Doing a recovery.

[sp1214]

The m/c has a recovery disk and also a separate partition 'E'. When doing a recovery what is actually happening?

[vehelpfulguy]

There are different way of doing a recovery so not sure what is the case on your PC.

Sometimes the complete recovery software is included on the CD or DVD. This CD or DVD will contain a specially built version of Windows that is pre-set up for your PC.

When you do a recovery like this then the current version of Windows on your hard disk is removed and replaced by the copy on the recovery CD or DVD.

Another way of storing a recovery image is to create a hidden or secret partition on your hard disk with the pre built version of Windows in there.

When you start the recorvery the version of Windows on your main partition (probably C) is replaced by the copy of Windows in your hidden partition.

These are the two main methods I am aware of.

[vehelpfulguy]

Saying you have an E partition does not help anyone very much.

An E partition could be on your hard disk, or it could be the letter for your CD/DVD drive.

The simple configuration for a PC is to have one hard disk and one CD drive. The hard disk could have one partition called C and the CD drive could be D.

But in fact you can change the CD drive to be any letter you like so it could be Z. So you could have a hard drive of C and a CD drive of Z.

You can also divide a hard disk up into many partitions and have a C, D, E, F and G on your hard disk, and your CD drive could be H.

Or you might have TWO hard disks and TWO CD drives and so on.

So saying you have an E partition does not really indicate very much unless we know what other partitions you have and what CD or DVD drives you have.

You can normally find out this sort of info by going into "My Computer"

[sp1214]

Yes the E drive is a smaller partition on the hard drive. Going into Dos and doing >E:/ shows files attributable to doing a recovery. Nothing is installed on the CD/DVD drives at this time.

[ACtheTROLL]

Odd that the partition isn't hidden

as to what happens.
there are two types of recovery ... a bog standard install disk ... and another disc with all the drivers and utilities specifically for your machine.
you need a certain level of knowledge to use this method ...
but there is the chance of fixing the Os without re-writing the disc

the next is an image of the partition ... this is the best option for most people ... because generally all that's needed is for the disc to be inserted, the machine switched on a do you really question to be answered .... and 20 mins later you have a shiney system exactly how it was when you opened the box.

The third option (this is like the monty python inquisition sketch ..)
which is being used more and more by the big providers is to use a hidden recovery partition which is triggered by starting the machine up with f11 or f12 pressed ... and again a question ... and out falls a recovered system.
again .....
this is fine if the disaster isn't a failed disc ... and in a lot of cases backing up the backup isn't an option ... so you have to go back to the Mfr to get the system restored.

in every case the process is destructive ... so if you have anything important .... back it up regularly.

now to answer your question .... If you were given a recovery disc - I don't know what the "E" is ...

were you actually given a recovery disc ... or did you make it yourself?

[sp1214]

The recovery disk was supplied by Mesh computers