Missing Drive (d:) After Factory Reset,windows8,64bit

Hi,

PowerRecover didn't work, so instead I used the recovery cd from Medion. Unfortunately I don't have a photo of what it looked like after the reset, but there were several partitions, but it was not possible to format any of them, because they were GPT and not MBR, according to Medion support, who solved the problem through transferring all the partitions to one, now size 698 GB.

After finishing the formatting, drive (D) was missing, which means all the programs, drivers etc. have disappeared. Luckily I have the Application and Support disc and have the hope that it will be possible to create a drive (D) and on this install the programs, drivers etc. Does anyone have a solution as to how I can do this?

Nicoline

 

You don't need drive D, just go ahead and reinstall Windows and your software on drive C, which is the normal way of setting up Windows. Whatever caused this problem we can only guess at but if you had been in the habit of imaging your system from time to time you could have been back in action in less than an hour but without an image file your old system looks to be gone.

 

Earthling, Thanks for your reply

I do have an image, a Macrium Reflect image, but my reason for not using this was, that I suspected, many of the problems I had on my computer would reappear, so that's why I chose the factory reset.

How do I reinstall windows and software on drive (C)? Can I use the Application and Support disc?

 

Good news about the image, it may yet turn out to be your best way forward. Can't advise on using the Application and Support disk as it is specific to your system. You will have to see what, if anything you can do with it. If, as you are saying, your hard disk has been converted from MBR to GPT, you may not be able to use it at all. If you can't then you would probably have to acquire a Windows installation disk for the version you want - probably either win 7 or 8.1. In your situation I'd be tempted to restore the image and have a go at fixing the problems. We should be able to help with that.

 

Why can't I use my Application and Support disc? It was sent to me by Medion Support specifically meant for this computer. It has the programs and drivers that originally were installed on the computer.

I might not have explained it well enough: the Medion supporter succeeded in changing GPT to MBR by moving the different partitions to one partition, ,the 698 GB, and in doing so I was able to format. I was not able to format, because the otherwise relevant partitions were GPT.

Regarding the Macrium Reflect Image: I have used it before with success with some help, restoring the whole system. As I remember it, though, you can choose, what partitions you want to restore. So would it not be possible to just restore drive (D)? The problem with the image is that I have not updated it regularly, but that might not be a problem with drive (D), What do you think?

 

I really regret having to say this Nicolene but your chances of resolving this in a public forum such as this are zero. Hopefully your personal stuff is safely backed up and if so the answer is to do a clean install of Windows. If that can be done using your Medion disk then fine but non Medion users have no idea what such a disk contains or can/cannot do so will not be able to usefully assist. To resolve this you either need an expert sat at your keyboard with you or go for a clean install using a Windows installation disk or other installation media.

Or restore your image in full

 

Thanks for your reply I am sorry I didn't answer you earlier.

Would it be possible to help me restore the Macrium Reflect Image in full, if I decide to go for this solution?

 

Sorry Nicoline but that would make demands on my time I couldn't handle right now. But the process is simple enough -

- before booting up attach your backup drive
- boot to your Macrium Recovery media and select Restore on the menu
- navigate to your .mrimg file on your backup drive and select Restore Image
- Under Source tick the left tick box. This selects all partitions for restoration

What you are able to do now depends on what you are offered under Destination. Normally at this point you would just click on Copy Selected Partitions but if you aren't sure take a screenshot and post it. Make sure it's legible.

I'm not expecting it to be straightforward but fingers crossed

 

Make sure you have the right drives selected for the purposes you wish to achieve!
As stated, use the image for primary C.
Disconnect external data drives to be sure.
Go from there!

 

When Medion support messed with the PC they deleted all your partitions including the one (D drive) you seemed to wish to keep.
GPT is the modern MBR, you can create many partitions & format them. I suspect the person you spoke to knew nothing about this hence their solution to clean install Windows using MBR.

I would restore using the image you created then we can proceed from there.
You can download a fresh Windows 8 version:
https://tb.rg-adguard.net/public.php

 

Thank you all for your replies I am very grateful, because I just don't know how to solve the problem. Maybe it's because they messed up that Mediion support is not returning my calls. I will now transfer the image to my computer. Should I install Windows 8 via the link, you have given me, before I do anything with the image or the other way around?

 

There’s no need for the Windows 8 .iso unless you wish to clean install Windows.
You can just restore the Macrium image.

 

OK, but what I would like to do is to restore the image and then use PowerRecover to a factory reset, because I know I had problems with the computer, when I created the image. But they were not as serious as they have been lately, still I think the problems started back then. So in order to get rid of the problems I want to start from scratch.

I did try to use PowerRecover, but for some reason it didn't work out, so now I hope, drive (D) will turn up, after I have restored the image, so I will be able to use PowerRecover.

I have added the image. Is it not correct that I choose no.4, the C partition and click restore, leaving out the other 3?

