Windows Vista Recovery Partition D: contents

Question

Hey, everybody!

I recently found one post by a user which stated all the folders and files that the Recovery Partition should have (here, I mean when you open D: and I don't mean the sub-folders). When I open D:, it lists these files after I enable to Show Hidden and System Protected Files:

$RECYCLE.BIN
dell
Program Files
Program Data
sources
System Volume Information
Tools
Users
Windows

The user's post also stated one more folder called "Boot" as well as boot file. I was wondering if anyone who has Vista and visible recovery partition could confirm whether they have the additional file and folder or not, so that I would know if the absence of these two things is a corruption or intentional by Dell.

Also, I heard that this kind of partition is maintained by Windows Vista and that Vista sometimes adds updates and important Windows add-ons to the Recovery Partition. Is it true? I don't know, but during one month 50 MB were taken by something on that Partition. it might be because I allowed Windows One Care to Defragment that Disk or something else and it left some residue files, but I still can't figure out what could take up 50 MB on a partition that has never been used. And I am not sure if One Care scans that partition when I ask for Full System Scan.

Thanks.

Eugene

________________________________

Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium
Dell Inspiron E1705: Centrino Duo Computer
Intel Core Duo T2350 @ 1.866 GHz D-0 (Yonah)
17" WXGA+ Screen by AU Optronics
2 GB RAM at DDR2-533 by Hyundai Electronics
ATI Mobility Radeon X1400 256 MB Graphics Card with Hypermemory
120 GB 5400 RPM Hard Disk Drive by Samsung
Dell Bluetooth 355 + EDR Technology
Intel PRO/Wireless 3945 a/b/g 54 Mbps
Sigmatel High Definition Audio
Sony DVD+-RW with DL Support

C3PO5 · Answer

Hi Eugene

On a E521 & Inspiron 1501 it shows the same thing !

The lost space may be the Vista restore points , shadow copy or

windows updates all of these take up space on the drive .

Boot & boot files should be on the C:\ drive not D:\.

Now {System Volume Information} can grow bigger because it is where

your system info is stored when you make changes to your Vista it changes this too.

That partition was put there by [Dell]

Microsoft does not do any thing to it they have no knowledge of the

D:\ partition @ all other than you can scan it or defragment it.

I can,t tell you any thing on one care i do not use it.

Happy 4th of July:smileyvery-happy:

See Yea .

keithg2 · Answer

The D (RECOVERY) partition is for recovering your C partition to factory condition. This means it's simply the partition that holds your factory installation image file(s). The boot folder and boot files are within the image file so when you restore from that image file, your C drive will have everything that was installed (including the boot folder and boot files) at the Dell factory before the machine was shipped to you.   Look in your D:\dell\Image folder. You should see an image file called Factory.wim or something similar. Whenever you need to restore your machine back to factory, you would boot from your Vista DVD and do a Dell PC Restore which will restore using the .wim image file.   I've never heard of Vista updating/maintaining the D partition. That was created one time by Dell so the user could restore back to factory condition.   Hope this helps.

GioAguilar · Answer

I'm kind of familiar with the post you talk about, and respect to those extra folder and file, not sure about their importance, I'm pretty sure I've handled the D drive well, but I might be wrong, I'm still having those two extra things on my E1505 and E520...

GioAguilar · Answer

Just to add, by pressing the F8 key at the boot it will give you the options to Restore the computer to factory settings. Using the DVD takes a few more steps...

C3PO5 · Answer

Hi GioAguilar

The boot folder holds the boot files that lets Vista Boot into the Vista OS

These files are the Boot Manager

if thay are not on the C:\ drive it will not boot into the OS

If you are seeing it on D:\ Recovery drive it should not be there it means you are trying to boot D:\ also witch is not bootable.

The E521 i have is brand new and has never been used yet no extra software has been added

It was just booted into the Vista OS .

Again if you see a Boot folder & files in it on the D:\ drive it should not be there.

Does this help you understand it better.

Or is your D:\ drive a media direct or something like that if it is it may be a deferent

story.
See Yea

Edit

Can you supply a link to the other thread i would like to read it.

