Extract Partition Image File. PartitionGuru can directly load a partition image file and then extract files from it. When an image file is openned, it will be loaded as a partition. To start load an image files, click the menu 'Tools' - 'Explore Partition Image File'. PartitionGuru will show the following open file dialogue: Select a partition. 2 Methods: restore missing Dell recovery partition in Windows. As for how to recover the missing recovery partition in Dell, Asus, Acer, MSI, and other brands' computers, different causes require different solutions. Today, we will focus on restoring recovery partition which is missing because of no drive letter and mistaken deletion. Type list partition to show all the partitions on the selected MBR/GPT hard disk. Type select partition m, where m is the number of the Dell/Asus/HP recovery partition. Then type assign: the system will assign a drive letter automatically. After these commands, you can see the recovery partition in Windows Explorer. Install and run MiniTool Power Data Recovery. Choose Hard Disk Drive from the main window. Select the RAW hard drive and press Scan to detect files in it. Browse the scan result during or at the end of the scan. Check the files you need and click on the Save button to choose a partition for storing them. Press the Windows key +X and choose Disk Management, here right click the Recovery Partition and choose Change Drive Letter or Path s, choose Remove. If that doesn't work use a 3rd party app like Minitool Partition Wizard. Press the Windows key +X and choose Disk Management, here right click the Recovery Partition and choose Change Drive.
When you are working with Visual Machines (VMs) and fixed hard disks it can happen that you run out of space. In such cases it comes in handy that you can simply extend the existing virtual hard disk. Since Windows Server 2012R2 and Windows 8.1 this is even possible while the VM is running. After extending the VHDX you just need to go into Disk Management and expand your partition. That’s the theory at least. However in a non lab environment things might look a little different.
Primary Partition blocked by Recovery Partition#
More often than not, the partition you want to extend is blocked by a Recovery Partition. Blocked because you can only extend your existing partition with unallocated space directly to the right of the partition you want to extend. In our case there is a recovery partition in between and therefor the primary partition (C:) cannot be extended. This happens because Windows 10 creates the recovery partition after your primary partition so it can easily be extended.
Windows Partition Layout#
The Windows 10 UEFI parition layout looks like the following. First comes a System Partition containing the master boot record (MBR). Without the system parition you will not be able to start Windows. Follwing the system partition you have the Microsoft Reserved Parition (MSR) that manages the partitions itself. Then you have your primary Windows parition followed by the recovery parition containing tools and data to recover your Windows installation in case of failures.
Deleting the Recovery Partition#
Extract Drivers From Recovery Partitions
We can go ahead and delete the recovery partition to make room for our primary Windows Partition. You can delete the recovery parition with DISKPART using the following commands from an admin commandline.
Now we can go ahead and extend our Windows Parition to consume the free space. You should however leave about 500MB room so we can recreate our recovery parition.
Recreating the Recovery Partition#
If you do not need your recovery environment you can stop here and enjoy your new disk space. However I highly recommend recreating the just deleted recovery enviroment. That way in case of a system failure you can easly troubleshoot and restore your system. To create a new recovery partition we first must format the remaining 500MB free space accordingly. Windows recognizes the recovery partition by the static unique id de94bba4-06d1-4d40-a16a-bfd50179d6ac and the GPT attribute bit 0x8000000000000001.
We now have a partition that can host the Windows Recovery Environment (WinRE). In the next step we are going to extract the WinRE from the Windows Installation media and copy it to the just created volume.
Extract Drivers From Recovery Partition Software
Extrating the Windows Recovery Environment (WinRE)#
Download the .ISO image for your version of Windows our insert your installation disk and mount it by right clicking the image. We are now going to mount the installation files and copy the winre.wim file from Windows PE. Open an admin powershell and enter the following commands.
Thats it. We are all done and you can now use your recovery enviroment as before.