) Seagate Barracuda 1TB 7200 RPM 64MB cache (internal)
    (1) WD 5000AAV USB external)
    Browser
    IE11, Firefox 36.0.1
    Antivirus
    Kaspersky 15.0.2.361
[/QUOTE]And then select partition and detail partition. It is just more info. KYHI is right - I am using a hybrid MBR/EFI partitions scheme (not a standard EFI) but your information of the partition types may be interesting.

It might not be interesting (I could be wrong) but you are only displaying a bit more info :)[/QUOTE]

Thank you adamf for helping here. Which partition are you referencing in the above quote?
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Dell Inspiron 3847
    CPU
    4th Generation Intel Core i5-4440 (6M Cache, 3.3 GHz)
    Motherboard
    Dell 088DT1
    Memory
    12GB RAM
    Graphics Card(s)
    Intel HD 4600
    Sound Card
    Realtec HD Audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Samsung SyncMaster 226BW
    Screen Resolution
    1680 X 1080
    Hard Drives
    (2) Seagate Barracuda 1TB 7200 RPM 64MB cache (internal)
    (1) WD 5000AAV USB external)
    Browser
    IE11, Firefox 36.0.1
    Antivirus
    Kaspersky 15.0.2.361
at command prompt (admin)

type> diskpart
type> select volume 3
type> set id=de94bba4-06d1-4d40-a16a-bfd50179d6ac
type> gpt attributes=0x8000000000000001

type> select volume 4
type> set id=de94bba4-06d1-4d40-a16a-bfd50179d6ac
type> gpt attributes=0x8000000000000001

reboot PC
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 3.1 > Windows 10
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Dell XPS 8700
    CPU
    I7
    Memory
    24 GB
Not being that computer literate, can you tell me what the results of this will be? Will this remove the partitions from appearing in file explorer without affecting the actual partitions, of course. :)

Thank you, KYHI!
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Dell Inspiron 3847
    CPU
    4th Generation Intel Core i5-4440 (6M Cache, 3.3 GHz)
    Motherboard
    Dell 088DT1
    Memory
    12GB RAM
    Graphics Card(s)
    Intel HD 4600
    Sound Card
    Realtec HD Audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Samsung SyncMaster 226BW
    Screen Resolution
    1680 X 1080
    Hard Drives
    (2) Seagate Barracuda 1TB 7200 RPM 64MB cache (internal)
    (1) WD 5000AAV USB external)
    Browser
    IE11, Firefox 36.0.1
    Antivirus
    Kaspersky 15.0.2.361
type> gpt attributes=0x8000000000000001

in that command 8 tells the system the drive is required by the system and 1 hides the drive by removing the drive letter

Diskpart was showing the drive letter assignment - which was not showing in Disk management

================
type> set id=de94bba4-06d1-4d40-a16a-bfd50179d6ac

that id tells the system it is recovery data - Yours already has that ID - so not really needed to do - but won't hurt either..
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 3.1 > Windows 10
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Dell XPS 8700
    CPU
    I7
    Memory
    24 GB
Entered all the strings and Diskpart reported the changes were successfully made. Next, I pressed the Enter key and typed exit. Rebooted but not seeing any change. See attachment.

File Explorer.JPG

Should I have rebooted without typing Exit?
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Dell Inspiron 3847
    CPU
    4th Generation Intel Core i5-4440 (6M Cache, 3.3 GHz)
    Motherboard
    Dell 088DT1
    Memory
    12GB RAM
    Graphics Card(s)
    Intel HD 4600
    Sound Card
    Realtec HD Audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Samsung SyncMaster 226BW
    Screen Resolution
    1680 X 1080
    Hard Drives
    (2) Seagate Barracuda 1TB 7200 RPM 64MB cache (internal)
    (1) WD 5000AAV USB external)
    Browser
    IE11, Firefox 36.0.1
    Antivirus
    Kaspersky 15.0.2.361
Something is over-riding it.. Don't know what to tell ya..

Be it Dell or Macruim
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 3.1 > Windows 10
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Dell XPS 8700
    CPU
    I7
    Memory
    24 GB
Okay, I think I'll try uninstalling Macrium and see how that looks. I certainly appreciate the time you've spent on this and will post back with any new information.

Dave...
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Dell Inspiron 3847
    CPU
    4th Generation Intel Core i5-4440 (6M Cache, 3.3 GHz)
    Motherboard
    Dell 088DT1
    Memory
    12GB RAM
    Graphics Card(s)
    Intel HD 4600
    Sound Card
    Realtec HD Audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Samsung SyncMaster 226BW
    Screen Resolution
    1680 X 1080
    Hard Drives
    (2) Seagate Barracuda 1TB 7200 RPM 64MB cache (internal)
    (1) WD 5000AAV USB external)
    Browser
    IE11, Firefox 36.0.1
    Antivirus
    Kaspersky 15.0.2.361
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