Message Edited by C3PO5 on 07-05-2007 12:08 PM

GioAguilar · Answer

My D drive is the same one you have... So that's why I'm a little concerned, why it is on the D drive those files, I have no problems at all, everything works perfect... My Media Direct is in another partition which also works fine....   This is the post

C3PO5 · Answer

Hi If you go to c:\ you should see Boot folder with files in it and a boot manager file on the root of c:\ On c:\ you should see something like this {these are folders some are hidden} c:\ $ recycle bin boot Dell doctemp documents and settings drivers program files program data system volume information temp users windows {these are files some are hidden} autoexec.bat bootmanager bootsect.bak config.sys dell.sdr hiberfil.sys pagefile.sys systeminfo.ini this is what i have on c:\ boot folder & boot manager should be here. Are you sure you are not using D:\ to back up your windows with windows backup ?  boot & boot manager should not be on D:\ Thanks for the link i will read it when i get back from the store See Yea

GioAguilar · Answer

i do not use any kind of software to backup my files, I only use Nero to burn that's it... As I said, is something that mekes me to think, but nothing to be worried about. And yes, I have those files/folders on the C plus some other by som app I installed. But the boot folder and the bootmanager are in D, weird, isn't it?

eugene89us · Answer

Thank you so much, everyone, for your feedback. Yes, I assume that the computer of that person had something installed which made the disk bootable. Now I can have a peace of mind!

Thank you!

Eugene

________________________________

Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium
Dell Inspiron E1705: Centrino Duo Computer
Intel Core Duo T2350 @ 1.866 GHz D-0 (Yonah)
17" WXGA+ Screen by AU Optronics
2 GB RAM at DDR2-533 by Hyundai Electronics
ATI Mobility Radeon X1400 256 MB Graphics Card with Hypermemory
120 GB 5400 RPM Hard Disk Drive by Samsung
Dell Bluetooth 355 + EDR Technology
Intel PRO/Wireless 3945 a/b/g 54 Mbps
Sigmatel High Definition Audio
Sony DVD+-RW with DL Support

C3PO5 · Answer

Yes The only other thing i could think of is if you installed Vista bootpro , EasyBCD or some other boot manager it might think that D:\  is Bootable and write a new boot manager there. Your guess is as good as mine on that . I just got back from WalMart with a new E 521 still in the box it may replace my D8400 . :smileysurprised: I will start it up in a little bit to see if it has the same folders & files on C:\ & D:\ as the E 521 my son has. See Yea

mike3960 · Answer

hi   the info that i get on my inspiron 6400 is   OS(c:) 109GB free of 136GB OS(d:)  6.42GB free of 9.99GB   are ther any files or anything that could be done to free some more spage   and i also have BOOT and BOOT manager in D:   thanks

C3PO5 · Answer

Hi Mike The only question i have for you is why is your D:\ named OS :smileyindifferent: It should be named Recovery right :smileysurprised: And from what i see you do not need to free up more space ! If you want the D:\ to work right leave it alone do not mess with it. See Yea:smileyvery-happy:

GioAguilar · Answer

C3PO5 wrote:

Yes

The only other thing i could think of is if you installed Vista bootpro , EasyBCD or some other

boot manager it might think that D:\ is Bootable and write a new boot manager there.

Your guess is as good as mine on that .

I just got back from WalMart with a new E 521 still in the box it may replace my D8400 . :smileysurprised:

I will start it up in a little bit to see if it has the same folders & files on C:\ & D:\ as the E 521 my son has.

See Yea

Nope, no one of thos installed...

C3PO5 · Answer

Hi The new E 521 WalMart special does not have boot & boot manager in D:\ Recovery . If i where you i would try to find out why you have Boot & Boot Manager in the D:\ Recovery that just does not sound right:smileysad:   Good Luck !:smileyvery-happy:

keithg2 · Answer

eugene89us wrote:

Thank you so much, everyone, for your feedback. Yes, I assume that the computer of that person had something installed which made the disk bootable. Now I can have a peace of mind!

Thank you!

Eugene

________________________________

Please let this thread end.... the person who had the question got his answers so there's no need to continue discussing what/why some people's D recovery partition is different than others. Since it's not causing them any issues, please let's let it go. :)

thanks!

Windows General

Windows Vista Recovery Partition D: contents

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