 

When restoring an image you really should restore all partitions. I just choose the image & allow it to restore all partitions.
As PowerRecovery didn’t work the first time why would you wish to use it again? It would be best to post what problems you are/were having which you felt requires using third party software to fix. Most likely either sfc/DISM or an in-place repair would fix the problems.

 

That would be great, if possible upcoming problems could be solved the way you suggest. I will now restore the image.

 

I don't know, what I did wrong. The first steps worked fine, but then I get these messages

 

You are attempting to restore your image while Macrium is running. That isn't possible, you have to boot your computer from the rescue media, usually a USB stick. You create the rescue media within the program, it's on the menus. It is possible to add a an entry to the Windows boot menu which is what you are seeing in the first pic but tbh I think that w0ould just confuse you further so forget that and create USB rescue media.

 

I have now created the USB rescue media. How do I proceed from here? Can I just use any USB stick, which also has other files on it, and how do I boot?

 

The USB will be formatted by Macrium so it should not contain any other files.
Once created you would boot the PC from the USB drive. This is usually done via the temporary boot menu - as soon as you see the manufacturer’s logo rapidly click the key which corresponds to the temp boot change menu, this can be F12, F7, F8, Esc or F2. Use the keyboard’s arrow keys to move the line to the Macrium thumb drive & then click enter to start the Macrium boot.

 

Now I only have an autorun installation file on the USB stick. Should I leave that on or try to delete it? I can only delete it with administrator privileges.

 

There should be Macrium PE files on the drive.
When you created the media did you ensure you chose the USB drive rather than a different drive?

 

There must be something I did wrong. I am now trying to empty the USB stick in order to use it as boot media. When you look at the last photo I sent, I chose the USB flash drive in the Macrium Reflect program, but didn't connect the USB to the pc, should I have done that? And before I do that, should I delete the autorun installation file?

 

The USB drive you wish to use must be plugged in before creating the recovery media.
The drive will be cleared of all files when creating the media.
If you chose a drive which was already inserted then this has been used.

 

The USB stock is now plugged in and I have chosen it, but nothing happens. Macrium Reflect doesn't format the drive. Shall I click on build in order to format it?

 

Yes. Build downloads the latest files for the recovery.

 

Unfortunately the USB stick is too small, 125 MB, any idea how much space is needed?

 

2-4GB.
The USB drive must be really old if it is only MB in size.

 

I found a bootable USB, but the restore doesn't work. The backup file is there, I highlight it and start Restore, but I get error 100, unable to locate or open image set. Maybe because the image is located in Documents? At one point I got the message that drive (c) doesn't exist!!! It is called boot (c). Should I restart and move the image to another location and then start all over again?

 

You cannot restore Windows if the image is on the same drive. You need to move the image to an external hard drive. Ensure you move all the files contained in the image set.

 

So I need to plug in my external hard disk, where I have a backup of the image+a whole lot of other backup files? A little bit nervous that all these files could be affected, but I reckon that I in Macrium Reflect can browse and find the image without any harm done+ do the restore?

Should I delete the image that I have on the pc?

 

The image restore will delete the image on the C drive if it wasn’t there when the image was created. There’s no need to delete it manually.
Macrium will only read files with the .mrimg extension.

 

Many, many thanks for your help until now. I need to take a break, I will continue tomorrow.

 

Be aware that if you restore the full image then all files in all partitions will be removed and replaced by whatever was there when the image was created, so be sure to back up any personal stuff first before restoring the image.

 

Thanks for the warming. I have backup of all my personal files and the rest, programs, drivers etc disappeared, when I tried the factory reset, using the rescue disk, because PowerRecover didn't work. So I only have Chrome and Avast on my program list, which I installed after the reset.

 

It's just irreplaceable stuff such as photos and written correspondence I'm concerned for. Programs, browsers etc are replaceable.

 

I have now restored the Macrium Reflect image, thanks for all your help this far

The first problem, which I also had earlier, is that when watching streaming on the National television, it stops like every 10-15 seconds. And the fan is running like crazy on high pitch, using around 45-60 cpu or more. The reason for this is the Chrome software reporter tool. There might also be other reasons, but this tool is what I have noticed until now. Any idea how I can solve this?

 

Congrats on finally getting your image restored, that's major

Streaming hiccups are not usually caused by any fault with your system, they are mostly down to a poor internet connection, either from your ISP to your router or between router and computer. Can you give us any info on that at all? Also, where are you, UK or where?

 

I am pretty sure, it's not the internet connection. Until a short while ago we had an identical pc to this one, and it had no problems at all, when we were streaming. We also have a Windows 10 and an ASUS notepad, and they also have no problems. I live on the continent in Western Europe.

Also I can have a high CPU, when I have like 4-5 sites open and not streaming.

 

OK, on that basis, and as the problem we have been addressing her seems to have been sorted. I suggest starting a new thread in Hardware.

 

Ok, I will do so